You will all be reading this a few days after this all happened because my next stop is literally in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales and there is no WiFi here. I will update the blog as quickly as I can/when I can!
I left the Yorkshire Moors in lovely sunshine this morning after executing a perfect (if I do say so myself) pack down of my awning and caravan, ready to move on. I only consulted my list to make sure I’d done everything and had no help from anyone….apart from a lovely man on the pitch next to me who offered to help as I reversed up to my car, as he had never heard of a motor mover before and thought I was about to pull my caravan towards my tow bar single-handedly!
He was very impressed with the mover and he said I made it look easy 🙂 He and his wife were in a VW campervan and didn’t know such technology was available. I didn’t tell him it was only my 3rd time of doing this alone – just nodded knowingly and asked him to help me out by checking my lights worked! Nailed it.
Was nervous about the journey and my phones ability to get me into difficult situations so thoroughly researched the journey beforehand… and was diverted off because of road works. Once again I had to hope for the best and, as I got closer, refer to the directions given on the campsites website as ‘Sat Nav’s lie in the Yorkshire Dales’.
All went well until I got close and was trying to concentrate on driving through a few narrow lanes and read directions a the same time (a ‘down’ to travelling alone, no one to read directions, but only one of a very few bad bits). Followed the directions perfectly and was on the home straight where I had to look out for a sign for reception on a right-hand turn in the road, when a HUGE combine harvester came towards me and I had to quickly negotiate my way to the side of the road, without hitting a stone wall or going down a gully. As I was concentrating on doing this, I of course, drove straight past the bloody entrance! I realised as soon as I had done it, got a bit cross and then carried on driving, hoping there would be somewhere to turn around.
No such luck – there are no roundabouts on the Yorkshire Dales, only narrow roads and steep hills. I had to face reality, I would have to find somewhere to stop, un-hitch, move the van around, and go back the other way. Now you may remember, I had done this once before….
This time I didn’t panic, didn’t phone my dad and didn’t stress about the people driving past me thinking I was an idiot – I just got on and did it. Oh, did I mention that by this point it was beginning to rain? Quite proud of myself – photos to show the before and after of the move below!
Some more spectacular views here, slightly ruined by the weather, but surely that would improve?
I got to the site – Ghyll Shaw Camping and Caravanning – booked in and was given directions to my pitch. This friends is what I had to drive down with a caravan attached……
I’m clearly very good at picking campsites that challenge me…. made it down, found my pitch and once again set up camp – I’m getting rather proficient at this.
Life lesson – sometimes it’s worth just throwing yourself into something you are worried about or scared of, it’s often not as bad as you think it will be.
I also found out that I prefer setting up when it’s sunny, not when it’s raining, but I am on my summer holiday and I was in shorts throughout (shout out to my BIL who is always in shorts, whatever the weather – It’s beginning to catch on).
My plan was to get here, set up and then go for a quick walk on the Dales (circular from the site) but the weather was so bad, I was worried I’d get lost in the mist/fog, so decided to stay in my van for a bit with a cup of tea and biscuits.
I’ve depleted my food stores, so stopped in Hawes to get a few essentials, but will save a look around for another day. Back to the van, and what does anyone with no Wi-Fi and NO TELEVISION OR RADIO SIGNAL do when it’s pouring with rain? I started a 1000 piece jigsaw.
I’d forgotten how therapeutic they are. I guess it’s the same as playing a game on your phone or colouring in patterns, it empties your mind. I spent a couple of hours doing this, then made dinner, read for a bit and now I’m writing this blog. It’s still raining and the forecast doesn’t look good for the next few days, which is sad as MY MUM IS VISITING! I’m picking mum up from Harrogate bus station tomorrow (bit of a drive, but worth it) and she will be staying with me for a few days.
Adventures (probably rather rainy ones) await!
One (wo)man and her (cara)van 