28th May 2009
I spent the last three days in the North Yorkshire Moors with my younger son. Fish was supposed to come to but his kidney scan was brought forward to Tuesday. My youngest did comment he thought his Dad wasn’t entirely sorry this had happened. Too bad I had already bought two extra sleeping bags and a chair to accommodate the three of us.
Highlights included:
· Driving through villages built of golden limestone.
· The magnificence of the moors especially near Osmotherly where Dad and I used to walk on the Cleveland Way
· The drive from Osmotherly through Hawnby and into Helmsley – surely there can be few more ravishingly pretty roads.
· The intense violet of the bluebells growing amongst the lime green foliage of new bracken at the side of Roseberry topping.
· The massive portions of steak and duck served by the White Horse in Ampleforth.
· The company of my youngest son.
Downsides:
· The windiest campsite I have ever experienced (Golden Square). The pov tents were situated to be severely tested by the elements.
· The weather – boiling sun, rain, wind and hail within the space of half an hour during our walk.

But warmth and comfy beds are fantastic after this!