As if leaving Hambleton isn’t sad enough, today is the day we would have finished our three weeks aboard Seabourn cruising the Med so so how sad might it have been then? Problems for the privileged, I don’t deny, I'm just trying to make light of our situation.
Our final breakfast is just a lovely as ever, and soon we’re packing up, well Husband is because I’m writing whist he whirls around me! It takes a while as we need to unpack the car, put the roof down then repack it so as not to upset the sensors which would otherwise report that we can’t open the roof. It’s all a game of human v computer - of which (of course) I’m always going to win!
We aim for Belton House which is a National Trust property we’ve not visited before. Although the house isn’t able to open the extensive gardens are a worthy destination anyway so we while away 90 minutes here before returning to our drive. The gardens are impressive and we will definitely revisit here again.
Heading through Grantham them steadily northwards we take the A19 route rather than the M1 simply because it’s more interesting, even though the distance and drive-time are longer. Minimising our exposure to the A64 has to be a priority this weekend with “official” school holidays starting, although that is a dubious concept in 2020. Heading north we have about 125 miles to cover, and sadly the rain is looming nearby. Happily we complete our walk around Belton House in what’s left of the sunshine and head off with the roof down.
Before long the rain starts but as we’re doing a reasonable speed on the A1 the water just passes over us - it’s always funny how many odd looks we get driving in rain with the roof off but it hardly ever bothers us. Unless one runs into road-works! Slowing down Near Lincoln we see there’s about a two miletail-back showing on the screen, but we’re reluctant to put the roof back on (it will work up to 30 mph) so we brave it, just starting to get wet as our speed slows, but it’s not for long and we don’t actually achieve “drowned rat” status today.
Beyond Lincoln we’re soon dry again and the weather in improving with every mile. Next we’re crossing the Humber Bridge and reentering God’s Own County. And yes I know Humber(side) is a county, but politics aside it’s East Yorkshire ergo Yorkshire! The sudden change in geography says it all, as the wide open plains are replaced with rolling hills that just get more and more fun to drive, especially as the traffic is surprisingly light, well until we hit the A64 just 15 miles from Scarborough and it takes another hour to reach our hotel.
Wrea Head Hotel is new to us, we were trying to find a fabulous place near the coast and quite frankly there’s isn’t much choice. Go inland and further north and there’s a whole load to choose from but in this locale Wrea Head is all we could find so we just thought we’d test it out. It has the strictest covid-rules we’ve come across, and the only place where all staff wear masks all the time, but guests don’t, they are expected to execute 2m distancing instead. The staff are very pleasant and like Hambleton, the hotel is full, so must be doing something right.
After not checking in, we do exactly what the detailed welcome email asks, straight to our room and unpack, fill in our dinner and breakfast choices, and then head out to explore the area. I’ve created a small circuit and wow, Yorkshire bites back as the hills remind us our hamstrings have finished their southern rest and it’s back to walking proper!!
Five miles later we’re on a terrace overlooking the local cricket practice with shandies and as the barman has no nuts or crisps, he kindly finds us assorted biscuits from the kitchen.
Comments
Post a Comment