Day 20 and 21 - Saturday and Sunday 19th and 20th July

I have combined these pages as there were no photos (for various reasons) for these 2 days.

Saturday was our last day at Masham. Before we were packed Jean Longster was there collecting towels etc!! What a pain in the arse she was, however David was lovely.

We finally packed the car and left Masham around 10 and headed off. We dropped in for a quick hello to Jemma and Kelvin and to pick Mum up and take her back to Harrogate but on the way we going shopping at Ripon and to meet Wen's cousin and uncle for lunch.

It was t'the first time I had dropped in to see Jemma and Kelvin and little bub Mackenzie. We passed a very pleasant hour or so before setting off. We were meeting Wen's uncle Norman and cousin David for lunch. I have forgotten the name of the place, but Wen can fill that in. David has Parkinson's disease. In spite of his condition he was just a gem. We had a lovely conversation with him and Norman. Norman, dispite having a dispute with a waitress, was pleasant company. Norman is Em's brother.

After lunch we were off for more shopping at Harrogate. As parking is at a premium I stayed in the car and did a couple of loops around the block until I found a park. After shopping everyone was knackered - we are managing to fit so much into this holiday. We went back to Mum's with a quiche we had brought for dinner. After 1 glass of wine we all fell asleep in front of the telly. We woke at about 6.30 and had dins with Mum before going back to Mandy and Graham's. What an exhausting day ... but unbeknownst to us at the time, tomorrow was going to be even more exhausting.

After an early night we were quite spritely on Sunday and decided to go for a walk. As it had been raining through the night we didn't think we would go through the fields and we took a concrete path that headed towards Ripley. I left my stick and camera behind as I didn't think I would need it!!!

It was probably about 1 k down the road to the path which was flat and long and straight through a forest. After about a k we came across a sign pointing through a field that said Nidd Gorge (that sounded good). Off we went through the fields. The track became rougher and more hilly as we got closer to the Gorge. Where was my stick!! By the time we got to the Gorge we had probably walked about 4 - 5 ks. We had no water, no phone etc.

We walked along the River Nidd for some way. Wen spotted a tiny vole. He tried to climb the steep path and did a roly poly back down. Where was my camera!!!

Shortly after this, Wen followed her instinct to try to find our way back and we left the River and followed a rough track around the edge of a field. I saw a rare red deer!! By this stage I was starting to flag and knew we probably had at least 4 ks back to home. We finally came to a farm track and stopped to ask a lady directions. The tracks became roads and there were now more people about walking. Wen stopped to help a father and daughter on a bike with a kiddy bike trailing behind. The fixed extension to the kiddy bike was loose and daughter kept doing a tumble. Wen eventually helped by wheeling the little bike for them on its back wheel. By this stage I had nothing left in the tank and was in a bit of pain.

By the time we reached Bog's Lane we still had a ways to go to Mandy and I was just putting one foot in front of the other. Wen had gone on ahead and brought back the car to save me the last k! My hero! I fell into the car and then had trouble getting out!!! We left at 9:15 in the morning and it was now 1:15 and we had had no water and it was full on walking. I estimate we probably did 10 - 12 ks.

I did not have lunch, but just a trusty diet coke, shower and a rest on the bed!! By 5 we had recovered enough to partake of a wine and socialise. Mandy cooked us a lovely stirfry for dinner.