Pilky's Tour

Saturday 26th May,

The day starts with the arrival of Jim & Anne to take us on a mystery weekend. We do know that it will involve National Trust establishments and a large Antique Fair in Lincoln.

Interesting fact; 26 May 2014 we arrived on the Lancaster canal and as we passed this bloke in his garden by the canal we made mention of what a good job he was doing. So started the friendship with Jim and Anne.

We head off South west past Buxton and through Ashbourne, Derby and Nottingham. Melton Mowbray, home of Pork Pies was further to the south, around Grantham to our first stop at the Stamford Antique Fair. This was on the village field with a number of stalls in a large marquee and many more around the field under individual gazebos. A cup of coffee with Bakewell tart to complete this stop. Heading towards Lincoln we stop at National Trust, Belton House and Gardens. We now head towards our B&B passing RAF Cranwell and through Lincoln with the Cathederal purched on the top of the hill. Stopped for dinner at the Pyewipe Inn alongside the Fossdyke Navigation. From here a short distance to Saxilby and Orchard Cottage. A delightfull B&B and delightful hosts.

Sunday 27th May.

After a lovely breakfast we are off south a short distance to a small vintage fair in the out buildings of Doddington hall. The hall is private so we didn't go inside. Adjacent was a farm shop with a good variety of food. All we bought was a scotch egg which turned out to be very tasty and custard tarts which were also tasty. Looked at buying some NZ wine but at 20 pounds a bottle decided not to. National trust Gunby Hall, near Spilsby was the next stop. Before going inside we had the scotch egg and custard tarts. Nice old house with well laid out gardens. On the return trip we called in to Woodhill Spar where there is an impresive memorial to Bomber Command 617 Dam busters Squadron, also a memorial representing the Vulcan and Tornado. 

Driving around Lincolnshire there are continual reminders of the large number of WWII airfields here. One can only imagine what hundreds of merlin engines must have sounded like all together. Dinner, a simple meal at Mill Lodge, down the road from RAF Waddington.
Back at the B&B we played Croquet before a very pleasurable evening with our hosts. Gordon, ex RAF Vulcan navigator had some interesting stories to tell.

Monday 28th May

Not far to travel to the Lincoln show grounds to attend a very extensive Antique fair. Truck loads of everything, furniture, jewelry, books, paintings. There were customers from all over the world buying by the container load to send home hoping to make a dollar or three. If we hadn't the problem of getting the stuff back to NZ I'm sure we would have made some purchases. We eventually finished there about 3pm having had a picnic lunch under some trees.

 From there we went for coffee at a garden centre before heading east to the North Sea. The closer we got the lower the cloud was and the wind rose so by the time we got to Mablethorpe it was a quick walk up to the prominade, look at the sand because the sea was in the mist and straight back to the car to warm up.
From there back to Lincoln for a bite to eat, which was a bit of a disaster, before returning to the B&B and another sociable evening.

Tuesday 29th May.

Away at a reasonable hour and heading North only knowing that at some point we will be going to Jim & Anne's in Preston. We drive over the Humber bridge as Jim has picked up the fact that I like bridges of all designs. We follow the M62 past Pontefract and Castleford, where my Mum's parents came from. We continued further north before turning west into Yorkshire Dales National Park. Such beautiful, breath taking scenery Stopped for lunch in Leyburn having just passed some Gypsy caravans heading up to Appleby for their annual horse fair. Diana's camera got a bit of a work out with them. Further west we visit Wensleydale Creamery the home of Wallace & Gromit. The place was packed with coach tours, general tourists, and a lot of walkers. Continuing through the Dales we arrive at the most impressive Ribble Head Viaduct on the Settle to Carlile railway as a freight train was crossing. 

There were cars everwhere and nowhere to park. I thought they were there to see the train but the cars stayed. Must have all been out walking. We back tracked a bit then turned off towards Dent. As we followed the stream down the valley on a windy narrow road the scenery got more impresive. We followed the River Lune to Lancaster then joined the M6 towards Preston. Great to see names of places and the occassional glimpes of the canal we spent 3 weeks on in 2014. Just before Preston we left the M6 to a friendly pub called The Wheatsheaf at Woodplumpton. A very nice home cooked roast was the order of the day. we took a walk across the road to visit the grave of Anne's parents before proceeding to Pilky's HQ. for a coffee before being returned to the boat via motorways. So our mystery tour ends about 9.30 PM. Not so for Jim & Anne as they now have an hour and half on Motorways back to Preston.
Thanks so much for the tour and your company.