Week 68 13 - 20 July CRD 57 Wk2 Europe.

Sunday 13

Last day of Super Bikes. Better day for Aussies Talya came 7th and Tara 20th WCR and Remi 9th in SBK and Ollie Baylass 13th . His team mate came second again. Met a bloke who was a Jack Miller fan and we yarned between races. 

Robyn and Kate had a great day and went to visit Chatsworth House the inspiration for Jane Austin's Pemberly House in Pride and Prejudice. Came back to accomdation at Hartshorne and they were having a Pizza night with live music. Small group about 30 people good fun and good evening. We got out washing done too. 

Monday 14

Dried our washing and then headed to York. Thought we would take the non motorway roads but it was not fun just congestion. So we M1ed it. York was amazing. Old buildings very close together. Could spend ages there. We then went open to Thirsk for the night. Visited the Yorkshire Vet building. James Heriot centre was shut. When to Kings Arms Hotel in the next village for dinner. 

Tuesday 15

Today we headed to Scarborough. Robyn was keen to see Scarborough Castle a ruin that over looks the North Sea. It features in a book she has read. Scarborough is a resort city with an esplanade full of arcades loke a massive old school Timezone. We did not stop. From here we headed to the moors. It was drizzling and damp. The perfect day to visit the moors. Their were huge expansive of heather in the high country and farming fields below. Stone fences and long haired sheep old barns and farm houses. And at spots, park benches if you want to just sit and ponder the world. I loved it. Our destination today was Newcastle upon Tyne. A large city with another crazy old city centre and lots of people. It rained while we had dinner at an Asian restaurant in the city centre. Again a great day of exploring. 

Wednesday 16

Today we went to Alwick Castle for Robyn's birthday present. Some of Harry Potter was filmed at this castle. It amazed me the effort that goes into maintaining places like this. This castle is still a private residence. It has been in the Percy Family since the 1300s. A contributing factor to dereliction of castles and estate houses has been death duties sometime they were up to 90 percent. These people have made a business out for maintaining the property. It was very good.  From here we went on to Freuchie. My grandmother's birth place. Had our photo taken in front of the house she is proported to have been born in. It is a small village about an hour north of Edinburgh. 

Thursday 17

Robyn's birthday. Kate gave her a pencil sketch she had done of Robyn and I at our wedding anniversary in Bell. Today after breakfast at Kirkcaldy on the way we went to Edinburgh. Like London there was lots of old building, history and people. Unlike London it is very hilly lots of ups and down. Their were in the process of setting up for the Military Tattoo in front of Edinburgh Castle we walked the royal mile from the castle to Palace at the bottom of the hill and explored lots of little places inbetween. We found a barber up a side a ally and I got a hair cut. Kate met a friend from the ship Jo. She had just finished her season on the boat and really wanted to catchup with Kate to debrief. They spent mist of there day together while we explored. After we had all had dinner together we returned to Freuchie.

Friday 18

Today we headed up to Aberdeen. Ww stopped at Charlton Farm and picked strawberries and Cherries. Good fun. Not a long day. Accomdation was the most interesting.  Positioned in an industrial estate between the airport and the train line. We went down to the water front and had fish and chips. The beach is pretty sandy but the north sea is cold. Not that it stopped people swimming. Aberdeen seemed to be an industrial city with a busy port. The were about host a Tall Ships race and it was gearing up for it. 

Saturday 19

Big day today with our visit to the Scottish Highlands amd the Lochs. Headed up towards Keith but then wound through the country to Aberlour for breakfast. From the we went through the edge on Inverness and along the east side of Loch Ness. The country was amazing and dramatic. We came past Ben Nevis to Falkirk for the night. It was a mixed day of highways and single lane roads sun shine and rain. We saw Highland cows. Food on this side of Scotland is not as good as we have had but I really want to come back and ride this country. Next time think I would like to stay in Aberlour.