Good old Bertha was discharged from hospital a mere few hours later with a clean bill of health! The doctor said we’d got a good deal with our lovely van and had just done some minor tuning so we set off on our second trip very chuffed (although the back windscreen wiper is still a bit poorly!).

We’d taken most of the time in the morning choosing/arguing over a campsite (it’s more difficult than you would think and lots get booked up quickly when the weather forcast is good) and were pleased to discover we’d made an excellent choice with Craken House Camping Site in Leyburn.  It was a small site with only 25 pitches and had fantastic views over to Middleham Castle.  Each pitch is really big and we were in a little field next to a babbling brook near to another T25.  Rich was in his element as there were lots of doggies on site too (I think this will be a future addition to the family one day….!).  I made some attempt to make friends with the resident goose on site (George).  Sadly George had lost his mate a few years ago and we first saw him standing next to an old mirror which had been placed in the yard to keep him company – I don’t think he wanted to share his mirror with me!

Unfortunately we were forced into the van early evening due to midge attacks and our rubbish cheapo insect repellent burners were nothing more than ineffectual joss sticks.  Still, we didn’t mind and I was  secretly quite excited about cooking my first 2 course meal  (seafood kebabs for starters then pasta, yum, washed down with plenty of ale and cider).  It was a bit tricky banishing Rich from the kitchen though!

The next day it was ‘cracking flags’ as my friend Carrie would say (although thankfully we were in a lovely green field and not a paving flag in sight).  I fulfilled my hippie dreams of pottering around the van barefoot and reading my book – even managed to do a bit of crafting in the sun whilst the boy did some more tinkering with the mains charger…and other ‘boy’ stuff then we walked into Middleham for some food.  We were typically ‘Yorkshire’ and didn’t pay to go into Middleham Castle but I’ve been before and if you like that kind of thing it’s worth a visit.

Sunday was roasting again and I sampled the free shower on site – very clean (me and the shower!) but I’m thinking of buying a solar shower which you hook on the side of your van for those wild camping excursions – Rich was a bit worried that I’d be turning into a real hippie and getting naked outside the van but I assured him I’d keep my swimming togs on – wouldn’t want to inflict that on any passers by!  We packed up and Bertha took us home via Jervaulx Abbey, an absolutely beautiful place.  Sadly the lovely looking tea rooms and tempting choice of ice creams were beyond our means (no cash and they didn’t have a switch machine, damn!) but we had a nice wander in the ruins and then drove home…trying not to think about the housework and the Monday morning work blues ahead…..

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