SPRINGTIME AT LAST NEAR AYSGARTH - FIRST CAMPSITE OF THE YEAR

The weather forecast finally said spring was coming, we headed off to a campsite near Aysgarth we had stayed at last year as again Town Ends in Aysgarth was full.

First day the sun struggled to come through until evening but it was not cold apart from the strong wind which again fizzled out.

We did a 41/2 mile walk from West Witton down to the banks of the River Ure and Redmire Force, a mini Aysgarth Falls but pretty in its own right.

Lambs everywhere, the river had harlequin duck, Merganser and yellow wagtails. A pleasant and peaceful walk.

BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY

HARLEQUIN DUCK

MERGANSER

POOR SQUIRREL GOT MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR LOOKING IN THIS BOX

YELLOW WAGTAIL

REDMIRE FORCE

 

CASTLE BOLTON

ST BARTHOLOMEWS WEST WITTON

Day two dawned hot and sunny....at last! We did a 61/2 mile hike driving to the start at Carlton and hiked up to Penhill with pretty views over Wensleydale then back past a delightful waterfall at Mel beck.

PENN HILL

GOLDEN PLOVER

MEL BECK

Last day, sunny but cool wind back again. We did a 9 mile hike from Walden into Coverdale. A lovely walk despite going wrong 5 times and extending walk by 2 miles! At one point when we were tramping over the open moor I did wonder if we were totally lost but the man done good, he found the track we needed to get back. While we were sort of lost we heard our first cuckoo of Spring – lovely!

A super break with fantastic weather, what more can you ask.

TOAD OR FROG?

ROY LOOKING FOR THE ROUTE SHEEP LOOKING FOR FOOD

AUCKLAND - END OF A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY

Campervan returned with no problems, taxi to the Waldorf Tetra Apartments for a couple of nights.
As cities go Auckland seems lively, manic and full of Japanese/Chinese but that's just first evening impressions and it was St Patrick's Day.
Queen Street was a heaving mass of fast food outlets, never seen so many!
We finally found a nice place near the Aotea Centre where there was entertainment in the square.

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD!

DRUMMERS AT THE AOTEA CENTRE

IRISH PIPERS

SKY TOWER

ICE CREAM PUFF TIME!

Our last day in New Zealand was spent watching the Volvo Ocean Race start its 7th leg to Brazil, 3 weeks through the southern oceans. We spent 4 hours watching the razzmatazz of the start - Roy was in his element and I remembered why I went off racing yachts! 

SKY TOWER

THE 7 CONTESTANTS STILL IN THE RACE

LAST MINUTE JOBS

ROY IN HIS ELEMENT!

SAW THESE SKY WALKERS WHILE WAITING FOR RCE TO START

MASCOT

TURN THE TIDE ON PLASTIC

BRUNEL

VESTAS

AKZONOBEL

SCALLYWAG

DONGFENG

MAPFRE

LOVE THESE SAILS!

After the race started we went up the Sky Tower, what a fabulous experience and all for $23 each! Only place in NZ that had a oldies rate!

THE BLUE SQUARE IS WHERE THE BUNGY JUMPERS LAND

A BUNGY JUMP RIDE IN REVERSE - IT SHOOTS YOU VERY FAST UP INTO THE AIR! ROY WOULDN'T DO IT!!

My final words go to my beloved husband and soulmate Roy for having yet another wonderful dream that he made come true. He has driven me safely round NZ and planned all the route. Thank you Roy xxx
This has been a most fantastic time with hundreds of memories.