Tuesday, July 5.   

After a day of rest we are on the road again. This time off to the lakes district in Cumbria. 

Over the Humber Bridge for the first time, this year.

Stopped in at Ripon and decided that we would spend the night so we could visit the cathedral in the morning.

Enjoying a couple of cleansing ales in the beer garden. Note that it is in sunshine.

Wednesday, July 6.

Took the short walk through the streets of Ripon up to the cathedral. Some lovely architecture along the way.

Who you gunna call? Ghostbusters!

Buildings around the town square.

Just had to have a car in it, a Bently.

Only one architect.

One of the two rivers that run by Ripon.

Ripon Cathedral.

Magnificent timber lining of the ceiling.

Have to love a column.

Font dates back to Tudor times.

Note the date at the bottom of the plaque.

Stairway to heaven?

Madonna and Child.

The crypt, built in the 600’s, that’s right, under the church.

Don’t think the chair is original.

These are examples of some of the 15th century misericords which are carved on the seat fronts in the choir stalls. Some of them are highlighted in Lewis Carrol’s books. His father was one of the Canons at the time.

This newel post is fabulous. A turtle, on which stands an elephant, which is supporting the church which is holding twelve people.

Copper and brass pulpit mounted on marble columns.

The hand you can see was placed there in the 1800’s. Apparently the organist at the time felt that the choir were not keeping up with  his beat, so he had the hand installed, which is linked to a foot pedal. I think you can work out the rest. Suffice to say that even though it is still operable, it is not used today.

Take a look at the dates on the two doors. Put them together to give you an idea of just how old the cathedral is.

For all you quilters and cross-stitch fanatics, this is unbelievable. I could not leave any out. To celebrate the millenium, the local quilters designed and made these seat cushions to fit down each side of the cathedral.

Lunch in the town, and Su ducked into the information centre,only to come back with a hand full of brochures and you would not believe it but one was for a wool shop on the York Dales at Muker in Swaledale. So walk back to Bessie,

Coal delivery door.

Couple of very tentative chimmneys.

and on our way! Past some lovely buildings,

down roads which went both ways, and had a dotted line,

The odd Saxon Church along the way,

Still normal roads but the buildings are starting to impinge,

over a great bridge,

Past some beautiful scenery,

whoa, who put that there? and where is the line?

and where is the road?

Now they have lined it with rocks!

and now buildings.

Seriously though, the drive is amazing, the dry stone walls and buildings are marvelous, and the dry stone fences form a patchwork quilt on the countryside. 

Finally arrived at Muker, 39 miles in 2 hours, and parked Bessie. It will be nothing short of a miracle if I can get her out without knocking over a wall or building, or sliding backwards into the river.

Crossed the bridge and headed to the wool shop.

Think this states the bleeding obvious.

Yep!

The said wool shop where purchases were made.

Library Institute.

Dry stone building.

Back to Bessie and you know what?miracles do happen.

Passed these Yurtz, used for camping.

Not sure what these are but they were scattered everywhere. Perhaps shelters for the sheep herders.

Road starting to disappear again.

Locals on smoko.

Now this looks serious. 

Goat track!😳😳

Even steeper.

Civilization at last, and there is the camp ground sign. Head to camp ground by Lake Windermere, the largest of the lakes in the Lake District, for a well earned rest. Dinner and a couple of quiet ales in the restaurant while watching Portugal beat Wales in the semi final of Euro.

Although long, it has been an unbelievable day both at the cathedral and the drive across the top of Yorkshire Dales, second only to Ben Nevis in Scotland as the highest point in the UK.

Truly amazing, and all because someone wanted to go to a wool shop. Had we gone the way we had planned, we would have driven along the side of the Dales on real roads.

An unforgettable experience.