Despite all the travelling I do for work and the many many miles I traipse during the week, I do still enjoy driving around the country with my family when I have chance. This weekend was our annual trip to see as many relatives as we can before Christmas, managed six this time, not bad at all!!
Fridays journey was through the wind and rain across the bottom of the Dales to the southern Lake District. Wet and wild as winter journeys should be, we got to see the bottom of Windermere just before we arrived at our destination and for some odd reason that brief glimpse always symbolises the start of the holiday season to me, An evening with the in-laws followed and a good nights sleep.
In the morning their was a break in the storms and we headed off to Grange over Sands for a walk (or a scoot for the smallest member of the family) along the prom. Peaceful despite the breeze and pleasant to observe the horticultural diversity planted by local residents. Switch-off territory if ever their was one.
After a break sojourn for a bacon sandwich (how vegetarians cope without them I don't know) we returned to the car and headed off for the second stage of our family weekend.
North and East we went across the Dales past the Castles of Barnard Castle, Raby and Durham (I always like to spot castles as I drive) and finally arrived in Chester-Le-Street for another night away.
Seven of us in the house for the Saturday evening but luckily enough space to hold us all in comfort. Good food and good company just helped with that relaxed feeling and I awoke the following morning contemplating the possibility of the idea of that Christmas feeling.
Heading south for home, later in the day, that Christmas feeling evaporated swiftly when a bump in the road triggered a puncture and then a complete blow-out of the rear left tyre. An hour waiting by the side of a windswept motorway for a recovery vehicle is no ones idea of fun, but at least the rain waited until we were safely in the van and the tyre replacement was prompt once we arrived. Two hours later than originally planned we finally arrived home.
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