Arrived Sat morning after a red eye flight into Manchester, picked up our car, and promptly got lost! We rented Foxtor, a house in Middleham, Leyburn, Yorkshire for our first week, . We had a late lunch at The Black Swan a pub right next door, and we drove out to Aysgarth and visited the Upper Falls while we still had light. Quick shop for some supplies and food, a few pints at The Richard III, (where we stayed for the Millenium), a carpet picnic and bed. PICS HERE

A quick drive on Sunday back to Aysgarth to visit the Lower and Middle falls. AWESOME! The water was amazing!!! We also visited Redmire Station on the Wensleydale line. We met up with Gordon and Cherith at The Cover Bridge Inn for Sunday lunch, (and our first pint of Old Peculier!) then off to the Forbidden Corner, a local maze\labyrinth\garden, which was alot of fun. Back for a Pub crawl, (four pubs within walking of our house, whoo hoo). We ordered pretty good Chinese takeaway and then enjoyed a fire with them at house as they stayed over in the guest bedroom. PICS HERE

Coffee and toast with Gordon and Cherith on Monday before they left. We said our goodbyes and went to Eden Camp,a WWII museum, and stopped at the White Bear in Masham on the way back home for a few pints. The White Bear is one of our favorite pubs.
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Off to Beamish, a living history museum for a visit on Tuesday. Parts of it were closed, only the Pit Village and Victorian City were open, but it was a nice place to see. We had hoped for some coal fired fish and chips, but that was not open. Nice visit, will go back. Quick lunch at a pub in town, and drove home via Arkengarth Dale Moor and a pint at the Tan Hill. FOG!!!! Could hardly see 15 feet! Tan Hill was empty, but the ale was awesome! PICS HERE

Off to York on Wed. Visited the York Museum, saw the 'Middleham Jewel', lunch at the 3 Tuns, then some cheesy tourist stuff with a visit to the York Dungeon, then on to the National Railway Museum. After returning, we had a few pints at the Black Swan, expecting to get some Fish and Chips from the shop next door, but it closed early, so we ate at White Swan across the square.
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Thursday was Waterfall day.... we visited West Burton Falls, then the Cat Pottery for two adoptions. Then on to Hawes, where we checked out the Dales Countryside Museum, walked around town, lunch at The Fountain, then off to Hardraw Force. Walked both sides, lots of new construction, cleaned it up quite a bit. Next up was Cotter Force for a nice walk along the river to the waterfall, then tried to find Moss Dyke Falls, but couldn't. Drove home via the Grinton Moor and more fog. Tried for dinner at Blue Lion, but no parking, so we settled for a pint at the Black Swan, and then Fish & Chips. Note to self, don't order the 'Large'!!
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Friday we drove down to Chatsworth House. It was Market Day, so we checked out some of the food and craft vendors, and then the house. Parts of the house were closed, but it was decorated for the holidays, which was kinda cool. With parts of the house closed, we spent more time in the garden/grounds area. Pics Here

Saturday we flew to Toulouse, France, for the drive to Faugeres to visit Jane's parents. After our week of grey clouds, we were stoked to see some sun and 24C temps! (That's 75F to you non-europeans :). Alas, it was not to last, as we ran into rain on our way to their house...

Sunday meant a trip to my favorite restaurant in the world, Auberge de Combes. Claude's son, Jean-Marc is now cooking with him at the restaurant. Even better, the menus were in both French and English this year. PICS HERE

Monday we went to Bedarieux on market day and checked out the stalls. We met Pete and Anne for lunch at Les Caitelles, and we drove to Serignan Les Plas via the Orb valley for a walk on the beach. The wind and waves were incredible! PICS HERE

Departed Faugeres on Tuesday for a road trip down the coast towards Perpignan. We headed towards the beach near the salt flats of Gruissan for some great views and some unexpected off roading!! We got stuck in the muck and almost didn't get out. Good thing I was prepared with some good old fashioned Michigan/Maine winter driving practice and we rocked the mighty Renault Modus out! After that near miss, we went to the the African Nature Reserve in Seguin. This was totally awesome and a real treat. We then visited the ancient Fortress de Salses, a drive thru mountain pass on our way to get to Toulouse at rush hour. Remind me to bring my bike next time I visit this area! Well, excpet for the rush hour part.... Pics Here

Wednesday we flew out from Toulouse to Manchester, where we checked into our inn in Chester, a walled city, The Pied Bull. We walked around Chester for a bit. Being a walled city, little car traffic is allowed on the streets, and there are lot of shops open late, so the town is busy in the evenings.

Thursday was spent walking the Chester city walls, checking out the locks, seeing the largest Roman Amphitheatre in the UK, a little shopping and some sightseeing We went in to Chester Cathedral for a tour, and to the 'Roman Experience at Dewa' as well. We played trivia in the bar after dinner, not doing so well, but having fun with all the other patrons. PICS HERE

We drove to Wales on Friday to visit Caernarfon Castle. We got blocked in by some obnoxious guest as we tried to leave early, as he refused to leave his keys at the desk, so we took some pleasure in our hostess waking him up kinda early in the am to move the car. The castle is impressive as it is mostly complete as built and had not been torn dow/wrecked over the years. Awesome drive over along the coast, we aslo visted the Isle of Anglesey on the way home. In the castle is the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum . Back to the Bull for dinner Pics Here

And in continuing with a tradition started long ago, we took pics of all the pubs we ate or had a pint in. Pub Pics Here