Ep 13: The One When We Played Tourists

0612 Richmond – rest day!

Rest days are lovely – no need to race through breakfast or pack everything up.  Time to saunter through the day and take it easy.  Time to look around wherever you are staying, or just sit and read/ rest as you chose.

But rest days are rarely boring – and today’s excitement involved trying to find a launderette so that we could have some clean clothes!!  Our guide book indicated one in the centre of Richmond – but in fact it is now a drycleaners …  with a possibility of a laundry service.  As we had arrived on a Sunday when it was closed, we had yet to ascertain if this was correct.  Fortunately for us, there was a same day laundry service.  Unfortunately for us it cost us an arm and a leg!!  If only we had known – our lovely hostess at Butt House had offered to wash and dry a load for half of what today’s fleecing cost us.  We’d declined at the time because it seemed a very high price to us!!  Ha!!  You live and learn, as they say.  Anyway, if any of you want a business idea, there is a dearth of launderettes along the Coast to Coast route…..

After a delicious breakfast (and of course the laundry saga) the intrepid explorers split into two parties again and off we went to enjoy our days.  We are once again having to endure stunning weather – clear blue skies and a warm day. Such a shame we hear you say.  None of the thunderstorms that have been hitting other parts of the country for us!

Peter and Val headed down to the Information Centre, where the very helpful locals gave us plenty of ideas to fill at least 3 days!  We elected to start off with a short walk, from the central market square, up and around the Castle perimeter – a walk the ladies of old would take in their finery, to be seen and to socialize. Parts of the original town perimeter wall can be seen, and the route takes in several very old cobbled stone streets. 

We then headed down to the waterfalls just below the Castle, not expecting a lot because of the current very low water levels in the River Swale, but were pleasantly surprised when we got there. Dozens of people were already in the water at the falls, and up and down stream, making the most of the cool water on a hot day. 

Wandering a little further, we came to the old railway station – formerly the end of the line from Darlington. It has been renovated and turned into a thriving arts centre which includes several artisan craft shops, a café and three small cinemas!  It was great to see this lovely old building repurposed and so lovingly restored.  Needless to say, we took advantage of the café, with Peter taking the opportunity to sample a local ale brewed at the little brewery on site!  We then wandered back to our B and B to sit and read and escape the heat (yes, we are writing this from the North of England!).

Meanwhile, Barbie and Adam sampled the local coffee before an attempt at watercolour artistry. While Monet should not be concerned, it was a very relaxing day.

We have just seen that the next week will remain fine, sunny and warm. Wow!

Dinner was at a wonderful Italian  restaurant, La Piazza, at which we all ate far too much!