The Arrowgroup

Day One: Friday 11th September

The trip is later this year due to the impact of Covid 19 which has seen the whole Country shut down. We had just come out of a lockdown and unbeknown to us at the time, were about to enter another one so we effectively took advantage of a small window of opportunity. A small band of 3 set off from Nottingham with Mike meeting us in York at lunch in the Maltings pub. On the journey we visited Ferrybridge services. Not all had a face mask which was a very new concept.

The residence is in Ogleforth. A 4 storied property complete with the usual haunted basement. There is a 'Dice Off' for choice of rooms then on to the local supermarket for evening snack stocking up. We only manage 2 pubs in the evening. Leaving your seat is banned and leaving the pub means that you may not get back in again. These are different times. So its the Cross Keys followed by the Ye Old Starre Inne and then home for cheese & biscuits. Paying for everything by card is the new norm and sets the trend for future trips. Here lies the death of 'The Walter'.

Yor-Kidding
On the Walls, Stuart realises he has not brought his towel, Mark has forgotten his sunglasses. Chris reminds both about the importance of bringing a list

Day Two: Saturday 12th September

Breakfast is the next challenge so we end up with the ever reliable Wetherspoons and its app for ordering. The return takes us to the likely grave of highway robber Dick Turpin. The group will find that in fashionable York, there are many Dick Turpins !. With so many places off limits, they head back to the house for some good old indecision. Eventually they elect for the Open Top bus ride which takes an hour and brings them back to the centre for Coffee & Cake. Clearly without a plan, the group meander down to the river and find that there is an available boat trip up the Ouse. Another hour killed and its back to base via the obligatory Shambles. DSA is reaching record lengths thanks to no planning. Evening meal is courtesy of the Bengal Brasserie, followed by the Old White Swan & Royal Oak. The Swan has served us well in the past but we were isolated in a back room and it didnt hit the spot.

Yor-Kidding
We learn where Stuart gets all his jokes from - The low standard Ribtickler selection employed by the pilot of the River Cruise

Day Three: Sunday 13th September

We decide to leave York and head for the coastal town of Scarborough. First up it is breakfast at the Lord Rodebery. The group have the usual fry up but decline on the locals favourite of 3 pints of lager. Wipe your feet on the way out. We decide to walk down to the front. Well why walk if you can take the Victorian Lift. A largely more rotund group are keen to avail themselves of this facility. We then head up to the castle where the vote is 3-1 not to pay the £8.95 entrance fee. So back to the harbour followed by Cake & Coffee.

The afternoon adventure is the North Bay miniature railway which gives you a 15min ride to Scalby Mill. To satisfy the historians in the group we then head off to the site of the Battle of Stamford Bridge (Which is the semi-final match to the Battle of Hastings). The setting for the memorial stone is now in the middle of a housing estate and complete with the local youth hanging round it who just see it as a local smoking post. The Happy Valley Chinese restaurant provides the food for the evening followed by drinks in the Golden Lion & now trusted Royal Oak in Goodramgate.

Yor-Kidding
Walking up to Scarborough Castle "I'm beginning to smell like a sewer" says Chris (yesterdays Curry) ."Is that the title of your second Biography?" asks Mike.

Day Four: Monday 14th September

A pre-booked activity awaits the start of the day - Its the Jorvik Centre where the group are made to queue. Much is made of the attempts to keep the public safe, first separating them by 2 metre distances only then to squeeze them through into a holding tank ready to be processed for payment and entry. Its a quick visit with emphasis on total wallet extraction for as little enjoyment as possible. More milling ensues. Mike has only a couple of hours left before he needs to catch his train back to Berwick. Chris comes up with a time filler that involves a sprint round the walls to the Walmgate Bar where they can while away the last few hours sat on the balcony and soaking up the sun.

After a sprint round half of Yorks walls, the group arrive at the cafe, only to find it shut on Mondays. (This has been a theme of various trips over the years). We have about an hour of Mike left when we arrive back at the 'Nice to See You' Cafe for the final healthy meal (Cake & Chocolate). Then in the manner he arrived, Mike is whisked away on a fast train back up North. The nucleus of 3 have nothing left in York, so commence the journey back via Knaresborough and Mother Shiptons. The final scene is our intrepid three having an ice cream on the Banks of the River Nidd whilst watching the rowing boats and ducks. Ideal scenes turn back to Urban life with the evening meal at Ollerton McDonalds and then on home. Its been the shortest trip for a while, but it keeps up the run

Yor-Kidding
During this trip we were able to establish various Phobias amongst the group, which are noted as :- Stuart - Spaces (Claustrophobia), Mike - Lifts (Claustrophobia), Chris - Odd Numbers (Imparnumerophobia) Mark - The Dark (Nyctophobia)