On the Road Again with Merle

[waynorth]

Merle has been hanging out with my 2018 Guardians Lambsfoot today

Merle is having a million dollar vacation!! Just wonderful, Jack!!
Flavors and sights from all over the world, but mostly in your neighbourhood!!
What a treat and an honour!!

 

[Fodderwing]

Jack Black this has been a fantastic tour of your city Jack! I especially loved Kirkstall Abbey. What an amazing education ole Merle is receiving! Thank you for all of your efforts my friend. Most enjoyable.

 

[Jack Black]

No cell phones, either… unless of course you own the place.

LOL! Possibly the most disliked man in Yorkshire! I was in a Smith's pub the other week, and I was the only person there, at 9.30pm at night. Obviously there was no music on, and the monosyllabic young barman wasn't a conversationalist He did, however, tell me what he thought of Humphrey, and he didn't need words of more than one syllable!

Merle is having a million dollar vacation!! Just wonderful, Jack!!
Flavors and sights from all over the world, but mostly in your neighbourhood!!
What a treat and an honour!!

I wish you could be here with us Charlie

Jack Black this has been a fantastic tour of your city Jack! I especially loved Kirkstall Abbey. What an amazing education ole Merle is receiving! Thank you for all of your efforts my friend. Most enjoyable.

Many thanks Dwight

 

[Jack Black]

"If you hear the words 'Posh' and 'Yorkshire', in the same sentence, there'll be talking about Harrogate!"

I had a few ideas of what to do with Merle today, but in the end, I decided to head out of Leeds, to North Yorkshire, and visit the former spa-town of Harrogate, and the pretty market town of Knaresborough. The countryside between Leeds and Harrogate is stunning from the top-deck of a double-decker bus, but unfortunately the 4 front seats had been seized by two large ladies, who were as voluble as they were loud I took a few pics out of the side window, as the views streaked by, but they were mainly blurred, or distorted with reflections from within the bus. I got some anonymous fields, the main entrance to Harewood House, and the River Wharfe, as we negotiated the narrow confines of Harewood Bridge. Harewood Bridge is the boundary between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire, which differ in character to a large extent.

The southern suburbs of Harrogate have expanded considerably over the past few years, but there's still a 'green belt' running around the town, even if it is being impinged upon. Unusually, the town centre also has its own green belt in the form of 200 acres of public grassland, called 'The Stray'.

Alighting from my carriage, I crossed the road to visit one of Harrogate's antique centres, picking up a couple of lobster penknives, and an unusual sack-hook. The badge was given to me by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, who were collecting nearby, and to whom I gave a donation.

I continued into the centre, walking alongside the well-heeled locals, many of whom pronounce the name of their town 'Harrow gate' (unlike the rest of Yorkshire, where it is 'Harrow gyt').

Half a dozen years back, Yorkshire was host to the Tour de France, and they're still talking about it

Hard to think you could get get that lost cycling, but then Harrogate has a 'Montpellier Quarter' (of course it does!)

Tourists (I assume) queue to get served tea and muffins, by waitresses in old-fashioned clothes, at Betty's tea rooms I once had to attend a press breakfast there, and was less than impressed by the fayre

The war memorial opposite.

Harrogate Theatre, beautiful historic building, cramped and uncomfortable seats

I was looking forward to getting breakfast in Harrogate, and while there are many cafes there (where you don't have to queue), there's a place about a mile away, which does great food, and fantastic coffee. I walked through attractive, well-tended streets, lined with beautiful, historic houses, which undoubtedly cost an arm and a leg. Finding the cafe, I was disappointed to be told that they were "only doing a limited food menu" due to staffing issues. This turned out to be something of an understatement, as they were only doing drinks, and some cakes, but I hid my tears, and ordered coffee with some sort of lemon cake. While I missed the cooked breakfast, the coffee and cake were both excellent

I gave the dog, lounging in the sunshine outside, some attention, and walked back into Harrogate, to get the bus to Knaresborough.

 

[Jack Black]

As long-term members may recall, I used to have reason to visit Knaresborough regularly, and have written about it at some length. This would be my first visit for over 2 years though, and as we approached it, I was glad to see that the bridge over the River Nidd was still in place, and so contrary to appearances, the world was not due to end, one of the better-known 'prophesies' of the cave-dwelling old bat, who is one of Knaresborough's past residents (older members may also recall her possible incarnation ).

I think this sign may be misleading, since that building is quite clearly NOT a cave

I may not have been to Knaresborough for a while, but I still remember the hill up to the town well enough to stay on the bus, where I alighted near the market-place.

I called in at another antiques centre, but found nothing of interest. Knaresborough had quite a few formerly, but most are gone now sadly.

I walked across the market square, in the direction of the castle...

Yes! There's a castle! Yorkshire is full of them, but unfortunately, since they picked the wrong side in the English Civil War, there isn't much left of this one It does give you an excellent view of the river below though, and of the impressive railway viaduct

As with Earl, and Pearl, I took the iconic snap of Merle

 

[Jack Black]

If you've ever seen any of the Robin Hood films, you'll remember King John! Yes, THAT King John, the bad 'un!

Just jogging your memory - That's a Harrogate accent he's affecting by the way. The bloke from Leeds must live in the posh bit!

Yes, we can add King John to former Knaresborough residents. He used to like to stay at the castle, and hunt roundabouts, probably got his palm read down at the cave

The castle grounds were quite busy, and I didn't stay long. I left, passing the war memorial, which is nicely situated I think.

Some other Knaresborough history...

I walked back downhill...

(Quite a hill isn't it?)

And crossed the railway line, passing the well-kept station.

Knaresborough has a lot of old houses, which contain bricked-up windows, a consequence of the Window Tax . Some of them have provided canvases for local artists, such as this house close to the railway line.

Another view of the viaduct, seen across the rooves of houses built against the steep hillside.

Close by is a plaque to 'Blind Jack' Metcalfe, the best known of Knaresborough's sons, and an important figure throughout Yorkshire.

Those readers paying attention may have noticed that we are on Kirkgate, the road leading to the church. Here is the church.

 

[Jack Black]

I had one more tradition to fulfill (of course), and so, as I had done with the two other traveller's from across The Pond, I took Merle for a pint and a chip butty at 'The World's End', the pub across the bridge from Mother Shipton's hovel

They've even added chip butties to the menu now, unlike when I visited with Peal and Earl. It was a shame Pearl wasn't around, as there was a young lass from Texas asking for a job working behind the bar

After scoffing the butty, and downing my pint, I walked over the bridge, admiring the views back to the town.

 

[Jack Black]

Just me and Merle here tonight, so we're just having a beer and a burger

 

[JohnDF]

So many great pictures, it's hard to comment on all of them.
But I wanted to give you an extra special shout-out for the massive stone bridge.

And it's wonderful to see all three visitors pictured in the same spot... Brilliant!

 

[Jack Black]

So many great pictures, it's hard to comment on all of them.
But I wanted to give you an extra special shout-out for the massive stone bridge.

And it's wonderful to see all three visitors pictured in the same spot... Brilliant!

Thanks pal

 

[Just Tom.]

I decided to head out of Leeds, to North Yorkshire, and visit the former spa-town of Harrogate, and the pretty market town of Knaresborough.

Those are two places I used to hear my mother mention fairly often. Of course not having been to either one, it meant nothing to me. I see now why she loved them so much.

I’m pretty sure she said “Harrow Gate”.

 

[waynorth]

As with Earl, and Pearl, I took the iconic snap of Merle

A man with a keen sense of History!!!

 

[RLB0414]

Thank you for sharing the sites and travels you have been on with Merle.

 

[Peregrin]

Jack Black
Wow Jack! I've been remiss in keeping up with Merle's adventure. Thank you for the wonderful posts! Merle is not going to want to leave. I bet he'll have an accent when he does!

 

[Jack Black]

Those are two places I used to hear my mother mention fairly often. Of course not having been to either one, it meant nothing to me. I see now why she loved them so much.

I’m pretty sure she said “Harrow Gate”.

That's interesting Tom

A man with a keen sense of History!!!

Thank you for sharing the sites and travels you have been on with Merle.

Thanks, it's a pleasure

Jack Black
Wow Jack! I've been remiss in keeping up with Merle's adventure. Thank you for the wonderful posts! Merle is not going to want to leave. I bet he'll have an accent when he does!

Thank you very much Gary, I just hope Merle doesn't leave here with an accent like that feller playing King John!

Me and Merle are taking it easy today, but I'm going to try to get to the Royal Armouries Museum early in the week, so if anyone has any requests for photos from their collection, feel free to ask

Pearl at the Royal Armouries

 

[Horsewright]

What a tour Jack/. Did enjoy the Royalist taking a potshot (sorry for the pun) at the Roundhead!

 

[Jack Black]

What a tour Jack/. Did enjoy the Royalist taking a potshot (sorry for the pun) at the Roundhead!

Thanks Dave I hope you can come back over sometime buddy

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks Dave I hope you can come back over sometime buddy

Well I was gonna buy Nichole Brechin Castle last month for her birthday. Its for sale/. She does like to fly fish. Didn't quite work out though.
Went with that lil concert instead.

 

[Jack Black]

Well I was gonna buy Nichole Brechin Castle last month for her birthday. Its for sale/. She does like to fly fish. Didn't quite work out though.
Went with that lil concert instead.

Fair enough my friend, maybe for the next milestone That concert looked pretty sweet, it was great to see the pics

 

[Johnnythefox]

I met up with my pal at the cafe in one of Leeds' large parks, housed in the old mansion house. I introduced him to Merle while we had coffee and cake

Then we headed towards the woods with our slingshots, passing some new parents on the way

Half a mile into the woods, I hung up a fizzy-drink can for us to shoot at. Merle cut the paracord

We were both firing 9mm steel balls, and all was going well, until I discovered a 14mm ball mixed in, and decided to try out a new slingshot I got last week, which arrived with very heavy bands fitted. The bands are not only powerful, they're also a bit short for me, and I managed to fire the ball straight into the back of my hand! I've never hit my hand before like that, and it was painful, but fortunately, I didn't break anything

Those big steel balls remind me of a certain film starring Humphrey Bogart

My mate had to get off, so we headed back through the woods...

I decided to take Merle for another coffee

As it was lunchtime I decided to have something to eat. The menu was very short, but I ordered a sausage sandwich, which turned out to be very overpriced, and very under-whelming

I decided to have a sausage bap instead of bacon myself the other day,mine was equally gopping and over priced.