After a tortuous drive down narrow roads parallel to the A1 (satnav to blame) we finally arrived in Ripon in the rain. The car park for the cathedral was shared with Sainsbury's so was full of Friday shoppers. We decided not to bother and drove on to nearby Fountains Abbey which is managed by NT. The rain was even heavier and running down the access roads, but we made it to the almost empty carpark. Weather map showed rain was easing so we waited and waited until it was light enough to make it to the visitor center. Bought a plant for Mark and were directed to the disabled car park where we could easily stroll to see the Abbey ruins. Well worth another visit in better weather.
Exiting the car park a sign pointed to Harrogate. Sounds nice afternoon tea stop - big mistake. It's now 3:30, roads into town very slow. Dodge round the town centre to head towards A1 south. Traffic getting worse until we get to a burst water main, at the junction of the two outgoing routes, with a diversion though a housing estate. Locals outside and in windows as main road traffic, including a motorhome, tried to get through their side street with cars parked both sides. Absolute chaos.
It took about an hour from approaching Harrogate to reaching the A1. We definitely deserved the KFC and Costa at the services before we travelled on. It should have been an easy run from there but an earlier accident, that had closed part of the M1/M62, was still causing stop-start progress. We finally arrived home at around 7:30 after being stuck in the van for about 6 hours on what should have been a 3 hour journey. But we are home safe and sound after a long awaited and very successful holiday.
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