Jun 8 - around and about

I was up at 7, about the same time as Allan and Christine.  I caught up on email and then did some work with the bike and car.  I needed to find out if I could keep the bike open and assembled.

Well, in a word, yes.  With some contortions, I got the bike box sideways in the back of the car, right behind the front seats.  Also with contortions, I can get the bike in there, through the hatchback forward through and in place.  It's tight but works.  Of course the wheels have to be off to do that so they'll either go beneath or on top of the bike.

It's assembled and tightened up now; haven't ridden yet.  I was awake at 5am this morning and was sorely tempted but decided to go back to sleep; waking up at 7am again.  Since it was 11pm before I turned in last night, that's about right.

I had breakfast with A&K and then we set off for church.  Christine came with me, carrying a cake.  Allan led with his car.  Christine dropped the cake off at the adjoining school and we went to Mass.  They were celebrating the confirmation of four children, Oliver being one of them.  It's a small church but not as small as the one in Loring !

After Mass I followed Allan to Helen's place, about a mile away.  She lives at the end of a long driveway into the Ripley castle estate; the outbuildings having been converted into houses.  The prior owner had converted the granary, adding to it; Helen added some more.  All has to be done so that the look is maintained, of course.

I marked my GPS and headed back to Allan's house.  He went back to the school for the reception being held for the newly confirmed children.

Back at the ranch, so to speak, everyone was up and busy.  Sheryl and Sandy had made reservations in Edinburgh, so we're good for the next two nights.  We got organized and headed to Betty's in Harrogate.  They unloaded; I found a parking spot down the road a bit.  Queued up, we were only ten minutes or so before heading in, had a wonderful lunch and then wandered a bit.  We found the Information Center where they sell souvenirs but it was closed.  I'll head back there today because they are selling commemorative T's for the start of the Tour de France this year, which is in Harrogate !

With some time still, we went back to Allan's and then headed to Helen's.  Scones, champagne etc. were served and we sat and chatted inside and out.  It was a lovely day.

We'd originally planned to go out for dinner but opted instead to use up leftovers, but of course these were high class leftovers.  Crepes with a creme sauce and asparagus, cheese, salmon -- these are high class leftovers.  Harrogate Blue, by the way, is great !

Today ... well, I'll cover that when I do the next blog !

Wonderful News !!! -- the Xplornet installer is supposed to visit Bonnie and Jim today.  That's amazing !  Hopefully Jim has already strung the cable and this goes well.  Perhaps tomorrow she'll have her own connection !  I cannot believe that this has happened so quickly; he's usually very hard to schedule.

So ... onward.