6: Day....Another: The Grand Tour

It was time for Harry the Explorer to go to his next village and since Liz and Glenn had no guests coming in, they decided to drive him over and asked me to tag along. We watched a couple of episodes of “Fawlty Towers” before we left because our friend Harry hadn’t seen them before — this was all due to Glenn’s comment that he channels his inner Basil Fawlty in his job from time to time. Ha! We watched “Mrs. Richards” and “Hotel Inspectors” and then took off in their car on an adventure.

We went up to Sedbusk and past Hardraw, heading up into the clouds on a rainy day. Up and up to Fossdale and we crossed out of Wensleydale over Buttertubs Pass into Swaledale. Even though they are so close together, the character and colors of these two Dales are different. We stopped for an absolutely wonderful meal at the Tea Shop in Mucker (pronounced “mew-ker”) and it turns out that is where Liz and Glenn spent their honeymoon all those years ago. I had a ham and tomato sandwich that was served on granary bread with this exquisite butter. My friends had “cream tea” which is tea or coffee served with scones, clotted cream and jam. It’s a meal I won’t soon forget (Harry shared half a scone with me, thanks, Harry!). The service and food were impeccable and I could get very, very used to this.

After Mucker we went down and across Swaledale to Askrigg and dropped off Harry at his next home-base hotel. Then out past Aysgarth Falls (remember Robin Hood Prince of Thieves? They shot the river scene there) and out to Castle Bolton, Sumer Water, and then to a pub in Redmire for dinner. Beer and apple cider on tap, Indian food on the menu, and I got introduced to something called a suet pudding which is this rich, stewed beef baked in a pastry with a suet base, vegetables, and all covered in brown gravy. I only had a little bite, but it’s one of the richest things I’ve ever tasted. And yum. Then back toward Askrigg, through Bainbridge and back home to Hawes. The map said we traveled 42.1 miles but measured an hour and thirty-six minute drive not counting our stops to get out and take pictures. Like I said — distance is different up here. Everything is different up here in ways that suit be very well.