York, UK. Friday/Monday 21/24-August-2026.
Fabulous long weekend in York with the in-laws, Sandra and George. Ever since York started up a second parkrun beginning with Y (York Community Woodland) this visit has been on Mary’s radar to help us complete our second parkrun alphabet.
It was planned that Sandra should complete her 100th different location at the same event. Sandra and George also wanted thank to us for letting them stay in our house for three months while their new build home construction completed. The deal was they would treat us to a nice meal (or three).
Friday 21-August-2026.
George and Sandra drove down from Scotland, dumped their car in the long stay car park at Penrith bus station and we loaded their suitcases into our car for the rest of the journey down to York.
That evening we dined in Guy Fawkes Inn as George does like a pie.
Saturday 22-August-2026.
York Community Woodland, 22/08/26 32:04 [428/621].
Saturday is of course parkrun day and, as is the custom when Saturday falls on the 22nd of the month or "two-two" day, people are encouraged to wear tutus. We were joined by our friend from Halifax, sans tutu.
The event was a double celebration: to complete our second parkrun alphabet and Sandra's 100th venue.
We had bought the flag for this event and donated to to the volunteer team as there will doubtless be others completing their alphabet here as the are not many Ys in the UK.
Sandra is sporting Cow ears, a present to Mary from parkrun friends Marcus and Manuela, as 100 locations is known as a Cowell after the first person to reach this milestone.
First port of call in the evening was beer at the historic House of Trembling Madness with lovely oak beams.
Supper was The Whippet Inn where we had a classy meal. Walking back to our accommodation we were treated to a lovely sunset over the River Ouse.
Sunday 23-August-2026.
Sunday morning, we did a trail of a temporary exhibition of highly decorated Wyverns. We walked around the town using a map supplied by the tourist information office and found all twelve (examples below).
On the trail we encountered Mary's third Paddington (after Penrith and the Strand London).
We passed the interesting looking Treasury house, an NT property, so put it on our list for next time we are in York.
As we had a bit of time to spare we popped in to York museum gardens with very tame squirrels hopping about expectantly for peanuts.
After lunch we met up with George and Sandra to do a treasure hunt. Mystery Guides publish several in the series. We had to wander around the town looking for clues which we then had to decipher to eliminate one of several possible suspect. A bit like Cluedo. After several hours and a couple of beers we arrived at the guilty party’s identity.
To celebrate we drank beer and then dined at Kalpakavadi a Keralan restaurant where we enjoyed two different fish curries. This prompted me to Google all about the Malabar coast home of which Kerala forms a large part and has been a major spice exporter since 3000 BC, according to Sumerian records and it is still referred to as the "Garden of Spices" or as the "Spice Garden of India".
Another lovely sunset.
Monday 24-August-2026.
A leisurely start and a drive back to Penrith for a light lunch before George and Sandra headed on north to Scotland. A fabulous long weekend.
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