Harrogate to York

Before setting off today we had a little trip to a fantastic bakery for a lovely waggon wheel shaped delicacy. Lemon and blueberry.

We didn't have far to go as our first stop was in Knaresborough. I remember it from an episode of Landscape artist of the year, and was looking forward to standing on the spot where they set up their painting pods.

We weren't disappointed as it was really beautiful and full of tourists having fun. Lots of them hired rowing boats and were so terrible at it, but we didn't give have a go so I can't say if we'd have been any better.

Then it was on to a disused railway line that ran for miles. The landscape is now almost completely flat, so we are using hardly any battery on our way.

Tonight we are staying at The Grand Hotel in the centre of York and it is very fancy. 

Every other night we wheel our bikes to the hotel reception, check in and then either drag our bikes upstairs up a set of stairs or in the lift. We then usually have to squeeze around things to get in the bed. 

That didn't happen here, and uniformed porters whisked our luggage to our rather large room and took our bikes to a private car park down the road. It was very disconcerting and luxurious, but we don't have to get used to this style of living as it isn't happening again on this trip.

We then decided to enjoy the hotel in style and went for afternoon tea in one of the many restaurants. It was lovely and very classy, but I was rather jealous of the mum and son at the next table who had gone for the Harry Potter Wizard themed tea, complete with test tube drinks and chocolate broomstick shaped cakes.

Finally, we took an evening stroll along the city walls to walk off some of the calories. 

Some might say that was too many cakes in one day, and I forgot to mention the giant 99 at Knaresborough. Perhaps a savoury day tomorrow.