I left Dundee in glorious summer weather.  I said Goodbye to the River Tay determined to return and and see my family as well as visit Captain Scott's ship RRS Discovery and St Andrews. 

I was glad to arrive in York to meet my second cousin and niece here.  Good luck to Vinyl Eddie who is just starting up.  He's handy for the race course so I hope the race goers all pop in. 

It was very hot when we had for our day trip to Helmsley.  I last visited this historic and attractive market town in 1988.  It is situated where the valleys of Ryedale and Bilsdale leave the North Yorks moorland and join the Vale of Pickering.   

 The remains of  Helmsley Castle tower over the town.  Rievaulx Abbey is close by.  We did not time to visit either of these sites, but we had lunch, a good wander and bought cake and beer.   

In the evening we went out to dinner in York.  We dined outside and later had a long walk.  I remembered staying here with my Mum and daughter in 1994.  That was a lovely time.  Not so lovely was our walk by the river dodging drunken race goers!