Harrogate 2023
A total of 19 IH Owners vans attended the Spring Meet at Harrogate Caravan Park over the 5 day period beginning Wednesday 12th April. It was good to meet up with other members, both long-standing and a few new faces. This is a very popular site, the third visit for club events, and some members had arrived a day earlier so a small group checked out the local pub on Tuesday evening, prior to the Thursday group meal.
Unfortunately the wet weather led to the Wednesday evening ‘Welcome Drinks’ get together being postponed. Over the first few days members took advantage of any dry spells to catch the bus into Harrogate, walk around the nearby Crimple Park. Some ventured to the nearby market town of Wetherby, eating fish and chips from the recommended Wetherby Whaler. Another trip made was to the picturesque Fountains Abbey, not too far from site.
The group meal at the nearby pub ‘The Travellers Rest’ was on Thursday evening. Thirty one members enjoyed a lovely meal gathered together in the conservatory.
Everyone commented on how good the food was and the brilliant staff who went out of their way to make the evening really enjoyable. Luckily the pub is only a few minutes walk from site so very easy access for all. We can highly recommend it if staying at the Harrogate site in future.
By Saturday the sun was shining and most took advantage of the weather to venture out and about by bus, in vans or walking into Harrogate via Crimple Park.
At last, on Saturday afternoon, we could get together for drinks and nibbles, catching up with where everyone has been since the last meet at Sandhead in Autumn 2022. There had been four quizzes handed out for entertainment over the previous days and the answers and prizes were given out. Martyn and Tina won the Dingbat pictures of UK towns and cities. The general knowledge quiz was won by Ray and Bev. We had joint winners for solving the anagrams of motorhome equipment. The Dingbat pictures of phrases and sayings was won by Kath and Lance. All the quizzes were well received. Some, especially the anagrams, proved challenging to some but overall were a fun source of entertainment.
An informal get together for coffee on Sunday morning was also goodbye to some who were leaving to go to other locations or return home.
Sunday lunch was enjoyed by some members at Fodder cafe next door to site or at the pub The Travellers Rest. Both locations served delicious food and were highly recommended. Fodder has a take out van ‘Fodder on the Hoof’ which served amazing coffee as well as breakfasts, sandwiches, etc all highly recommended by those who treated themselves.
We were all grateful to the helpful and welcoming site staff and the pub staff, as well as the convenience of it being near to Fodder Farm Shop and cafe and Sainsbury's supermarket and petrol station.
The location of this site, not too far from I.H. in Knottingley, means that quite a few of the attendees linked this event with visits to I.H. for servicing or for minor repairs. One lot of members ended up going there to pick up a replacement water pump at short notice and were pleased to report back the problem was quickly fixed and advice re another problem was given, meaning their stay at Harrogate continued as planned rather than having to cut short their stay. Thanks to I.H. staff for their help.
Monday morning saw the departure of everyone left, some to other locations and quite a few heading south towards Ferry Meadows in advance of the Peterborough Motorhome show, the follow on meet.