Ripon Road Trip 2025

Yesterday (Monday, 28 July) was supposed to be pretty much a repeat of last year‘s journey as described here.

Apart from us setting off 2 hours later than last year, everything was the same until we reached London.

Spotted in Paris and still wondering what makes that coffee poodleproof.

Getting ready for checking in and border control at the Eurostar terminal in Paris

Getting off the Eurostar in London.

There we were supposed to get on a train from King‘s Cross to Yorkshire. However, a person had been hit by a train between Stevenage and King‘s Cross, which caused a major distuption - no trains were leaving or arriving at King‘s Cross for the rest of the day.

What to do?

Back to St. Pancras, where we had just stepped off the Eurostar, and to the National Railway Ticket Office for information. There, we were told to board a train to Sheffield, from there on to another train to Leeds, and then a local train to Harrogate, where we were due to arrive at 23:16. 

It was the only feasible thing to do, or else we would have had to find accomodation in London for one night and try again the next day, something we really didn‘t want.

In situations like this, having a smartphone is vital - we kept my sister-in-law in the loop so that she knew when to pick us up in Harrogate for the last bit of the journey to Ripon.

It was all a bit stressful with so many people affected by the situation and needing to change their plans same as us, but I must say passengers were very civil, and staff was most helpful and kind.

A selfie of a different kind, taken at around 10:30 pm at Leeds station, before boarding the last of the six trains we were on that day.

Instead of around 10:00 pm, it was almost midnight by the time we opened the door to ‚our‘ cottage. Our landlord had left the lights on to make it more welcoming, and our landlady had put fresh flowers in a vase in the window; both such kind gestures which we appreciated very much.

It felt as always, like coming home.

We retreaded each to our own rooms, unpacked and then went to bed. I was beyond tired and read for half an hour before finally turning the light off at 1:00 am.