UK 2014, Harrogate, Tour de France and The Stray

We woke to grey drizzle this morning and just walked the town, popping in and out of the stores that interested us.

Wet slate rooves.

One store had highland cattle cushions and lamp shades, also sheep, deer, rabbits in the
same watercolour style. I couldn't figure out how to get them home.

The Yorkshire Grand Depart of the Tour de France left Harrogate on July 5, this year. To celebrate the event there are bicycles all over town.

For lunch we used up cheeses, veg, dips as we leave tomorrow. Of course we added to the repast some pasties and pastries we had bought while on our stroll.
In the afternoon we all went our different ways and I chose to walk up The Stray, a huge park that borders two sides of the downtown area. There have been efforts to develop the area but even putting in flower beds was met with such strong resistance that it has been retained as just grass, trees and paths.

There were people walking dogs on leash, throwing balls for dogs, a team of young soccer
players practicing and uniformed school children walking home from school.

I sat in this rain shelter (as it was drizzling again)...

.. and tried to sketch this one. My first sketch of a holiday is often disappointing and
this was no exception. Takes me a couple of sketches to get back in the groove.

Tonight we have reservations at Jamie Oliver's restaurant. Although there are 34 of his restaurants in the UK but we figured that we are unlikely to get the opportunity again.

The reception area has Jamie Oliver cookbooks and some products (tea towels,
antipasta planks, casseroles)

I'll try and remember to do a quick review tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning Peter and Pam head to York and Heather, Don and I get a rental car and drive through the Yorkshire Dales and into the Lake District.