Day 10: Lisburn - Harrogate

We learned back in 2012 that travelling on higgledy-piggeldy itineraries involving boat, bus and train with a small child wasn't such a great idea. Ignoring all of that, we set off early on Friday morning for the Stena ferry to Scotland, final destination Harrogate, where Matt's university friend Jonny was to get married. This would be completely different: it was Scotland & England not France, and we had two children instead of one!

Aye aye capt'n

I'll start by saying that I had thought the Man in Seat 61's bashing of Stena's replacement of sailing to Stranraer (where there is a train station) with a bus to Ayr from Cairnryan was disingeneous. However, after watching Birgit try to calm a tired 1 year old down on a coach without enough room to swing a mouse nevermind a cat, I may have changed my opinion. It was brief though, soon both children were fast asleep, and the views of the Ayrshire countryside and the sea just splendid. It's a good idea to keep your eye on that sea - the twists in the road might hit your stomach faster than you think. It was a difficult situation for Stena Line when they made the switch, and all in all I think they do a good job. We had fun on the boat of course, lots for children to do, and again good quality and value food on offer for breakfast.

Once we reached Glasgow, we were prepared to sit on a relaxing express train all the way to York (which is most of the way to Harrogate). And this is where we were surprised. Not one, but two hen parties boarded in Glasgow: destination Newcastle (which is most of the way to York). What adjectives can I use? Loud (they even had a music system), terrifying, traumatising, disruptive.

Help!

The highlight for me was that Birgit had commented that it couldn't happen on a German train (because someone would complain). When we looked at the train in York, we saw it was being part run by the Germans...

"Are we there yet?"

Only one last short leg to go. We were weary. and in need of upliftment. And then, like an angel sent to help, arrived a cheery, happy Paddy. Who was shocked to learn he had paid more for his ticket from Birmingham than we had from Belfast ;-) He helped us find the hotel in Harrogate. We were there. Time to change and head for pre-wedding tapas, reserved for family, best man and ushers!