Please be patient...as a newcomer to this, I am not sure where it is going!  My plan is to write 'a diary' - let's hope it is not too boring. 
This weekend, apart from getting soaked in the rain, was quite relaxing, for a change.  Since moving into a house with spare rooms - they seem to have been filled each weekend with friends visiting.  So, we took the opportunity on Sunday to go for a walk and look around our new neighbourhood.  Living close to the Nidd Gorge, we are spoiled when it comes to 'good walks' and our dogs absolutely adore it!  But, yesterday we left them snoozing by the Aga, and took a walk along Bilton Lane as far as Bilton Hall.

The rain didn't deter us.....we even managed to get further than the Gardener's Arms without stopping....Bilton still feels like a village, even so close to Harrogate centre and spring certainly felt as if it had arrived......everything green...in fact, you could almost hear the roots pushing through the soil....we passed the caravan park....very neat, tidy and well-kept.....and the Bilton Pet Hotel, which used to be the Bilton Hilton, but now under new ownership.  We called in to ask about rates and found them extremely busy, but also very pleasant and helpful!  We will tell the dogs!  Further on, were free-range 'happy' chickens, ducks waddling round a farm-yard, an inquisitive pony, and the odd couple on bikes.  This IS part of the Beryl Burton cycleway - so not surprising really !  What a good place to bring children on their bikes!  Very few cars, as it is a private road, with a locked gate!  When we reached Bilton Hall gates we had to turn around and head home - but I have discovered the route of a circular walk which included Knaresborough - so given more time, we will tackle that another time!
By the way - if you were up Bilton Lane on a bike this weekend....I didn't mean to call you 'odd'.