Ripon Spa Hotel Week

ITINERARY

Sunday, December 25, 2016, Fly from USA

Monday, December 26, 2016, Arrive in Manchester. Overnight in Manchester

Upon arrival, clear passport control, pick up luggage, and go through customs. After exiting the secure area, call (44) 161 498 0333 for a shuttle to the  Clayton Hotel, Manchester Airport,  Use the rest of the day for recovery from your flight. NOTE: If your flight is significantly delayed and/or you miss a connection, call or text me with your new arrival time. If you are delayed until the 27th, we will wait for your arrival, assuming that it is in the morning. 7:00 dinner in the hotel restaurant, overnight in the Clayton Hotel, Manchester Airport.

Tuesday, December 27, Drive to Ripon, Explore Ripon

Assuming that we have all arrived and are accounted for, we will leave for Ripon at 9:00am. We should arrive at the hotel at around 11:15. Not all of our rooms will be ready, but we will be able to store our bags, freshen up a bit and find some lunch. 1:00pm tour of the beautiful cathedral with a local guide. The rest of the afternoon free to explore the town or take a nap. Optional: Meet in the Fountains Room around the fireplace at 6:00 for drinks and conversation. (Pick up a beverage contribution in Duty Free to share).  The hotel will provide glassware and ice. 7:00 dinner and overnight in the Ripon Spa Hotel.

Wednesday, December 28,  Ripon Museums and Harrogate

Depart hotel at 9:30 for morning tour with local guide of the Ripon Museums. (Special openings, just for us.)       

10am – 10.50am Tour of Workhouse Museum
10.50am-11.20am Teas, coffees & biscuits
11.20-11.30am  Walk to Prison & Police Museum
11.30-12.10pm Tour of the Prison & Police Museum
12.10-12.20pm  Walk to the Courthouse Museum
12.20 – 1.00pm Tour of the Courthouse Museum

1:00pm  departure for Harrogate where we stop at Harrogate Suit Hire for the men to get fitted for our tuxes for the NYE Gala. If the weather is nice, we will continue on to Bolton Abbey grabbing some lunch along the way. If the weather is lousy, we will have lunch (at own expense) at Bettys Tea House. Late afternoon return to Ripon. This evening you have the option of attending 6:00 p.m. Evensong at the cathedral. The Cathedral Choir is on leave, but a visiting choir will be filling in. Or you can stick with drinks by the fireplace in the Fountains Room.  7:30 dinner and overnight in the Ripon Spa Hotel.

Thursday, December 29, Full Day Excursion to York 

Depart hotel in time for a 10:00 visit of York Minster followed by a visit of the York Castle Museum. Time permitting we will also visit the National Railway Museum. Return to Ripon in the late afternoon for the usual optional gathering in the Fountains Room followed by 7:00 dinner and overnight in the Ripon Spa Hotel. 

Friday, December 30, Full Day Exploration of the Yorkshire Dales National Park

NOTE: This excursion is totally dependent on decent weather. If there is any snow or threat of snow, we will need to schedule Theakston Brewery rather than Tan Hill  Fair weather plans: We will first stop at Weasley Dale Creamery for a cheese-making demonstration before continuing on to Tan Hill Pub, the highest pub in England. Enjoy a pub lunch (independent) and perhaps a pint or two. We will return home by a circle route, hopefully enjoying the beautiful scenery. By now you know the drill: Optional meeting in the Fountains Room followed by 7:00 dinner and overnight in the Ripon Spa Hotel.

Saturday, December 31, Half Day Visit to the James Herriott Museum, Thirsk

Perhaps you remember the BBC TV Series, All Creatures Great and Small, or maybe you read the book. The museum is James Herriott’s clinic, where it all began. After the museum visit, find lunch and/or explore the village of Thirsk. Early afternoon return to Ripon to rest up and prepare for the long evening. After taking time to produce a most memorable group picture, we will bring in 2017 at the NYE Gala at the hotel. 7:00 Champagne reception, 7:30 Gala Dinner with entertainment.

Sunday, January 1, 2017 Fountains Abbey

We will begin the New Year by contemplating the timeless beauty of Fountains Abbey. Let’s plan on leaving the hotel around 11:00. The visit will take around two hours and there is a cafe at the site where you can find lunch. Mid-afternoon return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the Ripon Spa Hotel.

Monday, January 2, Transfer to Manchester Airport

I have scheduled our departure from the hotel for 7:30. This will get us to the airport a little before 10:00 in time for there of you to check in for a noon departure from Manchester Airport (AA #55 to ORD). The coach will stop first at the airport and then continue on to the train station.

Name:

Room Type

Arrival Flight

EOT Plans

Laurence Barker Single 26-Dec, SQ51, 10:05 (IAH) 2-Jan, EI 209, 13:50 (DUB)
Patsy & Dale Meyers Twin / Double 26-Dec, UA 81, 7:30 (EWR) 2-Jan, BA  1375, 13:55 (LHR)
Carrol Smith & Gail Jarratt Twin 26-Dec, AA 6627, 13:15 (LHR); BA 1398,18:15 (LHR) 2-Jan,London-(C),  AA 55, 12:00 noon, (ORD) (G); BA  1375, 13:55 (LHR)
Sara & Charlie Lewis Twin / Double 26-Dec, BA 1398,18:15 (LHR) 2-Jan, BA  1375, 13:55 (LHR)
Jay & Evelyn Rogers Twin / Double 26-Dec  AA 6627, 13:15 (LHR) 2-Jan, AA 55, 12:00 noon  (ORD)
Scott Anderson & Janet Woltman Twin/ Double 26-Dec, UA 81, 7:30 (EWR) 2-Jan, Independent arrangements
Sam & Stacy Stader Twin/ Double 26-Dec, DL 4411, 7:35, (Orlando) 2-Jan, Independent arrangements
 Norma Beier  Single 26-Dec, DL 4411, 7:35, (Orlando) 2-Jan, Independent arrangements
Rheanolte & Annie Marie LeBarbour Twin/ Double  26-Dec, DL 421, 11:00 (JFK) 2-Jan, 2:15, Train to London
Jim & Sharon Fox Twin/Double 26-Dec, AA 734, 7:35 (PHI) 2-Jan, AA 55, 12:00 noon  (ORD)
Rebecca Marti Single 26-Dec, DL 9366, 12:55 (AMS) 2-Jan, DL 221, 14:30 (JFK)