Minisystem Guy Wins the Lottery!!!

Greg

Are you over on business and having to work during the week or do you have lots of free time.

Also what are your interests.

Is it necessary to stay in Harrogate or can you get out and for how long.

This country is loaded with history and we need to know what you want to see.

I would not travel 6000 miles just to visit a Hifi shop.

Regards

Mick

Harrogate is next to the Yorkshire Dales which are stunningly beautiful. If you have a car have a drive to the villages of Muker, Thwaite, Keld, and Hawes. You will not be disappointed. You will not, as of now at least, be able to walk across the footpaths due to foot and mouth, but the lanes are ok.

There is a Naim dealer in Headingly, Leeds, called Image Audio. Also the shopping is good in Leeds.

York is quite near to Harrogate and is stuffed with history and things to see. There is also a Naim dealer there called 'Sound Organisation'.

Also not too far away is the North Yorkshire moors and the famous town seaside town of Whitby where Captain Cook lived, and where the Dracula novel was set. Fantastic Fish and Chips are a must from 'The Magpie' in Whitby.
I live around 1 hour's drive from Harrogate, drop me an email if you fancy a visit and some good Yorkshire food.

The last time I gave advice to a US visitor to the UK was last October when I was in Tucson - I recomended that they spend a day travelling from London to York and back by train and take a walk round York - see the Minster the Museum and the streets.

The dates of their intended visit was the last week in October - by which time the rail system was in meltdown and a fair proportion of Yorkshire was inundated.

However if you get to Salisbury to visit Naim - make time to visit Stonehenge, - a collection of assembled stones that was old before Chaco was built. Winchester is also worth a visit

Enjoy

Derek W

And answers to Mick's questions.

I'm travelling on business - I work for the U.S. Immigration. I'm an Industrial Psychologist and work on the systems the agency uses to hire law enforcement (Border Patrol, Criminal Investigators) and benefits personnel. The UK also has law enforment hiring professionals and I'm participating in an exchange program. Harrogate is where I will be during the week. I am planning work trips to London and Ireland to meet with our personnel there.

I was not planning on driving. Could I (legally) drive in the UK? Is this advised? Will public transport get me where I wanna go?

And, of course, its a long way to go to visit a hi-fi shop. But a month is a long time - evenings and weekends plus probably personal days during the month - so a stop in a real hi-fi shop or two isn't out of the question.

My interests: I would like to do two ends of a spectrum. My family roots are in the UK and I've never been - so I would like a taste of the history - get a sense of "where I'm from". At the other end, I would like a bit of emersion into current UK culture. Counter-culture (if that is the right word) and stuff on the edge is preferred. I'm a Ren Fare performer (doing one this weekend, AAMOF) and like to hang out with people who do things differently or have chosen their own path.

I hope this makes sense. INS has also shipped me to Mexico, Canada, and *cough* Bangkok in addition to all over the US. The only major destination we go to that I havn't been is Rome. Poor me

- Greg

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

Public transport won't get around the dales, but should be ok for the other places you mention. Being a fairly lazy 47 year I am hardly qualified to suggest 'places on the edge' but Manchester and Leeds have lively 'youth' cultures, do a search on these cities for night life guide. Good luck.

Greg,

Since the rail system was mentioned above, it should be added that the UK rail system is now working adequately and that cheaper coaches (buses) can be had between major towns. I'd recommend York as well - there's another hifi shop on Gillygate which isn't a Naim stockist! - and I visited Halifax last year which was interesting.

Although the foot and mouth outbreak is still causing problems for walkers etc, if you are planning to hire a car you will be able to see as much of the countryside as before. It's definitely worth visiting the Lake District for a day or two. Train to Oxenholme near Kendal, then reliable buses.

I think from your posting that you're more interested in 'alternative lifestyle' scenes (rather than the 'youth culture' - which usually translates to high-volume techno clubs). If so, Yorkshire, one of the most conservative of all British counties, is probably not your best bet. Coming from Bristol, I know there's a lot of alternative type stuff in the Bristol area, and also in mid-Wales. Manchester has its own edge and you'd probably enjoy it.

If you do go to Salisbury to visit Naim it's a fine city with a superb cathedral (as has nearby Winchester). Happy travelling.

A guy from Wiltshire calling Yorkshire conservative? arf arf

Chris, what did you find interesting about Halifax? I go there a lot 'cos it's only a few miles away, has great fishmongers and veg market,and reasonable other shops, it's easy to park, and some of the pubs have Tim Taylors. I havn't noticed any hi-fi shops though, perhaps you weren't referring to that. When not browsing the mussel stalls you can pass the time observing the locals, most of whom seem to have escaped from some genetic mutation lab, except in the summer of course when they all go to live in caravans in Skegness - unless they have a job of course in which case they go to 'Magga-loof' and come back looking like the lobsters on the fishmongers stall, but with bleached frizzy hair.

I'm not sure which particular alternative culture you mean, but if you mean old and new hippies they are mostly in Hebden Bridge, a lovely town not far from Halifax,it has a proper (the only?) clog factory/shop, very desirable and particularly poplular with US visitors. Try to get to a live gig at the Trades Club where you can watch 50 year old 'chicks' with long tie-dye dresses, but without any self-awareness, dancing Woodstock style.

[This message was edited by Jez Quigley on SATURDAY 05 May 2001 at 10:09.]