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Wednesday, 27th September 2017
St Neots Camping and Caravan Club Site.
Dry buy cloudy start to the day, but, by 10:00, the sun is breaking through the cloud, and, BBC Weather promises 20C for later today.
Today, we have promised ourselves we will cycle to Grafham Water. According to various information I have found on the internet, the distance quoted from St Neots to Grafham Water is anything between 6 miles and 11 miles. I tell Kathleen it is seven miles.
I researched the route very carefully, so we do not get lost, not that Kathleen would complain, or create a fuss, you understand.
Most of the route follows a National Cycle Route (NCN 12). These routes, as I understand it, are supposed to be suitable for any type of bicycles, and all cyclists, including families with children.
Hmm....
I do read some critical comments about NCN 12 on the internet, but, I keep this information to myself, no point provoking grumbling in the ranks.
We leave St Neots on a well signposted, well surfaced cycle track, so far, so good. This continues as we cross over the A1, on a bridge, through the village of Hail Weston, on, through a ford (Kathleen uses the bridge), we have done about five miles, and, all tarmac, so far.
We come to a junction, which, I was expecting, from my route planning, where we join a gravel farm track. It is a little rutted, from heavy farm machinery, slight grumbling is heard.
Soon, we are back on a quiet tarmac lane.
But, it does not last for long, the signposting takes us off the tarmac lane and onto a rutted and overgrown farm track.
I have to admit, it is rather difficult going.
Grumbling level increases significantly.
Kathleen decides it is easier to walk than to attempt to negotiate the narrow gravel strip, avoiding the protruding large stones.
Eventually, we emerge onto a tarmac track again, and, soon we are at Grafham Water.
Approximately 8 miles from St Neots.
I suggest we cycle the 8-10 miles around Grafham Water, nothing doing, instead we cycle to the cafe/visitor centre and have refreshments. Fortunately, they sell Tunnocks Teacakes, a particular favourite of Kathleen's, almost, but, not quite a smile.
We cycle in the opposite direction, to what we assume is another cafe/visitor centre, but, it appears to be a "Water Adventure Centre", for school children, with no facilities for casual visitors, who left school some 55 years ago!
We retrace our route, to St Neots, 19.5 miles in total, not a bad little ride out, in my opinion.
Thursday, 28th September 2017.
Heavy rain, overnight, and a grey start to the day, but, 10:00 and the sun is breaking through the clouds.
After yesterday's cycle ride, today is more restful.
Aldi have their "Cycling Special Buys" today, so, we walk to the Aldi a short distance along the road and buy various items of cycling winter wear.
Next, a trip to Il Girasole, a rather nice Italian Restaurant, near the Market Square, in St Neots, where we have an excellent lunch, with too much food, and, if such a thing is possible, too much wine!
Somehow, despite the wine, we manage to cycle back to Aldi, to exchange one of Kathleen's items of cycling clothing for a bigger size.
Fortunately, the late afternoon is warm and sunny, so, we spend the rest of the afternoon lazing and snoozing in the sunshine.
Tuesday 21st August 2012 - Wednesday 22nd August 2012
We leave home as planned, on time, and so far, it would appear we have not forgotten anything!
Just before Thirsk, our first traffic jam, A19 at a standstill because a lorry carrying a load of hay has caught fire. The lorry is not actually on the A19, it is on the A61, but has come to a stop on a bridge crossing the A19, and burning debris is falling onto the A19, which is now closed both north and south bound. The radio traffic news says the tail back is four miles. We make a detour courtesy of Kathleen's map reading, and join the A168 south of Thirsk. Not sure we actually saved any time, but at least we were moving, which is better than sitting still on the A19.
Graffham Water does not appear to be one the Caravan Club's better sites, a bit too crowded for our taste, but, I suppose, it is still school holidays. A further problem is, the village does not have a pub (or a shop even).
We call at brother Brian's. A tour of the Brian and Linda Campervan of course, and we see two of Brian's girls, Michaela and Victoria, along with their boyfriends. Linda is working (well someone has to) and Rebecca is in South Africa, so we do not see them on this visit. We are served with a wonderful lunch, it certainly is a good restaurant at Spekes Road, in addition to the good food, the staff in are so pleasant!
Off to the Eurotunnel terminal.
Check in is impressive all automated, but the rest, not as slick as the car.
We do not even get on our allotted train. We are told this is because vehicles carrying gas bottles, ie campervans and caravans have to wait until all other vehicles are loaded, then, they are loaded at end of train. When it comes to our turn to load (ie last), the train is full.
As you can imagine, this does not please Kathleen. Her dissatisfaction is not helped when I suggest, perhaps we are receiving second class service because we bought our ticket with Tesco vouchers.
First night in France, on the aire at Honschutte (from the "All The Aires, France" book).
No facilities, but quiet and in the company of another ten or so vans, right in the village.
A free night, there does not even appear to be a bar to spend some money in. Will have to support the boulangerie in the morning.
There is a windmill here, and an information plaque to say (in French and English), this the the site of a battle between the French and The Hapsbergs.
The Hapsbergs were aided by the devious English who planned to mount an invasion at Calais whilst the Hapsbergs attacked from the north.
The French defeated the Hapsbergs here at Honschutte and foiled the plan. Oh, we have been naughty boys in the past.
