To Bath, to hear/see Gabriel singing in Choir, then... not decided yet

Sunday, 13th February 2022, Poolsbook CAMC Site

 The day begins cloudy and overcast, then, goes downhill from there. By the time we leave home, it is raining steadily, by Thirsk, it is pouring down, and we head south on the A1M in a cloud of spray. 

We have decided to break our journey at Poolsbrook CAMC Site, Staveley, Derbyshire, (N53.257986 W1.352283), so, 135 miles ticked off and another (approximately) 170 to go.

We have been to Poolsbrook CAMC Site before, about 6 years ago. The site is the usual high standard CAMC Site. It is located on the site of a former Colliery, but, all rather attractively reclaimed and landscaped now, with plenty of walking and cycling paths. Unfortunately, the "reclamation" has not been so kind to nearby Staveley, which is a sort of Derbyshire version of Jarrow.

We are only hear for one night, this time, but, Idont think we will be doing any walking or cycling, the rain continues.

Monday, 14th February 2022, Penn Hill CL

It is not raining when we wake up, it even stays dry as we have breakfast, but, right at the time. I have to do the "outside things" ie, disconnect EHU, roll-up cable etc, the rain begins.

Approximately 170 miles to Penn Hill CL, Bath (N51 23'35" W2 24'8"). The rain has stopped, but, it clearly has been raining a lot here. 

Not the easiest CL to find!

There is lots of mud, which is one of Kathleen's pet hates. So, initial impressions are not favourable, perhaps things would have been different if it had been a warm sunny day?

This is a CAMC CL, it has EHU, waste disposal etc, but, no Toilets or Showers, so, it is "use your own facilities.

The owner, Merv, appears to be well over 80, he is very polite and helpful.

Bath has introduced a "Clean Air Zone", our van, being Euro6 classified, incurs no charge, but, never-the-less we follow the route to avoid the Clean Air Zone. Let us just say, that is an adventure in it's own right, some very steep hills, and, some very narrow roads. 

Once we are "set up", we set off to find the Abbey, ready for tomorrow's Choir Concert, in which Gabriel is singing. 

There is a choice of buses, but, unsurprising we decide to walk. It is 2.2 miles, all down hill, but, of course, that means 2.2 miles back, all up hill.

Mission accomplished, Abbey found, all ready for tomorrow.

On the. return trip, someone (not me) makes an executive decision no to retrace our steps. Result, we end up at Newbridge P&R, and, have a very muddy and steep walk through a mini forest, in the dark. Not an exercise we intend to repeat.

To Ludlow

Thursday, 14th April 2016

The day begins badly, pouring with rain, and, we over sleep!

Once en-route, the weather improves steadily, as we make our way along a very busy M1.











The Sat-Nav does, what appear to be, some odd moves around Birmingham, which keeps Kathleen occupied, telling it (the Sat-nav) that it is not taking us on the shortest route, but, we do arrive at Ludlow, so, all is well.

Ludlow Touring Park is an affiliated Caravan Club Site, very smart. We notice, it is also an ACSI site, it may be less expensive to pay via the ACSI scheme, but, we do not have our ACSI card with us.

The site is very smart, but, be aware, if such things matter to you:

1) there is very poor TV signal, you either need a Satellite dish or an arial lead to plug into the socket on the EHU bollard, neither of which we have with us. It may be possible to hire / borrow a lead from Reception, but, by the time we realise we need one, Reception is closed. Have to check tomorrow.

2) there is no 3g/4g data signal on the O2 network, "3" appears to have 3G coverage, since my mobile internet box is working fine.

3) there are "extra" charges for some obscure things, like, for example, having a trailer, or, an awning. Seems bizarre to us, you are paying for a pitch, provided all of your "gear" fits o the pitch, why should there be "extra" charges?

We walk the 1.5 miles into Ludlow, a pleasant walk, to an equally pleasant town, rounded of with a meal / bottle of red.

Friday, 15th April 2016

I redeem the duff TV reception problem, although I am not personally responsible, by connecting up an arial lead to the provided EHU bollard TV connection, domestic harmony returns.

Other than the above, not a very satisfactory day, it rains steadily for most of the day, until mid afternoon, at which point I am able to venture out and check out the possibility of cycling along the A49 to the local Catholic Church, for Kathleen. If it should turn out that I am wrong, and there is no only a God, but, a Catholic one, I do hope I get some brownie points for this.

Staveley

Tuesday, 12th April 2016

Rain until 15:00, not heavy, but, persistent.

We use some of the time to plan our next stop off point, and, then have a pleasant walk around the Poolsbrook Country Park.

In Staveley, there is an "Outlet Centre", you know, the sort of shop beloved of women, where they can by branded goods, they neither need or want, at "bargain" prices.

There is also a rather attractive looking pub, right next to the Outlet Centre, where a husband could wait, whilst his wife had some "retail therapy". 

Practicing my "thoughtful husband" act, I suggest we could go to Staveley and visit the Outlet Centre. 

For some reason Kathleen does not want to go!

There is definitely nothing as puzzling as the workings of the female mind. 

Wednesday, 13th April 2016

Thankfully, a big improvement in the weather, sunny and warm.

We decide to cycle to Chesterfield via the "other" route, ie, the one which does not follow the canal. 

The route is signposted as the "Trans-Pennine Trail" and is clearly an old railway line, at least for the first two or three miles.

All goes well, until we encounter a particularly muddy section, Kathleen does not do mud, so, we promptly turn around and retrace our steps to the outskirts of Staveley.

Here, Kathleen, uncharacteristically, opts to take a detour, it does eventually bring us to our intended destination (Morrisons Supermarket, Staveley), but, not before we have had to peddle up a rather large hill, which turns out to be taking us in the wrong direction, so, we have to re-trace our steps (pleased I did not suggest this detour).

The sun continues to shine, so, the remainder of the day is spent sitting soaking up the rays.

To Staveley

Sunday, 10th April 2016

Sunny day, and mild, pleasant travelling weather.

Totally uneventful drive for the 135 miles to Poolsbrook Caravan Club Site, Staveley.

The site is upto the usual Caravan Club standard.

The site is located on the edge of a Country Park, coming as we do from what was once industrial Tyneside, we can recognise a reclaimed industrial site when we see one.

A quick visit to Google confirms, the park was formerly the Ireland Coal Mine. The reclamation has been well done, with lakes, walking paths, cycle tracks and horse riding tracks with suitable landscaping and tree planting. It is all very reminiscent of Colliery Wood, Herrington Country Park or Rising Sun Countryside Centre, all near where we live!

A stroll into Staveley, the similarities continue, this could be any number of former mining "villages" in the North East!

Monday, 11th April 2016

Sunny with cloud and mild, the weather forecast says, and, so it turns out.

We cycle to Chesterfield, and back,  along the Chesterfield Canal, a little over 15 miles of easy pedalling, with a coffee and cake stop en-route.

A pleasant lunch in "Ye Olde Oak" reputedly, the oldest pub in Chesterfield.

Chesterfield appears to be a lively place, a real market with stalls selling a variety of things, and, the usual array of major stores, and plenty of places to eat / drink .