Friday, 29th September 2017
St Neots Camping and Caravan Club Site.
Overnight rain, but, although the weather forecast looks dismal, the day turns out quite pleasant.
We have a day trip to Cambridge, about 20 miles away. on the excellent X5 bus service.
Kathleen was suffering retail withdrawal symptoms, we have been away for two weeks, and, she has not been in a Marks and Spencer or a Next. This was rectified today, plus a visit to a Market in Cambridge. Kathleen has depleted her bank balance.
Saturday, 30th September 2017
Another beautiful autumn day. Cool, but, calm, sunny and blue skies.
Kathleen decides to play with the site washing machine/dryer, because the "washing bag" is full to overflowing.
We are "winding down" to going home, we manage to have, for perhaps the last time this summer, an hour of sitting outside in the sunshine.
Sunday, 1st October 2017
Overnight rain, and still raining steadily in the morning, according to the TV Weather forecast, this is the remnants of two recent hurricanes, which have made their way over the Atlantic to batter the UK. It is probably President Trump to blame, he seems to be responsible for just about everything unpleasant, according to the "Mainstream Media" and "Social Media".
Kathleen does her "Sunday duty" and visits the local Catholic Church, then, Sunday Lunch in the Bridge House, next to the river. The Bridge House is a pleasant place, good riverside location, etc, but, best to choose another place for your Sunday Lunch, in my humble opinion.
Monday, 2nd October 2017
The weather forecast says gale force winds, but, we wake to a sunny and calm day, however, as the day wears on and we head North towards home, the gale force winds make themselves felt.
An uneventful and mostly traffic free journey home, but, there is seldom a "clear run" on UK motorways, and true to form we do have a 15-20 minute hold up, south of Doncaster, do to a small accident.
Home again, everything in order.
Showing posts with label St Neots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St Neots. Show all posts
Tuesday, 3 October 2017
Thursday, 28 September 2017
27/09/2017; St Neots C&CC Site
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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!
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, 26 September 2017
25/09/2017; Ashridge Farm Caravan Club Site and St Neots C&CC Site
Ashridge Farm Caravan Club Site
Looks as if we have used up all of the good weather here. Heavy rain overnight, which continues in the morning, I should have packed everything away last night, while it was dry!
The rain does eventually stop, but, it is, never-the-less a dull grey drive of approximately 25 miles to St Neots, Camping and Caravan Club Site, N52° 13.227' W0° 16.458'.
On our way to the campsite, my navigational assistant (Kathleen) failed to heed the warning in the Caravan Club instructions, to avoid driving through the village of Ashwell, because the roads were narrow and clogged with parked cars, and, so, we had a nail-biting trip through the village. The Navigational Assistant was fully alert this morning so, we avoided the village centre and headed for the Baldock Bypass.
<---------------------------- b="">
St Neots is a much larger site than Ashridge and is considerably nearer to a sizeable town (ie less than a mile walk via the shortest route, or about a mile via the scenic route along the River Great Ouse).
A stroll into town to explore, and establish the whereabouts of the Catholic Church, is about the sum total of our exertions.
Tuesday, 26th September 2017
A grey and misty start to the day, but, by 11:00 sunshine and cloud, and a pleasant 19C.
There is a cycle track, right at the entrance to the campsite, so, we set off to explore where it goes.
We soon find there is a network of cycle tracks, mostly well surfaced, but, we learn, not so well signposted! We have an OS Map of the area, but, even with the aid of the map, we do not know where we are, most of the time!
Lesson learned today, so much choice, leads to confusion, a detailed plan is required before we set off for Grafham Water (which is planned, so I am told).
We manage to cycle a little over 12 miles, without actually going anywhere!
Looks as if we have used up all of the good weather here. Heavy rain overnight, which continues in the morning, I should have packed everything away last night, while it was dry!
The rain does eventually stop, but, it is, never-the-less a dull grey drive of approximately 25 miles to St Neots, Camping and Caravan Club Site, N52° 13.227' W0° 16.458'.
On our way to the campsite, my navigational assistant (Kathleen) failed to heed the warning in the Caravan Club instructions, to avoid driving through the village of Ashwell, because the roads were narrow and clogged with parked cars, and, so, we had a nail-biting trip through the village. The Navigational Assistant was fully alert this morning so, we avoided the village centre and headed for the Baldock Bypass.
<---------------------------- b="">
St Neots is a much larger site than Ashridge and is considerably nearer to a sizeable town (ie less than a mile walk via the shortest route, or about a mile via the scenic route along the River Great Ouse).
A stroll into town to explore, and establish the whereabouts of the Catholic Church, is about the sum total of our exertions.
Tuesday, 26th September 2017
A grey and misty start to the day, but, by 11:00 sunshine and cloud, and a pleasant 19C.
There is a cycle track, right at the entrance to the campsite, so, we set off to explore where it goes.
Lesson learned today, so much choice, leads to confusion, a detailed plan is required before we set off for Grafham Water (which is planned, so I am told).
We manage to cycle a little over 12 miles, without actually going anywhere!
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Thursday 6th June 2013 - Tuesday 11th June 2013
Marboue (N48 6.744' E1 19.722'). Another Aire. Toilets and emptying facilities for free, but Electricity and Water are chargeable (Electricity 2Euro for 55 minutes, extortion!). There is space for about ten vans, and, by evening it is full. Not surprising really, it is a very pleasant spot, on the banks of the River Loir and off the busy main road (N10).
It is here, I find, the helpful French people at Uzerche did not do the internet registration correctly, so, I have no internet. I try the French couple parked next to us. They fiddle about with it, but, seem to think it has not worked.
I cycle the 2 miles back down the road to McDonalds, to use their Wifi to do my essential banking transaction.
When I get back, I fiddle around some more with the Orange SIM card, suddenly, it works, problem is, I do not know what I did to make it work!
Turns out, that was a false alarm, still not working!
An early start on Friday (well 09:00), and we are in Neufchatel-en-Bray by lunch time, for our regular stop over at Camping St Clair.
This place just gets better and better, but, the downside of that is, it is becoming very popular. A queue of campervans and caravans waiting to check in when we arrive!
We will have to stop recommending the place!
I find my Orange-France SIM card is not working after all, this is beginning to be very irritating!
Fortunately, there is an Orange Shop in the town, and the problem is soon sorted. It would appear you cannot register a top up from a non-French telephone number.
Only a one night stay, we linger until just before lunch time and then we are on our way towards Calais.
Picnic, French motorway Aire style.
Toilets, plenty of parking, neatly mown grass, no litter, picnic tables provided, and, sunshine of course.
But, the French do not get everything right... we arrive at Gravelines to find it is almost empty, clearly levelling a charge of 6Euro per night, with no facilities except parking has driven people away.
A lesson to Politicians everywhere, if you drive up the price, you do not necessarily increase the income!
We amuse ourselves by watching the street entertainment from a pavement bar.
Next morning, the plan is to have breakfast as we wait in the boarding queue for "Le Shuttle", but, we are whisked onto an earlier train, before we have even had time to have breakfast!
Once in Dover, it is a short, and almost traffic free (well it is only 8:00 Sunday morning!) drive to the Caravan and Camping Club site at St Neots, to meet up with Gary, Susana and Gabriel.
Here are the "boys", it was both Gary, and Gabriel's birthday, a few days ago (June 2nd and 3rd respectively), so, this is a belated "birthday meeting", plus, Gabriel and Susana plan to return to Baku with Gary next weekend.
Our last chance to see them for a while.
Gabriel has grown a lot since I last saw him, and his talking has come on leaps and bounds (in both English and Spanish).
He is currently fascinated by spiders and their webs.
Here he is studying a spider in it's web, you can just see the spider above and to the left of his right eyebrow!
We visit Cambridge, and take the obligatory trip in a punt, but, not even a family of swans can keep Gabriel awake!
It is here, I find, the helpful French people at Uzerche did not do the internet registration correctly, so, I have no internet. I try the French couple parked next to us. They fiddle about with it, but, seem to think it has not worked.
I cycle the 2 miles back down the road to McDonalds, to use their Wifi to do my essential banking transaction.
When I get back, I fiddle around some more with the Orange SIM card, suddenly, it works, problem is, I do not know what I did to make it work!
Turns out, that was a false alarm, still not working!
An early start on Friday (well 09:00), and we are in Neufchatel-en-Bray by lunch time, for our regular stop over at Camping St Clair.
This place just gets better and better, but, the downside of that is, it is becoming very popular. A queue of campervans and caravans waiting to check in when we arrive!
We will have to stop recommending the place!
I find my Orange-France SIM card is not working after all, this is beginning to be very irritating!
Fortunately, there is an Orange Shop in the town, and the problem is soon sorted. It would appear you cannot register a top up from a non-French telephone number.
Only a one night stay, we linger until just before lunch time and then we are on our way towards Calais.
Toilets, plenty of parking, neatly mown grass, no litter, picnic tables provided, and, sunshine of course.
But, the French do not get everything right... we arrive at Gravelines to find it is almost empty, clearly levelling a charge of 6Euro per night, with no facilities except parking has driven people away.
A lesson to Politicians everywhere, if you drive up the price, you do not necessarily increase the income!
We amuse ourselves by watching the street entertainment from a pavement bar.
Next morning, the plan is to have breakfast as we wait in the boarding queue for "Le Shuttle", but, we are whisked onto an earlier train, before we have even had time to have breakfast!
Our last chance to see them for a while.
Gabriel has grown a lot since I last saw him, and his talking has come on leaps and bounds (in both English and Spanish).
Here he is studying a spider in it's web, you can just see the spider above and to the left of his right eyebrow!
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