A light hearted and (I hope) amusing record of some of our Campervan Trips.
It is mainly intended to inform friends and family where we are, plus, to keep our children updated on what is happening to their inheritance.
I do try to include details of Camp Sites and Aires, we visit. Checkout the "labels" listed in the right margin,
Please comment if you feel inclined, at least then I know I am not talking to myself (again).
Another cool but dry and sunny day, so, after yesterdays cycling marathon, with Gary, Kathleen is keen to explore the cycling along the Grand Union Canal. So far, we have experimented with two routes from the Campsite to the Canal, today, we try a third, which takes us left out of the campsite, following Tilehouse Lane, down-hill (always preferable, when cycling!), and emerging near a Garden Centre, a short cycle to the Coy Carp pub, on the canal. Quite an ideal route, in that direction, but, the prospect of cycling back UP the hill is
not relished by Kathleen. A very pleasant ride as far as West Drayton, lunch at the same pub as Gary and I visited yesterday, and then return. We leave the canal towpath at the Bear on the Barge pub, and retrace the outward route taken yesterday, to Denham, here, a slight variation, we rejoin Tilehouse Lane, just outside of Denham, and cycle back to the campsite. Another 18 miles!
Wednesday, 27th April 2016 A rare opportunity to spend quality time with my son Gary. Kathleen amuses herself for the day, and, we, the boys, go cycling along the Grand Union Canal, plus lunch. I am pleased to say, as the "oldie", I was able to keep up, for the whole 16-17 miles. A totally enjoyable day, even the sun shone for us!
Monday, 25th April 2016 Not a very nice day, in terms of weather, cool, with frequent showers.
By lunch time, we are both fed-up with reading our books, and venture out for a combined stroll and grocery shopping trip. Just under 4 miles, and, the rains stays away. Tuesday, 26th April 2016 Unbelievable weather for the end of April, there is a dusting of snow on the ground this morning!
Today, we leave Oxford for Wyatts Covert Caravan Club Site, near Denham. Not a very exciting drive, except for actually getting onto the M40 from the Oxford Ring Road! Complex road works, and a total lack of signposting mean that we, along with several large trucks take the wrong turning and have a tour of the Oxfordshire countryside, before regaining the M40. Wyatts Covert is within the M25, at the end of the M40, initial impressions are favourable, although we are only approximately 15 miles from central London, it appears to be pleasant countryside, but, with ample eating, drinking and shopping places available. Kathleen is given instructions for a circular walk from the site, as she checks in, so, after lunch, off we go to explore.
In the past few weeks, we have walked and cycled in some particularly rural country areas, and seen, nothing in the way of wildlife. Today, within 15 miles of a major city, and, only two miles from the M25, as we walk along a bridle path, we encounter a fox, not once, but twice. I think, although I am not sure, it is the same fox twice, rather two different foxes. Unfortunately I am too slow to get the camera out! A little further and we come to a branch of the Grand Union Canal, with a variety of
waterfowl, including a heron, and this family of geese, paddling along. Soon, we come to the main Grand Union Canal, and a pub called the "Coy Carp". Up until now, the weather has been cold and sunny, but dry, suddenly, there is a hail storm, luckily, the pub is open, and we are able to shelter until the hail storm passes. We while away the wait with a glass of wine.
As well as being near London, we are also of course, near Windsor, and Gary drives across to see us, with Gabriel, after school. A very pleasant surprise.
Friday, 22nd April 2016 Cloudy and cool, but dry, until that is, we are 7 miles away from the van, on bicycles, at which point, the rain starts.
Our cycle ride takes us along the Thames Path to Abingdon. A little over 15 miles in total, and, it only rained slightly! Saturday, 23rd April 2016 Weather grey and cold. We have been away long enough to mean we need to do some "chores", eg washing clothes etc. Boring Sunday, 24th April 2016 What an odd day, in the morning, sitting in the sun, reading a book, by mid-afternoon, it is arctic.
Lunch time, we venture into Oxford, find one of the many "oldest pubs in Oxford", in our case, "The Chequers". It turns out, they have a rather large range of different brands of Gin, so, we sample one or two, followed by Sunday Lunch. A stroke of luck, it is Kathleen's turn to have her favourite wine, it is on the wine list, but, they are out of stock, great, that means I get to have my favourite instead! The alcohol has loosened Kathleen's grip on her purse, and she insists on paying for "treats" in a very pleasant Coffee Shop, Belgian Waffles, with banana, walnuts, ice cream and chocolate sauce, very nice.
Thursday, 21st April 2016 Not the best of weather, dry, but cool and cloudy, although, by lunch time, the sun has made an appearance and the temperature rises. I seem to recall, from my childhood, the saying "tidiness is next to godliness". Now, I am not religious, but, quite why God should be dragged into the eternal argument about putting things away, I cannot imagine.
To explain why I should be rabbiting on about tidiness, Kathleen, periodically has bursts of "tidying up", which basically means moving my stuff from wherever I have put it, to somewhere which she deems "tidy", but, which then means, I cannot find it. Kathleen of course is a tidy person, as this photograph clearly shows. There is not one single item belonging to me in that photograph! Order restored, we take a trip into Oxford, to browse the shops and have a simple lunch.
Wednesday, 20th April 2016 A beautifully sunny day.
We cycle along the Thames Path to Wolvercote. A stop for refreshments at "The Trout", a rather nice riverside pub. Through Wolvercote, to the Oxford Canal, back along the can tow path to Oxford. More refreshments and a snack at Folly Bridge (another rather nice riverside pub), and, then back to the campsite. Approximately 14 miles of very pleasant cycling.
Cloudy and cool, but, not raining. Kathleen always likes to make use of the bus, when we are in the UK on a Campervan trip. I suppose it is the "bargain hunter" instinct, because, for us "oldies" the bus is free, and, you cannot get much more of a bargain than something for nothing. There is a bus service to Leominster, from Ludlow, but, there has been great confusion about where the bus-stop is, and, the timetable. There is a bus-stop on both sides of the road at the entrance to the Campsite, but, there is a typed notice displayed which reads, words to the effect "Bus stop by prior booking only". There is no indication of who or how you make contact to make this "prior booking". Part of this confusion is due to the road bridge at Ludford being closed. I do the usual, ie, ask Google, and, I have to say the information from the local bus company and local council is pretty sketchy. I do however manage to establish the bus route when the bridge at Ludford is NOT closed. Kathleen asks at Reception, and, receives information which conflicts with my "theory" of where the bus will stop and which time. Needless to say, being a man, I cannot possibly be right. This morning, it is decided we will travel to Leominster on the bus. Disregarding the Reception information completely, we head off, on the assumption, I am right. Sure enough the bus arrives, exactly as I predicted at 10:31, stopping on the other side of the road to the campsite entrance. The advice from Reception was 12:35 from the bus stop on the same side as the campsite entrance. I am in a quandry, do I crow about being right, or, do I simply stay quiet? It is a very difficult situation. I opt for keeping quiet, since I know this will be the most irritating option. For Kathleen, the outing is already spoiled, at some point, it is going to be necessary to admit, I was right. For the record, Leominster is a pleasant enough place, in common with most villages / towns in this area, there is a surplus of Tudor style half timbered buildings. Coffee and cake in the "Merchants House Cafe" is very pleasant. Tuesday, 19th April 2016
A beautiful sunny day to travel to Oxford. The Oxford, Camping and Caravan Club Site looks promising. It is located behind a "Great Outdoors" outlet, which is initially off-putting, but, the site itself is very pleasant, with the usual friendly welcome from C&CC warden. Two minutes walk to a park and ride which provides a bus into central Oxford every ten minutes, free to us OAP's! Equally near is a Tesco store, for the essential shopping, and, there appears to be a multitude of cycle tracks. All of this, and, the sun is still shining!
