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Tuesday, 9th April 2019
Sunny and 8C, at 09:00, but, we are on the East Coast, and, there is a cold NE Wind blowing off the sea.
A walk to Flamborough, which turns out to be a beautifully kept place, which somehow supports no less than four pubs!
Despite the availability of pubs, Kathleen opts for a light lunch in Copperfields Cafe, and, what an excellent choice. A pot of real Yorkshire tea, with decent size cups, none of these fancy thimbles, and a real bacon sandwich (plenty of bacon, plus, mushrooms in mine, egg in Kathleen's) and only £8! We paid £10.60 on Bridlington Promenade for an tiny coffee and second rate cream scone each! As if that is not enough, the staff are incredibly friendly, the Manager even comes out of the Cafe with us to direct us to the coastal path.
Suitably refreshed, we walk back along the coastal path, via Danes Dyke Nature Reserve, very scenic, but, rather a lot of steps for our poor old knees. Just over six miles in total.
Wednesday, 10th April 2019
The weather forecast (full sunshine, and 9C) is initially very wrong, full cloud more like, but, by 11:00 it has come good.
A leisurely day today, after our walking marathons of the previous two days.
A trip to the nearest Supermarket (CooP), which is about two miles away, to replenish supplies of wine and treats, followed by a visit to the nearest pub (The Martonian Inn), to check out it's possible suitability for lunch to tomorrow. I think we will have to search further afield.
Adjacent to The Martonian Inn, there are no fewer than three caravan sites! Two are "static" type sites, but, the third, The Populars, (N54.112094, W0.171503) is a Touring site, and, looks very attractive, it is almost half the price of the Bridlington CAMC Site, worth noting for the future, perhaps. We walk a paltry 4.7 miles today.
Thursday, 11th April 2019
A cloudy start, but, by lunch time blue skies and sunshine, and 10C.
We (well Kathleen) decides on a day in Beverley.
This means two buses, first, the No14, into Bridlington , followed by the 121 to Beverley.
Things do not start well. The No14 arrives at 9:29, one minute before our Concessionary Passes are useable. It costs £4.40 to travel into Bridlington, Kathleen is not amused (even although she didn't pay!), and, is even more miffed when half a dozen "oldies" get on at the next stop (after the magical 9:30) brandishing the Concessionary Passes.
We have half an hour to waste at Bridlington Bus Station, a visit to the nearest coffee shop for coffee and cream donuts. It is a Greggs, so, I really feel we aught to have had sausage rolls or a cheese pasty.
The 121 arrives, and we head for Beverley, a one hour ride away. By the time we have got halfway there, Kathleen has come to terms with the 9:30 rule. I do point out her that I don't understand what she is complaining about, it is me who has spent £10 on bus fares and coffee, before we have even left Bridlington. My suggestion that Kathleen should buy lunch, to redress the balance, does not meet with any enthusiasm.
Beverley is a nice place, not much in the way of major shops (who cares?) but, quaint, bustling and clean.
A stroll around town, a visit to Beverley Minster, followed by lunch in The Green Dragon (no, she didn't pay).
On our return to Bridlington CAMC Site, in late afternoon, it is even warm enough sit outside eating Magnums.
Sunday, 7th April 2019
Not a promising start, cold, grey and damp.
A rather varied journey of approximately 100 miles, travelling along the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors. We probably spent some time travelling along the coast too, but, it was too murky to actually see the sea.
Bridlington CAMC Site (N54.111481, W0.158237), is rather smart, even by CAMC standards, it is however expensive, not sure how they can justify £35/night (for members), in early April, no wonder the site is not full! Good mobile signal on O2, 3, including 4G, so, no need to pay even more for the site Wifi.
Monday, 8th April 2019
A degree or two warmer today, and, the murk has cleared enough to make the sea visible.
A long walk (6.8 miles), via Sewerby Hall, and the Ship Inn to Bridlington.
The coastal path is rather beautiful, and, the Promenade in Bridlington is very well looked after.
Bridlington town is eminently missable, all the signs of a UK Town, in decline, (ie, a surplus of overweight, tracksuit clad clientele in the shopping centre, a large Brighthouse, a large Sports Direct, and, a large Herons. There must surely be a large Wetherspoons too, but, I did not notice it).
Wednesday, 20th March 2019
Fog at first, but, by 9:00, it is clear, and a little blue sky, at 10C.
The weather soon improves to be warm enough to sit outside a pub, having lunch!
We explore more the "Green Wheel", a sort of cyclists "ring road" around Peterborough.
We cover 15.4 miles, mostly on good tarmac cycling tracks, but, with enough "rough stuff" to raise an "observation" or two from Kathleen.
We stop at the Boathouse Pub, where we are able to sit outside in the sun and have a very pleasant lunch (superior to The
Granary, yesterday). The remainder of the afternoon is spent sitting in the sunshine, reading and eating Magnums. It is a hard life.
Thursday, 21st March 2019
It looks as if it is going to be an even better day, typical, when we are leaving!
Just under 200 miles, major roads for most of the way.
Monday, 18th March 2019
Cloudy with a little sun, and 11C, promising.
We get the bicycles out, for the first time this trip. Eight Miles around the Nene Valley Park, and, to the nearest Supermarket. There are so many cycle tracks, we will have to acquire a map, or, become hopelessly lost!
After a spell of sitting in in the sun (yes, it is true, sitting in the sun, in the UK, in mid-March), we round off the afternoon with a three mile walk through Nene Park.
Tuesday, 19th March 2019
A mix of cloud and sun, with a very reasonable 15C.
Cycle riding, with the aid of a map today! Via route 62 to Bretton, then, along the "Green Wheel" route, and route 12 to town centre, and then, back to Ferry Meadows. 11.80 Miles.
The plan today, eating wise, is Lunch at The Cuckoo, but, when we passed yesterday, it looked as if building works were in progress, and, today, they are not answering their
phone, so, it is The Granary, a Beefeater Pub. Very pleasant place, but, with adequate rather than remarkable food.
Friday, 15th March 2019
Mild, at 10C, but, still windy, at least sun is shining!
The "plan" today is to walk along the signed Riverside Walk, from Hertford to Ware. This forms part of a much longer route, The Lea Valley Walk, (50 miles), which goes from Luton to Lime House Basin, East London. We content ourselves with a little over 7 miles, today, about 5 miles of which is along the River Lea Valley!
We are reasonably fortunate with the weather, it does, eventually, begin to rain, heavily, but, fortunately, by then, we are in Ware, and, conveniently, outside of a Coffee shop!
A little shopping for more essentials (ie Red Wine), and, we catch a bus back to Hertford.
Saturday, 16th March 2019
Mild, 12C, but, even windier!
Lunch in the Barge Inn, courtesy or Kathleen, very pleasant.
Sunday, 17th March 2019
Blue sky, sunshine and 8C when we wake up, maybe weather is improving?
A short (65 mile) drive, to Ferry Meadows CAMC Site (N52.56053, W0.30593).
Ferry Meadows CAMC Site is a typical, CAMC Site, Clean, well organised, good facilities. It is surrounded by the Nene Valley Country Park , with miles of walking and cycling trails, plus other activities. The Nene Valley Heritage Steam Railway also runs through the park, an extra treat for Steam enthusiasts! It is also within easy cycling/walking distance of Peterborough.
We fit in a 3.3 mile walk, around the lakes, the weather is kind, we have blue skies and sunshine.
Tuesday, 12th March 2019
Weather forecast has dire warnings of "storm Gerard". Well, as at 09:00, the predictions appear the usual level of exaggeration. By 11:00. it is rain heavily, but, no strong wind, by 15:00, the rain has stopped and sun is out. Unfortunately we chose 14:00 walk to the nearby Tesco for essential supplies (ie Chocolate), got slightly wet!
Wednesday, 13th March 2019
Dry and bright, windy, 12C as we leave Cirencester Park CAMC Site.
A reasonably boring 117 miles, lots of motorway, to Hertford Camping and Caravan Club Site (N51.78571, W0.06801).
Weather at Hertford not a lot different to Cirencester.
Thursday, 14th March 2019
Hertford Camping and Caravan Club Site (N51.78571, W0.06801).
British weather! Never mind three seasons in one day, we have it in one hour, cold and windy, then raining, then sunshine. It definitely reminds me why I like to go South (Spain/Portugal) to avoid the British Winter!
A very pleasant walk into Hertford, about a mile, mostly slightly downhill, which of course means slightly uphill on the way back!
The inevitable search for a Catholic Church, which we eventually find, with the aid of Google.
During our wanderings, we spot several walking/cycling possibilities, mainly along the River Lea, which we may be able to take advantage of in the next few days, weather permitting!
A very pleasant lunch, and, then, a walk back.
Perhaps the effect of the lunchtime wine, but, Kathleen is in an adventurous mood,
and, agrees to following a footpath, on a hunch that it will take us in the right direction, sure enough, it does, and, it is actually shorter than the way we went.
We accomplish all of this without being caught in the rain, although, the rain does start about five minutes after we get back!
Sunday, 10th March 2019
Weatherwise, the good news is, sunny and mild at 11C, the bad news is, it has been blowing a gale all night, and, it is still blowing strongly this morning!
Quite a few branches and debris lying about, but, it would appear, no harm done, and wardens are out clearing it away.
A leisurely breakfast, then, a walk through the very pleasant park, to Cirencester Towncentre, so Kathleen can top up her indulgences at church.
For me, a little shopping (wine and
chocolate treats, it is not lent for us none believers).
The Cirencester Park and Bathurst Estate are open to the Public (between 8:00 and 17:00 each day, thank you to the 9th Earl and Countess Bathurst, jolly decent of them, I am sure) and form an extensive area of parkland, with footpaths weaving through it. All very attractive, and, from the number of people stalling there, even on a windy Sunday morning, clearly quite well used.
Monday, 11th March 2019
A very pleasant day for March, sunny, 11C, although still a stiff breeze blowing.
We have a walk around our domain, ie, Bathurst Estate, making a wide circle, through the grounds, and eventually arriving at Stretton, a small village just outside Cirencester, and then back via Cirencester (where refreshments are taken), to make just over 6 miles.
Almost all of the walk is traffic free, either through woods, or, open countryside there is brief section where we have to walk along the (relatively quiet) road, but, we have a chance encounter with a dog walker, who tells us we can follow "The Coffin Route"
which takes us across the fields from the nearby St Peter's Church, to the Plough Inn, Stretton.
While walking through the streets of Cirencester, spotted an interesting "blue plaque" which gives a possible explanation of the slang word "dole" for (Unemployment) Benefit. Apparently, in the Middle Ages, Abbeys, had a building, near the Gatehouse, where travellers could get free food and refreshment, this building was known as "The Dole House"
