Off to Norfolk, Russdenill Lodge, West Beckham

Saturday, 5th September 2020

With impeccable timing, the A19 is completely closed this weekend, because, the deck of the bridge, for the new flyover at Testos Roundabout, is to begin being put in place.

Amazing what you can learn from the Internet, apparently Testos Roundabout is named after a former Flea Circus Ringmaster, Alfred Testo, who, subsequently, ran a Filling Station near said junction. At present, the site of the Filling Station is occupied by by Enterprise Car and Van Rental.

The closure is likely to cause significant traffic delays.

Expecting major traffic hold-ups, the plan was to be on our way by 07:00, and stop for breakfast after a couple of hours. This would have

worked, I am sure, except Kathleen did not emerge from bed until 07:00, so departure was delayed until 08:00.

The obligatory photograph of our neatly cut grass, but, I suspect at this time of year no grass cutting will be required.

An uneventful 248 miles, the usual heavy traffic around Kings Lynn, but, otherwise no major delays, with sops for breakfast and lunch. Our lunch stop was in a large lay-by, after Kings Lynn. By chance, there was a mobile kiosk, selling hot drinks, burgers etc. My black coffee was so hot, it was difficult to hold the cup, Kathleen's Latte was only just warm (made with cold milk I suspect). Mixing the two together produced two drinks at the correct temperature.

We arrive at Russdenill Lodge, to a warm welcome from Denise and Russel (owners). All is well, two caravans and another Chausson here when we arrive, with one more arrival expected.

Everything appears clean and tidy, everyone is friendly, it looks as if Russdenill Lodge N52.903824 E1.181542 Ossier Lane, West Beckham, Norfolk, NR25 6PL, is going to be a success. 

It is rather rural. 

The village pub, The Wheatsheaf, is in walking distance, half a mile, but, you need a torch, in the evening, no street lights.

Our Chausson owning neighbours return from their twenty mile cycle ride, so, it would appear there are cycling possibilities.

So far, it all looks very promising, all we need now is for the weather to behave itself!

New Forest Centenary CAMC Site..... continued....

Thursday, 30th July 2020

New Forest Centenary CAMC Site (N50 47'11" W1 42'24")

A beautiful summers day, blue skies and 23C.

Kathleen is nursing her cuts and bruises, from yesterdays bicycle incident.

I am on "looking after duty", supplying hot/cold drinks, as required, food, ice cream and generally waiting on her hand and foot.

Friday, 31st July 2020

Another super summers day, forecast for 27C today.

Kathleen still not up to walking or cycling far.

A shopping trip to Bransgore, by bicycle for me, essential supplies, wine for me, and Paracetemol for Kathleen.

Saturday, 1st August 2020

Eighty miles, fortunately the traffic going in our direction (basically, North) is just heavy, going South towards the coast whole sections of the M27 and M3 are at a standstill. We arrive at The White Hart, Holyport near Maidenhead (N51.485633, W0.718448), by lunch time.

This is a pub stopover, from searchforsites website. They allow Motorhomes to stop over, in their carpark. If you make use of the pub (ie buy drinks, meal), it is free, if not, there may be a charge, not sure about that.

The carpark is level and good quality hard standing (Tarmac). We visited shortly after Covid Lockdown, when restrictions still in place, fairly quiet, not sure if it is always so.

This is yet another possibility for visits to Gary and Susana (not forgetting Gabriel and Salma). They live about 3.8 miles away. Windsor area is difficult to find stop overs, or, even sites, so, this is a welcome addition to our list.

The afternoon is spent visiting the grandchildren (Gabriel and Salma), in the evening we all eat at the White Hart.

Sunday 2nd August 2020

An early start, Gary and Gabriel come to along to see us off, which is very nice of them. 

Away, just shortly after 08:00. M4 Eastbound is closed for road works, so, a detour through Slough, but, otherwise an uneventful 280 miles.

A slight detour into Tadcaster to have a Sunday Lunch at the Coach and Horses. It is right next to the bus station, and there is free parking adjacent. Food and service, good, but, pub not quite so good, being next to the bus station is a clue.

Thankfully, I am not returning to an out of control garden, thanks to Daughter Claire, it is as good as the day I left it ;)

 

New Forest Centenary CAMC Site... continued....

Tuesday, 28th July 2020

New Forest Centenary CAMC Site (N50 47'11" W1 42'24")

Weather improving, no rain, and, a little sun.

No activity yesterday, so, today, we go walking.

Approximately, six miles to Bransgore and back, a little grocery shopping, plus coffee and very nice cake in the village coffee shop.

Wednesday, 29th July 2020

New Forest Centenary CAMC Site (N50 47'11" W1 42'24")

A bright sunny day.

We have big plans today, (well, I suppose, to be fair, I have big plans), a 30 mile circular cycle route.

I cannot download the route to my Garmin, because the Garmin website is still playing up, so, I use Komoot (for the first time).

It all starts well, a little section of quiet road, followed by dedicated, reasonable quality cycle track, through typical New Forest landscape, complete with wild New Forest ponies.

An actual tarmac surface to start...

Then, hard packed gravel, through the wooded area.

Things begin to deteriorate, when we have to ford a rather deep stream, 

Kathleen opts for walking across on some logs.

Then, we get lost in an area of bog, with Komoot telling us we need to be 200 yards to our right. Fair enough, there is a tarmac road there, which we can see and hear, but, there is a stream, a fence and a steep embankment between us and the road!

We eventually find our way around the bog, and reach the tarmac road. 

Actually, Kathleen's initial instincts had been correct, the two men in the equation (me and the sat-nav voice) were wrong, but, we will not dwell on that.

A short distance along the road, we have to turn right, disaster, a bit of a mix up at road junction, and I stop, Kathleen doesn't, crash and Kathleen falls off her bicycle, cuts her leg, and collects a few bruises.

A slight pause to mop up the blood and then we have no choice but to head back to the campsite.

New Forest Centenary CAMC Site.... continued

Sunday, 26th July 2020

New Forest Centenary CAMC Site (N50 47'11" W1 42'24")

The rain has stopped, a bit of sunshine peeping through the clouds, and, a mild 20C.

Using the information from the CAMC Website (in common with the other sites we have been to, all of the information usually found at CAMC reception, has been removed due to Covid-19 hysteria), we decide to do the cycle route to the coast, most of which is on Sustrans NCN Route 2.

The information sheet says it is 15 miles, we do 17.8 miles, due to confusing instructions, but, it is easy enough.

We cycle to a place called Mudeford Quays and Avon Beach, near Christchurch, probably very nice, but, today, on a sunny Sunday in July, they are very crowded.

The next problem is, I cannot download my

Garmin data, because Garmin's computer systems are all our action, allegedly because of hackers. Not my day, or their of course! Fortunately, Kathleen recorded the ride on Runkeeper.

Monday, 27th July 2020

Continuous rain overnight, and, still raining this morning, forecast says rain until 14:00 today, what fun.

Forecast was wrong.

It rained until 16:00, at which point, sun shone, for five minutes, then, high wind sprung up, and clouds closed in again!

We have done nothing to help Boris's fight against obesity today, unless, eating kit-kats, drinking coffee and reading books counts as exercise?

Cheddar Caravan Club Site.... continued...

Thursday, 23rd July 2020.

A cloudy day, but, still mile at 19C, rain is promised for afternoon, and, it does rain by 15:30.

Today, we give the cycling a rest, and go walking.

A circular walk, up one side of Cheddar Gorge, and, down the other side. Following a designated footpath, except, when Kathleen decided she knew better, without even looking at the map ;) ). Not actually very far (just over five miles), but, quite strenuous.

We, or at least I, did have thoughts of cycling along the Gorge, but, having

watched several "real cyclists" (ie lycra and expensive bicycles), slogging up the gorge, As we sat munching our picnic lunch, I think we are wise to give it a miss.

Not that walking it is an easy task, on the return leg, we climb up to the top of the cliff, and walk along the top well away from the edge!). We are rewarded with some spectacular views, over Somerset, and, the reservoir where we walked on Tuesday, from up here, it looks like a large pond!

Fortunately, we have finished our walk and and are back at the Van, when the rain comes.

Looking at the weather forecast, it does not look too good for this area, from Saturday coming, to Wednesday, lots of rain, so, perhaps, just as well we move on, Saturday!





Friday, 24th July 2020.

Rain over night, and, still raining at 08:00.

The original plan was cycling, followed by major hair care session (Kathleen, not me), but, even when it stops raining, it has all the signs of a heavy rainfall and possibly thunder (ie humid, warm, lots of heavy cloud).

So, instead, we have the pleasure of masked shopping at Sainsbury's, inline with the latest Covid-19 idiocy, followed by a short walk to explore a river side walk near the campsite. We may follow this up, later today, if the rain holds off.

Lunch and hair care completed, we take the walk along the river, beside the site. Very pleasant, but, after a mile, the path deteriorated into nettles, not easy walking in shorts!

Saturday, 25th July 2020

Another night of rain, but, dry by morning, very cloudy however.

We do not have far to go today, only about 80 miles. 

Just as well, poured with rain for the whole way, plus, this area appears to compete with Lincoln area for narrow single carriageway roads.

We arrive at New Forest Centenary CAMC Site (N50 47'11" W1 42'24") at about 13:30, in pouring rain, it is still pouring with rain at 16:30 and, looks as if it is going to continue for the rest of the day.

Cheddar, Caravan Club Site.... continued

Tuesday, 21st July 2020

Beautiful morning, 21C promised for today.

Sticking to the plan, we go walking today. Just over five miles, to, and around, the Resevoir, near Axbridge.

The remainder of the day is spent lazing in the sun.

Followed by a barbecue, in the evening.




Wednesday, 22nd July 2020

Another bright and sunny morning,

Today is a "cycling day".

We have done the only "official" route, from here, so, I am trusted to ad-lib and make something up, without the benefit of a map.

Working from a photograph (on. my phone), from the Road Atlas, off we go.

There is a signed cycle track, initially, but, that runs out after about half a mile, but, we

(I) manage to make a 16 and a bit mile circle, via Wedmore, Cross, and Axbridge, back to Cheddar.

We even manage to avoid cycling along the busy A38, by taking a detour through the village of Cross. There is a pub there, our little faces light up, but, it is closed due to Covid-19.

The pub in Axbridge is also closed, so, we have to settle for a Magnum Ice Cream, from the Co-op.

Rather hilly, is, I think, a fair summary.

Cheddar Caravan Club Site

Sunday, 19th July 2020

An early start (07:30), on a cool but dry and sunny morning.

317 miles, uneventful miles, with only one small set of road works with 50mph limit, and no contra-flows, I think that is a record for my lifetime driving experiences in the UK!

Cheddar Caravan Club Site (N51.2719, W2.77568) is small, but pleasant, and, in walking distance of the village of Cheddar.

It is approximately 15:00 when we arrive, so, just sitting in the sun today.

A very rare admission from Kathleen. I am always blamed for any mess, in the house, or in the motorhome, crumbs, grit, gravel, bits of grass, etc etc, all down to me. Yesterday, Kathleen has been hoovering the whole van, using her Dyson cordless, which I very generously bought for her. Today, there was debris in the cab, bits of grass etc. It turned out, it came from Kathleen's trainers, and, more importantly, she admitted it! First time in 33 years ;)

Monday, 20th July 2020

Dry and sunny start to the day.

We decide to do the Cycle ride which is described on the CAMC Website, ie, Cheddar to Yatton.  

The route is called "The Strawberry Line", and, the information sheet says it follows the route of a former railway line. 

This implies a fairly flat ride. 

Well, the former railway line bits are reasonably flat (and well surfaced), but, there are gaps in the former railway line, and, these are rather hilly! 

Just over 9 miles each way, according to the information sheet, although we clock up just over 23 miles, including diversions for coffee and cake etc.

But, it all accomplished without complaint, and, today, thank goodness, no punctures.

Picnic lunch in Yatton, followed by well earned coffee and cake.