Windsor to Morn Hill CAMC Site (N51.06208 ; W1.25846)

Monday, 17th May 2021

Up early to see Gabriel and Salma off to school, for the last time this visit.

These photographs were taken by Susana, but, we discover that Salma has taken to helping herself to Susana's iPhone, and, taking

photographs!

Like so!

Only 50 miles today, but, most of it in a rain and hailstorm of Tropical proportions.

Morn Hill CAMC Site, Winchester, Hampshire (N51.06208 ; W1.25846)

An unusual CAMC site, in that, there are no hard standing pitches, and, tents are accepted. The lack of hard standing pitches is a bit of a concern, given the amount of rain we have had, and, are still having. 

 

To Windsor

 Wednesday, 12th May 2021

The usual garden photograph, before we leave, to set the standard. Plus, a few more to illustrate the changes taking place with new fence, mostly being undertaken by neighbour Steve, although, I have lent the sweat of my brow to the effort.

Approximately 280 uneventful miles. A bit of sunshine, a bit or rain, typical of the weather we have been having recently.

We find Gary & Susana's new house, without a problem (it is our first visit). 

Parking the van is a bit of an ordeal, but, possible.

Absolutely wonderful to see the family (Gary, Susana, Gabriel and Salma, after so many months of Covid restrictions.

Everyone looking well and happy, the children have grown so much.

The new house is excellent.

Thursday, 13th May 2021

Not blessed with good weather, cool, and, showers, some very heavy, throughout the day.

Two (walking) laps of Bray lake with Gary and Susana, followed by lunch sitting outside a cafe by the lake (it stayed fine for the duration of lunch). 

Playing in the garden with Salma, after she returned from school, followed by collecting Gabriel from school after one of his activity filled days, with an 18:00 finish.

Friday, 14th May 2021

More overnight rain, and, a cloudy day forecast.

Saturday, 15th May 2021

Another indifferent day, weatherise. 

A full day, In the morning we attend Gabriel's Saturday morning football session, they draw 1-1, which is an improvement on being beaten. Gabriel does not manage to score, much to his disappointment, but, he puts in a valiant effort.

We are dutiful Grandparents and freeze on the touch line, whilst shouting encouragement.

Horse riding in the afternoon (Gabriel and Salma, not us grandparents!). 

Myself and Gabriel begin making an Airfix model of a Red Arrows training jet. Airfix models appear much more complex than I remember as a ten year old!

Table tennis in the evening with Gabriel, he tells me I am "quite good", I think, he is being kind.

Sunday, 16th May 2021

A heavy work day today, but, enjoyable because lots was achieved, and, I was in good company.

In the morning, work with Gary and Gabriel to fill skip with rubbish and rubble at the "old" house. Gabriel worked extremely hard, encouraged, no doubt, by my stories of how children his age (11), used to be sent up chimneys, down coal mines etc. His efforts were redoubled when he thought he may be getting paid minimum wage for his labours.

In the afternoon, a little relaxation, playing table tennis with Gabriel, followed by weeding, grass cutting, and strimming, with Gary, Gabriel and Kathleen.

In the meantime, Kathleen had Salma at the park, and, even, a little try at skate-boarding!

 

Moorhampton CAMC Site, continued

  Moorhampton CAMC Site, The Old Station, Moorhampton, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR4 7BE (N52.11774 E -2.89289)

Wednesday, 28th April 2021

For reasons too sad to write about, we are heading home today.

Moorhampton CAMC Site, continued

 Moorhampton CAMC Site, The Old Station, Moorhampton, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR4 7BE (N52.11774 E -2.89289)

Monday, 26th April 2021.

Above freezing last night, at 1C. Bright and sunny morning with 4C at 09:00, and a promise of 14C by midday.

 

Many years ago, son, Gary, bought me a book of Cycle Rides. I always have it with me, on our Motorhome trips. There is a ride in the book in this area, it is a tour of the “Black and White Villages”, I mentioned earlier. Our ride for today, I think?

 

A ride of just under 14 miles, to visit Weobley and Dilwyn, two of the “Black and White Villages”. 

 

The ride to Weobley is not quite as flat as the route guide suggested, but, we make it with no problem.

 

On to Dilwyn, this involves riding along the A4112, a slightly less than pleasant experience.

 

Lunch on a seat in the churchyard of St Marys Church, Dilwyn.

 

A quick check of the map shows there is an alternative route back to Weobley, without venturing on to the A4112. A fellow cyclist, riding a Brompton folding bicycle directs us to the alternative route. 

 

Lockdown being “relxed” the Unicorn, in Weobley is serving drinks in the garden, so, a refreshing drink, sitting in the sun.

Tuesday, 27th April 2021

Much cloudier and milder overnight (3C), but, the penalty is, cloudy today, rain forecast for this afternoon, and, a chilly 12C, no sunshine.

We decide to give the cycling a miss today, instead, we take a 4.5 mile wander along the country lanes around the site.

Very pleasant, and, we manage to avoid the rain, just a few drops falling, as we return in time for lunch.

A brief freely on the CAMC Wifi, and, I can post this, hopefully!

 

 

Leaving Chapel Lane CAMC Site, arrive Moorhampton CAMC Site, Hereford

Sunday, 25th April 2021

More cloud today, so, slightly milder overnight, and, 9C with 14C promised when we leave Chapel Lane CAMC Site.

A short drive, only about 60 miles, so, a leisurely morning of packing up our "gear", and heading off.

Light traffic, although Caravans and Motorhomes more in evidence, weekends are clearly "change-over" day.

Moorhampton CAMC Site, The Old Station, Moorhampton, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR4 7BE (N52.11774 E -2.89289)

I suspect I have blundered in choosing this site. The address implies Hereford, but, in practice, it is ten miles from Hereford, and, the terrain is "undulating".

The good news, the site is small, very quiet and pleasant, all up to usual CAMC standards, with excellent views. Now, the negatives, it is very rural, ie, nearest village (Weobley) is approximately 4 miles away, the nearest place of any size appears to be Leominster, which is approximately 12 miles away. Mobile Signal and 4g signal is almost none existent, (with 3 and Tesco/O2), no TV Signal and, tree cover suggests the satellite dish will not work, so, no soaps! 

Perhaps, a site more suited to caravans than motorhomes, ie they have a car, to provide transport. According to the site information, there is a bus service, to Hereford and Llandrindod Wells.

There is a cycle route "advertised" in the site information, it is a circuit of the "black and white villages", no, not Newcastle United Fans, but rather an architectural style. I have plotted the route onto my Sustrans Cycle Map, roughly a dozen villages in a circuit, we will have to assess the gradients, and road/traffic situation.

Due to the lack of internet signal, I will have to save future posts, and post when we reach civilisation. This will be several days. Sorry if this leaves you on the edge of your seat, for the next instalment.

 

Chapel Lane CAMC Site, Wythall, Birmingham (continued.)

Chapel Lane CAMC Site, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6JX. (N52.373 E -1.8942)

Thursday, 22nd April 2021.

A rather cold night, -1C, but, we were toasty in the van of course. A bright, sunny and calm morning, 8C by 10:00, and 15C by lunch time.

Approximately 14 miles of cycling. From the site to National Cycle Network Route 55 (NCN 55). This is a very pleasant route, a small quiet road, through beautiful scenery, but, it is rather "undulating", or, as Kathleen described it "too hilly". But, not a word of complaint escapes her lips.

We go, North, as far as Kings Norton, then, turn East to Kings Heath, where we pause for our picnic lunch, before joining the Stratford-on-Avon Canal, to follow the towpath, in the general direction of Wythall.

A reasonably quiet (traffic wise) outing.

There is a rather unusual bridge, it is Bridge 8, called Shirley Drawbridge. We are fortunate to reach it, just as it opens to allow two narrow boats to pass through.

Friday, 23rd April 2021

 Cold overnight, -1C, but, bright sunny morning and 9C by 09:00, with a promise of 17C for later, perhaps spring has arrived at last.

A (food) shopping trip, Site Information says nearest Supermarket (Sainsbury) is about three miles away, but, en-route, we find a Tesco Express.

I even manage to find a rather imposing gate, for one of the many Cyclechat Photo Challenges.

A five mile walk in the afternoon, given that we are only 8 miles south of Birmingham, remarkably rural.

Saturday, 24th April 2021.

Another bright start to the day, cold overnight (-1C), but, 11c but 09:00 and 17C promised for later.

We decide on a cycle ride, based on our walking tour of yesterday. The destination is Earlswood Lakes., about five miles away. An easy enough ride, along quiet country lanes, once we have negotiated the busy roundabout at Withall (we chicken out and dismount, then walk across, at a pedestrian crossing point). 

On arrival, a trifle disappointing, no indication of their website, but, there are major works in progress and much of the area is cordoned off. It is clear that many people are ignoring the closed path signs, so, we join them and manhandle the bikes over the barrier, before walking around the lake, stopping for our picnic lunch as we go.

Another couple of photographs for the Cyclechat challenges.

One on a bridge, and, one infront of some water. 

Don't worry, unless you follow Cyclechat, you would never understand, even if you do follow Cyclechat, you may not understand. 

The depths people (cyclists) will sink to, to relieve the boredom which is Covid Lockdown.

Whilst sitting on a bench, eating our picnic, we encounter an elderly (yes, even older than us) gentleman, walking his dog. He assures us we will be able to negotiate the barriers to. exist the "closed" section.

We watch as he manages to make his way through a gap in the first fence, then under the second fence.

Kathleen, without a word of complaint (honest) makes her way through the obstacles like a teenager.

Just to round off the adventure, we brave the roundabout at Wythall, without dismounting.

 

At Last!, Covid Lockdown eases, Chapel Lane CAMC Site

 The Plan

Thanks to Covid-19 restrictions, we could not make our usual trip south to the Iberian Peninsula, this winter/spring, instead, we have enjoyed(?) a very cold (but dry) spring, in the UK. Covid-19 lockdown restrictions mean no overnight stays, and, "staying local" (whatever that means.

Restrictions were eased, 12th April 2021. We had appointments for second dose of Astra-Zeneca Covid Vaccination, of 25th April 2021, which meant we had to be "home" for that date, so, we could not take immediate advantage of "the great re-opening". 

Thanks to influential contacts, we manage to obtain an earlier appointment for our "jab", so, we are able to fit in another stop-over, and, depart on 21st April 2021.

For our European mainland trips, we do not make anything approaching a plan, since, in our opinion, this takes away the fun, but, the UK, even in "normal" times is different, just "turning up" is seldom an option, this year, with supposedly most of the population planning a "staycation", it definitely does appear wise to have a plan, and, some reserved stop-overs.

Accordingly,  we have booked three CAMC sites, and, will round off our trip by visiting "the Windsor Reay", who we have not been able to visit for several months, and, they have a new house, since last time we saw them.

The plan is: Home -> Chapel Lane -> Moorhampton (Hereford`) - Tewksbury Abbey - Windsor -> Home, approximately 700 miles.

I did attempt to make a last minute amendment, an additional "stop off" on the way home, at CAMC Norfolk Broads site, no chance, fully booked!

Preparations.

Van washed, tyres checked, "internals" (ie water, fridge,  freezer, shower, toilet, heating) all checked for functionality (van has not been used for 6 months). 

Garden tidied, ready for Claire, and (?)Phillippa's tender care.

Diesel filled. All ready to go, as far as I am concerned. 

Kathleen has done her bit, organising some provisions, clothes, bedding, etc etc.

Chapel Lane CAMC Site, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6JX. (N52.373 E -1.8942)

Wednesday, 21st April 2021.

214 uneventful miles, although, roads are busier than I had expected, given that some Covid restrictions are still in place.

Rumour has it that everyone with a Motorhome or caravan is "going away", well, that is not in evidence today, we see very few caravans or motorhomes, perhaps, they are all "there"?

Certainly, Chapel Lane is busy, but, far from full.

Time for a walk to explore the immediate surroundings. The nearby A435 is very busy, definitely not cycling territory!, but, there do appear to be quiet alternative routes.

Weather is not too disappointing, dry, sunny and 14C.