Littlehampton CAMC Site (N50.826833 W0.541944), contd.

 Thursday, 30th March 2023

13c, and, not raining!, at least, not until 15:00, when it poured down, for the. rest of the afternoon, and into the night.

We will be here over the weekend, which means that Kathleen will want to find a Catholic Mass to attend. Since Covid, it is usually possible to find an online mass, but, Kathleen does actually prefer to attend, in person.

Given the apparent shortage of priests, I wonder, is this the next development, just one priest, sitting in the Vatican, doing Mass for the whole world? I suppose, allowing for time differences, it would be necessary to have a small team, broadcasting a Mass, say, every hour.

Meanwhile, in the real world, Google provides the name of a Catholic Church, St Catherine of Alexandria,, and, directions on how to find it. I am sure Kathleen has been there before, on a previous visit to Littlehampton.

The Church is located near the coast, in a rather smart part of Littlehampton, think, Tynemouth, or Cullercoats. 

Whilst checking the location, a rather pleasant elderly lady engages us in conversation. Apparently, as a child, she was evacuated to Littlehampton, during the blitz, and spent the war living with nuns in a Convent. She is visiting Littlehampton on a coach trip, and is trying to find the Convent, to rekindle childhood memories. Her husband does not appear terribly enthusiastic at the prospect. Amazing how you can amuse yourself, in an out of season UK seaside town, on a dull day.

On the way back to the site, we throw caution to the winds, and, deviate from the "google route', it turns out to be a good decision, we manage to find. a route which is quieter, away from the traffic of the A284, so, we have had a good walk today, just under 5 miles.

Friday, 31st. March 2023

 It is still raining, none stop from about 15:00 yesterday, it does eventually stop, at about 10:00, but, only because the wind increases to a gentle gale.

Alternating rain and gale force wind for the rest of the day, definitely the worst days weather so far.

Bibury. Orchard House CL (N51.758456 W1.855755) and Littlehampton CAMC Site

Saturday, 25th March 2023.

Sunny with cloud, and breezy, but, 13c, and, most importantly, not raining (yet). 

Today is Michaela and Gordon's wedding day, at The Swan Hotel, Bibury,. The weather was reasonable, enough gaps in the showers to that no-one got soaked, and, photographs taken.

The Swan as a venue was well organised, everything appeared to go smoothly, if there were any hiccups, they were well covered up!

All in all, a good day, although, as expected we did eat and drink too much.

Sunday, 26th March 2023.

After torrential over night rain, we have 8c and showers, not good for the start of British Summer Time!

Everyone is no doubt making their way home today. We are resting up, and, hoping for a break in the rain that will allow us to venture out for a walk.

Monday, 27th March 2023

After days of rain, we have a dry and sunny morning, rather cool at 4c.

An uneventful 125 mile drive to Littlehampton CAMC Site (N50.826833 W0.541944), including a coffee stop at what has to be the cleanest UK Services, (a Starbucks concession) we have ever visited (Newbury, on A34).

The weather on arrival is pleasant, and we manage a short stroll to explore our immediate surroundings.

We have been here before, but, it was approximately 14 years ago. The surroundings appear to have changed significantly in that time, lots of new housing built, the adjacent road much much busier 9and noisier). A possible positive, a new supermarket has been build, approximately ten minutes walk from the site.

Tuesday, 28th March 2023

Not too cold, at 10c, but, raining again!

Rain stopped shortly after lunch, allowing a short walk to the nearby supermarket, a few essentials, plus chocolate to make up for the rubbish weather.

Wednesday, 29th March 2023

A big surprise, this morning, it is not raining! A bit grey, but, dry and 13c.

A leisurely morning, including looking up potential eating places. 

There is a pub, the Six Bells, just outside the site, but, it appears to have succumbed to the economic situation, and has closed down.

According to Trip Advisor, The Arun View Hotel is the best eating place in Littlehampton.

We set off to walk into Littlehampton, with the intention of eating at the Arun View Hotel (2.2 miles). 

I think Littlehampton must once have been quite a smart little town, now, it is somewhat faded grandeur, if you imagine, Hebburn-on-Sea, that would give a good idea, for those who know Hebburn.

The food is good, the waitress pleasant, so, on balance, OK, although the artist's impression of the view is most definitely using a big dollop of artistic licence.

To round off the day, I suggest walking back, via a different route, to 'make a circle of it. Surprisingly, Kathleen agrees, and we cross the river Arun, then, walk back to Littlehampton CAMC site (3.25 miles).

Not a bad day, we didn't get wet, we had a reasonable meal, and, we had some exercise.

Bibury. Orchard House CL (N51.758456 W1.855755)

 Thursday, 23rd March 2023

Not well prepared for this trip, I even missed the usual garden, as we left it, photograph!

Approximately 256 miles. I wouldn't call it a particularly pleasant journey, several traffic hold-ups, and, alternating periods of bright sunshine, followed by periods of torrential rain.

Orchard House CL (N51.758456 W1.855755), one of a pair of CLs with the same owner. The other is Orchard Meadow CL. 

The two CLs are adjacent to each other, Orchard House CL has hard standing, whereas Orchard Meadow CL is all grass. 

Given the torrential rain when we arrive, hard standing is a good idea.

We arrive at about 15:00, so, not time to do any exploring, plus, there is torrential rain. The, very pleasant, owner (Peter) braves the rain to greet us, and, give us some information about the local area.

Friday, 24th March 2023.

A sunny start to the day, and 7c, rising to 12c. Windy, and, the rain does return shortly after lunch.

The site owner gave us a couple of maps of local walks. The shortest is 3 miles, and takes in Ablington and Bibury.

We are told that Ablington is a pretty Cotswold village, without the tourists. Well, it is, but, it is without anything else too, we discover.

So, walking shoes on, and, off we go, on a 3 mile walk.

The instructions say to join a public footpath, shortly after leaving the site, 

This footpath apparently is a part of the original Hay Lane, a Roman route from Cirencester. 

Roman route or not, Kathleen decides that after yesterdays heavy rain, it is too muddy, so, we will vary the route (seldom a good idea, when you do not have a detailed map).

 All goes well, we are walking on tarmac, a small road, with only very occasional motor traffic.

One small detail, we do not appear to have reached a village. We do encounter another public bridal way, which is deemed "not too muddy", and, which, according to my sense of direction, appears to be heading off in the right direction.

Now, we are relying completely on our sense of direction, because this public bridal way is not even on google maps, so, we are shown as heading off across a field. We emerge onto a tarmac route at the village of Winston, and, follow the lane to Ablington, from where Bibury is actually signposted. Other than the fact that we spent most of the time without a clue where we were, and, what a pleasant surprise to arrive at The Swan, Bibury, it was a very pleasant walk, scenic and quiet, although, lacking a pub, or, at the least a coffee shop.

After lunch, the weather returns to yesterdays weather. Frequent torrential showers. 

A meal, at the Catherine Wheel, Bibury, with the Kent based Reay family this evening, well, not actually all of them, we are minus Victoria and her husband Graham, who could not make it, because, today is Victoria's graduation day, as a Radiologist, plus of course brother John and his wife Sharon, so, nine of us in total.

Diamond House CL (CAMC), Fiskerton, Lincoln (N53.23299 W0.41416) contd.

Tuesday, 31st January 2023

Dry, sunny, and 10c, but, the strong wind makes it feel colder.

Today is our 36th Wedding Anniversary.

A bus ride (No 3) into Lincoln.

This was something of a rural tour, via Reepham and Cherry Willingham. I think we were the youngest people on the bus, other than the driver. Definitely a surplus of zimmer frames and walking sticks.

The usual visit to shops we have at home (Marks & Spencer, Next, etc) to confirm that they do not have anything more appealing than their Newcastle or Metro Centre based outlets, followed by a very nice lunch at La Trattoria Da Vincenzo. I found this place on Google, it is novel, a restaurant, located in what is, or was, once a terraced house. A short walk from the shopping centre, but, I don't really see how you would ever find it, unless you knew it was there.

We did check out the area around Brayford Pool, which, I thought, given it's history, may have had some pleasant eateries, but, all we found was modern concrete and glass developments, occupied by semi fast food major names.

Sadly, Lincoln was bit of a disappointment, all rather shabby and run down, it makes Sunderland look affluent, and, that is an achievement.

Wednesday, 1st February 2023.

Dry, cloudy, and 10c, but, that strong wind is still spoiling things.

It is is granddaughter, Salma's birthday today, 7 years old. Hopefully, we will manage a FaceTime Call later today.

Morning of "chores', and reading.

The cloud turns to drizzle type rain, so, no outdoor activities today.

Thursday, 2nd February 2023

Rather similar to yesterday, dry, cloudy, and 10c, but, the wind has subsided somewhat.

Bicycles are unloaded, and, we go cycling along Sustrans NCN1, which, at this point, runs along an old railway track, formerly called "The Water Railway" 

We do, from Diamond House (near Fiskerly), to Bardney, then, to Washingborough Station, and back to Diamond House, 15.14 miles. 

Not bad considering we have not cycled for two months.

The date and time on camera is incorrect, must remember to check in future, if they have been dis-used for a while.

Friday, 3rd February 2023

Probably the nicest day of the week, today, 13c, typical!

Home   

 

 

Diamond House CL (CAMC), Fiskerton, Lincoln (N53.23299 W0.41416)

Sunday, 29th January 2023

Hopefully, a more successful trip than the last one (ie, flooded out at York!).

Uneventful journey, light traffic, dry weather, with good visibility.

For some reason, Sat-Nav selected a "varied" route, including M62, M18, M180 and, the dreadful A15. I haven't followed that route since I did a couple of work assignments in Lincoln, about 20 years ago. The A15 has not improved!

Diamond House CL is easy enough to find, with decent access. There appears to be two other hardy souls here.

Early afternoon when we arrive, so, a short walk to find our way around, followed by Sunday Lunch.

Monday, 30th January 2023

Blue sky and sunshine, 8c, but, a bit windy. But, on the plus side, no rain, and no flood!

We walk to Washingborough, along the "Water Railway", a former railway line, now, a well surfaced cycle route and walking route. 

A stop for a fortifying pint, and, a sandwich, in The Ferryboat pub, in Washingborough, before the return trip, to make 8.4 miles.

The route runs from Lincoln to Boston, approximately 33 miles, hopefully, we will get to cycle at least some of it.

Impressive sunset this evening, which the camera failed to capture fully.

 

York, Rowntree Park CAMC Site (N53.95066 W1.0809)

 Monday, 9th January 2023

Totally uneventful, 85 miles, light traffic, no hold-ups.

Dry and sunny, but quite cold, 6C.

York, Rowntree Park CAMC Site is very near York City Centre. Access inevitably means encountering some traffic, and, there are low bridges. Our Garmin Sat-Nav worked out a route avoiding low bridge etc, but worth reading, and taking heed of, the route advice on the CAMC website.

A short "walk about", along the banks of the River Ouse, a little ominously, the river had overflowed its banks in many places. The footpath / cycle track was flooded, in several places, and, we had to detour around

Tuesday, 10th January 2023

5c and, what my phone describes as "moderate rain", more like pouring down in my opinion.

Well, it rained, and it rained, and, guess what?

At 15:00, one of the site wardens arrived to tell us they were evacuating the site, because the Environment Agency had warned that flooding was "imminent". 

We were given the option to move to the CAMC  site at Beechwood, York, but, decided to take our refund and go home.

So, a bit of a waste of time, really.

Poplars Riverside Caravan Park, Haydon Bridge (N54.9695 W2.253) contd.

 Friday, 2nd September 2022

Despite the weather forecast, which predicted rain, we have a bright sunny day, 19c, a few clouds, but generally blue, and, a breeze from the East.

The plan for today is cycling, after studying the Sustrans Cycle Map, the plan is t cycle to Bardon Mill, with either no, or minimal cycling on the busy A69.

We first follow a signed trail, but, after we reach a farm, that becomes an unrideable (Mountain Bike territory). 

So, plan B, return to Haydon Bridge and follow the 'old road' through Haydon Bridge, inevitably we come to the A69. 

I have more success in convincing Kathleen to

take a chance and ride the four miles to Bardon Mill, along the A69, than I had in convincing her to attempt the Mountain bike trail, on a Hybrid Bike.

Not really enjoyable, too noisy, and, or course, the constant thought 'is some clown playing with their phone, instead of watching where they are going!". 

A very pleasant coffee and cake stop at Bardon Mill, at the village shop, which doubles up as everything, it would appear.

Then, a little further on NCN72. 

We could have returned via the NCN72 Hadrians Way cycle route, but, it was decided that risking the A69 again was better than the prospect of big hills!

Just over 14 miles, and, due to lack of concentration, when loading the video, we have both the front and rear view!

Saturday, 3rd September 2022

We wake up to rain, which eventually stops and we go walking.

A very pleasant 3.48 miles walk along the river bank, in the direction of Hexham.

Despite the overnight rain, the path is perfectly dry, which shows how parched the ground is I suppose.

Sadly, what appears to be the only coffee shop in Haydon Bridge (Oddfellows), is closed for some unknown reason.

Interesting development, this evening. 

Saturday evenings are usually 'Marks and Spencer Ready meal or Pizza night', after Kathleen has returned from Church, 'cooked' by me of course.

Tonight, we were due to have one of our (well my) favourites, Chicken Jalfrezi. 

Quite apart from it being very tasty, I have always thought it was a decent sized meal, particularly for a ready-meal, which are usually a bit skimpy. 

Although, I did think them a bit pricey at about £7 each, excluding the rice and/or naan bread.

I have, in the past, read the cooking instructions of course, but, tonight, I took the trouble to read the rest of the packaging. 

Much to my surprise, they are ready-meals for two!, so, we have been eating a meal for two, each, roughly once per month, for the last couple years. 

No wonder I thought the portion sizes were generous!

Sunday, 4th September 2022

Home today.