Windsor - Amerden Caravan Park, Taplow

 Saturday, 24th June 2023

Today we head for  Windsor. Leisurely start, on the road by about 10:00.

Easy going, although, instead of taking us straight down A1 to M25, which I would usually expect, Sat-Nav detours us onto A421 and takes us to M1, then M25.

Hindsight makes me guess that the Sat-nav took into account the state of the M25, and avoided putting us on to it for as long as possible.

The M25 is seldom a pleasure to drive on, no idea why, perhaps Royal Ascot, or, Glastonbury, but the traffic was horrendous traffic on M25, not much above walking pace for mile after mile.

A quick stop at Gary's, to drop off a "spare" bicycle, which I am donating to Gary or Gabriel, unto them to draw lots for it.

First surprise, Gary is not there, he has jetted off to Norway, to do a quick ship inspection job, due back tomorrow.

Then on to Amerden Caravan Site, Taplow.

Seems pleasant enough, not crowded, friendly enough greeting from the Owner/Warden, approach not difficult, but quite a long single track stretch, which thankfully, seems quiet.

In the evening, a short explore on the bicycles, to try and find our route to Gary's, by bicycle, initially not very successful, we end up in someone's garden, near Bray Lock, on the River Thames. 

The owner is initially rather aggressive, but, when he realised we we two harmless pensioners, who had genuinely taken a wrong turn, he was actually quite helpful in pointing us in the right direction.

We find the pedestrian/cycle bridge over the Thames, into the oddly named Monkey Island Lane, and then to Maidenhead Road, once you know where you are going, it is only about 1.5 miles to Maidenhead Road.

I suppose, the moral of the story is, thank goodness it is not America, we may have been shot!.

Sunday, 25th June 2023

Kathleen is going to attend Church at 11:00, in Windsor (St Edward's), with Susana, and Salma. Initially, we believe Gabriel is at Basketball, but, in the event, he turns up at Church, and, sits with his Granny (ie Kathleen), which pleases her very much.

We cycle to Windsor, on the bicycles, 6.22 miles to the church, and, then, on to Gary's.

A quick snack, after which I rope Gabriel into painting the garden fence.

There is a bit of a back story. It is supposed to be Gabriel's chore, but, IMHO, it is a bit intimidating for a 13 year old, it is a pretty big fence! A bit of encouragement is needed.

My technique is simply get the paint and a brush and make. start. It takes about five minutes before Gabriel appears, paint brush in hand and starts helping.

We do a couple of hours, me employing my usual technique of suggesting "why not just do a little more" to get keep Gabriel going, and, get quite a few metres done.

As we paint, we also manage to have a pleasant chat, about various things, but, not least about his recent Presentation at school on the subject of "Competitiveness", which, under the circumstances, turns out to be quite appropriate!

After Gabriel's motivation falters and dies, Kathleen takes over as my fellow painter.

Competitve as ever, Kathleen has to ensure we get at least as much done as the Gabriel/Ken partnership.

We reach the beginning of Salma's play area, at which point, a truce is called and we stop.

I didn't measure it, but, I would estimate 12 linear metres painted, which is about two thirds of one side.

After a brief rest and relaxation, we head off for an evening meal at GoGo's restaurant, in a rather smart Marina, near Windsor Race Course, I doubt many of the clientele here have spent the afternoon painting the garden fence.

After meal, at GoGo's Restaurant, iwe cycle back to the van.

Leaving Gabriel to admire the Lamborghini parked near our bicycles, we were definitely the only customers who arrived on bicycles!

This was not as pleasurable as the ride there. Spitting on to rain, although it never actually rained, and, getting dark.

We do have good lights, but a bit intimidating all the same.

Don't think we will be doing that again.

To Windsor, and beyond, we hope!

 Claypole, near Newark, Friday, 23rd June 2023

The plan is to visit Gary and family, in Windsor, then, move on to other destinations, for a week or two.

This is dependant on Kathleen's medical appointments, we have been led to believe that nothing will happened before August.

So, the garden is left in Claire's tender care, and the daily(?) checking of the post, for possible appointments, to Phillippa.

We really are falling apart, the penalty of old. age!, I have been afflicted with what I am told is "Plantar Fasciitis", what. ever it is, it is very painful, and, appears to flair up for no apparent reason. 

Accordingly, I have an attack now.

The good news is, it doesn't hurt when I am driving the Motorhome (it is an automatic, so, no clutch, and, it is my left foot which is painful).

We decide to split the journey to Windsor, with a stop over approximately half way.

SearchforSites to the rescue, I am able to pick out a CAMC CL, not too far off our route, at approximately the halfway point.

As a result, we drive the approximately 160 miles to Little Acres CL, N53.022793 W0.744965, Claypole, near Newark.

Other than the major roadworks, near Darrington, the journey is easy going, and the approach to Little Acres CL, from the A1, simple to follow. 

For an overnight stop, with Electric, but, no toilet/shower facilities, 

Little Acres CL seems fine to me, I was even thinking that it had potential for a longer stay, on another occasion, but, Kathleen is not so keen. 

I think the grass is not neat enough for Kathleen's taste.

When we arrive, we are the only ones here, but, about an hour later, another motorhome arrives, so, it looks like two of us, this evening.

 

Deeping St James, Keal Lodge CL (N52.670112 W0.279909) - Home

 Friday, 19th May 2023

A showery day for our return home, the weather improves as we go North.

We leave at 1bout 9:30, call at Tesco for a little shopping, and, are on our way again at 10:00 - 10:15.

The road works at Darrington are still a problem, enormous tail-back, well over 3 miles at just a little over a walking pace. Unfortunately, there is no viable diversion, so, no choice but to "put up with it".

Home by 15:30.

Deeping St James, Keal Lodge CL (N52.670112 W0.279909) Contd 5.......

Wednesday 17th May 2023

 Slightly cloudy day, but, dry and 16c.

I am still suffering with foot/heel pain. It is no worse, but, equally, no better. 

I don't think the cycling had any adverse effects, but, Kathleen is reluctant to go cycling two days in a row. A rest day is in order.

Thursday 18th 2023

Warm and humid, feels like it might end in thunder. 17c and calm.

Today is a "Holy Day" (Acension Day), but, there does not appear to be a Mass at the Church in Deeping St James (Our Lady of Lincoln and St Guthriac), so, a black mark for Kathleen.

I have worked out a route to include two Churches, dedicated to Saints I have not collected yet, in my ABC of the Saints Names, Cyclechat Challenge.

We cycle first to Bainton, to collect St Mary,

and, then to Tallington, to collect St Lawrence of Rome. 

That is "L" and "M" ticked off, "N" next.

Neither of these churches had clear name boards, rather disappointing when we had cycled there especially to photograph the bike, and name of the Church.

After Tallington, we take the small roads, via Langtoft.

We have no success finding a pub serving food, so, we stop off at Market Deeping, The Stage, for lunch.

18.72 miles, and, only mild grumbling from the back for Deeping St James - Bainton - Tallington - Barholm - Langtoft - Market Deeping - Deeping St James. 

Deeping St James, Keal Lodge CL (N52.670112 W0.279909) Contd 4.......

 Sunday 14th May 2023.

Foggy first thing, but, by lunch time, 20c and sunny, and, it continued like that, until. evening.

Sunday, means church for Kathleen, I busy myself finding slightly shorter route, via the Church Yard of the C of E church.

I am thinking it is a bit of a waste, since this will be the last Sunday we will be here, but, it turns out, Thursday is a "Holy Day' (Ascension Day, apparently), so, a return visit to Church will be required for Kathleen.

After lunch, we "do" another of the walks described to us by the site owner.

A very pleasant walk, across the fields to the adjacent village of Frognall, it is very warm and sunny, so, a couple of Magnums (ice creams, not guns) are the order of the day.

Steaks for our evening meal, and, it is still warm enough to eat outside, not often that happens in the UK.

Monday 15th May 2023

Sunny, and dry, but, windy and cool at 14c.

I have a recurrence of my foot pain. This has happened before, a few weeks ago. The knowledgeable on on all things medical (Dana) diagnosed Plantar Fasciitis.  So, today would appear to be a day of rest, certainly no walking. Cycling may be a possibility, if the wind dies down a little.

Tuesday, 16th May 2023

Sunny and dry, with 17c.

A little shopping needed, my foot is not upto walking the couple of miles to Tesco. 

We cycle there instead, 4.27 miles, there and back. 

Even being careful what I buy, we have a back pack each filled with stuff, too. pedal back.

I suspect another journey will be required for more wine, but, not today.

The cakes survive the journey back, so we

have coffee and cake, before setting off for a circuit of the Deepings.

No particular destination in mind, we find the pub called "The Goat" which the site owner told us about, but, the time is wrong for lunch.

We cycle on and quite unexpectedly end up in Market Deeping, The Bull is still not serving food, for some reason, so,  we  go to the highly recommended Lilly's Tea Room, for a light lunch (very enjoyable, bacon sandwiches bursting with bacon). The original plan is to finish off with a piece of their very tempting cakes, but, the bacon sandwich is so large, it defeats Kathleen, and, by the time I have eaten one and a half bacon. sandwiches, I cannot eat a cake too.

A few more miles, after lunch, end up with approximately 14.5.

 

Deeping St James, Keal Lodge CL (N52.670112 W0.279909) Contd 3.......

Thursday 11th May 2023

Sunny and 12c, with a promise of 16c. The forecast suggests a similar day to yesterday, but, a degree or two cooler.

Today it is necessary to do some chores.

A shopping trip for essentials, including bread, milk, wine, to the nearest supermarket, which turns out to be a small and expensive Coop, It is just under 3 miles, there and back, and, as I said, expensive, I think I will cycle to the Tesco if we need anything else!

Kathleen dons her "washer woman" gear and washes some clothes.

We decide to stay here longer, and, after checking with the lady who runs the place, all is arranged, we can stay up to Friday 19th May, if we wish.

Ominously, having decided to stay longer, we have a thunder storm, and, heavy rain!

Friday, 12th May 2023

Dull, windy, and 11c, by lunch time, it has started to rain. I do hope we have not screwed up the weather by deciding to stay!

This site has no toilet block/shower block, so, we have to use the van shower etc. This is not really a problem, particularly if you are "plugged in" to fresh water and waste water systems, (which we are here), so, no lugging fresh water and disposing of waste water.

However, Kathleen's "hair washing events" usually pose a problem in these circumstances, since a volume of water just short of a small reservoir appears to be required, plus, the hot water boiler only has a capacity of approximately 10 litres, so, none stop hot water can pose a problem.

I bought a little gadget off Amazon (where else) which allows you to stop/start the flow of water at the shower head, without touching the on/off control, and potentially, unintentionally, altering the temperature setting.

I am pleased to report, it worked superbly, grumbling level reduced by 75%, a win!

Saturday 13th May 2023

Dull and cool, 10c.

The forecast says 17c and sunshine by shortly after lunch time, well, that does not materialise.

The woman who owns the site has told us at least twice about a pub called "The Blue Bell" at Glinton, and, how there is a pleasant walk, along the river to it.

We have actually cycled to Glinton a couple of days ago, but, the walk takes follows footpaths, rather than roads.

The instructions we were given are reasonably easy to follow, and, 3.91 miles later, we arrive at "The Blue Bell", just shortly after 12:00 noon.

It is a very pleasant pub, and, a pint of Landlord (J2O for Kathleen) and a light lunch are ordered and consumed.

We try to make a circular walk of it, by returned via a slightly different route, not much of a circle, but it is further at 4.25 miles.

8.16 miles for the day.

 

Deeping St James, Keal Lodge CL (N52.670112 W0.279909) Contd 2.......

 Tuesday 9th May 2023

Light cloud, 14c. The forecast says a high of 18c, and, rain from lunch time on.

After yesterdays cycling, we take our chances with the weather and set out walking.

No real destination in mind, the idea is to. explore the immediate area, and, have our lunch out.

Kathleen even volunteered to pay for lunch.

Finding somewhere serving food turns out to be more difficult than we thought, the nearest pub, The Waterton Arms, doesn't do food, although, the very pleasant bar maid, directs us to Market Deeping, where she assures us we will find a choice of eateries.

The first pub we come to, in Market Deeping, The Bull, does food, but, not on Mondays and Tuesdays, at this rate I will be drunk before we find our lunch!

The barman in The Bull, directs us to The Stage Hotel, just across the road, where we have a very enjoyable lunch in very pleasant surroundings.

The weather forecast has turned out to be totally wrong, and we walk back to Keal Lodge in full sunshine.

It does eventually end, a thunderstorm at 17:00, but, by that time, we are back at Keal Lodge, with over 12 miles walked!

Wednesday 10th May 2023

Sunny, 14c, rising to 17c.

Back to the cycling.

The plan is to cycle approximately 10-12 miles, and check out a couple of possible pubs/eating places, as suggested by the lady owner of Keal Lodge.

We cycle from Deeping St James - Northborough - Glinton - Peakirk - Newborough - Crowland - Deeping St James. 24.75 miles, taking in sections of NCN21, NCN12, Peterborough Green Wheel, so, a little more than the planned 10-12 miles!

At Glinton, we find one of the recommended pubs, The Blue Bell, and, a rather pretty Church (St Benedict's).

A brief rest, and on to Peakirk. 

As we exit Peakirk, we are presented with an unexpected choice, three miles, to "The Deepings", or, 5 miles to Crowland, via NCN12.

There is a pleasant little seating area, beside the village sign, where we meet a really elderly

gentleman (looked much older than us, 85-90 was our guess), still peddling his Specialised Hybrid. 

He advised us against taking the section of NCN12 to Crowland. 

I should have listened. The track is in very poor condition, suitable for a Mountain Bike, perhaps.

Kathleen refused to continue it was so wet and rough, taking us on. a much longer route via

B1443, and then, even more of a diversion to avoid the very busy A16.

Hence, we clock up 24.75 miles, rather than the planned 10-12 miles.

The good news is that the forecasted lunch time rain does not material, instead, warm and sunny lasts until about 17:00, when we do get a downpour.