A light hearted and (I hope) amusing record of some of our Campervan Trips.
It is mainly intended to inform friends and family where we are, plus, to keep our children updated on what is happening to their inheritance.
I do try to include details of Camp Sites and Aires, we visit. Checkout the "labels" listed in the right margin,
Please comment if you feel inclined, at least then I know I am not talking to myself (again).
Friday, 24th June 2016 After carefully checking Google Maps, I determine that we can cycle to the nearby Carsington Water. This is a manmade Lake or Reservoir, which, I think is about three miles away. Careful examination of Google Street Scene, suggests, it is not too hilly or busy, to cycle. I put a positive spin on the spin on the information obtained, and convince Kathleen, it a maximum of half a mile on the A517, followed by about three miles on quiet, and only slightly hilly roads. The reality is slightly different. We survive the half mile along the A517. The next road (Gorse Lane), is, almost traffic free, but, is most definitely up hill, with a short downhill stretch, so, on balance, I suppose, it is, almost, flat.
Carsington Water is a reservoir, almost a mini Kielder Water, in Northumberland, but, without midges, and in slightly less romate terrain! There is a good surfaced cycle track all the way around the lake, about seven miles of cycling, I would estimate, it is not flat by any stretch of the imagination, but, once you are half way around, it is too late to turn back. The level of complaints is acceptable. There is a good coffee and food stop, at the
sailing club, which somewhat offsets the deception of the lack of hills.
Saturday, 25th June 2016 After yesterdays exertions, and now armed with an OS map, we decide we will attempt (again) to find the path across the fields to the Nags Head. Quite apart from the possibility of a pleasant pint of beer, it may also be a suitable venue for Sunday Lunch. The venture begins with slightly more success than our previous attempt, after joining the lane at the rear of the Campsite, we turn right, and in a short distance, we find the Footpath Sign, on the left. This is the end of the "success". Once through the hedge, there is no visible sign of a footpath. Undeterred we follow our best guess, through wet knee high grass. Kathleen is not amused. My logic of "we are wet now, we may as well keep going" carries us (reluctantly) forward, through a couple more gates, a short jump over a stream, until we come to a gate with a sign advising there is a bull in the field. The sign does say, it is a friendly bull. There is also a cow and calf watching us carefully from the other side of the fence. Still no sign of a trodden footpath, wet from the knees down, and now faced with a protective "mother" cow and her calf, plus a "friendly" bull, it is decided retreat is the wisest option. The elusive Nags Head will have to wait for another day. The plans are revised, we walk to the "virtual" Bus Stop and catch the bus into Ashbourne, and spend a pleasant afternoon walking in the park and sampling some of the many pubs.
Wednesday, 22nd June 2016 June 2016 has been a major disappointment, in terms of weather, not very warm, and mostly overcast cloudy skies. With a brief window of better weather promised, and, a means to escape the wall to wall coverage of the EU Referendum, it is decided we will have a week away in the Campervan.
As usual, in the UK, the difficulty of finding somewhere to stay, at short notice, dictates where we go. First and second choice, Melrose Caravan Club Site and Norwich Caravan Club Site, are fully booked, so, we are off to Derbyshire, Ashbourne Caravan and Camping Club Site. An easy drive, mostly on motorway, the weather is dry and warm, but, hardly brilliant. We arrive shortly after lunch, the site is a little more remote than we had hoped, and the road to Ashbourne is busier than we had hoped, with no cycling provision. But, in a spirit of "making the best of it", armed with instructions from the site office, we set off to find the pub in the next village (The Nags Head). The instructions lead us out the "back" of the campsite, onto a small and quiet lane, so far so good. We are supposed to spot a footpath on our left, which we spectacularly fail to do, and after a pleasant, but fruitless (in terms of pub finding) walk, we emerge onto the busy A517, and risk life and limb walking back to the campsite.
We find we appear to be in a mobile data signal blackspot, we cannot get a data signal on "3" or Tesco/O2, how infuriating! Our friends (Bryan and Joan) who are walking along the Pyrenees in Northern Spain, appear to be able to check Facebook and update their blog, but, four miles from a Derbyshire market town, and alongside the busy A517, nothing!
Thursday, 23rd June 2016 Perhaps, after yesterdays experiences using the site provided instructions, perhaps, I should have known better, but, today it is decided we will travel the four miles into Ashbourne by bus. The "instructions" claim there is a bus stop 100 yards along the road, after turning right out of the Campsite entrance. After a short exploratory walk, I cannot find a bus stop. I do discover, later, there is one, a combination of overgrown foliage and a lack of local knowledge, for now means, I cannot find it. Instead, I walk approximately half a mile in the opposite direction, to find an alternative bus stop, this is not a pleasant experience. Later, I make the trip again, with Kathleen, who, is definitely, not amused by the traffic whizzing by, within touching distance. The bus arrives, promptly, and a very pleasant East European (from his accent) bus driver, welcomes us on board. We have a brief explore of the town, which is a very pleasant place. Thanks to a cycling book, bought for me by son Gary, some years ago, I am aware of a cycle route starting from the town, the "Tissington Way". We walk the 3-4 miles, from Ashbourne to Tissington. It is an old railway line, and easy going, so, it is decided, we will cycle it, if we can find a way to get the bicycles to Ashbourne, without risking the A517! The day is rounded off, with lunch in "The Horns", just off the Market Square. We return to the Campsite, by the bus, the same pleasant driver, who kindly points out to use, there is in fact a bus-stop closer to the campsite. It is a sort of "virtual" bus-stop, on one side of the road, toward Belper, there is a Bus Stop sign, but, it is totally obscured by rampant foliage. On the other side of the road, heading toward Ashborne, there is no Bus Stop sign, but, the driver assures us, if we wait there, the bus will stop and pick us up.
A beautiful sunny day, but, time to go home. An uneventful drive home, Windsor to Boldon Colliery, on busy motorways, but, with traffic moving at a steady pace. The next few days will be spent: - Unpacking the van - gaining control of the garden
Unusually for a Bank Holiday weekend, it is a warm sunny day! We cycle along to Deddington, about two miles, Kathleen goes to church, whilst I sit drinking coffee, in Costa, and reading about "Celebrity" indiscretions, courtesy of the Sunday tabloids. Lunch at Gary's and a day of playing dominoes, football, paper aeroplanes etc with Gabriel, plus of course paying attention to Salma.
Monday, 2nd May 2016 It is a Bank Holiday in the UK, so, naturally, it is grey and overcaste! First we cycle into Windsor, so Kathleen can have a little retail therapy.
Next, we join Gary and family at the Windsor Racecourse family day. First time I have been "to the races", quite a spectacle, if only it had been ten degrees warmer! Nevertheless, it is incredibly well attended, with long queue for may of the children's activities, all of which are free! Mind you, the beer is £4.70 per pint, but, overall all, a good day out.
I may be wrong, but, I believe Kathleen and I are the only people to have arrived on bicycles! Sadly, the English weather intervenes, and the rain comes down. We return to Gary's for a "goodbye" meal, we must return home tomorrow.
Friday, 29th April 2016 Cold, with frequent heavy showers of hailstones, hardly spring weather! After yesterdays cycling, it is Kathleen's "treat" to have a day in Uxbridge, shopping. There is a bus direct from the campsite into Uxbridge town centre. In the evening, we arrange to meet up with Gary, Susana, Gabriel, Salma and Susana's mother at the Bear on the Barge Pub, to eat. Kathleen and I arrange to walk to the pub, a quick check on Google Maps, tells me it is 1.7 miles, 32 minutes to walk. This is a challenge to Kathleen, we have to do it in a shorter time, so, 31 minutes it is, and, we arrive first.
It transpires, it is the first anniversary of having the pub for the current owners, and, there is a celebration night arranged, reservations only to eat! Fortunately, the staff are extremely helpful, and find us a table. Saturday, 30th April 2016 After yesterdays hail showers, mild and sunny! Time to leave Wyatts Covert and move nearer to Windsor, Queens Acre, a Camping and Caravan Club Certified Site. The site is being refurbished, a little unfinished at the moment, but, the Owners are friendly and helpful, the site is just over two miles from Gary's, so, ideal.
An afternoon of bonding with Salma and Gabriel. The inevitable games with Gabriel, football, dominoes, spinning tops, flying saucers, rounded off with a walk at Virginia Water.
Another cool but dry and sunny day, so, after yesterdays cycling marathon, with Gary, Kathleen is keen to explore the cycling along the Grand Union Canal. So far, we have experimented with two routes from the Campsite to the Canal, today, we try a third, which takes us left out of the campsite, following Tilehouse Lane, down-hill (always preferable, when cycling!), and emerging near a Garden Centre, a short cycle to the Coy Carp pub, on the canal. Quite an ideal route, in that direction, but, the prospect of cycling back UP the hill is
not relished by Kathleen. A very pleasant ride as far as West Drayton, lunch at the same pub as Gary and I visited yesterday, and then return. We leave the canal towpath at the Bear on the Barge pub, and retrace the outward route taken yesterday, to Denham, here, a slight variation, we rejoin Tilehouse Lane, just outside of Denham, and cycle back to the campsite. Another 18 miles!
Wednesday, 27th April 2016 A rare opportunity to spend quality time with my son Gary. Kathleen amuses herself for the day, and, we, the boys, go cycling along the Grand Union Canal, plus lunch. I am pleased to say, as the "oldie", I was able to keep up, for the whole 16-17 miles. A totally enjoyable day, even the sun shone for us!
Monday, 25th April 2016 Not a very nice day, in terms of weather, cool, with frequent showers.
By lunch time, we are both fed-up with reading our books, and venture out for a combined stroll and grocery shopping trip. Just under 4 miles, and, the rains stays away. Tuesday, 26th April 2016 Unbelievable weather for the end of April, there is a dusting of snow on the ground this morning!
Today, we leave Oxford for Wyatts Covert Caravan Club Site, near Denham. Not a very exciting drive, except for actually getting onto the M40 from the Oxford Ring Road! Complex road works, and a total lack of signposting mean that we, along with several large trucks take the wrong turning and have a tour of the Oxfordshire countryside, before regaining the M40. Wyatts Covert is within the M25, at the end of the M40, initial impressions are favourable, although we are only approximately 15 miles from central London, it appears to be pleasant countryside, but, with ample eating, drinking and shopping places available. Kathleen is given instructions for a circular walk from the site, as she checks in, so, after lunch, off we go to explore.
In the past few weeks, we have walked and cycled in some particularly rural country areas, and seen, nothing in the way of wildlife. Today, within 15 miles of a major city, and, only two miles from the M25, as we walk along a bridle path, we encounter a fox, not once, but twice. I think, although I am not sure, it is the same fox twice, rather two different foxes. Unfortunately I am too slow to get the camera out! A little further and we come to a branch of the Grand Union Canal, with a variety of
waterfowl, including a heron, and this family of geese, paddling along. Soon, we come to the main Grand Union Canal, and a pub called the "Coy Carp". Up until now, the weather has been cold and sunny, but dry, suddenly, there is a hail storm, luckily, the pub is open, and we are able to shelter until the hail storm passes. We while away the wait with a glass of wine.
As well as being near London, we are also of course, near Windsor, and Gary drives across to see us, with Gabriel, after school. A very pleasant surprise.
Friday, 22nd April 2016 Cloudy and cool, but dry, until that is, we are 7 miles away from the van, on bicycles, at which point, the rain starts.
Our cycle ride takes us along the Thames Path to Abingdon. A little over 15 miles in total, and, it only rained slightly! Saturday, 23rd April 2016 Weather grey and cold. We have been away long enough to mean we need to do some "chores", eg washing clothes etc. Boring Sunday, 24th April 2016 What an odd day, in the morning, sitting in the sun, reading a book, by mid-afternoon, it is arctic.
Lunch time, we venture into Oxford, find one of the many "oldest pubs in Oxford", in our case, "The Chequers". It turns out, they have a rather large range of different brands of Gin, so, we sample one or two, followed by Sunday Lunch. A stroke of luck, it is Kathleen's turn to have her favourite wine, it is on the wine list, but, they are out of stock, great, that means I get to have my favourite instead! The alcohol has loosened Kathleen's grip on her purse, and she insists on paying for "treats" in a very pleasant Coffee Shop, Belgian Waffles, with banana, walnuts, ice cream and chocolate sauce, very nice.
Thursday, 21st April 2016 Not the best of weather, dry, but cool and cloudy, although, by lunch time, the sun has made an appearance and the temperature rises. I seem to recall, from my childhood, the saying "tidiness is next to godliness". Now, I am not religious, but, quite why God should be dragged into the eternal argument about putting things away, I cannot imagine.
To explain why I should be rabbiting on about tidiness, Kathleen, periodically has bursts of "tidying up", which basically means moving my stuff from wherever I have put it, to somewhere which she deems "tidy", but, which then means, I cannot find it. Kathleen of course is a tidy person, as this photograph clearly shows. There is not one single item belonging to me in that photograph! Order restored, we take a trip into Oxford, to browse the shops and have a simple lunch.
Wednesday, 20th April 2016 A beautifully sunny day.
We cycle along the Thames Path to Wolvercote. A stop for refreshments at "The Trout", a rather nice riverside pub. Through Wolvercote, to the Oxford Canal, back along the can tow path to Oxford. More refreshments and a snack at Folly Bridge (another rather nice riverside pub), and, then back to the campsite. Approximately 14 miles of very pleasant cycling.
Cloudy and cool, but, not raining. Kathleen always likes to make use of the bus, when we are in the UK on a Campervan trip. I suppose it is the "bargain hunter" instinct, because, for us "oldies" the bus is free, and, you cannot get much more of a bargain than something for nothing. There is a bus service to Leominster, from Ludlow, but, there has been great confusion about where the bus-stop is, and, the timetable. There is a bus-stop on both sides of the road at the entrance to the Campsite, but, there is a typed notice displayed which reads, words to the effect "Bus stop by prior booking only". There is no indication of who or how you make contact to make this "prior booking". Part of this confusion is due to the road bridge at Ludford being closed. I do the usual, ie, ask Google, and, I have to say the information from the local bus company and local council is pretty sketchy. I do however manage to establish the bus route when the bridge at Ludford is NOT closed. Kathleen asks at Reception, and, receives information which conflicts with my "theory" of where the bus will stop and which time. Needless to say, being a man, I cannot possibly be right. This morning, it is decided we will travel to Leominster on the bus. Disregarding the Reception information completely, we head off, on the assumption, I am right. Sure enough the bus arrives, exactly as I predicted at 10:31, stopping on the other side of the road to the campsite entrance. The advice from Reception was 12:35 from the bus stop on the same side as the campsite entrance. I am in a quandry, do I crow about being right, or, do I simply stay quiet? It is a very difficult situation. I opt for keeping quiet, since I know this will be the most irritating option. For Kathleen, the outing is already spoiled, at some point, it is going to be necessary to admit, I was right. For the record, Leominster is a pleasant enough place, in common with most villages / towns in this area, there is a surplus of Tudor style half timbered buildings. Coffee and cake in the "Merchants House Cafe" is very pleasant. Tuesday, 19th April 2016
A beautiful sunny day to travel to Oxford. The Oxford, Camping and Caravan Club Site looks promising. It is located behind a "Great Outdoors" outlet, which is initially off-putting, but, the site itself is very pleasant, with the usual friendly welcome from C&CC warden. Two minutes walk to a park and ride which provides a bus into central Oxford every ten minutes, free to us OAP's! Equally near is a Tesco store, for the essential shopping, and, there appears to be a multitude of cycle tracks. All of this, and, the sun is still shining!
Saturday, 16th April 2016 A wild night, windy and wet.
We wake to find, there is snow on the hills, but, the sun is shining, and gradually, it warms up. Plan A is to take the bus to Leominster. It would appear that, due to the closure of Ludford Bridge for repairs, the bus service has been disrupted. It is not exactly a frequent service to begin with, it is now totally useless, since there appears to be no information on what time the bus will actually come, or, where it will stop! Plan A is abandoned and Plan B implemented, ie, visit LudLow, do a little shopping, have coffee and cake. Kathleen also takes the opportunity to check out the times of the Services at the CofE Church in the town centre, in case the Catholic Church proves to be too far away. It would appear, the CofE service is 09:30 on Sunday morning, I cannot see that happening! The market is in full swing, and has a good mix of stalls, ie, not all clothes! Sunday, 17th April 2016 A bright and sunny morning, we even get a little sunbathing in later in the day. Sure enough, Kathleen fails the "out of bed and off to church for 09:30 test". Instead, we cycle into Ludlow and search out the Catholic Church (St Peters) for 11:00 mass, a much more civilised hour. Whilst Kathleen attends church, I locate the Tesco Supermarket, a not inconsiderable task as it turns out, they do not appear to like signposting things in Ludlow! Additional supplies of wine are purchased.
The day begins badly, pouring with rain, and, we over sleep! Once en-route, the weather improves steadily, as we make our way along a very busy M1.
The Sat-Nav does, what appear to be, some odd moves around Birmingham, which keeps Kathleen occupied, telling it (the Sat-nav) that it is not taking us on the shortest route, but, we do arrive at Ludlow, so, all is well. Ludlow Touring Park is an affiliated Caravan Club Site, very smart. We notice, it is also an ACSI site, it may be less expensive to pay via the ACSI scheme, but, we do not have our ACSI card with us. The site is very smart, but, be aware, if such things matter to you: 1) there is very poor TV signal, you either need a Satellite dish or an arial lead to plug into the socket on the EHU bollard, neither of which we have with us. It may be possible to hire / borrow a lead from Reception, but, by the time we realise we need one, Reception is closed. Have to check tomorrow. 2) there is no 3g/4g data signal on the O2 network, "3" appears to have 3G coverage, since my mobile internet box is working fine. 3) there are "extra" charges for some obscure things, like, for example, having a trailer, or, an awning. Seems bizarre to us, you are paying for a pitch, provided all of your "gear" fits o the pitch, why should there be "extra" charges? We walk the 1.5 miles into Ludlow, a pleasant walk, to an equally pleasant town, rounded of with a meal / bottle of red. Friday, 15th April 2016 I redeem the duff TV reception problem, although I am not personally responsible, by connecting up an arial lead to the provided EHU bollard TV connection, domestic harmony returns. Other than the above, not a very satisfactory day, it rains steadily for most of the day, until mid afternoon, at which point I am able to venture out and check out the possibility of cycling along the A49 to the local Catholic Church, for Kathleen. If it should turn out that I am wrong, and there is no only a God, but, a Catholic one, I do hope I get some brownie points for this.
Rain until 15:00, not heavy, but, persistent. We use some of the time to plan our next stop off point, and, then have a pleasant walk around the Poolsbrook Country Park. In Staveley, there is an "Outlet Centre", you know, the sort of shop beloved of women, where they can by branded goods, they neither need or want, at "bargain" prices. There is also a rather attractive looking pub, right next to the Outlet Centre, where a husband could wait, whilst his wife had some "retail therapy". Practicing my "thoughtful husband" act, I suggest we could go to Staveley and visit the Outlet Centre. For some reason Kathleen does not want to go! There is definitely nothing as puzzling as the workings of the female mind. Wednesday, 13th April 2016
Thankfully, a big improvement in the weather, sunny and warm. We decide to cycle to Chesterfield via the "other" route, ie, the one which does not follow the canal. The route is signposted as the "Trans-Pennine Trail" and is clearly an old railway line, at least for the first two or three miles. All goes well, until we encounter a particularly muddy section, Kathleen does not do mud, so, we promptly turn around and retrace our steps to the outskirts of Staveley.
Here, Kathleen, uncharacteristically, opts to take a detour, it does eventually bring us to our intended destination (Morrisons Supermarket, Staveley), but, not before we have had to peddle up a rather large hill, which turns out to be taking us in the wrong direction, so, we have to re-trace our steps (pleased I did not suggest this detour). The sun continues to shine, so, the remainder of the day is spent sitting soaking up the rays.
