Westonbirt Arboretum and Broadway

Took advantage of a couple of days of late October sun to view the autumn colours at Forestry Commissions Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury in Wiltshire. It was a late decision to go, so we spent Tuesday night in the Cotswold water park at Cirencester. The remaining short drive next morning was thru some very nice and no doubt very expensive little villages en route to Westonbirt and we then spent most of the day walking in the arboretum. Ideal time and weather to see the brilliant colours of the acers and take lots of photographs of course. Its the national arboretum and as such it covers a big area with a huge variety of trees, but at this time of the year 2 walks are signposted, of about 2 miles each to take in the best of the Autumn foliage, which we did before and after lunch. We were not alone - thousands of other like minded people were doing the same. Click link in the Blogroll for a selection of photos.

Then drove up to Broadway in the late afternoon and arrived at a CL behind a farm shop, Rosemary's favourite kind. There was no reply from phone number but the gate was not locked and it was getting dark, so we let ourselves on to the field anyway. We were on our own, needless to say, with lovely views over the Vale of Evesham. I cooked a full evening meal in the van for the first time (I usually do BBQ's) and in the morning we shopped in the farm shop and later in Broadway itself before heading home. A rather long diversion via Banbury took us to the national herb centre for a lunch break in the car park and a bit more shopping. There were 17 varieties of Rosemary and 16 of Mint to choose from - so we bought Sage and Basil plants instead!

Arrived home early evening with a strong following wind as the rain started - just timed it right for once.

Home run

Once again the day started sunny, but after the disturbed night, we treated ourselves to breakfast in the cafe. Amazingly the Haven stay worked out at £14 for the night for the two of us, including a full English breakfast with coffee and toast!!! Had a look at the two fishing lakes (for future reference) and a walk down the promenade just outside the site, to the Yacht club. The tide was out which means Burnham is just one big expanse of mud flat - not very attractive.

By lunch time we were north of Bristol, still sunny, so decided to find a NT place to stop for a couple of hours and Newark House near Wooton under Edge seemed to fit the bill. Turned out to be an interesting old hunting lodge on the southern edge of the Cotswolds with uninterupted views down to the Mendips. It is still lived in too and has recently been used for filming some of the TV series 'Tess of the D'Aubervilles' including the final episode murder scene on Sunday. The northward journey home thru Stroud and up the A46 is classed as a 'scenic route' and it certainly was, with the leaves just turning golden in the afternoon light. Not visited this part of Gloucestershire before but certainly worth returning again sometime.

Arrived home at 7.00pm after 18 days away, which included most of this years summer :-)

Exeter and Burnham on Sea

After a very stormy night, Wednesday started surprisingly sunny and we enjoyed a nice run down to Okehampton to see Barbara and John and an equally pleasant onward journey. So pleasant in fact that we decided to stop off in Exeter to see the Cathedral and the old quay area whilst buying a replacement mini Wok from Lakeland. Judging by the number of people shopping in the High street and queueing to pay £2.35 for a Costa coffee, there is not much of a credit crunch in Exeter! Booked the Haven site at Burnham on Sea (£5.60 a night !!!) and headed back to the windy Devon coast for the night. Rosemary 'thru together' a meal of fresh Mackeral fillets from Oakhamton, with Goan masala paste from Rick Steins deli and leftover pillau rice (plus added peas and peppers), with a bottle of Pinot Grigio. So pleased with the result it has even made the blog!
We were awoken at 4.00am by a loud clap of thunder, which shook the van, followed by hours of rain and hail !!!

Padstow, Port Issac and Bude

We headed back along the north coast and by the time we got to Padstow the weather was not bad at all, so we parked right on the side of the quay, much to Rosemary's horror, for a couple of hours. Enough time in fact for Rosemary to find a weird fish rucksack and a take away form Rick Steins fish and chippie. It was actually local caught squid, which we ate in the van and was delicious.

Next stop Port Isacc, which is too narrow even for us to attempt, so we parked up on the cliff car park and walked round the coastal path and down to the harbour. Very exposed and blowing a gale on the headland! We browsed the gallery, found Doc Martins cottage, had a cappuccino and retreated back up the path.

Bude looked a good place to stop the night so I looked for sites while Rosemary did a bit of shopping. Passed 6 big TV crew caravans by the beach. If they were filming rough seas it was perfect - waves crashing onto the shore. Eventually found a cheap £9 site just out of Bude for the night, with some shelter, but it was still a very rough wet night.

Newquay

After 14 dry and sunny days the forecasters were predicting a period of wind and rain so we decided it was time to turn around, but not until after a flying visit to Newquay. We parked near the front with good views over the sea and had a traditional fish and chip lunch overlooking the beach. The wind was starting to pick up and we found a rather windswept 'night halt' on the Hedre holiday park just outside Newquay. As they wanted to charge £4.95 for electricity we decided to be 'unplugged'. It was a very blustery night and we had our first rain for 15 days. Mike and Margaret decided they would head straight back and we would call on Barbara, as promised, after another night further up the coast.

The sensitive plant needs to be cushioned in towels to save it from total collapse when travelling!

Heligan - found the gardens

For our fourth and final day day at Pentewan we went to find the lost gardens of Heligan - not very difficult as it turned out. Getting in was a bargain as we were caravan club members and qualified for a BOGOF (thanks to ticket office for telling us). The gardens were every bit as good as the Eden project, even the jungle walk was pretty authentic. We took tea and cakes on the lawn and then spent some time in the bird hides. The farm shop provided some good food for a barbeque which we took back to site and managed to finish just as the sun went down behind the hills. Days were warm and sunny but the evenings cool.

Pentewan Sands and Eden

Arrived at Pentewan Sands site, just outside St Austell, in time for the weekend. Friday was sunny but rather windy so after fighting with wind breaks and awnings for a while we settled down to chilling out in the sun followed by a breezy late afternoon barbeque. Had a paddle and a stroll to the small village of Pentewan during the day.

Saturday we all went out in Mikes van again and enjoyed a return visit to the Eden project including lunch in the cafe. Its still a very interesting place and well worth going again. Rosemary bought a 'sensitive plant' which collapses when touched or disturbed, riding in the van should be an interesting experience for it.

Decided to stay at Pentewan for another night.

Looe and Lanhydrock

Intended to stop for a night in Plymouth but the only convenient site would not let us on to the grass pitches which were still soft from the summer rains. Stayed instead on the caravan club site at Looe for two nights during which we all walked down into Looe via the steep footpath, had a nice fish lunch and good wander round the old quayside village then took the taxi back up to the site. Rosemary found something to buy in the sales. Lots of rabbits on the site. Left Looe for the St Austell area and spent most of the day en route at the NT trust house at Lanhydrock. Very large victorian house with a church adjacent and extensive grounds. Margaret took a ride in the old 'jalopy' down the long drive to the house from the car parking area. We 'picniced' in the car park before leaving for St Austell area stopping at the Tesco for provisions.

Another day older

We had to visit the nearby Blackpool sands beach but a little too far/steep to walk so we all took to Mikes van and combined a Sainburys shop with an afternoon on the beach. It was the first time that Mike had carried passengers - but not the last! I found a nice pink hat in the beach shop and Rosemary forced me to have some trousers, fortunately they were not pink. Ice creams on the beach - birthday just goes on and on!

Birthday Blog

We are now just outside Dartmouth and its my birthday weekend. Opened my cards and pressies including a bag of jelly atrics from Katie. We caught the bus to Dartmouth (bus pass again) and had a fish and chip lunch and a bit of browsing - rather cold easterly wind and a long wait for the bus back. Half of the bus got off at the camp site and all on bus passes (ie 'jellied atrics'). Rosemary made us a birthday tea with sandwiches, jelly and cake with musical candle, followed by a glass of champagne!!!!

Sunday was a rest day apart from a walk down to the village of Stoke Fleming about 1/2 mile away. There was a nice breeze for kites, so I amused the rest of the gang by flying my old spiderman kite. Mike captured my kiting skills and crashes on Margaret's new video camera. It was very pleasant behind the wind break, its still warm in the sun and forecast to remain so. Happy days.

A little Haven

After Charmouth we travelled to Exmouth via Beer and Branscombe down some very narrow and steep roads before emerging again at the Donkey sanctuary - as there was nowhere else to stop. We stayed at Haven's Devon Hills resort for a couple of nights. The touring area is very cheap, £6.50, for a premier pitch cos you are supposed to spend lots in the entertainment complex! We had two brand new pitches with a sea view (just) but a long way down to the sandy bay. We had a lunch time BBQ and even made it down to the beach for a paddle. Went clubbing to the sounds of Popcorn in the evening and the ladies spent a few pennies in the arcade.

The Old Fossils

Its Monday 15th September and here we are at Charmouth by the world famous Dorset fossil beaches - feeling really at home :-) Stayed overnight near Bridgewater on the way down where we met up with Mike and Margaret. Now we are here for 2 or 3 nights and have already been into Lyme Regis using the local bus with our bus passes (along with 90% of the other passengers).

Weather has been dry and was even sunny on Monday, but a bit cool today. We saw a kingfisher on the beach at Lyme Regis, thanks to another eagle eyed visitor who pointed it out to us and had the first crab sandwich of the holiday - wow this is living !!!! Cream tea tomorrow maybe.

What next

Well if September lives up to its reputation then a few weeks down in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall is on the cards. But if not - then its off to Greece (minus the van of course) for a bit of late sun.

Grande Union Canal

Getting withdrawal symptoms waiting for the summer so decided on a couple of nights trip somewhere nearby. The canals around Southam area seemed to fit the bill so headed for some C&CC Cl's. Only spent one night away on CL near Napton on the Hill right by the canal. Tried a spot of evening fishing but the junction of Grand Union and Oxford canal was still busy with holiday makers, it was overcast, a cold wind and caught nothing. Moved on the next day and checked out a very nice looking CL behind the Green Man pub in Little Itchington for future away days. Then headed back via Ullesthorpe Grange, for one of their carvery lunches and a few hours fishing at Whetstone Gorse, which was much more successful, before arriving home late evening. Well it was a break at least.

Brecon Jazz festival

Stayed at Brecon to join the jazz festival on our way back from camping with Jean and family. Only booked at the last minute so we used the 'official festival campsite' which turned out to be a large farmers field and organised by Tangerine Fields with a water point, portable loo's, frequent cow 'pats' and a bus service into Brecon. The 20 or so caravans and motorhomes were at the 'top' of the field where it was a bit flatter and the tents below. Entrance to the site was very steep and by the end of the weekend very muddy!

Very big and well organised festival with Jools Holland, Joan Armatrading, Courtney Pines and Sir Johnny Dankworth (to name but a few) performing in concert in large marques and venues around town. These were mostly sold out months ago. There was a parallel stroller program and also a breakaway fringe festival in the local pubs which was loosely jazz based. Most of the jazz was mainstream to modern with little 'trad jazz' quite the opposite to Abersoch.

We walked down into Brecon and Rosemary made the mistake of chatting to an old jazz enthusiast called Denis on the way - it took some time. We bumped into Denis many times! We had a Friday evening stroller, £10, and listened to a few modern trios, a bit of 'fringe Clapton' R and B, followed by Marcia Pendleton (missed her at Abersoch) before catching the bus back up the hill.

Saturday was forecast to be wet, and it certainly was, so we sat it out in the van, read and watched some TV while the wind and rain battered the new awning - which survived with flying colours.

Sunday was windy and showery so, armed with umbrellas, we walked back into town via Morrisons to get the Sunday papers of course, and had a nice lunch at the theatre bistro by the canal basin, which was also a jazz venue. Listened to a bit of jazz by the Watton marquee (don't really need a ticket to sample the strollers) and then went to see the Abram Wilson Delta Blues Project with a jazz gospel show entitled Roll Jordan Roll which was excellent.

After the concert we popped in to St Margaret's church for tea and cakes and then 'quite by accident' spent over an hour at the evening service in the Plough Chapel. This is an independent Welsh church built on the site of an old Ale house and had been hosting some if the fringe festival events and a flower festival. It was actually quite entertaining with a jazz group and much hymn singing in both English and Welsh ( 'we sing some in English to keep the language alive :-) ' )

We left early (well 10 is early for us!) on Monday morning before the expected rain and we arrived back home just after lunch. Would we do it again? Yes - but with earlier planning in order to see some of the concerts and a choice of campsites. Its expensive compared to Abersoch but with potential for seeing some top class jazz.

Wet and Windy Wales

We stayed in Carmarthenshire, Black Lion site near Cross Hands, with Jean and family for a few days from Sunday to Wednesday. The weather was cool and breezy when we arrived but we managed a BBQ (wind break came in handy) and were hopeful of a few days sunshine. Peter and Josh spent most of Monday fishing in the on-site fishing pond. Only caught one fish all day but it was lovely 5lb Koi Carp. Owners seemed quite excited - don't think it had been caught before as the pond is only a year or two old and not fished very much. We hooked another carp 'free lining' dog biscuits near the lily pads late in the evening but it broke the hook length in the lilies to get away.
Poured with rain overnight and Tuesday was a complete washout as it rained all day. Rosemary managed to do cooked breakfast for 6 - an impressive feat in a 2 berth motorhome, then Jean and Alan decided to take Adam and Josh home as their tents were really soaked. It was still windy and Peter had to catch Josh's pop-up tent later as it rolled past our van propelled by a strong gust. We met the others for a meal back in Llanelli later that evening and were locked out of the site when we returned at 10-10pm. Not very motorhome friendly barrier hours.

Wednesday was the last day and after packing up the tent we 'followed' Alan to a country deer park for a walk, picnic lunch and then back to Ferryside (near Pembrey Sands) to see the sea. Driving back down to the coast it was as close as I have come to sailing this year - it p***ed down again! Ferryside was like mid-winter, we had the beach to ourselves. The locals were having a hog roast with C&W theme that evening - they were not happy!

We all enjoyed the break - pity about the weather. Must arrange it in summer next time!!!

PS Where was the wettest place in UK on Monday? - you guessed it - Pembrey Sands!

Back to Wales - but South this time

We are off to south Wales the first week in August to meet Jean and family for a few days of camping near Carmarthen. On the way back we pass Brecon so planning on stopping off to see a bit of the Jazz festival. Hope its as sunny in Brecon as it was in Abersoch back in June. But just in case, we have bought a small Sunncamp caravan awning which gives Monica a new 'back porch' to give us a bit more covered area and drying space.

Clapton has still got what it takes

Enjoyable weekend around Harewood in Warfedale where we went to see Eric in Concert. Stayed at a nice site for two nights (Maustin Park) where we could get back in, after being out late. There were many other campers doing the same thing - very handy for Harewood House events - and we even had a barbeque the first night. We visited the house and gardens in the afternoon and left the van on the car park hard standing instead of the festival field. Worked out very well as it had rained for a couple of hours earlier.

Excellent concert, if you like Clapton in his bluesy mood, but disappointed a lot of people expecting the more popular stuff. Eric does do what he likes these days - but then he is still a God. Impressed by the sound system and video screens (we were near the back) - how do they get those rock steady close ups with no obvious cameras?

Superb setting for a concert, down by the lake with the magnificent house up on the hill in the sunset. Even had red Kites circling over the crowd looking for scraps from the food tents. A memorable event. Got the program but not the T shirt!

The Sugar Babes are in concert there in August. Rosemary says - no way!

Clappy weekend

We are off to see Eric Clapton in concert, for the first time, at Harewood House near Leeds. Its Glastonbury weekend too so I expect it will pour with rain :-( . We get reduced price entry to the house and gardens too so it may keep Rosemary happy - not a great Clapton fan yet.

Abersoch jazz weekend.

We went to the jazz festival weekend in Abersoch to meet Libby and Jerry. The ladies had a 'retail therapy' weekend, while Jerry and I had a stroller ticket to wander around Abersoch to the various jazz venues. Good choice of styles and location, combined with excellent weather made for a very enjoyable weekend. We stopped at Porthmeirion on the way back, the village and gardens are on a private estate we had first visited on honeymoon 40 years ago. This time we could actually afford to eat there, so we went to the restaurant at Caste Druageth for a super lunch and afternoon tea and wandered around the village again. The place has hardly changed, much to our surprise and brought back happy memories ;-) We stayed overnight at a CL near Dollgellau, to break the journey home and also called to see the oldest iron bridge, at Ironbridge near Telford, as we were passing.

Back home again - reflections

Woke up to yet more rain in Calais before we caught the SeaFrance ferry back to Dover. Tedious journey home round the M25 and up the M1 in occasional heavy showers. Judging by the buckets we left outside in the garden its been pretty wet in Leicester too, so we have not missed anything.

We did have some good days I suppose but any pleasant evenings seemed to coincide with being on Aires or parking areas. That may explain why I did not have a single barbeque and we only ate outside the van on 2 or 3 occasions. Meteo France declared 'un mois de mai extrêmement chaotique' with record rainfall in parts of Normandie and Brittany - so it was rather a disappointing 3 weeks compared to previous years weather. It did prove one thing however, that the investment in a slightly bigger and more comfortable motor home was very worthwhile. Surprised to find that we covered 2080 miles in the 22 days trip.

Waiting for the Ferry home

After leaving Mike and Margaret, in the sun, we made our way back over the Pont de Normandie to Fecamp a busy resort/fishing harbour/town where we stayed on the smaller of the two Aires just behind the sea wall. Watched the local lads fishing, they actually caught a few, before having a nice evening meal at a fish restaraunt. Aire was free - the meal was expensive. As it was another nice sunny day on Thursday we wended our way slowly up the Alabaster coast, thru some lovely scenary and pretty harbours as far as Dieppe before a blast up the A16 to Calais. We had a call from Mark, just back from Florida, on the way to tell us about his MCSE course. Stopped at the Baie de la Somme service area (100% better than those in the UK) and had a coffee while feeding the huge carp in the terrace lake. Bought loads of wine and stuff in massive Carrefour to take home and spent the night on the usual Aire by the ferry port.

Meeting Mike and Margaret

We met Mike and Margaret, on their first motorhome venture to France, in Le Havre and took them to Honfleur for their first 'Aire' stopover. It was 5 o'clock when they arrived from Newhaven so we just had to time to settle in to two adjacent parking 'slots' and have a walk into town for a quick meal. Found a nice restaurant just off the harbor to introduce them to Galletes and Cider. Next day we went to Houlgate via Trouville (had a quick board walk) for a two night stay in a camping cheque site at La Vallee. Unfortunately all the rain in France had left many of the pitches too wet for motorhomes so we were allocated two near the entrance. It rained for most of the afternoon to make matters worst but we sat outside and had an evening meal and plenty of wine. The next day it rained most of the day, not a good introduction to the delights of camping in France, but we managed a rather cold walk into town to do a spot of shopping and ate in doors that evening. Wednesday started much better so off we went to see Pegasus Bridge museum and then on to Courseulless where Mike was planning to spend the night on an ACSI site nearby. Having set them on their way, with bit of last minute advice we 'bade farewell' and headed back north to meet our ferry at Calais.

Dinard, Dinan and St Malo

Spent a couple of days around the old walled towns staying at a site near the beach at Dinard. Had a nice lunch in St Malo, in a very friendly restaurant once we had found somewhere to park - not very camping car friendly car parks. Arrived at Dinard shortly after a storm so lots of water logged pitches, but very few campers, so we found a dryish one. We have seen too many old walled cities now, its about time the sun came out. We have not had our first BBQ yet and its almost June!. But the weather may be OK tomorrow so we are planning on staying two nights here, near Granville on the Cherbourg penisular, to get the outside stuff out. There is almost a red sunset - so we may be in luck.

North Finistere

After a very pleasant stay at Port Machem we have crossed back to the north coast via the medieval town of Concarneau. This required a short ferry ride to the old back gate of the walled town - full of English tourist on half term it seemed. Rosemary bought some pricey (but so is everything else) hand made chocolates from the chocolaterie. We are on a camping car aire on the sea shore at Erquy now - huge beach and rocky headlands in these parts. Receiving weak English TV from channel isles, just enough to catch a bit of the England match and Britain has Talent. Off to Dinard and St Malo today I think on our way to rendevous with Mike and Margaret on Sunday evening at Le Havre.

Peaceful Brittany

We are now in Southern Finistere at Port Machen for couple of days. This is at the mouth of the Aven, well known for the pretty touristy village of Pont Aven. We stopped there too for cafe and crepe but we are now on a beautiful site at Port Machen (St Valentine in ACSI book). We are the only ones here now, there were two, apart from the birds. Its so quiet and peaceful yet only 300m from a small beach and harbour with its bar/glacier and 300m from the village patisserie. Weather is still not settled, but it is sunny this morning at least and the birds are singing.

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby …. la la la la laaaaa

Its our ruby wedding anniversary today! Walked into La Baule des Pins for a suitably long celebration lunch and back again for tea. As it was 2 miles each way and sunny, it filled in most of the day very nicely. Cracked open the champagne to accompany the strawberry tart for tea and thats about it. 40 years ago we climbed/walked up Snowdon - so its been a bit different.

Its raining and its heading your way!

Been in La Baule for almost 24 hours now - which is almost as long as its been raining. Van is standing in large puddle but we have wine and other provisions for 2 days so 'pas problem'.

Made contact with Mark in Florida and Mike in England via a combination of MSN and Skype, but not enough bandwidth for intelligible Skype talk. Only one wireless hotspot for whole campsite I suspect.

Our 'cheapy' multistandard TV really does receive French Secam TV and there are also plenty of digital channels. In fact it looks like this part of France may have gone digital as the main stations are only on digital. No english content as far as I am aware but equivalent of 'news 24' channel, BFM, allows us to keep up with world events - subject to misinterpretion of course ;-)

Arrived in La Baule - with WiFi and rain

Reached our intended destination at La Baule for the weekend to find it raining. But then it looks like its raining everywhere at the moment! We are staying here at a site called La Roseraie (not quite Rosemary but pretty close). It has WiFi all over so I will be on line a lot for the next couple of days if it doesn't stop raining. Chance to catch up with news and emails, Skype and load some photos. We have a had three nice hot sunny days so a bit sun burnt and 'mozzied' - but no more than you would expect.

Morbihan and Auray

We spent the night in the parking at Mont St Michel on Monday with around 50 other vans. No facilities but a perfect place to see the sun set over the bay and then the picturesque floodlit Abbey. Next morning we drove down thru Brittany to the south coast stopping at Pleormel for a picnic lunch. Decided on an ACSI site a mile out of La Trinite sur Mer for a two night relaxation stop. Walked into La Trinite for coffee and a bit of food shopping before for returning to site to cook it. Demolished a botte of wine or two, at least that is still cheap and chilled out.

Its Thursday today, we drove round the Golfe de Morbihan (inland sea) via Auray and its pretty old harbour. Treated ourselves to a typical moules and frites lunch on the harbour - excellent. Stopping overnight on free parking (12 other French vans) at Port Navalo a huge marina with maybe 600 yachts moored here. Its right at the entrance to the Morbihan so perfect for either inland or offshore sailing - but the tidal flow must be challenging at half tide.

Normandy Landing?

Been in France for 4 days now and the sun has finally appeared! We have travelled down the wet west, coast stopping overnight at Calais, St Valery sur Somme, Jumieges in the Sienne valley, Honfleur and now in the camping car area at Mont St. Michel. Writing this blog waiting for the sun to go down (photo opportunity) having negotiated the 700+ steps on the Abbey tour and for it to be floodlit (another photo opportunity!). France is much more expensive than our last trip with diesel and petrol at UK prices, well almost, diesel is about 10p cheaper I guess. Monica is performing well, apart from the occasional sqweak, as is Rosemary. We are heading for the south Brittany coast tomorrow for a couple of days on a site as we have spent most of the trip in 'aires' so far , but only €7 a night.

Monica is off to France

It didn't take long! First holiday to France has been booked for 15th May in order to be away for our 40th wedding anniversary. Friends Mike and Margaret have just taken the plunge and invested in a motor home so we also intend to rendezvous with them in Brittany on their first trip abroad with Ivor their Ace Novello. We spent many holidays with our children in Brittany and the Vendee with Eurocamp, so this will an opportunity to re-visit some of those campsites again.

First trip in the YKL van

Just off for a night away at Top Lodge to try out the systems in our recently aquired replacement for 'the Twurp'. Then we are meeting Mike and Margaret at the Peterborough show to pick up a few bits and pieces that we will need.

The 2008 Prologue

This year we decided to stay at home for the spring and look around for a new motorhome, then go away in the autumn. So sadly we are going to part with our Surf and replace it with another NuVenture but this time a Moniche. Its only a little bigger than the 'Twurp' so we will be able to carry on with our travels in much the same way, but with a few extra creature comforts and more power for those long slogs through the mountains in search of the sun. However, when we have it on the drive in a couple of weeks time, I am sure it will not be long before we are on a ferry again - so watch this space.