Bainside House

We stayed just 2 nights on this small site with a good fishing lake. The weather was very hot and the big carp spent most of their time just basking on the surface. I did catch one 5lb ish common and a lot of small roach and bream on pellets. Nice relaxing break, outside cooking and a meal at adjacent pub. We stopped at a woodland trust forest near Alma Wood (Grantham) for a picnic on the way home to escape the 35 deg heat.

Short break to Lincolnshire

2 or 3 nights away near Woodall Spa to take advantage of sunny week. Fishing site opposite nice pub restaurant is the destination.

Home before peak heat

There is an unprecedented red weather alert today. We aimed to be home before midday and left The Old Navigation around 10:15 but stopped for half an hour at Hatton Locks cafe for a bacon bap and coffee. Its a nice spot and serves an excellent bap. We arrived home just after 12 and found the house at a comfortable 24 degrees. Expect record temperatures somewhere today! 

Packwood House and Canal stop

We set off for home fairly early with the objective of finding a shady NT property with a nearby overnight stop. We stopped about half way, Worcester, to get some fuel and had a quick snack at Greggs at the same time.

Then Packwood House, near Solihul and about 30 miles from home, for the afternoon. We stopped overnight at the Old Navigation Inn where we had dinner by the canal.

Day on fishing site

It was a hot sunny day so most of the day was just chilling until it was cool enough to fish. The fish did not agree and I had a blank day.

Rossilli beach to Llandridod Wells

The last morning on the Gower we drove down to the south west corner to the Hillend surfers car park. We walked over the dunes and onto the beach as the tide was going out. We found a few shells, clams and a big welk as we paddled along the shore.

We stopped at a good farm shop for a late brunch and stock up for the two days on a fishing site near Llandridod Wells. We didn't arrive until after 5 o'clock as we also stopped at the local Tesco for milk and ice cream.

Tried fishing for half an hour without success. Nice sunset over the lake.

Day on site

After 2 active days we just stayed on site and chilled in warm sunshine, grilled some steak and finished Jeans bottle of Rioja.

Jean at Burry Port

We took the train into Burry Port at 1pm to meet Jean and go for a curry later at the restaurant where she works. It was a nice warm day and just a 15min journey beside the estuary. Burry Port was very industialised in the past but all the old works are now gone apart from the old quays. Huge beach and some trendy apartments where workers cottages used to be. We had a bit of lunch in the town before taking the bus to Pembrey where Jean has become part of the family running the Naz Rios Indian restaurant and take away. 

Swansea day out.

We walked in to Gowerton after a late breakfast, it's a bit run down, checked the parking situation for the railway station and had a coffee. Then we took the bus into Swansea for a few hours stroll around the marina and promenade. We found a nice Spanish fish restaurant called El Pescadoro 8n the marina and had a some delicious tapas, with a shandy, for lunch. 

It was rather cloudy and there was a little rain in the afternoon. Spoke to Katie about her job plans on Facetime and arranged to meet Jean in Burry Port on Wednesday.

Gowerton CMC site

We took the Heads of the Valley road to the Gower. The first part on the new section was great but were delayed by the road improvement work around Merthyr Tydfil. Did not reach our site until 3:00pm. But this did include a drive around the Gower and a stop at Oxwich for ice cream break.

Settled in to a semi shaded pitch and had home cooked burgers for supper.

Abergavenny stopover

We are stopping overnight at a Britstop on the A40 Crickhowell road enroute to the Gower peninsular. We had a nice evening carvey at the hotel/river side restaurant.

Home from Cr(H)omer

We started so early the local farm shop cafe was not open for breakfast, so we had driven to the Petetborough bypass. We settled for an early brunch instead at a newly refurbished farm shop and arrived home before peak temperatures.

Coast to Coast

We were packed and underway by 10:00 heading along the coast road and we soon stopped at Cley on the Marsh. Parked in the village hall car park and walk through the village back streets and along the creek to the restored Cley windmill. This is now an upmarket b&b (£250+ pn) and wedding venue. It also had a lovely garden with deck chairs, benches and a coffee marquee. We sat and had a coffee and snack in the sun surrounded by flowers and bird song. Perfect coffee break.

Cley also boasts a smokery so we picked up some smoked seafood to take home. 

Next stop was Brancaster (bypassed Wells) for fresh crab to take home and a lunch time sandwich. We were lucky to grab a creek side parking spot for a prawn and crayfish roll and stroll.

Finally a stop at Castle Rising (near Kings Lynn) for dinner and a sleepover at the Black Horse Inn. The castle is an impressive 12th century ruin now, but is still owned by Lord and Lady Howard who live in the village, in the old manor house. It is partly managed by English Heritage we discovered, after a long chat at the ticket office. 

We were joined later in the carpark by a German motorhome. Very quite rural spot with the inn behind us, church in front, pigs on one side and sheep and horses on the other. A very full day touring, with tapas and wine at the inn and it's 25 degrees at 9:00pm. Planning an early start for home tomorrow to avoid the heatwave.

Rocky Bottoms

We decided to stay around the site today with just a short outing for a very nice seafood lunch at the local seafood restaurant. We had a few starters and a drink sitting under the sun shelter then walked back via the coastal path with views down to West Runton beach. The breeze has dropped quite a lot and it was warm enough for an ice cream until clouding over mid afternoon.

Sheringham rendezvous

Today we took the 12:30 coastal hopper to Sheringham to meet J and Libby who had travelled in the other direction from Hunstanton to meet us. We took a brief walk to the front then found a restaurant on the High St to have lunch. We had a nice carvery again and a chat before we had to split for the Davis to return. 

Rosemary bought a dressed crab from the seafood kiosk and some artisan bread before we bussed it back. We wandered up to Rocky Bottoms just up the road and picked up some prawns. The homemade crab sandwiches we had for supper were great.

Walked to Cromer

After a blustery night that blew my Breeze Blocker down the day started sunny but cool. We decided to walk to Cromer partly by coastal path to East Runton and then along the beach. It took about an hour and we got our feet wet negotiating the falling tidal pools. We passed the No 1 fish and chip shop which is also the best in Cromer and always has a queue to get in to the restaurant or takeaway. We queued for our2 mini fish and a small portion of chips for lunch and it certainly was good value. We followed it by a drink in a coffee bar by the church (where a peregrine falcon has just fledged apparently). Then we caught the Coast Hopper bus back to site. Rosemary rested her feet and I went up the cliff top path which was a bit of a disappointment. The wind has dropped and it is pleasant in the evening sunshine.

Holt to East Runton

After breakfast in the van we called at Holt for a  bit of shopping and coffee at Holt. It's usually a busy place but it was Sunday,  very quiet and the coffee was expensive. We arrived at Woodhill Park on the cliffs east of Cromer early afternoon to set up for a 4 night stay. It's a bright and breezy site with sea view and bus stop outside.

Britstop at Gayton

We stopped at the Crown Inn near Kings Lynn on the way to our 5 day break in Norfolk. We arrived late and shared a carvery for dinner with a Golden wedding party. Very good value at £10 each with a glass of wine. The place is owned by a group of villagers after the previous owners came last in an episode of Four in a Bed on TV.

Springfield Outlet Centre

Drove home via Spalding and the OLC which has a nice water garden and shopping mall. We arrived in time for lunch which was surprising good on site freshly cooked ingredients, in nice white modern surroundings and good value.

Rosemary went off for a quick shop while I sat and had a coffee at one of the Costas. Easy drive home via A15 and A47 took 1hr 46min.

Ashfield Lakes

Very good fishing lake, loads of carp easy to catch with floating baits. Also caught rudd, roach, tench and bream in the 7 hour session. Full sun, had omlette using eggs from site rescue hens. Still on our own on the site.

Fishing break in the Fens

Called in to see Margaret before making our way to a Pitchup site in Lincolnshire for two days fishing. We were alone on the site, basic but half the price of CMC site. Had a couple of hours fishing and caught several carp in the margins.

Chastelton Hall

We headed towards Chipping Norton on our way home until we spotted an NT property we had never visited. It was a bit different to normal as it has been left in the same delapidated state as when it 2ad given to the trust. Had coffee and cake in the church before we left.

Moreton and Broadway

We walked into Moreton for the regular Tuesday market before moving to Broadway for the second night. Broadway station is now open and extends the Cheltenham line as far as Broadway. The line is right at the side of the site presenting regular photo opportunities. 

First trip of 2022

We are just having 2 nights away in the Cotswold to get going again. We have started by spending Monday night at Moreton in Marsh after shopping in the local co-op.