We were having a heatwave!

Waterrow Touring Park

Monday 16th July dawned hot as had the previous few days, the weather forecast for the next day was even hotter so we did set off in some trepidation.  The journey was uneventful down the M5 until  junction 27 the North Devon Link road, we didn't have any idea how far it was from the junction as the directions were not brilliant, as it turned out it was much further than we had thought and we were almost at Wiveliscombe when we came upon it. By this time it was very hot outside and we were very thirsty, however, checking in was easy and quick and we received a very friendly welcome from Lynette who escorted us to Pitch no 2, not ideal but the site was very full.  We got the kettle on and sat in the shade with a welcome cup of tea for while before tackling the awning which we could not do without as the temperature was rising.  

The site was well laid out and the facilities were all in the barn and were very clean, not particularly spectacular.  Lynette had told us that the local pub, The Rock, was closed until Tuesday evening so we decided to have ham salad for tea.  We took a walk around the site down by the river Tone which was nice and shady and then walked down to see where the pub was, there was no pavement in parts which was a bit dodgy but it was not too far.  We spent the evening under the awning and watching the television, the signal was not too bad, better than Start Bay. The sleeping tablet worked a treat and despite the hot day the night was fairly comfortable and we had a good night.

Bacon & egg was on the menu for the next morning and we decided to save the Hunters chicken for  tea.  The day got gradually hotter and hotter and we sheltered under the awning, I bought a book of walks from the site from the shop and we set off for a walk though the woods where we found some of Brunel's old railway engineering and some welcome shade.  We decided that the next day we would take Bobbo to The West Somerset Railway at Bishops Lyddiard I thought I would give them a call to see if we could park the MH, good job I did as they have a height barrier, they said we could park in the approach road but John wasn't very keen on that.  The alternative was to drive to Dunster to get the train but that didn't seem very sensible so we binned that idea.

After watching the television we settled down for the night but unlike the night before it was very hot and we had an uncomfortable night with a cuppa at 3.00a.m. and John had a bit of a tummy problem! After a slow start the next morning we had a lovely pub lunch at The Rock, we had fish and chips which were delicious and John had deconstructed cheesecake and I had baked lemon meringue.  We strolled back to the site and relaxed in the sunshine.  In the evening we put the awning down ready for the morning and had a good nights sleep.

The journey home was interesting as we managed to get lost a little bit before finding the right road, but apart from that hiccup we arrived home unscathed about lunch time.

Given that this is supposed to be an award winning site and one of the Premier and Tranquil parks we were not overly impressed, our pitch could not be described as tranquil as we were in between the entrance and exit roads which was. noisy.  The toilets/ showers were very clean but nothing special and the shop was very poor with very little choice or even things to buy.  Room for improvement I would say. Still a good break on the hottest two days of the year!!

A Trip To The Seaside

Start Bay - First Caravan Club Site

Tuesday 21st June and a couple of nights by the seaside was on the menu.  Leaving home at 11.30 we arrived at just after 12.30 after a pretty hairy journey down through the small villages past Kingsbridge, lots of starting and stopping and a meeting with the bus.  

The lady in Reception was very friendly and gave us a map of the site showing the free pitches, we chose a hardstandings that looked bigger than the rest but which was a bit under the trees but had lots of space for sitting in the sunshine.  We soon had the kettle on and everything set up, or so we thought, on the upside it was the most pitch we have had so far, on the downside after about an hour when the water didn't seem to be heating up we discovered the hook up wasn't working.  After some pushing and shoving we decided to seek help from the warden and he soon had it fixed allowing us to go for a walk to Sokeley Farm Shop.  The sun was shining and we had a lovely cream tea on the cafe, there was a very good shop and small garden centre, very well worth a visit.

Back on site we had discovered that Tuesday night was fish and chip night so we ditched the idea of pizza and very good they were too although we did have to wait a long time for theme! We also discovered that the television reception was very poor and the phone signal non existent, must remember to put a length of co-axial cable in the van as there were booster sockets on the hook up post.  

On the first night I took my sleeping pill and it worked a treat and I had a good night for about the first time in Bobbo!!  

The next morning we had bacon and egg and got ready to walk down to Torcross, after some deliberation I decided to wear my walking shoes, bad move as it turned out.  The walk down took about a quarter of an hour and was partly on the busy road, but was not as bad as I expected.  We walked for a while along the Ley and then cross over and walked to the Memorial Car Park on the beach.   We saw swans with their signets and ducks and ducklings as well as other water birds.  We sat on the beach and ate our snack,  by this time my toe was really hurting and by the time we had walked back to Torcross I was hobbling, note to self wear more comfortable shoes next time.  

In the evening, having recovered from our 5.5 mile walk we took a 10 minute stroll to the Church House Inn at Stokenham for a very nice meal.  I had salmon with a spinach and crab sauce and John had the gammon.   We got back to Bobbo and made up the beds as we were very tired with all that exercise!

Next morning was Referendum day so after having breakfast outside in the sunshine we packed up and headed for home, again meeting not one but two double decker buses and had to reverse for one. We got home before lunch after a very pleasant interlude by the sea.

The site was pleasant but quite crowded, probably noisy in the school holidays and would avoid.

Old Age Travellers in Glastonbury

Old Oaks Touring Park

We set off at about 12.00 on the glorious 1st of June, the weather had been good all week and we were keeping our fingers crossed that it would remain that way.  The journey via the M5 was unremarkable and we found the site quite easily despite the printers directions being wrong!  On entering the site we reported to Reception and received a friendly welcome and were directed to our pitch which had its own EWW which was the first time we had experienced this luxury!  This required the short hose which connected directly to the water inlet and fortunately our hose connections were perfect.  We were not sure whether the water would cut off when the tank was full, however, we soon found out that it did not as there was a small flood when it overflowed into the van.  The carpets were wet and had to be lifted and laid outside to dry.  This drama overcome it was time for a cup of tea and a look around our part of the site.  Cue drama number two, I managed to tread in some dog's mess left by a previous tenant of the site on inspection there were several lumps, so it was off to Reception to inform them.  Tony came straight up and cleared it away, he was none too pleased either!  

The facilities block was very new and had everything you could wish for, microwave, indoor washing up sinks with drainers, iron & ironing board, freezer, washing machine/dryer and even a separate machine for washing dogs bedding!  There were separate shower rooms with toilet, shower, basin mirror, seat etc all new and tastefully decorated.  The toilet area had more showers and hand basins with high speed hand dryers and hair dryers. Each basin and sink had its own hand towel.  The hot water was actually hot unlike Heligan, all in all a blueprint for all campsite facilities.

After our cuppa we went for a stroll around the site where we met the Chester the labradoodle (standard poodle/Labrador) he was huge!  The site was beautifully laid out and cared for with lots of hedges and grassy areas.  The site is not cheap and this was reflected in the quality of the caravans 4 x 4's, motorhomes etc.  there were some very impressive set ups and a good choice of 4 x 4's to inspect!

After pizza and some tele we made up the beds and settled down for the night, unfortunately some improvisation was required as I had forgotten to bring my nightie and I also had forgotten the sleeping tablets.  As on our last trip sleep was elusive for me and it was a long night.

The next morning I discovered I had also forgotten one of my tablets, not doing very well up to now! We had a leisurely breakfast of bacon and egg and went for a walk around the fishing lake and woodland walk, very beautifully done and immaculately kept as well as being very environmentally friendly.  After lunch we attempted to walk to the Tor through the fields, it was a very steep climb with spectacular views but it was a hot afternoon and we didn't seem to be making much progress so we made our way back down and had a cup of tea.  Once again sleep was difficult for us both and a cup of tea was brewed at 3.00 a.m.!  I eventually got some sleep about 5.00 and as a consequence it was a slow start, however, we had ordered croissants which were delicious and a real treat.

We were determined to get to the Tor so the next afternoon we took a different route along a proper lane, it was very steep and for a moment I thought I would have to give in, but we kept going and were rewarded by a spectacular view of the Tor at the end of the lane.  We came back the same way and found Gog and Magog, two ancient oak trees with magical powers after which the campsite is named.

We had ordered fish and chips for tea and I went down to collect at 6.30, they weren't spectacular but at least saved me cooking.   At last we both had a good nights sleep and after a leisurely breakfast we packed up and headed for home at about 10.30.  We managed to take a wrong turn and ended up in Wells and had to re-trace our steps but arrived home about 1.00 with no further mishaps.

A good trip we would have liked to explore a little more, but there was no public transport easily available and the minibus service was not very flexible for us.  Also there was no pub within walking distance which was disappointing.  We would stay there again, however, and be a little more prepared.

Exploration of the Lost Gardens of Heligan

Off To Heligan Woods

Sunday the 8th May dawned warm and sunny, just right for a trip to the Cornish coast.  Unfortunately due to the blowing up of the Merafield road bridge the traffic was truly horrendous and we took nearly an hour just to get to Brixton!  When we finally escaped the rest of the journey to Mevagissey was uneventful and we arrived at Heligan Woods without losing our way, well we did go round a roundabout a couple of times!  There was a little confusion on arrival as several units arrived together but as we knew our pitch number we were soon directed to the pitch and hooked up.  

Right, now to put the kettle on, wrong the piezo ignition on the cooker refused to co-operate and we had again forgotten the matches but a quick trip to the shop to locate the said box of matches was successful and we were able to also have a delicious slice of ginger cake with our welcome cup of tea.

From the pitch we could see the sea in the distance and there were very few people on the site which although very attractive, could get a bit cramped in high season.  There were lots of plants and trees including some lovely specimens of rhododendrons, there were also a number of very attractive static holiday homes dotted amongst the trees.  The toilet block was adequate but certainly not spectacular but with a very nice washing up area which we made use of.  We had a quick walk around to locate how to enter the Lost Gardens from the site which was really close by and we went to bed looking forward to exploring the gardens the next day.  

Once again sleep for me was elusive, but after a few meagre hours I managed to get going.  We had breakfast and set off for the Gardens about 10.30, through the gate and we were there, map in hand we found our way to the Kitchen Garden which was spectacular despite being early in the season.  Again the rhododendrons and azaleas were spectacular and at their very best.  We made our way to the restaurant to see what was on offer for lunch, sadly the food was not really to our taste but very healthy!  However, we bagged a couple of Cornish pasties and a cake, the queue for coffee was very long and veeeerrry slow with nowhere to put the heavy tray.  When we finally got to eat our lunch it was delicious and very filling.  After lunch I was feeling a little weary since I had very little sleep so we made our way back through her gate and had a little snooze back in Bobbo.  After a cup of tea and a sit outside in the new chairs we made our way back into the gardens for a final look around.  It was much less crowded and hordes of German tourists had finally left and we had a stroll through the woodland walk.  We then went to the shop and made some purchases including a new basket for the allotment, a very good day out with plenty to see and nice to return at a different time of the year.

After sandwiches and cake for tea we watched some television and after a final walk had a test to see how fast we could do the beds and we got it down to a scant 10 minutes, pretty good going.

After a better night's sleep sadly we awoke to rain, which stopped long enough to pack up in the dry, unfortunately the chairs had got a bit wet as they hadn't been pushed far enough under the Motorhome.  The waste water disposal point was very difficult to access but after some manoeuvre ing we managed to get the outlet in position to empty the tank.  We weren't so lucky when leaving the area which again was very narrow and we did a bit of damage to a flower tub, but fortunately not to ourselves.  It was finally time to leave and it wasn't long before we ran into the rain again, but it was an uneventful journey and we returned home at 12.00.  We soon unpacked and returned Bobbo to storage.  A very enjoyable visit all around with a few more lessons learnt, make sure we have matches being number one!

Our Maiden Voyage

Let The Adventure Begin

So says the motto on the side of Bobbo the Motorhome and so it was on Thursday 5th May when we ventured out on our first adventure.

Bobbo is an eight year old Autocruise Stardream, built on a Peugot Boxer van.  The interior is well laid out for us with a rear lounge, mid kitchen and washroom with a full size shower.  There are a number of extras such as a cycle rack, awning, roof rails, solar panel and tow bar.

We had decided on a trip to a Caravan Club Affiliated site at Lydford on the edge of Dartmoor, approximately an hour away, just far enough to feel that we had actually left home but not too far if things were not working properly.  We booked for two nights as that would give us a good idea if there was anything that needed fixing and that the beds were comfortable.

We set off around 2.30 having picked up Bobbo from storage and loaded up with food and other personal items.  John thought he would need the comfort of his travel bag and I just put my things in the drawers and cupboards.  The journey was smooth and uneventful apart from a strange noise around Tavistock, which we ignored and turned up the radio.   The sun was shining and the moor was looking at its very best.

We found the site with no problem at all and received a very friendly welcome from Shirley at the gate.  She directed us to the Motorhome service point to pick up water and then gave us a choice of pitches, after assuring us of lots of help should we require it we reversed into our new home.  We did discover that there are a variety of Hoselock connections, however, John managed to sort out the right combination and we filled up through the window which seems to be the quickest way.  We did decide to change around where we keep the hoses and leads to make arrival quicker and easier.

A quick inspection of the site facilities revealed immaculate toilets and showers a washing up area with large sinks and lots of tourist information.  The pitches were spacious with good hard standings. The site was busier than anticipated but by no means full, there seemed to be an even mix of caravans and motorhomes, with grassy padlocks and lots of flowers around the site.

With water on board it was time to set up the toilet which was very easily achieved and it was then time to put the kettle on.  The cooker worked perfectly and we enjoyed our very first cup of tea, the first of many we hope.

Whilst preparing dinner (pizza and salad) I managed to slice my finger with the new knife and it was then we discovered we had overlooked a first aid kit, however, the lady in Reception kindly provided some plasters and the finger was patched up although it did hamper domestic chores somewhat and John had to do the washing up!

After achieving an excellent reception on the television we decided it was time to test the bed making routine.  This did take some while but was finally achieved and we fell into our new snug beds at about 11.00.  I did not sleep particularly well but John had a good night's sleep, it was quite cold in the morning so after making a quick cup of tea I explored how the heating worked.  It worked a little too well and we had to turn it off after about half an hour as it was too hot!  We had a leisurely breakfast, did the washing up in the wash up area and were a bit surprised to find the water level was quite low this was probably because we had been fiddling about trying to get the hot water to work and had wasted quite a bit.  We drove over to the water and filled up again on returning to the pitch we attempted to get the van levelled up on the ramps, this did not work too well as the motorhome wouldn't stay on the ramp and kept rolling backwards.  We will have to investigate this later.

As lunchtime was approaching we set off to walk down to 'The Castle' in Lydford, about 10 minutes.  The pub was busy as there was a wedding in progress and only a few tables available, however, we managed to squeeze in and the meal was very good with lots of choice.  We beat a retreat when the guests arrived in the bar as we were feeling decidely underdressed.  We had a look around the castle itself and then took a slow walk back to the site.  After a cuppa and a sit down, we set off for another walk to look at the viaduct over the river Lyd and explore a little further past the site.  Unfortunately although it was dry there was a strong wind blowing which gradually increased as the day drew on.

After tea we watched some television and agreed that it would be good to bring Scrabble to play.  Bedtime was much quicker and we were in bed by 10.00 for a much better nighs sleep.  The site filled up considerably with weekenders during the evening and unfortunately the girls in the 'butty' van did not come on Saturday morning so it was usual breakfast.  After washing up we shut the gas etc down and drained the tanks at the disposal point.  We left at about 11.00 just as it started to rain which was a shame for all those people who had turned up for the weekend.

All in all it was a very successful first trip out and we were pleased that everything worked so well.  We had a long list of things to bring next time just to make life a little easier.

Here's to our second adventure!