Travels in 2009

At last! Spring has arrived and we have unearthed Big Bertha from her winter covers, had her serviced and stocked up the cupboards again.

26th-31st March

We set off for Canterbury Club Site in the rain, for a few days to check everything over and were pleased to find NO mildew, damp, mice droppings or anything else untoward. We met up with our friends Lorna & Mike and celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary whilst we were there. We managed to get 3 quite nice days, so had a couple of walks, did some shopping, as well as a couple of diy chores around the camper and generally chilled out.

We then put our thinking hats on and together with the Internet, maps and brochures have sort of planned an itinerary to start on 11th May.

We have decided to go up the East Coast towards Northumberland, then on up in to Scotland around Perth, further up to Dingwall, then across to the West Coast around Glencoe, back down to Edinburgh/Borders and home via Cumbria and Cambridgeshire. We have got 7 weeks to play with and I am sure will have a few change of plans en route 'cos that is what we do best.

We'll let you know how we get on later!

11^th – 12^th May 2009

Home – Clumber Park 176 miles ( Caravan Club Site)

Today, we set off on our trip in glorious sunny weather for a change, though it was very windy.

Tuesday… we had relaxing day unloading the car and packing everything properly in to the camper. We went off to find diesel and a few foodie bits at Sainsbury’s. After a bite of lunch we went for a walk down to the cricket pitch and kitchen garden for a couple of hours.

13^th – 19^th May

Clumber Park – Alnwick, Northumberland 180 miles (Dunstan Hill Club Site)

Again a very windy but sunny day, so a bit slow going. We finally arrived on site around 2.30pm. After setting up we were able to sit outside for a cuppa in the sun.

Thursday…we put the awning up after breakfast and did a few bits of washing. Then picked up some information leaflets about the area. After lunch we set off to find the beach which is apparently 1mile away….over the stile, through the woods, up the hill alongside a field of sheep, on to a cycle way we turned right and walked, and walked, and walked nearly to Craster where they do the kippers !! Then through 2 field gates, past some more sheep, up over a gorse-covered hill, down another field of sheep. By this time I was thinking of asking a sheep for a piggy-back! We could see the sea, the golf course, the ruins of a castle..in fact just about everything except a path to the beach! So after a sit-down on a boulder in the sun to recover, we started off to find our way back again.

It was definitely cup-of-tea time when we got back. Later we drove around to find a pub for dinner and ended up at ‘The Bonny Blink!

Friday…it was much greyer and colder when we got up but we decided to drive up to Holy Island anyway. It was quite eerie driving 3 miles across the causeway that was going to be covered by the sea 5 hours later. Arriving at the car park we put on all our warm gear covered by our wet coats, gloves and hats and scarves as well….we were going to be prepared. It was a much longer walk out to Lindisfarne Castle than we realised , but very interesting to have a look around.

By the time we came out, it was throwing icicles down from the sky!..these weather forecasters don’t know the difference between rain and icicles, but we do! Back in the village, the Pilgrim’s Café beckoned with a bowl of soup and a roll. We could hardly sit down, the backs of our trousers were soaked! After a quick look around the village itself it was back to the car, heater on and dry off. We actually managed to get mobile phone signal there, at last, so made a few calls, then set off for the drive back around the Coastal Route, through Bamburgh and Seahouses. Luckily this was the night the Fish ‘n Chip van called round the camp site, so we did not have to cook.

Saturday…no rain, but very misty first thing. We went in to Alnwick to have a look around the Castle and Garden. The entry ticket seemed quite expensive, but we opted for a combined 2 day ticket, which meant we could go back tomorrow. Just as well, we spent most of the day in the Garden….it was spectacular, just a pity it was not a month later when roses, clematis etc. would be out. They have a bamboo maze, which we got lost in; water fountains and cascades of every shape and form; a poison garden which we took a guided tour around as well as a more formal garden.

Back to the car for a picnic lunch and rest of the feet, then off again, but this time in to the town itself. We had a quick look around and decided to leave the rest for tomorrow, together with the Castle. We did however find Barter Books, which has about 35,000 second-hand books, comfy settees and a coffee-shop – our kind of heaven.! Once back on site, cup-of-tea time, the heavens opened once again so we settled inside with our books and Sol-Suite for a while until it was time for me to “cook” dinner!

Sunday…dawned quite nice and sunny, but still blowy. Off we went in to Alnwick and parked nearer the Castle this time.

We spent about 3hours looking around the Castle, the State Rooms were so well renovated and decorated. Paintings by Canaletto, Titian, Matisse etc adorned the walls; the china and glass was out of this world. After our picnic, we walked in to the town and had a look around, lots of jewellers all shut ‘cos it was Sunday afternoon; plenty of eating places and not much else. A quick flit in to Morrisons for some salad and veg, then a very round-about drive back along the coast, through Craster (where we stopped to look at the kippers smoking) and back in time for dinner.

Monday…once again blowing a gale (the weather forecast said sunshine and showers! I don’t know where they get these people from). We set off late morning to find the beach! This time, no stile, just along the dog walk, through the woods, across a field of grassy stuff, through a field of sheep, we ended up on a road! So we turned left, wrong again, turned round and walked back the way we had come and followed the road round until…….lo and behold….the pathway to the beach…across the golf course, over the dunes and there we were! Sandy, bleak, blowy with a few dog walkers; not the sort of weather to be sitting in the sun eating an ice-cream! After finding our way back by joining up the dots on our previous outing, we had a late lunch, snooze, read and put our photos so far on to the computer. We felt a bit ‘all out of energy’ so had a lazy remainder of the day.

Tuesday…after taking down the awning first thing whilst it was dry, we then went for a walk over the field to the village. Back at base we had a lazy afternoon before going to the pub for dinner.

20^th – 26^th May

 

Alnwick – Scone 147 miles (Camping Caravanning ClubSite)

A fairly straightforward drive, except around Edinburgh, and a small Little Chef car Park on a sunny day, we arrived around 2.00pm. The site was very waterlogged after 4 days of torrential rain, so we were not impressed with the pitch

Thursday... 

 

This was a marvellous day..we drove over to Falkirk, about 1 hour (and a bit more after getting lost…sat nav, maps and road signs did not agree!) We got to the Falkirk Wheel about 11.00am and spent an hour looking at the workings of the wheel, then had a coffee before getting on our boat at 12.30.

The fantastic work of engineering lifted the boat 135ft up to the Union Canal and then we went for a little jaunt along the aquaduct and through the tunnel to the turnaround point and back down again…about 40 minutes in all. Once at the bottom on the Fife Canal, we decided to walk around and up to the top and the tunnel we had just been through!

The heavens decide to open once more so we sheltered for a while at the flight of locks at the top before going back to the car. Back to Perth (which is the nearest town to the campsite) and a Morrisons jaunt for diesel, hot chicken, and a few more bits, we got back around 5.00pm.  

Friday...

 

A rest day!! We needed it after all the driving..so we caught up on some washing, sat in the sun, read our books, walked a mile around the racecourse down to the river and chatted to our neighbours. As this was now the Bank Holiday weekend, we had plenty of neighbours to chat to! The site is now full. We have been watching arrivals all day, there is no need for a television, we have entertainment a’plenty.

Saturday...  

Today, we decided to visit Scone Palace, which is right next door to the campsite along with Perth racecourse.

The Palace itself is still lived in and very beautiful with lots of lovely paintings and china etc. We spent a couple of hours looking around the house and then another couple around the gardens. The rhododendrons were in full bloom and absolutely gorgeous, as was the pinetum.

There was also a beech hedge maze which of course we had to have a go at, even though it was raining and not wide enough for our brollies…we thought we were never going to find the way out, especially as we never found the middle in the first place!

Sunday... 

 

A bit sunnier day, so we drove about 15 miles to Crieff, to visit the Famous Grouse distillery. This was very interesting and we spent a couple of hours on the tour and looking around. Stopped for sandwich lunch, then went on to the Crieff Visitor Centre and Stuart Crystal display. We drove back via Perth city centre and got back about 3.30pm. We decide to bite the bullet and buy a Wi-Fi voucher in the hopes of getting on to the Internet in the evening! So far we have been cut off, both mobile and internet, and TV…..it’s nice to be away from civilisation.

 

27th May - 2nd June Scone - Dingwall 129 miles

It was sunny most of the way with just a few odd showers at times. The scenery was very beautiful, but not as mountainous as we had expected. We arrived on site about 1.45 and got set up quite quickly, awning as well, in what we hoped was a quiet corner of the site. We had a few misgivings about this one…mainly the fact that it is right next to Ross Football Stadium and along the top edge is the railway line!! Still we shall see.

Thursday…

We did some chores in the morning (this has become a routine of first day in an area, cleaning up and washing etc.) After lunch we wandered along the canal in to town and mooched about a bit to see what we could see…lots of charity shops as usual, quite a few pubs, Tesco and not much else. Dinner was taken out on the ‘terrace’ for the first time this trip.

Friday… 

A beautiful sunny morning, breakfast on the ‘terrace’. We then drove over to the Black Isle and around the shoreline to Cromarty, stopping quite a number of times to look at cruise ships, oil rigs, bird reserves and the scenery in general.

Cromarty was quite pretty with a little harbour and a nice walk along the shore of the Moray Firth.

Further on around to Fortrose and Rosemarkie and back in a circle over the causeway to come home. It was so hot by then that we had to sit out in the shade until shower and dinner time. We actually got the barbecue out and cooked our chicken on it to have with some salad. There are a lot of small tents here with cyclists, motorbikers and even a lady pulling her belongings along in a shopping trolley sort of thing! Dutch and German people seem to be the norm as well. (As well as the gnats!)

Saturday…

Another hot sunny day, breakfast on the ‘terrace’ again, we could get used to this! We drove over some hills and glens to Loch Ness. The Loch Ness Experience is an audio/video presentation that was quite interesting…certainly disproving the existence of any ‘monster’. It is amazing how easily the camera can lie, or one’s imagination can be led in the wrong direction.

The drive back along the River Glass was very pretty, single track roads and everyone else seemed to be going in the opposite direction to us. We got back just after ice-cream time, in time for a cuppa and a sit in the shade before tackling ‘dinner on the terrace’. We have new neighbours now, all the little tent people have upped pegs and moved on, so we have a caravan with 2 yappy Scottie dogs. Hopefully they won’t stay long. We are quite surprised how many singletons there are around, either on motor bikes, bikes with little trailers, bikes without little trailers as well as the lady with the shopping trolley. For Lorna’s benefit she reminds me of East Fleet Farm (river’s gorn)….every time we go to wash up she arrives with another tale to tell us. All good entertainment value.

Sunday… 

We woke up to another very hot sunny day, so decided that as it was Sunday we would have a day of rest. We sat in the shade of our tree and read our books, had a drink, downloaded our photos, had another drink, watched the very hot footballers, had another drink, and really were very lazy.

Monday… 

Another hot sunny day… we drove down past Inverness and over to Culloden Moor to look at the battlefield.

The Visitor Centre there is really interesting, even to a non-historical person like me. You can walk out over the moor to the battle lines, with an audio guide that explains everything. After a couple of hours there, we carried on to Cawdor Castle.

We ate our picnic lunch in the shade of a big oak tree, then went for a wander around the Castle gardens, not as impressive as some we have seen, but pretty all the same.

Back at the camp-site we discovered we had been over-run by a Dutch rally, 13 units in all! Sitting around their flagpole, making merry with their glasses of wine etc. We are now quite appreciative of our quiet little corner behind the fence.

Tuesday… 

Today not very interesting, just a take down the awning day and go to the shops for food and fuel ready to drive to Onich on Wednesday. It has been much cooler and cloudier as well.

We have added some more photos ...check out the Spring 2009 link at the bottom...

3rd - 9th June Dingwall - Onich 90 miles

It started off grey and cloudy, but became sunnier later on. The drive all along the side of Loch Ness was very picturesque and well worth the fact that we couldn’t go much faster than 40mph due to the traffic. We arrived at Onich about 2.00pm in very hot sunshine and found ourselves at the most beautiful campsite on the edge of Loch Linnhe.

This is a typical Caravan Club site, where we feel a bit like country cousins. The Wardens are a quite jobs worth. . . don’t drive on the grass, park everything on the hard standing, no canvas of any sort along the front row, etc. There are lots of motor homes and very new caravans here,but no tents, cyclists, backpackers or foreigners.

Thursday..

After doing some chores we drove back 9 miles in to Fort William which is the nearest town and had a look around there. Lots of cruises along the Loch start from there and also all the Ben Nevis activities. We browsed the whisky gift type shops as well as the market in the High Street. Back to the campsite to sit in the sun as it was another hot day. We went out for a stroll after dinner, which didn’t last long, as it is midge heaven here.

Friday...

Sunny again, so we decided to go over to the other side of the loch. The Corran ferry is right next to the campsite and only takes 10 minutes (at £6.40 quite an expensive bit of water!) We then drove around to Strontian and Salen and Ardnamurchan which is the most Westerly point of mainland Britain.

This took most of the day, along mainly single track roads with passing places. We are convinced everyone else was going in the opposite direction to us!

We stopped to have a look at the Glenfinnan monument on the way back..even climbed to the top to take some photos and watched seaplane take off from the loch.

We also stopped off to have a look at Neptune’s staircase on the way . This is a flight of seven locks on the Caledonian Canal, it takes boats 1 ½ hours to navigate. We had only been there about 10 minutes waiting for a yacht that was coming along to go through, when the sky turned black and the heavens opened, including hailstones, so we fled back to the car.

After calling at Morrisons on the way back to collect fuel, we got back about 5.00pm in time for showers and dinner accompanied by heavy rain showers. It has also turned a lot colder. . . back to normal then!

Saturday...

A ‘get up late and lazy breakfast’ day, as it was cloudy and windy first thing. We eventually went out over to Glencoe, about 15 miles away. We looked around the Visitor Centre there and then had a coffee and sandwich, by which time the sun was out, so we set off for a walk through the woods. It was very pretty, peaceful and midgy, so it ended up as a short walk, only about 1 mile! We drove back by the scenic route around Loch Leven, once more the scenery was spectacular, but the camera can not do it justice. Still quite sunny when we got back, but too windy to sit outside, so we sat in and admired the view and read the newspaper.

Sunday...

Another late morning with the Sunday paper! About 11.30 we went for a walk over the road, through the forest to

Inchree and the waterfalls, a very beautiful part of the countryside. We also found a small hotel/pub which has a wifi hotspot, so plan to go back on Tuesday for a drink and update emails, photos, blog etc. It was sunny enough to sit outside when we got back for a late lunch and book-reading session. Had to go in though at dinnertime ‘cos it was now midge time. . . not sure that skin-so-soft really works, we are both covered in gnat bites!

Monday...

A sunny morning, but cool. We went to the Nevis Range and up in the cable car to the top of Ben Nevis.

It was an incredible view from up there. We walked along the path for a way and watched the mad mountain bikers setting off on their way down. Apparently the Mountain Bike World Cup championship had been held there over the weekend, so there were still plenty of participants around. Once back at the bottom, we drove back towards Fort William and turned off up the Glen Nevis road for a drive alongside the river. We stopped for a picnic lunch and then a walk along the river and part of the Ben path. The footpath is 10 miles to the top and takes fit people 4-6 hours. . . needless to say we passed on that one.

10th -17th June Onich - Lauder - 150 miles

A beautiful, but tiring drive. The first 70-80 miles, through Glencoe Gorge, over Glencoe Pass, across Rannoch Moor was up hill and down dale, as well as around the bend! We passed a lot of mini-buses disgorging walking-boot people, who then set off across the moor to goodness knows where. We wished we were 20 years younger and could have joined them. Lauder campsite is very nice, with a little river along the back of it. It was sunny when we arrived and we just managed to get set up in the dry, then the heavens opened, so we went inside with a cup of tea.

Thursday...

A cloudy morning and we got up late. We put up the awning and did some washing and a few chores. After lunch we drove the 4 miles down the road to the town of Lauder and had a look around. It was not a very inspiring place and then the heavens opened again, so it was back to the car, fill up with food and fuel and back to base. In the evening we went out for dinner to a lovely restaurant recommended to us by the warden, called Juniperlea. It was well worth the 6 mile drive up the road, as the food was excellent.

Friday...

We awoke to a beautiful sunny morning, so decided to tackle Edinburgh itself. We drove to the Park and Ride at Sheriffhall and caught the bus in to the centre.

We walked along Princes Street, which was a building site where they are laying a new tram track; over to some gardens to sit and eat an early lunch; went on a city sight-seeing open-top bus; walked up to the Castle; went in a National Trust tenement building called Gladstone’s Land; went to a tartan weaving mill; walked back down the Royal Mile and collapsed in a heap on the bus back around 5.30, foot-sore and exhausted. We didn’t even bother to cook dinner when we got back, just finished off our picnic rolls with umpteen cups of coffee!

Saturday...

A day of sunshine and very heavy showers! We went to Melrose which is about 15 miles away. Two very beautiful gardens quite close to each other as well as the ruined Abbey.

Luckily we managed to walk round all of this in the sun, got back to the car, when the rain came down again. We took the scenic route back along the old A7 and cut across over a moor back to Lauder, taking care not to get lamb for dinner on the way!

Sunday...

A day of rest we thought! So took advantage of the sun to sit outside with the paper and our coffees. Later on, it decided to rain again, so we adjourned indoors.

Monday...

We left about 10.00 for the Park and Ride again in to Edinburgh, bought a £3.00 all day ticket and once at the centre caught another bus down to Ocean Terminal where the Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed. Apparently it is Scotland’s top tourist attraction and it was easy to see why. We were told to allow 1 ½ hours for the Tour, but we spent nearly 3 hours altogether looking around (you get given a hand-held audio thingy to listen to at strategic points). We can now say we have taken lunch on the sun-deck and made use of the facilities, where the Queen has been before! Back to the city centre on another bus, by which time it was slaughtering down, so we got drenched trying to find the stop to catch the bus back. We thought we would call in to Tesco’s at Dalkeith on the way home. . .ha ha ha, 3 times round the town, stop at a garage to ask the way, round another roundabout twice, and we finally made it. Did some foodie shopping, but on the journey back, now 6.30pm, we decided as it was getting late to think about cooking dinner when we got back, we stopped at the Black Bull in Lauder for dinner. Eventually got back to base gone 8.00pm, absolutely wiped out. Now we know why we don’t usually do cities!

Tuesday...

Absolutely no energy today and it was cloudy, so we mooched around most of the morning. We were going to have a look at Thirlestane Castle in the afternoon as it is just down the road, only to discover it is not open on a Tuesday, so we went for a stroll along the lane from the campsite instead until the rain came again. It was very muggy with millions of insects about, so we have been watching the swifts and other birds flying around having a feast. After dinner and listening to the evening news and weather forecast, we decided to take the awning down whilst it was dry.

Wednesday...

For once we had made the right decision! It started raining during the night and did not stop until late afternoon. We spent the day tidying up, reading, playing Sol Suite and generally not much else, apart from a quick trip out in the afternoon to get diesel and a newspaper.

18th - 21st June Lauder - Barnard Castle 150 miles

Luckily a dry start to the day, so were packed up and under way by 10.00pm.We had a good run down the A68 which is a bit like being on the roller coaster at a fairground, and then picked up the A1, arriving on site about 2.30pm after a couple of stops for lunch and call of nature.

It was blowing a gale at Barnard, so we had quite struggle putting the unit up. We had just sat down for a cuppa when we noticed another couple (much older and more infirm than us!) struggling with their similar unit. So, being the Good Samaritans that we are, we went over to help. Just as well, both were shorter than me; he walked with crutches waiting for a knee replacement; she did not drive and looked as if she spent all day sitting on the couch. They had only just got their camper and were really out of their depth with it. Needless to say we did not have dinner very early once we had got them and us sorted out.

Friday...

Although it was much sunnier and warmer, the wind was even stronger. We did a bit of washing and then drove the couple of miles in to town, to have a look around the castle and all the old buildings. It was a very pleasant little country town with an old market rotunda in the middle of the square. We popped in to Morrisons for a few bits for dinner and then went back to make sure we had not blown away! A caravan next but one to us had more or less lost it’s awning, and some one’s towel went flying past too quick for us to catch it! So, after a stroll bent double around the site along the dog walk, and a quick blow back with the wind behind us, we thought we would stay put and keep an eye on things.

Saturday...

Dull but dry to start with. We drove up to Durham Caravan Club site to meet up with Lorna and Mike who were on their way up to Scotland. It was raining by the time we got there, so we sat inside and had a long gossip, coffee, lunch, more gossip and catching up. We left about 4.30 to go back to Barnard Castle, stopping to pick up fish & chips for our tea. Afterwards we just tidied up, had showers and got ready to travel on Sunday.

What a way to spend one's birthday! 22nd- 25th June

We drove 180 miles to Stilton, which is just outside Peterborough and pitched up at a small 5 Van site (Oaklands Farm). It is very nice, neat and tidy, 6 hard standings and plenty of grass. Two vans that were there left about 7.00pm, and we went to bed in the dark for a change, with only the sound of sheep in the background.

Monday ..

Got up late, had a lazy breakfast, waved goodbye to the only other unit on the site . . .then there was just us!

We went in to the village and had a look around, then back to the farm and a walk around the fields. This is a lovely quiet site for a short stop-off, they have electricity and water, but no toilets or showers so you need to be self-sufficient. It was quite warm so we sat outside with our books and cups of tea. A motor home came in around 7.00pm to join us.

Tuesday...

A beautiful sunny day. . . We went for a drive around the Cambridgeshire and Norfolk countryside. Had coffee in a lovely little tea room at East Redford; visited a camp site at South Creake to sus things out for July; had lunch at the Ostrich Inn (which was very nice); came back via King’s Lynn Morrisons for bread, milk, strawberries and fuel. Back at the camp site our motor home neighbours had gone and we were alone again; our camper thermometer was showing 31’C, so out came the chairs and a sit outside was called for, until about 7.00pm when it was strawberry-time.

Wednesday...   

Our last day! The sun was out and the birds were singing when we got up. It looks as if summer has arrived at last, just as it is time to go home. We spent half the day having a really good clean up and packing bits up ready to take back home with us, and the rest of the time sitting in the sun. Tea was a complicated hash of all the bits left in the fridge! Tomorrow we have about 110 miles to drive home and that is the end of the story (for now) 15th - 27th July

We decided to go for a quiet week in Norfolk, before joining up with friends at the Norfolk Music Festival, so chose a small 5 van site in South Creake called Sunnydene Farm. It had a beautifully flat field to pitch up on as well as a shower plus a couple of toilets, all for £11.00 per night.

We visited the Pensthorpe Wild Fowl Centre and had a lovely walk around there in the sun and treated ourselves to a lunch.

On the Saturday we drove over to Grimston where our friends were staying and spent the afternoon at the Snail Racing Championships. It was one of the most amusing events we have ever seen, some of the people had even come from Holland to enter! It was a typical country village fair with stalls, cream teas, dance displays, children's races etc. and the Sun shone all afternoon!!

We took a drive up along the North coast and had a wander around Felbrigg Hall and Gardens. There was a Flower show on in the church there, so we went to see the displays which were all based on butterfly themes. Very artistic and clever. We even sat in a pew in the church and ate a strawberry cream tea..the first time we have ever eaten in a church!

The rest of the days were spent relaxing, reading our books, going for walks and eating at the nearest pub....all very civilised.

WEDS 22nd - we packed up and moseyed on over to the Norfolk Showground and joined about 2000 other Country and Westerners for the music festival. We had about 15 different bands during the 5 days we were there, some were very good, others not quite so good. We managed to get quite a lot of dancing in, as well as the 'socialising'. Luckily the weather was really good to us, so we did not end up mud- bound like Glastonbury, instead we were plagued by earwigs and ladybirds.

Sorry, there are no pictures this time 'cos we forgot to take our camera with us....silly-billies.

We now have a break during August and the school holidays and leave the sites to families with children. Hopefully I will get some work in to help pay for the next trip, which will be in September to the Isle of Wight and Dorset.

WEDS 9th Sept found us driving from home to Portsmouth to catch the 1.30 ferry over to Fishbourne. We left home about 9.30am and arrived at Portsmouth by 12.30 having met up with Lorna & Mike at Winchester Services. We were put in separate lanes as they have a caravan and we don’t, but checked with the guys there that we would be on the same ferry! Oh , no , 1.00 pm came and the caravan disappeared in to the bowels of the ferry, and we remained on the dockside and watched the boat pulling out! After a frantic phone call to Lorna who was at the bar getting 4 coffees, we realised we were going to have to wait ½ an hour for the next one. Eventually we arrived at Fishbourne and caught up with them waiting in a lay-by and supposedly led the way to Whitefield Forest Touring Park. Needless to say, we went wrong, they followed, and we all ended up doing an unnecessary circuit of Ryde. Finally got to the camp site about 3.00pm…set up…sat down with a much-needed drink.

Next day was warm and sunny so we put the awning up, went to Tesco for some food. After lunch we went for a walk through the woods for a couple of hours and then came back to sit in the sun.

Friday, we headed off to Brading to have a look at the Roman Villa with all it’s mosaics. Very interesting and even more sociable it was free entry day! Back in to Brading to the Bugle Inn for a pub lunch, then off to the beach at Yaverland where we made fools of ourselves paddling and playing boules on the sand and eating ice-creams.

Saturday, again hot and sunny so we just relaxed read our books and generally had a lazy day.

Sunday, we drove to Alum Bay and the Needles, via Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor. A very pretty, albeit bumpy ride. At the Needles we walked out along the cliff to the Old Battery and had a look at the museum there. We sat and had a picnic lunch on the walk back, then mooched around the Glass factory and the sweet -making shop for a while before driving back via Yarmouth and Shalfleet.

Monday, was again hot and sunny. We just went along the road a bit to the garden centre and then in to Tesco….back for lunch…and sat in the sun again. Too hot to go for a walk as we had intended.

Tuesday, the bus passes came out of our wallets and we sat on the top of the bus for an hour all the way to Newport. It started to drizzle a bit, but luckily did not come to much. We did the important bits first, like finding Maplins and PCWorld to try to get a connection for Mike’s TV/laptop, but were unsuccessful, so they will just keep borrowing ours till we get home, as we don’t have the TV aerial with us. We then found the Quay and wandered down there to a pub for lunch Afterwards we crossed over the river to the Classic Boat museum and spent the afternoon there. Back to the bus station and another bus to Ryde, where we changed on to another bus to get back to the campsite….these freebies can be great fun.

Wednesday, a week already! Off to the Garlic Farm first for a tasting and buying session, then to Arreton Barns Craft Village to have a look around there, all the little crafty type shops, including sweets, wood carvers, glass blowers, ceramics etc. Back at base we caught up on some chores, like having a bit of a clean and tidy up, showers, hair-washes etc. Still a nice sunny day, and the campsite is still full up, people coming and going all the time. We lent some of our ‘expertise’ to a young couple who had arrived with a new tent for their first time out camping.

Thursday, another lovely, hot, sunny day so the four of us went to Osborne House, one of Queen Victoria’s residences. We walked a long way through the grounds and visited the Swiss Cottage, which was a playhouse for the children. Outside were their allotments, including the little wheelbarrows with the prince and princess names on. Back toward the house we had a look round the formal gardens on the terraces as well as the walled garden. A most enjoyable day.

Saturday, after having a relaxing day around the site on Friday, we set off for Cowes to pick up Simon (our son) who was coming over from Southampton on the Red Jet ferry. We drove to Newport with him to meet up with Lorna and Mike and all went for a mosey around the Classic Car Show, which was being held on the Quay. Lots of lovely old and classic vehicles kept us amused for a couple of hours. We had a lunch in one of the pubs alongside the river, then later drove back to Cowes, parked up and went for a look around the town and a sit on the Esplanade with a cold drink. Eventually, having left Simon at the ferry to go back, we got back to our camper around 6.30pm tired and footsore.

Sunday, another quiet day around the site as we were all tired. On Monday however, we got the bus passes out again and sat on the top deck, at the front! for about 45 mins to the village of Godshill . It has the most amazing thatched cottages, little shops and tea-rooms, and a very beautiful church on the top of the hill. After having a sandwich lunch we caught another bus to Newport, popped in to Morrisons to buy dinner, caught the next bus to Ryde, got off and changed to the next bus back to the campsite. This free bus travel lark is quite exciting.

Tuesday, we did some chores and took our awnings down. Then went to tank up at Tesco with our 5p off vouchers. We went for a walk through the woods around the site and sat in the sun after dinner with our drinks for the last time! We have had the most glorious weather for the whole 2 weeks on the island, so have been really lucky.

Wednesday 23rd Sept morning, up with the lark, to find it grey and misty, just what we wanted for packing up! Anyway we were ready quite early so decided to go back to the ferry anyway….typical, green lights and no hold-ups so we arrived at Fishbourne at 10.00am for a 12.00am ferry! The guy just waved Brian and I straight on, no messing, and then left Lorna and Mike in the queue…. so we thought, here we go again, split up time. Eventually they were shown on to the boat with only one more car behind them, phew! 40 quick minutes later we were off and headed down the M27 towards Verwood, arriving there by mid-day. West Farm is a beautiful CL 5 van site with ducks, chickens, goats, sheep, cows and a few self-catering lodges. The grass field was immaculate, only down side, it was raining!

Thursday, we got up to see the sun again. Brian and I set off back to Southampton to pick up Chris’s porch canopy (bought on ebay). We had a bit of a drive around the countryside and got back about 4.00pm. Meanwhile, Lorna and Mike had sussed out the village of Verwood and all there was to see and do in the area, so that we could make plans for the rest of the week.

Friday, popped along to Morrisons to get some more dinners, came back and after lunch went for a walk across the farm to the lake and fed the fish. It was so peaceful, sunny and warm again…we just sat out and read our books.

Saturday, another sunny day! So Brian and I went in to town to the Farmer's Market in Verwood, whilst Lorna and Mike set off to Poole and Brownsea Island. There were lots of lovely stalls, so we bought cheese, honey, strawberries and cream and picked up some goodies for Sandra and Perri's visit tomorrow. After walking through the town we found The Hub, which is a community centre cum cinema cum coffee shop cum bistro with 'free wifi' so sat there with coffees and cakes doing some catching up. In the afternoon we just sat in the sun and read our books.

After a Sunday day of rest, on Monday we all went to the Otter and Owl Sanctuary near Ashurst. It was very interesting to see the rescued otters playing as well as all the owls. We spent a long time in the butterfly house watching some very large and beautiful butterflies. As it was another lovely sunny day we took a picnic and sat amongst the owls in the trees to eat lunch.

Tuesday, Lorna and Mike were taking down their awning ready to leave on Wednesday (we had decided to stay another week), so we did a bit of washing and tidying up. Then we all went for a last walk around the lake in the sun. Three weeks have flown by, but have been good fun.

Wednesday, left to our own devices we got up late, had a lazy breakfast and then went for a long walk up through the woods to find the Woodlands village. We met lots of dogs on the way a well as horse riders.

Thursday, took a drive to Chichester to have a look at some campervan conversions, just in case we decide to go down that route in the future. Coming back we found Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve, so went for a walk along the marshes and stopped to eat our picnic lunch. We then drove back to Furzey Gardens which were very peaceful and beautiful, all looked after by adults with learning disabilities as it is a charitable trust. We sat in the sun with an ice-cream and then went home via the fish and chip shop, as the pub we had thought to go to did not do food until after 6.00pm, so we will leave that until later in the week.

Friday, a slightly cooler day, but still sunny first thing, after a quite cold night. We had a quiet morning, did some washing, baked some rolls and caught up with putting photos on the computer and up-dating the blog words ready for the next time we get wi-fi.

Saturday, cloudy cooler day, so we set off to Kingston Lacey about ½ hour away. The house itself was magnificent and very well looked after by the National Trust. After a sandwich lunch in the Stables, we went for a walk around the Japanese Garden and the Fernery. Eventually grey clouds threatened rain so we left and came back to a cuppa and a read.

Sunday, we went to Burley for the Farmer’s Market. The village itself was very pretty, with a few little old shops, lots of New Forest ponies walking around getting in everyone’s way. The market was quite full and we picked up some pork and red pepper sausages for a dinner, as well as some Eccles cakes for a treat! We called at Ringwood on the way back and had a look around the small town, then did some necessary shopping at Waitrose (as I had some vouchers to use up). Normally we would find it too expensive but it is nice on occasion.

Monday, it had started raining during the night and was pouring! We had been so lucky with the weather up till now, but someone up there had obviously decided to throw a spanner in the works as we had intended to take the awning down and tidy up a bit. We will just have to see what Tuesday brings.

Tuesday, another very wet night! Luckily we had managed to get the awning down later in the afternoon on Monday as it had dried sufficiently. As we were having another enforced day in, we had a clean and tidy up ready for the journey home tomorrow. Hopefully we might get a walk in later on if it comes out nice again.

Our 4 weeks away have gone so quickly ….we’ll just have to do it again then, won’t we!!!!

Wednesday, a damp pack up and away by 11.00am. Home by 2.30pm but it had started raining again about half-way home and was pouring by the time we got in, so we only took the essentials out of the car and battened down the hatches indoors and will do the sorting out tomorrow all being well. At the end of October we brought most everything from the camper indoors to keep warm and dry during the winter. Then we drove down to West Farm in Dorset where we have got a nice dry barn to keep Big Bertha in until the end of March. To see what we get up to next year go to 2010-thetravelmoores