Malvern with Jacquie

Bank Holiday fun with my old friend  Jacquie who now has a smashing all-electric Wheelhome van, which I completely forgot to get a photo of. We were on Blackmore CCC near a small village called Hanley Swan. This had a pub, a shop, and a village hall, all of which we made use of. 

Sadly due to a cockup by me, our plan to get the bus to Worcester failed (no buses at the weekend). But this meant we did attend the Hanley Swan Village Show! No luck on the tombola but got some bits and pieces from the car boot.

On Sunday Jacqui drove us over to Malvern, and after doing the cultural bit (looking at the priory church) we had a nice coffee and a good rootle round some charity shops. It's an interesting town, set on a steep hillside, famous for the Malvern waters.

RSPB Idle

 

The Harrogate RSPB group were visiting RSPB Idle near Retford for the day, but I added on some nights in the van and stayed at a nearby CL next to some stables and behind the Bluebell Inn.  

I spent the afternoon in Retford which at first view was a bit grim, but things perked up when I found the library which had a town trail leaflet, and so it was I found the Bassetlaw museum. This was quite a find, lovely artefacts - medieval and roman jewels, and a whole Anglo-Saxon boat. 

The area was home to the Separatists, some of whom became the Mayflower Pilgrims after a period of religious persecution (good job we don't have that any more eh?) 

Clark's laundry mural

Sadly this former market town seemed completely devoid of any food shops so off to Morrisons to stock up, which was a shame.

The next day it was off to RSPB Idle, a MASSIVE reserve which we only saw half of in the 5 miles we walked. It is a quiet time of year but I still saw my first hobby, and some marsh harriers, swifts and egrets. The most beautiful sight was a group of turquoise damselflies in the reeds by a stream (banded demoiselles). 

Three Little Bird(watcher)s

Common blue damselfly

Magpies festival

A return visit to this small festival near York, with Paul, Sue and Ellie - this year Hugh and Sharon came along so we were 5 plus dog...and Minky.

Hugh, Sharon, Minky, Sue

Taff Rapids String Band

Me, Paul and Ellie