Well hello there! My new Kia from Vantage in Leeds. 2012 conversion on a 2008 base.
Bye bye Hylo, off to a lady in Scotland today.
I'm looking for something bigger with a bathroom, ready for the start of my retirement in 2022.
Gate to Southwell was rescheduled, and so it followed on just 2 days after I got back from Shrewbury festival! So I had a lovely week, winding down and getting some fresh air.
I arrived very early, and met Paul and Sue on the Cuckoo field. Near the main stage. VERY near the main stage.
And then I got a prime view at Southwell because I was on Box Office duty - opposite the main stage :-)
...... Heart of the Yorkshire Coast"
So says the tourist website. I was there for a walking weekend with a Meetup group.
Friday 18th
Roof catches repaired, rubber seal stuck down, and a new leisure battery to fix the lights - I didn't know the lights always run from the 12v leisure battery and not hook-up.
As I arrived, it started raining, typical it has been baking for the previous 2 weeks. Drove through the old town which looked interesting but no parking and raining so I didn't stop.
Lunch at the nearby farm shop where I stocked up on groceries too.
Drove out to Flamborough chalk tower (world famous....) and the lighthouse (closed). This was the site of a naval battle during the American War of Independence, which was a surprise.
Saturday 19th
Met the group at the station and got the train to Bempton. Fabulous day, perfect weather and lots of amazing birds at RSPB Bempton. I abandoned the walk at Flamborough village and got the bus back to Brid, having done 7 miles. The final tally was 11 so glad I stopped when I did!
Visited the fair and seafront, proper traditional family fun. Rhubarb and ginger Mr Moo's ice-cream and then home. I didn't feel to bad considering.
Sunday 20th
Didn't do the walk, just as well - it was advertised as 4m but turned out to be 6! I visited nearby Dane's Dyke, an iron age defensive ditch spanning the headland. It ended at a bright white beach with snowy boulders, the most northern outcrop of chalk in Britain. Amazing birdsong in the woodland walk. Then on to meet the group at Fraisborough beach for lunch. Bit grotty tbh.
In the afternoon visited Sewerby Hall, a municipal attraction with a zoo, golf, bowls and a station for the land train to Brid.
In the evening got invited to join some people from New Companions, who are solo travellers. Well-meaning but not my kind - 'I never watch modern comedy because it isn't funny' and other genius remarks. They preferred 'Ello 'Ello.
Shhh... don't tell the 3 Cheers, but she is up with Motorhome Depot for 90 days. Very high price because of Covid frenzy, so not sure if it will go.
I'd like to get something bigger but still nippy, like an Autosleeper Symbol or Nu Venture perhaps.
A return trip to CMC at Hebden Bridge for another short break during restrictions.
Tuesday May 4th (Star Wars Day) 🟀
Late start because I was waiting in for my new phone (oooh - Pixel 4A) so endless hours fiddling with that during my stay. It was impossible to get on the site WiFi, I hope that isn't a Pixel problem. Cold and rainy so stayed in and ate the veggie chilli I had brought along.
Wednesday 5th
Early start, to find the Singing, Ringing Tree sculpture shown on the GB Adventure Map that Lou had bought me. A slow 40 min drive along Calderdale to Burnley. The valley is still lined with small businesses - garages, breakers yards, small engineering, plus tightly packed houses and streets lined with parked vehicles.
The sculpture was great fun (when I eventually found it - no sign until you're actually there, and even then it calls it 'Panopticon'). It's made of steel tubes so when it is windy, which I expect is every day, it sounds like a drunk is playing the Pan pipes. It was freezing, with snow on the distant hills so I didn't hang about.
In the afternoon I parked above Hardcastle Crags (NT) and walked the 3/4 mile down to Gibson's Mill for a cauli bhaji pasty and mug of tea in the sun. I walked along to climb up some of the crags and gawped at the waterfall. Then the long trudge back up, but was able to test out my new walking shoes and they were just right. A deer leapt out as I went up and I shouted 'Oh! Deer!' but no-one on the path had the gumption to sing 'What can the matter be?'. A missed opportunity I feel.
A quick look at the map, and I set off for Widdop reservoir, which was a narrow steep (1:4) route peppered with baby lambs lying on the road, chewing and staring like stroppy teenagers. This is on the Pennine Way, and in bad weather I imagine it would be so bleak.
Home for a G&T and finished off The Subtle Knife.
Thursday 6th
Sue P came and picked me up, then we parked in Mytholmroyd and walked in to Hebden Bridge along the canal. Lordy, there are some people trying MUCH to hard to be cool in this place. Great to see Sue, we nattered on and had a good laugh. In HB we dodged the rain/hail and had coffees, went to the small market, got stuck in a shop with the tarot-reading owner with no sense of personal boundaries, and had a delicious lunch in a Greek restaurant, on a covered roof terrace by blazing braziers. We needed the walk back after all that. Lots of goslings on the path, guarded by hissing parents.
I was supposed to stay on site again, but:
I didn't fancy a night with just a small torch, dodgy electrics, and water coming in, so at 7pm I packed up and headed home.
Contacted a repairer, who can't fit me in until 16th June!!
But a good trip away, it felt a lot longer than 2 days.
Sunday 18th
On route to Burnham Deepdale, I stayed on the driveway of Paul and Sue at Holbeach Hurn. Venison burgers on the BBQ and an evening around the chiminea.
Monday 19th
After tips from Paul I called at the Denver Sluice, a piece of engineering from 1651 that had a turbulent life and at one point caused the water to run upstream.
There was then a 6 month gap, as we went in to another 2 lock-downs, one at the end of October then another in the new year as the 'third wave' pushed deaths with Covid-19 on the certificate up to 150,000.
Vaccinations started in January, and I had my first one in March.
As of 12th April, another lock-down is easing and overnight stays are allowed for single households. I can't even remember when this lock-down started, it has been so long since things felt normal.
I'll be heading down to Deepdale, using up my credit note from last year! I will be able to meet Paul and Sue outdoors, so we're hoping it is dry at least. There is the potential to eat out/go to a pub, if they have outdoor seating areas.
