Shrewsbury Festival

Boston Belle, Britstop and Birds

A quick one-night trip to Boston with my RSPB group. The first day we met at Gibraltar Point, which meant driving though Skegness - looked like good fun with its pier and arcades, but apparently it gets a bit lairy in the evenings. Lots and lots of static caravans.

I saw a Barn Owl! It flew right over our heads, really close. Also lots of spoonbills and sandpipers. 

I stayed at my first Britstop - the Three Horseshoes pub in Leverton. Parked in the car park so no CDP or water, and loos only when the pub was open. But they were smashing hosts and had an excellent steak there. 

Next day it was all aboard the Boston Belle, for a trip down the river Whitham and up part of the Wellend. Lots of seals, and I saw a kingfisher, plus a peregrine on the Boston Stump.

Locks and duckweed

The Stump

Deershed festival

An energetic day volunteering here, helping people find the river for 'wild swimming' but the music wasn't at all to my taste, apart from Wunderhorse, so I left early. The usual 'up its own bum' vibe. AND I had to pay £100 to camp! So won't be doing this again.

Hereford and Monmouth, via GTSF

A very stressful GTSF this year- nothing worked, the loos, showers, scanners, internet all crashing and making it hard to do a good job stewarding. Wendy and Steve were there, and I'd have preferred to spend time with them. Not sure if I will steward next year.

Then - further South, with the intention of seeing Stereophonics in Cardiff a week later.

Monday

Ludlow market

First stop, Ludlow, a pretty town. Stocked up at independent shops - lamb chops and deli goods. The church had some great quirks - including miserichords.

The countryside around is MUCH hillier than I expected, although in retrospect maybe the phrase 'Shropshire Hills' should have been a clue. Lots of things to see and do that I didn't have time for, or couldn't face in the heat - over 30deg again.

On to a CL, Marsh House Farm, which was lovely. 

World's most highbrow campsite library?

Tuesday

Next day I got the bus in to Hereford from just outside the site. My main aim was to finally see the Mappa Mundi, which had been on my to-do list for years. The whole cathedral was gorgeous, I spent a couple of hours in there - so much to see and wonder at. The Mappa Mundi didn't disappoint, and the Chained library was also impressive. (I managed not to say 'Ook' too loudly). Good lunch and a mooch around in the narrow streets around the cathedral. Then a flippin' nightmare trying to find the bus back - turns out there are TWO bus stations in Hereford....

Wednesday

First stop was a beautiful little church, St Mary's, Kempley. It was down some very narrow lanes, and a bit tricky to find - but wow it was worth it. Fantastic murals inside and a lovely old building. 

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/st-marys-church-kempley/history/

Less than 10 miles away was my next stop on a VERY hot day - Goodrich Castle. Again, much more than I expected. I have been driving past the little brown sign pointing to it for over 40 years probably. Finally, I stopped there. A good wander round, and looked at the views over the Wye valley, before a quick lunch (ice cream). I will go back when it is cooler I think. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/goodrich-castle/

My next campsite was in Monmouth, right on the street where Dyfan and Anita live. Had a wonderful couple of evenings catching up and eating good food (a nice change after 6 days cooking in the van!). During the day I took a bus to Chepstow, a town perched steeply on the banks of the Severn. Well worth getting the bus so I could look at the view. I duly visited the museum, looked at the (outside of) the castle, had a pub lunch and peered in to the murky brown river at the bottom of the hill. 

The 5 Alls - fight for all, pray for all, rule for all, plead for all - and finally pay for all!

Oh - and I didn't bother going to see Stereophonics! After such a lovely few days in the peaceful countryside, I couldn't face a city stadium in 34 degree heat. Ah well.

Beardy again

Another cracking trip to Beardy. The van was excellent, and I got some good red wool blankets to cover the death-by-beige seats - a real makeover.

Dan does the perfect 'spoons into cups' flip

Sam Kelly

Snagging repairs at Vantage

I spent the day at the Royal Armouries in Leeds while Vantage sorted out a couple of problems (no charge).

- Gas burner not staying alight - just needed a clean!

- Fridge control knob broken - not fixed, eventually they sent me the part, then all fine.

Some hat!

Chippenham festival

Journeyed down to Chippenham to join the Ouse Washes molly dancers who were taking part. I was chief bag-minder and dog-holder. This was mainly a dance festival, and there was a huge procession through the town.  

On the way down I stayed at a pretty CCC site near Winchcombe, with lakes and good site facilities, but not a good place for a return trip.

Alnwick RSPB

And in answer to my last comment, no, the bed isn't alright! It's rock hard just where my hips go. Temporarily fixed by sleeping on a folded blanket.

Monday 5th May

First trip in Cherry, packed up on the drive and set off for the first stop at RSPB Saltholme to meet the group. Sunny day spotting birds, and after lunch headed up to Alnwick.

Pitched up at Alnwick Rugby Club which was 5 mins walk from and M&S Food - result. So I ate well all week. I did pop in to the club bar one evening and doubled the female contingent. It was out of season so no sporty chaps around sadly.

Tuesday 6th

A trip to Low Newton Ponds, a small hidden reserve with roaming ponies. Later it was off to Long Nanny and a walk through the caravan park along the coast to a warden post. They were there to protect the terns - the arctic terns were just arriving this year. They were a way off though, but it was a good walk.

Wednesday 7th

Off to Seahouses harbour the next morning to catch the boat to Inner Farne. On the way back the bonus was a showing of bottlenose dolphins right by the boats.

We were able to land on this island and see the lovely chapel, and hundreds of terns and puffins. 

  

There is a dolphin at the prow of the boat.

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I popped in to Alnwick town on the way back, but it was all closed up pretty much - at 4pm! Too late for the museum so it will have to wait for another time.

 

Thursday 8th

A long walk today, from Craster to Boulmer - lots of stonechats and whitethroats, and great company. Another glorious day.

Van report

The van was great, I don't seem to need the outside chair and table now I have a front lounge, and I still have some storage cupboards empty. It drives well and a doddle to park - it is HIGH though, which I keep forgetting. One gas burner won't stay lit, so Vantage are going to fix that. I didn't notice a big improvement with mpg, but maybe my driving is still a bit lumpy, and I did have a full water tank. The heater is incredible, 30 mins was enough.

Che-erry, Cherry Baby!

Yes I know it should be Sherry, but hey ho.

Picked her up at Vantage today and had a 2 hour handover! Loads more on this van than I realised, including a solar panel which I'd missed the first time I viewed. Cab aircon was a boon on the way home, and it has electric cab windows so no more getting out and running round when people are on my left.  So much easier to drive! I don't feel like a truck driver in this one.

Time will tell if I miss the wind-out awning, but pop-up gazebos are all the rage so that's an option. 

Fits on the drive too:

Practise night on the drive tonight, let's hope the bed is ok....

Whitley Bay

A meet organised by Vicky for the Harrogate Nights Out Meetup group. The Old Hartley site overlooks the sea and a lighthouse. Once installed we headed off to the Delaval Arms at the entrance of the site, where I drank beer and pinched people's chips.

Saturday 12th April

Walked along the coast up to the picturesque Seaton Sluice, with a couple of galleries showing local artists but I resisted temptation. 

We then got a bus to Tynemouth and I split off for a lunch in the sun at a pavement cafe, and a poke around in  the Raspberry Bazaar which had some great textiles, but again I resisted! Not enough time to visit the markets which had been recommended to me by some people at the cafe. Went over to the abbey and saw the battlements plus gun emplacements from the war. After a lot of fannying around trying to find a bus back, I gave up and grabbed an Uber back to the pub by the site.

Sunday 13th April

Headed off to the lighthouse in the morning and watched the seals. The others were going on to Whitely Bay but it was time for me to come home. 

Would come here again, it was only 90 mins up the road.

All Change!

Goodbye my lovely rust-bucket - I've decided I can't stand the strain and cost of the MOT failures. Much as I love the interior, I'm just afraid the thing will only be fit for scrapping soon.

So after a bit of searching I found a 2016 WildAx Pulsar being sold by Vantage in Leeds. They will take mine in part exchange too! Hurrah! Both vans need some work doing so it will be a few weeks until I can collect. It is more expensive than I wanted to pay, but at the last minute came down by 3K so I decided to go for it.

So meet the 3 Cheers Mark IV, but I think she'll be known as Cherry Baby!

King Creosote in Dumfries

I saw this gig advertised and decided to go and see King Creosote in Scotland. (Turns out two weeks later I could have seen him in Hebden Bridge but hey-ho.)

Lovely blue skies but strong cold winds kept me in the van on the campsite. This was NOT the 'country park' I expected, it was a trailer park with some touring spots. But clean and well fitted out, plus bus stop on the doorstep. 

Thursday 3rd April

I took a bus up to Sanquar, to see the Crawick Multiverse. It was a pretty village with an interesting museum, the oldest working Post Office, and an important non-conformist site - the Sanquar Declaration marks the start of the Glorious Revolution.

It was a 30 minute walk up to the Multiverse. A land-art installation, and a bit odd really. A bit woo-woo. On talking to a lady in a Sanquar shop later, it seems to be a bit of a vanity project for the Laird, and not really integrated in to the community. It was also flipping expensive.

Friday 4th April

Lazy morning, shower and clean up. I got the bus in to Dumfries in the afternoon and visited an old cottage and the town museum, both set alongside the river. Sadly I was too late for the camera obscura at the top of the museum, which had closed at 4pm. Also the cafe was shut.

Walked and bussed up to Easterbrook Hall - what a place! Very posh. It is part of the University campus, a beautiful rosy-red brick complex set around manicured lawns. Sadly the Bistro was closed, the Marriot restaurant was full, so again, nowhere to eat. Made do with crisps and beer - it's a hard life.

It was a lovely gig except the support was a bit bemusing. Also for some reason lots of empty seats even though I had found it hard to book. Chatting to people next to me it seems the booking sites won't let a solo pick any seat they want - it preserves seats in pairs. So I ended up four rows further back than I needed to be.

Saturday 5th April

A completely blank, empty day, lounging about in the sun and recovering from the mammoth amounts of walking I had done.