A little bit different to my usual blog post this, as I am going to include more than just caravanning as you will see. I am delighted that Sandra has kindly added her recollections too, it saved me some typing, the speed of which can be likened to an arthritic tortoise, and also helps where the memory was a bit er, hazy.
I had intended to blog this right from the start, bus as is mentioned I felt a bit ropey for a few days at the start and was more interested in doing and seeing rather than writing.
However, here we go:
School finished on Friday 1st July, after a trying week in which for the first time I contemplated chucking it in, the actions of the most senior of management making everyone in Transport feel like they were a nuisance, not for the first time. However, such thoughts began to fade as I parked up minibus No .2 for the summer, jumped on a bus home and then popped the top off a beer. And another. Over the past fortnight we’d had several work emails nagging us to fill in a survey. I’d not bothered so far but that afternoon I did and in the ‘Any Comments’ section let rip, venting my frustrations and grievances and those of many of my colleagues - and feeling much better for doing so. I didn’t regret it it and still don’t. Anyway, enough of work. It was holiday time.
On the Saturday I had planned to head over to Patsy and load her up with everything aside from the perishable food and valuables. However, I was stopped in my tracks by a flat battery on Hetty. I could get in the driver’s door to open the bonnet to haul the battery upstairs for charging but was unable to open any of the other doors or boot to at least get stuff down from the flat. Oh well, once I had piled stuff up by the flat door there was little more to do that day.
Sunday and I was heading off - not in Patsy but on the bus to Brighton station and thence to London St. Pancras. A 10-minute walk from there brought me to Euston where I met Sandra and we paused for coffee upstairs watching the station empty, fill and empty again as trains come and went.
A couple of leisurely - i.e., slow - bus rides brought us to Greenwich and our stop for the night, the Premier Inn. Our room was not quite ready, so we adjourned to the bar. There was no ale, draft or otherwise so I had a lager. Yes, you read that right, a lager.
I had made up some baguettes for lunch and we did not feel at all guilty about eating them in the bar whilst we waited for our room.
Once the room was available and we had settled in it was time to go out for a bit of a wander, a bus taking us down to Greenwich village where we walked past the Cutty Sark and sat in the grounds of the Naval College, overlooking the Thames. It was a very pleasant afternoon indeed and I was starting to question the decision to bring - and wear - one of my long leather coats, albeit a lighter weight one.
A search on Whatpub.com revealed a hostelry only a few minutes’ walk away, alongside the Thames. The Trafalgar Tavern is a London icon, and it was heaving both inside and out with tables spread out along the pavement. We found a perch though; service was quick, and we had a pleasant half an hour watching the world go by. I do love a bit of people watching.
A bus near the National Maritime Museum brought us back to the hotel where it was time to get tarted up for the main event. Unusually I eschewed my usual combo for a suit - black obviously - but the waistcoat had clearly shrunk since I last wore it!
To save mucking about and to save time we had booked dinner in the hotel and knowing that we were on the clock, service was swift, and the food was perfectly acceptable. Let me say now what a fabulous bunch of staff this place had.
A short walk from the hotel was the Docklands Light Railway - DLR. Half an hour and one change of train brought us to Pudding Mill Lane and our destination was clearly visible:
An arena designed and built specifically for this purpose, first off, the sound, lighting and video effects were just stunning, really immersing you into the performance. I am no regular concert goer, but I had never seen anything remotely like it.
And then Abba ‘appeared.’
My mind was telling me that they are not down there on stage, but my eyes were telling me the opposite. It really did have to be seen to be believed. The band too were superb, accompanying ‘Abba’ on not only their greatest hits but some newer stuff too. Needless to say, when they hit the opening bars of Dancing Queen the crowd went even wilder, and the accompanying visuals and light show was breath-taking. A technological masterpiece and an unforgettable experience. Sandra recalls:
“I was so looking forward to this concert after the fabulous time we had last year watching CHIC. I must admit I was a little nervous as this time we were indoors. However, once we arrived the atmosphere and how well it was all organised helped tremendously and I soon relaxed ready to enjoy what turned out to be a breath-taking and magical experience. I will not spoil it for those of you who have still to visit it, but rest assured it is like nothing you will have seen before. We left and were very quiet – I think trying to process what we had just experienced. We have spoken since about whether a return visit might be a good thing to do. It is a hard one as I believe a great part of the experience is not knowing what you are going to see particularly. In time we may feel differently.”
All too soon it was over and time to leave. The crowd marshals at the station were superb and neither platform nor trains were crowded. There were two changes, not one, thanks to Merlot induced brain fog but we got back to the hotel in good time. We agreed we had witnessed something very very special indeed.
Monday morning saw us head to Brighton, two buses dropping us off at London Bridge. I was not sure of the route and missed the stop, so we ended up walking back across London Bridge to the station itself for the train. By 1pm we were in the flat and had lunch, then a rest before I put the battery back on the car and we took the load of stuff over to Patsy ready for the next days’ departure. Despite the solar panel in the window her battery too was completely flat. I contemplated taking it home to charge up but figured we would manage without the motor movers in the morning.
And manage we did, departing storage at 0910hrs, despite having to unhitch and drag her around, a protruding hitch on another ‘van making the already tight right hand turn out of Patsy’s bay impossible.
Progress was good, even the M25 around Heathrow was not as bad as expected and we arrived at our first site in reasonable time after a couple of stops for refuelling - caffeine that is. I have managed to avoid buying fuel at motorway service stations so far, for obvious reasons. Long may it continue. Hetty performed well if a little thirstily. The journey also reminded me of issue with her that I had been aware of since my Easter trip but had not bothered to address.
Will explain later.
Stop 1 | Belle Vue Farm CL, Cheshire | 1 night | 258 miles @ 24.1 mpg | Fuel cost approx.: £98.
No sooner than legs were down and leccy on then we were off again, to the local Costco to replenish Hetty and to pick up two special guests who would be joining us for the trip. Say hello to Sandra’s two gorgeous Westie’s, Skye, and Iona.
Sandra recalls:
“After overnighting near Chester to collect Skye and Iona, we were up bright and early to start the final stage of our journey north. The benefit of the CL being 5 minutes from the motorway came into play that morning. We broke our journey north, as usual, at Lancaster Forton services. The girls are well used to this service station, and we quickly refuelled ourselves and headed north once more. It was Richard’s turn to drive this section so that I could navigate on the final approach to the site. On our return journey I drove this section so that Richard could fully appreciate the wonder of the River Lune gorge which the M6 cuts through racing the West Coast mainline railway as it does so.”
Stop 2 | Troutbeck Head CAMC, Cumbria | 12 nights | Pitch 17 | 132 miles @ 24.6 mpg | Fuel cost approx.: £48.
Sandra continues:
“We duly arrived at Troutbeck Head Caravan & Motorhome Club site at 12.58! Fortunately, there is a large overnight area which doubles up as a queuing system for new arrivals. We pulled up being second or third in the queue and duly booked in. We had discussed where we would pitch Patsy having booked a serviced pitch to eliminate water and waste carrying. As people who have visited this site will know there is the dog walk, one of two, right at the top of the site. Given that we were on a service pitch it made sense to park as near to that dog walk as possible. It worked out very well indeed and although it was a tidy walk downhill to the reception area it was preferable to be nearer the dog walk. There was a light misty rain that afternoon and after driving solidly for two days we opted to leave putting the porch awning up until the following morning. A walk to settle the girls and stretch our legs after so much driving and of course the usual let us see what everyone else’s outfit looks like rounded off the day and an early night beckoned.”
Indeed, it did. Having as usual checked the phone in case I had missed anything on social media in the last ten minutes, I picked up a book and flicked on the reading light. Except that the light did not come on, instead the rocker cover of the switch departed its moorings, flew down and ended up on the floor. Patsy, bless her, was showing her age again, a look in the wardrobe earlier revealing that the rail bracket had broken too. It has seemed like that recently, there was something to fix on every trip.
The weather was much better the following morning which meant there was no excuse – it was time to put the awning up. It is not that I do not like awnings – but I’ve found that travelling solo I really don’t need one – in fact before Trev died, we found the pull-out canopy to be more than sufficient – and much less faff. However here an awning would be very useful, not least for all the doggy related stuff and we had picked one up from Sandra’s on our stop near Chester
It is fair to say though that I was not relishing putting it up, there was a faint glimmer of hope when I realised, I had left the club hammer at home – damn near essential on a number of Caravan Club pitches. However, then I recalled – somewhat reluctantly – that my little toolbox had a hammer in. We set to work, and it was nowhere near as troublesome as I feared thanks to Sandra who had put it up many times before.
Sandra recalls:
“We woke to a beautiful clear and sunny morning congratulating ourselves on waiting to put the awning up. After a quick breakfast we set to on the porch awning, managing to pitch it in a relatively short period of time. I can report that we were both still speaking to each other at the end!”
We did little else on the Thursday or Friday, aside from a run into Penrith to pick up a grocery order to get us started and have a bit of a drive around too. It had been a long and busy school year; I was feeling pretty jaded, and my hay fever was starting to play up big time. I was more than happy to sit, unwind and relax.
There was the matter of the aforementioned reading light to attend to though. Given Patsy’s age I did not think I would get a whole replacement unit, but a search revealed that the individual switches were available and pretty standard too. A couple were ordered from a seller on eBay.
The water system in Patsy was due a clean – much easier on a serviced pitch, so overnight everything got the Puriclean treatment, the swimming pool smell slowly dissipating after we flushed it thoroughly the following morning. Unlike some I have always drunk the water from the caravan taps – without any ill effects so far – but have always carried a water filter jug to help protect the kettle and coffee maker from scale in hard water areas.
We were keen to get on the sightseeing trail again and Saturday we did just that. Sandra recalls our day out:
“Ullswater Steamers - Ullswater is one of the quieter lakes in the Lake District, you do not have the commercialism that you see in places like Windermere. We had decided to make a day of it and duly packed a lunch to take with us, something we enjoy doing. It was very hot and sunny, and I remember taking a photograph or selfie of Richard and I sitting waiting for the boat to depart by the cafe in Glenridding. Fortunately, the girls were well out of the sun underneath the seats. It was a most gorgeous day as the clean air or clear air made photography so easy. The girls again are used to the boat and happily sat by us enjoying the quite cool breeze. It was a nice relaxing ride and to be cool was delightful.
“We duly arrived at Pooley Bridge jetty and keeping to the shade set off for the short amble into Pooley Bridge itself. We found a lovely spot overlooking the lake, (new since I was last there) a small seating area where we could eat our lunch and take in the view.
I was keen to see the new bridge into Pooley Bridge which had only recently been reopened following a few years of a temporary army style bridge whilst the new one was designed and built. I have to say that I was very impressed, made of local stone, its simple design sat very well in the local landscape. Hopefully, the River Eden does not flood again in a hurry.
We made for the Sun Inn, a pub which had been completely flooded and refurbished to a very high standard at my last visit. It was a very hot and sunny day, so we made for shade outside.
“Some more research was completed along with some shopping. Another rest on the way back to the steamer meant more photo opportunities and we met the next boat shortly afterwards. I was pleased to realise that it was the different boat from the one we had took that morning and therefore, we got to ride on both boats.”
That evening we decided to fire up the disposable BBQ to do some burgers. I could say that I cooked the meal but in fact Sandra did most of the prep whilst I sat in the sun with a beer tending the meat. Ahem.
Sunday and we returned to Pooley Bridge – by car, this time – for a superb Sunday lunch back at the Sun Inn, then after an enjoyable afternoon snooze back at Patsy, headed out again in the evening for a drink at the Lodore Falls Hotel, near the bottom of Derwentwater.
On Monday we headed west, first to the Bassenthwaite Lake Station Café. There have not been passenger services here for many years, but the remaining platform has a replica steam engine – which featured in the 2017 film version of ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ along with some delightful carriages where you can take breakfast, lunch, or afternoon tea. A cracking enterprise and it is worth reading more about it on their website.
We headed south back down the A66, turning off at Braithwaite and onto the Whinlatter Pass, west towards High Lorton, pausing for some photos on the way.
At High Lorton we turned south, past Crummock Water and eventually onto the Honister Pass, pausing at the Slate Mine at the top. The roads were narrow in places, steep and windy, not ideal for a large and heavy SUV like Hetty but I enjoyed it immensely, nonetheless.
Sandra recalls:
“– I had visited this once before although it was winter, and it was icy cold and lots of snow about. That could not be said the day we visited, very hot and largely sunny. It is pretty dog friendly but obviously you cannot take dogs into the mine itself. Richard really enjoyed himself driving Hetty over the pass and putting her through her paces. We were able to take some lovely photographs along the way. “
Back at the site there was the inevitable nap then, after a cuppa I turned my attentions to Hetty’s issue – the lack of cold air on the passenger side vents. It had not mattered too much up to now but with warmer weather due it needed to be sorted, or at least bodged, as is usual when I need to get the toolbox out.
I was able to access the actuator – the bit that controls the flaps – by removing the glove box – but that was working ok. Removing it though revealed an arm that it was supposed to be moving. The arm moved quite easily by hand and clearly was not stuck. More importantly though, cold air was to finally flow through the passenger side vents. I could have put the actuator back after lining everything up but since it was likely to be a while before any heating is needed, I left it off, planning to sort it another time. To date said actuator still sits in the glove box. I will get around to it when it starts turning colder. Probably!
A relaxing Tuesday morning, then in the afternoon we headed to the Aira Force waterfall. Sandra recalls:
“This is one of the major tourist attractions on Ullswater. Its popularity however is something of its downfall in that car parking is severely restricted. It is a National Trust property and members can park for free. It was another very hot day when we decided to visit, having been before I knew though the lower levels where predominantly in the shade and would suit us better to keep cool. On arrival we had planned to have a cup of coffee and decide how best to see the waterfall. It was very disappointing to learn that simply because a coffee machine was being installed, the other one having broken, they had decided to completely shut the cafe. It was a very wasted opportunity. It was decided that the girls and I would remain on the lower levels and Richard could if he wished would go right to the top of the waterfall. Unfortunately, due to the very hot weather and lack of rain the waterfall was not looking at its best. The girls and I made it to the bottom of the waterfall where thankfully there are plenty of bench seats to sit on and take in the view. Plenty of photos were taken and I thoroughly enjoyed, as I did each day, looking through the photos taken.”
Back at the site, the replacement rocker switches had been delivered so I set about with the soldering iron to make was a very straightforward repair, the spare switch going in the bits and bobs drawer for future use.
Wednesday saw us head south, to Grasmere. Trev and I passed through here on our trip in 2012 and I may have visited during a couple of holidays up here as a child, so I was keen to have a look.
It is undoubtedly picture postcard pretty, a delightful little place for a pleasant stroll.
After a good wander we headed in the direction of St Oswalds’ Church, first checking out the beautiful Wordsworth Daffodil Garden to the side. People from all over the world have contributed to it by having one of the stones in the path engraved or by sponsoring a wild daffodil to be planted. It was an enchanting place.
St Oswalds’ churchyards’ most famous ‘resident’ is the man himself, so we made a point of checking out his gravestone.
Sandra recalls:
“My visit to Grasmere was an absolute pleasure. It is true to say that I have visited or passed through the village on many occasions. With it still not being main school holidays, the village was quiet and parking straight forward. That is not to say we did not see many children, in fact it seemed like a whole school had descended the green area and had obviously been given tasks to do. One of these was some type of census, after being double counted at least half a dozen times I gave up counting. They were very good-natured and a joke about whether they should count the dogs as one, two or not at all created a friendly atmosphere and took me back to my teaching days. A couple of things that I had not seen or visited in Grasmere was the Daffodil Garden and also the National Trust Allan Bank house on the outskirts of the village. Both were very picturesque, and I was pleased to realise that as I have a blue badge, I was able to drive up to the house and park just outside, something I would have been unable to walk to as it is uphill. The National Trust house is quite unusual in that there is no furniture in the property. There is a little shop and facilities for tea and coffee take away only in one of the rooms, but the key things are the paintings in the hall and the views over Grasmere and Rydal Water which are the main attractions. We also sat outside on some of the chairs scattered around. A fair few were deckchairs, but we passed on those! The views were simply stunning, and we sat in quiet contemplation. I was quite surprised to realise that dogs were allowed to walk around the ground floor.”
Sandra continues:
“On our return from Grasmere, we decided to drive into Keswick to get some late lunch. We managed to park behind the High Street and using one of the little walkways found ourselves at a lovely little pub with outdoor seating. It was obviously very busy, but the food looked appetising, and we elected to have our main meal here, we were not disappointed. Following this we had a little walk round the top end of Keswick, we would return later in the week to see it properly.”
On the Friday we headed to Penrith, only for more this time than just a Click & Collect. Sandra recalls:
“Penrith. As Richard has said this was a visit to stock up on supplies and to enable Richard to see more of the town than he had earlier in the year due to the weather and also to avoid parking in the police car park! We had a wander around most of the High Street and some all the off High Street places to visit. Sadly, as is all too common there were many shops empty and boarded up. Some certainly are due to the growing couple of out-of-town centre retail parks which have sprung up in the last five or six years. Many others have just not reopened following COVID. Two things I particularly remember. The first being our usual troll of charity shops. Richard is looking for books to read and we are both looking for any DVD box sets of our favourite TV series, particularly comedy or detective ones. This time we made a great find of the complete series of Open All Hours, through which we are currently working. I think it is safe to say we were both somewhat taken aback when Richard found out that the first series was aired in 1976! I do not think the irony of the current, as it was then, heatwave and we started watching the first couple of episodes passed us by.
The second thing I remember was the absolute gem of a find, a series of two or three little cafes bordering a walkway from the High Street to the local church. There were plenty of seats and tables and we opted for the one in the middle as I have to say the scones with cream and jam looked the biggest of all three cafes. The little cafes were working out of what I imagine were residential cottages in years gone by. That said they were full of charm and had retained lots of their original features. After no more than a couple of minutes wait a table and chairs outside became vacant and we gladly took up our spot and ordered a pot of tea for two and a cream scone for me. Of course, when I say for me, this inevitably means that the girls get a little piece each too. We were under a wind out canopy and so we spent a pleasant half hour or so people watching and enjoying a proper cup of tea in proper cups and teapot. I can safely say that on another visit I would definitely return.”
Saturday and our time at Troutbeck Head were sadly, up. However, we managed to tick a couple more things on our To-Do list. The first was the Lakeland Distillery. Sandra recalls:
“Again, a place I have visited on several occasions. It opened around 2015 not long after the terrible floods which blighted the whole area. There is a lovely café/restaurant and a covered seating area outside where you can sit with your dogs. Guided tours are available, but we opted not to do this on this occasion. I will leave it to Richard to tell you about his purchase”
I had not planned to buy anything, although I do love a nice whisky it has to be said. I perused the offerings more than once, and it is quite possible the sales assistant heard my sharp intake of breath when I checked out the prices. Then she asked if I would like to try one? I most certainly would – and I did.
A few minutes later I returned to the café where Sandra was waiting with the girls, grinning ear to ear delighted with my bottle of The Whiskymakers Reserve No.5. and looking forward to a proper sized sample later on.
Next up was Cockermouth. Trev and I had visited here once, ten years ago and just managed to catch a tour of Jennings brewery but did not see any more of the town. Sandra recalls:
“A visit to Cockermouth enabled us to achieve several items on the ‘To Do List.’ Although Richard had briefly visited a few years back he had not had the opportunity to fully see Cockermouth. I wanted to show him the depth of the flood water which blighted the area in 2015 and has subsequently flooded several times since but thankfully nowhere as bad as it was that year. The tidemark Is marked by a plaque on the wall in the High Street. Suffice it to say that level was higher than Richard’ height. It was a very hot day again and we opted to eat our lunch in the car fortunately parked in the shade. After a leisurely stroll down the High Street, sadly with many empty shops still, on the way back to the car we were both thirsty. There were several pubs open, but most were serving food. We did however manage to find one, which although not looking particularly inviting from the outside, proved to be exactly what we were looking for. We adjourned to the rear beer garden and further research was completed! It was interesting to note they had flood barrier gates which could seal off the building if necessary. A sobering thought for a lot of people up and down the High Street and may well explain why so many shops remain empty. For those that do not know Cockermouth sits right at the confluence of two rivers the Derwent and Cocker. Unfortunately, due to this the area and the town are at the mercy of flooding after heavy rain or snow melt off the hills in the north Lake District. By now my hay fever was playing up and a very helpful chemist prescribed some very useful tablets which soon had this situation under control.”
Saturday was a leisurely day, taking the awning down notwithstanding. The temperature was rising – as predicted, so we paced ourselves.
Sunday, and our time in the Lake District was at an end. I had thoroughly enjoyed our stay here - we managed to do everything on our list whilst still managing to relax. However, I was also looking forward to part 2 of our trip. Sandra recalls:
“The day of departure duly arrived, and we broke camp in a leisurely fashion. As I said earlier it was my turn to take the first towing session and with clear blue skies and temperatures rapidly rising, we set off down South towards East Cheshire. Fortunately, or indeed I would say an absolute necessity, Richard had managed to repair the air conditioning on the passenger side. A permanent repair would be needed with the part he had removed likely being replaced.
We were hoping that the M6 would not be too busy as warnings had been placed not to travel unless absolutely necessary due to the heat. As a result, at least for the first half of the journey, traffic was light. As I had hoped the River Lune gorge was resplendent in beautiful sunny weather.
We had agreed to split the towing and swap over at Charnock Richards service station. Usually there are a good number of places, drive through, to park your car and caravan. I was hopeful that this would be the case having used this station on numerous occasions before.
Unfortunately, I think we hit the mandatory driving break for HGV drivers as there was no room at all. After a few moments of deliberation, we spotted a parking space to one side. I drove in and Richard had said he was happy to reverse out of that. It had one benefit in that Hetty was in complete shade as by now the temperature was well into the middle 30C's. This meant that we could eat our lunch in the shade and keep the girls cooler. What we had not factored in was that there was a police car parking area to our rear and a motorway police car parked up shortly after. They were in no way interested in the car and caravan; they just wanted their break. When it came time to move on, the police car having gone by now, it was clear that it was not possible to reverse both car and caravan attached due to the pavement at one side. A quick unhitch swivelling Patsy by 90 degrees and re hitching saw us underway in less than 5 minutes. Yes, it was a bit of a nuisance but sometimes unhitching and repositioning the van is far quicker and less stressful.
We then continued further South, the M6 as usual getting busier. We left the motorway at junction 17 and within 5 minutes we were pulling into the Cameo CL near Sandbach in east Cheshire.”
Stop | Cameo CL, Cheshire | 7 nights | Pitch 5 | 130 miles @ 26.8mpg | Fuel cost approx.: £44.
The aircon in the car was much needed by the time we arrived. The owners greeted us, explained where everything was and made us very welcome indeed. We had a choice of four pitches but opted for the one right by the dog walk so the girls could run free and burn off some energy.
The owners directed me on to the pitch perfectly and there was not a whiff of eau de clutch as I emerged to drop the jockey wheel and unhitch. The spirit level and washroom door test confirmed that Patsy was a bit lopsided however, so the mover and a ramp was deployed to get her vaguely level.
Set up was quick – a check of the fridge temperature gauge revealed what I suspected – that it had not been working through the journey south. The vent covers were removed, and a couple of USB fans were duly deployed once we had hooked up to the leccy.
The pitch, like all here, was fully serviced, however one downside of the one we had chosen was that the ground sloped away considerably meaning that we could not put the awning up. It had proved so handy up at Troutbeck Head and would have kept the sun from the fridge vents. Conversely, I was not relishing putting it up in the heat anyway!
The next day and a half were spent doing very little, aside from moving the recliners at intervals to find some shade. We sprayed an old towel with water for somewhere cool to the girls to site and took turns dipping our feet in a bowl of cold water. Beer was swapped for frequent pints of cold water straight from the pitch side tap and as dusk came, we played dominos outside as the temperature eventually cooled a bit.
We were late up on the Tuesday morning, as we had no plans, and it was when I got up to make a cuppa, I noticed the fridge light was blinking, indicating a power fault. It became clear that there was no mains power to the ‘van so I set about with my toolbox, checking the hook up lead whilst Sandra put on a pan of water for a brew. Whilst I was doing this a text came through from the site owners – the local power company were doing some work and power was likely to be off for most of the day. Relieved that it was not Patsy’s ‘fault’ my attention turned once again to the fridge. At last years’ service the engineer had highlighted the fact that the fridge was not striking up on gas and that a new part would be required. As usual I put it off, hardly ever using the fridge on gas, but now it became important. There was not a lot of stuff in there but with it already struggling with the heat, it was highly likely the contents would soon soil. However, thankfully, after a couple of clicks of the ignitor the gas flowed, and my blood pressure was restored.
We did have a run out that day, to a caravan dealers, the real lure being a few minutes in air-conditioned car, but otherwise just sat it out. Read, dozed, re-hydrated frequently and made sure the girls kept as cool as possible. We could strip down – to a point – but they could not. It was no fun for them.
For the two days we cooked outside, not wishing to raise the temperature inside Patsy even further, using the flat-bed and boiling ring, taking care not to trip the 10A EHU. I used to love the heat back in my younger days – I can remember the 40+ temperatures around Perth in Western Australia back in the late nineties – but it seemed a different heat if that makes sense. Now I prefer something significantly cooler.
Relief came Wednesday morning – no not that sort – the temperature had dropped, and we decided to resume sightseeing duties. Sandra recalls the visit:
“Teggs Nose Country Park is on the outskirts of Macclesfield in Cheshire. It used to be a quarry but now has been developed into a very attractive countryside area with a lovely cafe, accessible toilets, and a sizeable car park. There are several walking routes available from an easy stroll, which we picked! to full day strenuous hikes and mountain bike rides. It was a very pleasant day with a considerable breeze, something which all four of us appreciated. The park is quite high up in the landscape so views are plentiful and on a clear day you can see for miles in every direction.
We had our usual coffee pitstop and perused the leaflet and map that were available from the cafe. We had also packed our lunch and having been before I knew there were spots, with seats, where we could sit and enjoy the views whilst having our lunch. It is a gentle stroll on the whole with easy access. There is a small exhibition area halfway round with information plaques explaining what you were seeing. It was quite difficult to picture what they were talking about with what you see today. It would have been a very industrial outlook, rather than the green and quiet site it is today.”
“That evening we visited the Bulls Head Inn, the nearest one which allows dogs. Very old fashioned, it used to be a coach house, but very welcoming and we were to eat a most delicious meal there later in the week.”
Thursday saw us visit Little Morton Hall, a National Trust property about 10 minutes’ drive from the site. It was not a wholly successful visit as Sandra recalls:
“It is a site which is regularly featured in local tourist information and adverts. I had never been and was looking forward to visiting. It was still warm, and I was glad the car parking was in the shade under trees. What I was not happy about was their rules about dogs visiting the site. To be fair the volunteers staffing the visitor centre were very embarrassed and apologetic explaining they did not make the rules. Whilst I never expect to take the girls inside a building, it is highly unusual not to be allowed to take the girls to the café and sit outside. I elected to stay with the girls in the car whilst Richard did a tour and took lots of photos which were lovely.”
That evening my sister who works nearby to the site came and collected the girls and took them home. This was to allow Richard and I to visit some attractions where quite clearly it would not be possible to take dogs. The girls had really enjoyed that time with us, for 12 years old, they had kept up with us and behaved very well. It was very kind of Richard to agree to taking the girls with us. He quickly got into the routine with them and used to the morning wake up face wash and waggy tail instead of an alarm clock!”
I will not deny it took a bit of getting used to, having four of us in the caravan. We pulled the centre slats out so they would have plenty of room to sleep but inevitably they wanted to cuddle up on our beds. This would have been more welcome on a chilly night, but they soon settled down, craftily waiting until we were asleep – or so they thought – before assuming their preferred positions at the bottom of the beds!
Overall though it was a pleasure to have them along and I know how much it meant to Sandra.
That evening we decided to have a drive out, to do some ‘research.’ Sandra recalls:
“We decided to have a drive out one evening to see if we could find any local pubs slightly further afield. We found one pub, part of a chain, which whilst very clean and tidy was more of a restaurant with a little bar attached. We decided to move on and came across, by accident, a lovely pub right on the corner of two major roads, the Lawton Arms. The second pub run by two very efficient ladies behind the bar was a totally different experience to the first pub. There were groups of locals sitting together having a good chinwag and putting the world to rights. The chairs I remember were very comfortable and the huge TV was playing quietly in the background. If we had had more time we would definitely have returned to this pub. They even happily provided me with a lovely coffee as I think I had drunk a month’s supply of cold drinks in the previous couple of days.”
It was a bit of a wet start on Friday, as predicted as we headed to another National Trust property - Quarry Bank – one advantage being was that there was plenty to see indoors.
Sandra recalls the visit:
“This was another National Trust visit near the village of Styal. It was a wet morning however we were not put off as we knew the larger part of the visit would be indoors. It is an old industrial cotton mill and grounds and a small village as well. It is only due to the efforts of a group of people in the 1970s that the site is here today. The mill having been cleared out a few years previously and was earmarked for redevelopment. There was a large visitor centre and very helpful staff. We made our way to the main mill building and to the café at one side. Our usual planning coffee consumed we had a look in the second handbook shop and also the National Trust shop itself. It was then time to take the tour of the mill itself. It is over a number of floors, and I was very happy that there was a lift available.
The living exhibitions where superb and the demonstrators very knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. The exhibition starting on the ground floor with the simple spinning wheel progressed through time and upwards in the building to the spinning machines on the top floors. It was quite stunning to see those big machines and to imagine, or at least try to, what it must have been like with all the machines going and hundreds of people including little children working away. There was a little demonstration of each of the large spinning machines using half a dozen of the spools. The noise! One of the demonstrators explained that the workers developed their own type of sign language as it was impossible to hear what people were saying. The other issue, at least at the beginning of the mechanised machines were the cotton fibres and inhaling them made people very sick. Later on, as seen in one of the machines, extraction systems were put in place. Ironically, that was the noisiest part of that machine.
We then made our way down to the lower part of the building where the water wheel and the steam engines were located. The size and operation of these machines was incredible. On each floor that were boards which told the story of an individual and their lives working in the mill.
Next door to the mill is a beautiful big double fronted house. This was the family home of the owner of Quarry Bank Mill. At the time of our visit, you were able to visit the ground floor only as the upper floor is being renovated. There were guides all around who were able to explain the history and how the family moved out of Manchester to live in the relative peace and quiet of the countryside.
We wanted to look at the gardens and the area furthest away from the visitor centre. We had noticed when we arrived that you could call up the buggy to take you around the site. It was quite interesting when it arrived as it reminded me of one of those American stretch limousines but all electric. It took about 10 minutes in the buggy to reach our destination and a stop for lunch. We then realised we were quite close to the historical village of Styal. It was but a couple of minutes level walk and as the rain had eased off, we ambled over to see what we could find.
Unfortunately for us it was school closing time, and the area was very busy with children being collected. Equally we realised that the village is still actually lived in by members of the public and there are only a couple of cottages which are opened periodically to allow people to see how the workers used to live.
Finally, as we returned to the car park, we passed the orphans house. This was to enable children to serve their apprenticeship at the mill and also children from the workhouses to live there to gain skills for work.
A very interesting and informative day, lots to think about how people used to live and work hundreds of years ago.”
Saturday’s attraction was a longer drive away, around 45 minutes, and one that we had recently pre-booked. It was to the Churnet Valley Railway, south past the outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent and off to the east. Sandra takes up the story, not least because my memory was somewhat impaired….
“This was an all-day event which had not been planned but whilst perusing the Internet one evening earlier in the week I happened upon this heritage railway running a real ale trail weekend. This was something we had planned to do right at the start of COVID at a different railway but of course this got cancelled. Further research into the practicalities and logistics of doing this trip saw us booking to attend on the Saturday.
The day dawned slightly overcast but dry and we made an early start to make sure we arrived in good time for the train. We duly skirted the outskirts of Stoke on Trent, if there is any place, I am likely to get lost it is Stoke on Trent – even though I have worked there on occasion. We arrived at Froghall station which is the southernmost on the route. It was a very pleasant and well-kept traditional branch line station, and it was clear to see the pride the volunteers had. There was a lovely café and toilets a small shop selling good quality souvenirs and in keeping with the real ale trail a counter selling various beers. It was clear that the day was very well patronised and going to be busy.
Our diesel train duly arrived, and we found ourselves some comfortable seats as we would be on the train for about ¾ of an hour. In effect this meant travelling from one end of the valley railway to the other. At the end of the line, we got off the train and had a good look round the station and partook of another sample or two. It was by now quite a warm day and as I have said elsewhere, I was very disappointed that non-alcohol drinkers were so poorly catered for.
We then returned on a different train to the middle station on the line and here was where the main ale trail events were being held. Several large marquees had been put up and there were a great number of people around. There was a quaint little pub about a 5-minute walk away which has no road access and was clearly visible from the railway station. The canal that runs alongside the railway here was built by ‘Irish navvies’ several hundred years ago along with the railway. The pub was built to service that community and indeed on the day we visited the queues were very long indeed.
Several more research samples were consumed Richard diligently ticking them off the list and taking photographs where possible. It was then time to pick up the final train of the day back to Froghall station. For me it was a very enjoyable day apart from refreshments and I know how much Richard enjoys sampling all the various craft beers on offer. His real ale archive grew considerably over the 3½ weeks we were away and subsequently the five days in Shropshire that was to come.”
I somehow resisted getting stuck in after we had parked up at Froghall station but embarked on the ‘research’ once we had arrived at Cheddleton at the far end of the line. We had a bit of a wait here and consumed our packed lunch on the platform after wandering around the sidings. The real action was at Consall, on the way back with an impressive arrange of beers, those I sampled now added to the ale archive. There was a marquee with music scheduled for the evening, but it was disappointing that the non-drinkers were not better catered for. All in all, though, a great day out. I love heritage railways and ale, well, say no more.
Sandra continues:
“A straightforward journey home saw us nearing the CL. A decision was taken to have our evening meal as I mentioned earlier at the Bull’s Head. It was traditional pub fare, excellently presented piping hot where needed and very tasty indeed.”
My judgement was undoubtedly impaired by this time, but it was indeed a superb meal. Clearly the pub had not suffered from a shortage of crockery like some, as everything was served on proper plates rather than wooden boards, slates, or whatever else is de-rigeur at the moment.
After a busy couple of days, we took it easy Sunday morning, looking forward to the arrival of two very dear caravanning friends for a chinwag and Sunday lunch. Sandra recalls:
“On the Sunday before we left to return to Chester - our friends Mike and Jan came down to see us and to have Sunday lunch. I had managed to secure a reservation at a local restaurant in the town of Sandbach. Old Hall is part of the Brunning and Price company of pubs and restaurants. Its headquarters are just outside the city of Chester. In fact, as we were to learn, they now have businesses spread over a large part of the country. I have eaten at several of their restaurants and have never had a bad meal, so I felt confident in recommending we eat there. We were not to be disappointed. In fact, less than two weeks later Richard and I visited another of their businesses near Stourport in the West Midlands. A superb meal was had again. It was lovely to see them both as the previous attempt had to be cancelled due to COVID. No doubt we will meet up again in the not-too-distant future. It was a very happy and enjoyable visit with much jaw waggling”
Monday and it was time depart the CL for a one night stop nearer Chester – the holiday was over. It was a leisurely pack up, our destination only being around 45 minutes away, the journey back to Belle Vue CL being trouble free, if a quite thirsty one by even Hetty’s standards.
Stop 4 | Belle Vue CL, Chester | 1 night | 27miles @ 21mpg | Fuel cost approx: £11 |
Legs down, leccy on, then we were off again, first port of call being a shop for some lunch, then the local Costco to join the queue for some cheap diesel, to get Hetty home.
We had said lunch at Sandra’s after getting a raucous welcome from the girls, Skye, and Iona, then headed back to Patsy complete with vacuum cleaner to give her a good tidy up. Sandra recalls:
“All too sadly the end after nearly 3½ weeks was coming to an end. As you will no doubt realise, we had indeed as usual packed in many activities and made yet more fantastic memories. That is not to say it was a rushed or hectic holiday, as is the nature of blogs such as this, you are seeing the highlights and we leave out the downtime, of which there was plenty, to avoid sending you all to sleep (more than usual – Rich). As you will no doubt realise my mobility is not what it used to be, and I have to pace myself in order to prevent further damage. I am also very much aware that Richard works very hard during the school year, and he needs his downtime just as much.
I was keen to ensure that Patsy had a thorough clean before she left Chester to head back South. As the CL we were staying at was no more than 5 minutes’ drive, collecting my car, the pet friendly mains vacuum and various other cleaning materials we returned to the van and commenced a thorough clean, especially having had two dogs living there for nearly two weeks. It did not take too long, and I will always remember Richard on his knees following me round wiping the edges of the floor, where dust had accumulated, and my vacuum cleaner could not remove. Yes, it was a double act but the removal and cleaning of carpets, blankets etc meant that Patsy was very clean to return home.
We had decided as this was the last evening of the current holiday we would go out for a meal. Bearing in mind that we had had a superb meal at old hall Sandbach the previous day, I was keen to show Richard another pub and restaurant on the outskirts of Chester which had some poignant memories for me. It was part of the same chain as in Sandbach.
The Grosvenor Arms at Aldford is part of the Duke of Westminster’s estate and is a delightful Cheshire style building. Inside there are large sections which have been renovated to look like libraries and wooden beams and floors throughout led to a very nice ambience. We again had a superb meal and enjoyed the final evening of our holiday. Why poignant memories? It is in fact the place where my parents in 1959 held their wedding reception upstairs in what is now the managers flat. I did not however arrive for a few years after that point!
The final day arrived and although I had an early appointment the other side of Chester, it was with a heavy heart that I collected my final few things and put them in my car. A hug and goodbye for now and I swiftly got in my car and was thankful that I had to concentrate on negotiating Chester’s one way system rather than thinking about the holiday coming to an end. There was, however, light at the end of the tunnel, in that in 10 days’ time we would be meeting up again to spend 5 days in Shropshire. This was to encompass Richard’s birthday and also a couple of events which we wished to do.”
Tuesday and it was time to say goodbye and start my journey south. Sandra had an appointment so around 9am we hugged and said our goodbyes, sad but happy too, in the knowledge that we would be meeting again in just over a week for a long weekend.
I made another coffee, reflecting on what a fabulous time we had had, then it was time to hitch up and go.
Eschewing the M6 – and despite the protestations of the nice lady on Google Maps - I headed south on the A41 – a road I know quite well – planning to join the M6 further down via the A5. I should have listened to her because just after Whitchurch the A41 was shut due to an RTC. I followed the diversion which took me on to the A49. Not knowing the area, I hoped for a layby to stop and look at the map to see what the score was but for quite a while there were either none, or they were fully occupied.
I need not have worried though, the road took me around the outskirts of Shrewsbury and on to the M54 and eventually the M6. It was a sizable diversion but at least caravan friendly – always a worry with Patsy bouncing around on the back.
Not wanting to do the whole journey home in one go I had booked a stop for the night, the only requirements being easy access from the motorway and with EHU.
Burton Hill Farm fitted the bill perfectly and I turned off the M40 at Gaydon – home of the British Motor Museum and Jaguar Land Rover – and was pitching up less than 15 minutes later.
Stop 5 | Burton Hill farm CL | 1 night | 123 miles @ 27.8mpg | Fuel cost approx.: £37. |
A huge field but with just 5 pitches, it being a CL, I picked one away from the other occupants. This had the slight disadvantage of being the furthest from the water and waste but for one night I was not going to set up fully anyway.
A lazy afternoon ensued, frying a couple of tikka flavoured chicken steaks outside on the hot plate and nuking some rice for dinner before heading over to pay for my pitch.
There was little to pack up on Wednesday morning, so I was able to make an early departure. The M40 was fine, there was the usual snarl ups on the M25 around Heathrow and the M3 but otherwise it was a good journey. Patsy was back in her resting place in storage in good time and I headed home along the coast, welcoming a few new potholes and saying hello again to the old ones.
Despite it being warm the flat was cool, my decision to close fully all the windows, blinds and curtains paying off. There was the usual pile of post, most of which went straight in the bin.
There was a mountain of stuff to haul up from Hetty, though unusually little dead cow, all but my lightest leather trews and the leather coats staying at home.
The washing machine soon went on, prioritising the stuff that was being returned to Patsy. I wanted to go back over in the next few days anyway to put her ‘hat’ on – the roof cover - to protect her a bit from the sun.
The next few days were quite busy. Over video calls with Sandra, I batch cooked a load of grub for the freezer and met with a few colleagues for grog and natter at the Brighton Marina, making the most of my all-day bus ticket to head to Brighton station afterwards to collect rail tickets for my upcoming trip. This turned out to be a very wise move indeed.
During this period was the 1st of August. As in previous years at 9:20am I raised a glass in Trev’s memory, it being four years since his passing.
Saturday and with my train timetabled to depart just before 8am I was up early and waiting at the bus stop in plenty of time. The bus would get me in to the station at around 7:45am – so plenty of time, even to grab a coffee. Yeah, right.
First, the bus was late. Great. Second, it was the weekend of Brighton Pride and road closures were already in place. I knew this already but at that time of the morning it should have made little difference. It did. We arrived at the station four minutes before the train was due to depart. Thirdly, barriers were already in place at the station to try and organise the thousands that would be leaving later that evening. Instead of hopping across the road into the side entrance I had to scamper around the other side of the station, navigate my way through a confusing network of barriers, my wheeled sports bag bouncing around behind me like Zebedee. Of course, had I been in shorts and t-shirt like everyone else it would have been easier, general unfitness notwithstanding, but you know me. Heavy boots and skin-tight vinyl jeans were clearly not designed with sprinting in mind. Despite all that I made it to the train just in time, which was mercifully quiet. I sat and waited for the heartrate to return to normal as the train pulled out.
The train’s scheduled arrival time into Farringdon meant that I had around 25 minutes to get to Paddington, via the new Elizabeth Line, just two stops away. That shrank to 20 minutes by the time we arrived and not knowing the layout at Farringdon I feared I wouldn’t make the train at Paddington. Anyone who has transferred from the mainline to the underground at Victoria will know what I mean.
Fortunately, signage was good, and the short route was barrier free. I arrived just as the train pulled in.
Elizabeth Line trains are a world apart from the mostly noisy, hot, and stuffy Underground ones and it was good to have finally had a ride on one. It is an incredible engineering project.
Paddington was heaving and departure time was looming, so I marched purposefully towards the relevant platform and managed to find a seat on what was an already very busy train. At last, it was time to relax for the next couple of hours. Book and earphones were extracted from my bag, and I settled in.
The book in question was Young Mungo by Doulas Stewart. I had spotted it in a bookshop when we were in Pooley Bridge, made a note to search it out once back home and obtained it through the local library reservation system. It tells the story of young gay love in sectarian Glasgow – not my usual genre when it comes to books – but was keen to give it a go. The train emptied after Oxford and I enjoyed the ride through the Cotswolds, helped along by a glass of red from the refreshments trolley. The ale offering was non-existent but otherwise a fabulous service.
At some point the pantographs were lowered and the diesel engines kicked in as we left the electrified part of the line but where I was sitting, they were barely noticeable. We arrived on time – the shock – at Worcester Foregate and I transferred to the neighbouring platform to await my final train of the day, to Kidderminster.
That predictably was running late! However, soon after 1pm I emerged from Kiddy station to be greeted by Sandra who had driven down from Chester. It was warming up and the air-con in the car was most welcome as we made our way to Chelmarsh, near Bridgnorth where we would be staying for the next few days. It felt like the long weekend had properly begun!
Sandra takes up the story:
“No sooner than I had returned to Chester and it was time to start planning for the next getaway the following week. It was the time of Richard’ birthday and knowing that he likes to keep things low key, five days away in rural Shropshire was just the ticket.
There were several to do items planned and the Saturday morning saw me driving south to meet up with Richard at the railway station in Kidderminster. It was another hot and sunny day however the route I use is one which avoids the motorways and also offers plenty of stopping places, as necessary. I duly arrived at the station in good time to find a parking system which was not user friendly at all. I parked in the designated blue badge area and having checked the main pay machine to ensure that I did not have to pay. No, I did not need to pay but I needed to register my car with the car park owners online. This proved to be an exceptionally difficult task to do. All online and needing to take photographs of my blue badge itself. I ended up having to enlist the help of one of the counter staff at the station. Unfortunately, he was unable to get it to work either. I was at the point of deciding that it would be easier to pay, not an inconsiderable amount, than continue to fight with an online system which seemed incapable of working. I was taking the last attempt at photographs when for some unknown reason it worked. Phew, what this means is that for the next year if I park in any of their car parks, they will read my number plate and I will not have to pay or do anything else. A lot of angst just to get there.
Fortunately, Richard’s train was just pulling into the station and after our hellos and commiserations over Richard’s early morning train fiasco and my parking tickets, we quickly loaded Richard's suitcase up and set off to the cottage which we had booked for the next 5 days. Although the area is very familiar to me, I was not sure which would be the quickest/easiest route to use, bearing in mind that we needed to cross the river Severn. Putting our faith in Google Maps as the sat nav, we set off the timer indicating about half an hour drive. The route it took us crossed the river at Bewdley, a very picturesque little town. A place to visit another time. The sat nav then proceeded to take us down some very narrow lanes and very steep roads too! I was beginning to wonder where we would end up but eventually, we did arrive at our destination, the Bulls Head Inn, Chelmarsh. Check in was easy and we were able to park my car right outside where we were staying. It was also obviously very busy, and we spotted a vintage car or two parked in the car park. We were to see these vehicles again the following day. The little cottage had everything you could need including a little kitchenette, shower room et cetera.
A new large screen TV was much appreciated including the Wi-Fi which was freely available. We unpacked and settled down for a rest before dinner in the cottage. After dinner we drove in to Bridgnorth itself, the route I took being less than 10 minutes and in fact reinforced my view that is using the road the other side of the river Severn was much quicker than the one they sat nav had taken us on. It was by now later on in the evening and there were several groups of very loud people milling around. It did not feel comfortable and after a few photos and a little walk round we returned to the cottage for an early night.
Sunday morning saw us up early and a quick breakfast was had before setting off to the Bridgnorth end of the Severn Valley heritage railway.
Today was one of the activities we had planned to do some time ago. It was a heritage vehicle festival up and down the line and was indeed a trip down memory lane for both of us and we both saw vintage cars that played parts in our lives over the years. I particularly remember the two triumph heralds we saw, one which was identical to the one my father had, and which went on many family trips and holidays all over the country.
For Richard seeing the minis brought back memories of his first car.
There was a good selection at each of the stations, waggons, saloon cars, buses, and I understand motorbikes, although we did not stop at this station. One other car or should I say van that stood out for me was an old Austin a 30 van which was being used as a delivery van of that era. Again, my father had one of these vans prior to buying the triumph herald. The beauty of the van was that it could consume the top half of a silver cross pram inside with the wheels fastened to the roof!
The railway as a whole was very well organised and facilities for passengers were excellent. We made for Kidderminster, end of the line, and were just in time for the pre booked Sunday lunch in their restaurant. I have to say that for £10 per head, a full roast beef dinner and all the trimmings was great value.
It was a very tasty meal and set us up for our plan to slowly work back towards Bridgnorth getting off at most of the stations to see the vintage cars and vans on display. Before we left Kidderminster however, we had time to have a look at several steam engines which were parked outside. They are massive beasts, lovingly cared for by very dedicated owners.
Also, outside was a green goddess fire engine, something I remember seeing some years ago when there was a fire brigade strike. It was by now exceptionally hot and sunny, so we were glad of the canopy at Kidderminster station to shield under until our train arrived. We boarded the train and set off to our first stop at Bewdley, there were a few cars on display but sadly some had already departed.
The next stop was Arley, those people who watched Oh Doctor Beeching, the BBC One comedy series from the 1990s would recognise this straight away. It was the outside setting for the show. Inside however is nothing like the set used for the series and it was a bit disconcerting on entering the building which was so familiar to find yourself in something completely different. The other difference is that the row of houses, again used in the TV series, do not actually exist. They never did. It was only a façade with scaffolding behind. Very cleverly done and was actually hiding several railway tankers and freight waggons. The signal box was original as well as the road bridge right by the station. The temptation to stand on the platform and shout Hatley Hatley change here for Wanstead and Busteed was very tempting indeed! It was here that we saw the minis and the Austin van. In the little kiosk selling ice cream at a very fast rate indeed was a signed photograph of all the actors who took part in the series. Many of the staff said that they were very pleasant to work with and remembered it with much pleasure.”
I was a relative newcomer to oh Dr Beeching, having never watched it when first broadcast, but the station was instantly recognisable. It was a joy to seeing the old Mini’s and Sandra loved the A30 van which brought back so many childhood memories.
We had time for one more stop on the back. Sandra continues:
“Our next stop was Highly again another big station and had been used for the nearby mines in years gone by. There was a newly built engine shed with attached conference centre, cafe and balcony overlooking the River Severn. It was a very pleasant place indeed and we enjoyed a nice break in our journey.”
It was a very impressive facility indeed, though arguably its modern design did contrast with the lovingly preserved heritage stations online. The view from the balcony though was indeed superb and I took the opportunity to indulge in a little ‘research’ as we watched the world – and another train – go by.
Sandra continues:
“We then boarded the train for the final run into Bridgnorth, by now it was getting towards early evening, and it had been a full day, one which we had thoroughly enjoyed. A quiet night in watching some TV was just the ticket. We did however adjourn to the garden of the pub in which the cottages sat for a drink or two before the breeze got up and we suddenly found ourselves quite cool.
It is now Monday and we had planned a much quieter day. First order of day was a fully cooked breakfast which was demolished in short order! We then headed out to a nearby National Trust property Dudmaston Hall. I had visited here briefly at the end of lockdown simply to buy a drink. I was keen to see what the hall and the formal grounds were like as on my previous visit they were all closed. I was not, nor Richard, to be disappointed. Our usual start of the day coffee was followed by a look round the used book shop and a couple of titles were marked for our return on the way out. It was a short and level stroll to the house and to the large lake that the house overlooked.
We found a lovely, shaded bench overlooking the lake and rested there awhile taking in all the scenery and wildlife. We then realised that a further short stretch of that path was under the trees, and we managed to see one end of the lake.
It was then time for our tour of the Hall. A mixture of styles in each of the rooms and the views from the windows were spectacular. It is still a family home so there are large areas where obviously you are not allowed to visit and photos were not allowed either.
Following that tour we returned to the car park and as we had the rest of the afternoon free to do something else, a quick Internet search showed something which hitherto would have been unheard of, a vineyard in Staffordshire not 30 minutes’ drive from where we were. Partly out of sheer curiosity and also the lure of a quality deli saw us making our way across country to Stourbridge. It was by now exceedingly hot so the air conditioning in my car was very helpful indeed. We arrived at Halfpenny Green which was way bigger than we had expected and a small craft village, which it has to be said was a bit of a disappointment. We were not however there to see that, and we made our way to the vineyard, shop, restaurant, deli, and bar. An assisted lift made moving between the floors of the building straight forward. We adjourned to the bar and Richard was able to do further research and samples. I will let him tell you about that. Suffice it to say I bought a bottle of wine for my sister and a few items from the deli. Sadly, it was too hot in the car to take home some of the most delicious food stuff you could want.”
They offered a tasting session, complete with nibbles but as the majority of the wines they produced were white I declined. I did sample a glass of their red however and it was delicious, a bottle was duly purchased.
Downstairs in the deli there was a range of local beers. Again, the debit card was produced.
Back at base Sandra cooked up a lovely meal in the tiny kitchen while I did some ‘research.’ A quiet evening in followed.
Sandra continues:
“Tuesday morning arrived and after opening of card and present, it was his birthday, we were on the clock as we had about a 45-minute drive to the Black Country Living Museum near Dudley. A straightforward cross-country run saw us making good time and we arrived a little while before our booked time of 10.30am. Again, it was a very hot day, too hot to visit such a venue really but we were able to use the vintage bus to get us to the bottom of the site, where the majority of the buildings currently are without having to walk and to keep out of the sun.
A couple of memories that stick out in my mind is Richard consuming a cheese and onion cob and a pint of the local ale at the old pub which is part of the exhibition. I remembered this building from when I had visited not long after it had opened in 1979 and we worked out it was about 43 years since I had been. It was the sawdust on the floor that helped it stick in my mind. The cob and the pint were consumed quickly accompanied by a grinning face at the same time.
The other memory is of the chips, cooked in beef dripping and eaten in the little café to the side of the chip shop. There is a photograph I took of Richard again with a very satisfied expression as the chips were eaten. I can agree that they were exactly like the chips of my childhood.”
There was a short queue, half an hour or so, for the chippy, but in the sun and I once again pondered my choice of attire. The chips more than made up for it though. Delicious.
Sandra continues:
“We had decided to go out for a meal to mark Richard’s birthday that evening and originally, I had booked a restaurant which was on the way back to the cottage. Looking at the time and given the very hot temperatures we elected to drive back to the cottage have a rest, change for dinner etc and then return to the restaurant. This was to prove a very wise decision and enabled us to enjoy the meal and evening much more. We were booked into the Roe Deer pub and restaurant near Stourbridge about a 20-minute drive from the cottage. As with other restaurants on these trips it was part of the Brunning & Price chain. The building was exquisite, and the original features had been maintained to an exceptionally high standard. This is a mark of the chains style. We had a most delightful and delicious meal, even having a starter! It was a very pleasant evening and we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.”
A fabulous meal in a lovely environment with a dear friend, I was more than happy with that for my birthday. It was a fitting end to a great trip, one in which I had enjoyed immensely. With a starter, main and cheese and biccies, along with the necessary alcoholic accompaniment for each course, I was fit to burst by the time we left. Back at base though, more research was embarked upon whilst watching a couple of comedies on the telly.
Sandra continues:
“Wednesday morning arrived yet again, and it was time to start the drive back. First off, I had to return Richard to the railway station in Kidderminster to start his journey home. Whereupon I started the drive north arriving back several hours before Richard on the train. It was a very pleasant, fun, and happy five days. It had worked out how I had planned, and I arrived back happy in the knowledge it had.”
Again, it was sad to say goodbye, but it had been another great trip with many boxes ticked. It is an area I had in the past explored little but will certainly be doing more of it.
There was no way I had space for my er, research samples – what remained of then anyway - so they were packed in Sandra’s car to be conveyed south when we next meet.
The train to Worcester Foregate was late – here we go again – but fortunately so was the one to Paddington. The transfer to Farringdon was smooth and late afternoon I emerged into the blazing sun at Brighton station. I had just missed a bus, so I took the opportunity to grab a research sample from the nearby shop.
The flat had warmed, and I was unusually grateful to peel off the vinyl trews before chucking a load in the washing machine.
As I sat with a beer, I recalled what a fantastic two trips away we had had – one with and one without Patsy of course – but both equally memorable. We have a fabulous country here with so much more to see.
Huge thanks to Sandra for her company, her planning and wonderful recollections too, it means a lot. The summer of ’22 was terrific.
Thanks for reading, until the next time,
Rich.