Visit to Southwold

A quick visit on the Bus to Southwold - the 601 from Kessingland direct.

Then a stroll round Southwold, coffee at the Adnams Cafe, down the pier for lunch, and then back to buy supplies: Fresh Raspberries, two pies for tea, and a bottle of Aspall Sparking Cider from Adnams.

White House Caravan Club Kessingland Suffolk

An Autumn break for a few days to the Caravan Club site in Kessingland. Part of the site overlooks the sea, and we have a spot just by the beach.

This is the view from our back window with the sea in the distance......

We are just by the edge ...

and here is the view of us from the beach!

Final trip, Birmingham to Home

The last 150 mile trip to Home, stopping at the Service Station on the A1 and A14 Junction, which has good parking for HGVs.

Got to Suffolk at last. A total of 988 miles driving. Fuel consumption just over 20 Miles per Gallon.

Blackpool to Birmingham

Long 200 mile drive down the M6 to Birmingham, the Friday traffic was so bad we dodged down the M6 Toll Road to avoid the traffic. £10.50 for a PHGV, same as a lorry, but was better than the stop and start motoring.The Garmin took us on small diversion via Knutsford to avoid traffic, a very pleasant diversion!

Arrived at Chapel Land Caravan Club at Wythall, a good stop of point just off the M42, if not only for Beckett's Farm Shop a short walk away, where we got all the food foe a BBQ. Visit as well from Brother.

Blackpool Day 2

In the morning went to Peter Hambilton in Preston get our OmniBike Lift fitted to the back, and very good it is too... makes the job much easier.

Then the sun came out, so went into Blackpool and had a ride on a tram to the terminus at Little Bisham.

Saw the Pleasure Beach

and took a walk over the North Pier to see the Tower ....

Ayr to Blackpool

A long 200 mile trip from Ayr to Blackpool South Caravan Club site. Took the scenic route to Gretna by A roads, and then joined the M6 at Gretna Green passing back into England. Interesting with the Garmin, as you have to set England as the destination Country to  use the postcode function!

Then stopped of at Tebay services at Junction 38, was interestingly different as the stop of was very pleasant with easy parking for even the largest motorhome, a nice spot by a pond, with a farm shop available and Butchers.

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Then on for another hour to the Blackpool site, pleasant spot in the sun, and near the big shops, and one mile from a bus to the Tower.

Ayr - Second Day

Spent the second day in Ayr, weather cloudy with some rain. Walked down the river and saw some Cormorants on the old bridge.

Large seagulls ....

and fishing boats .....

Carnoustie to Ayr

A 100 mile drive from Carnoustie to Ayr, via the M8 through the middle of Glasgow. Raining through Glasgow, with lots of roadworks.

Then down to Ayr and the Caravan Club at Craigie Gardens, which is only a short walk into the middle of Ayr. Got cauliflower cheese supplies at M&S, and refilled the fridge. Bit cloudy and wet, but had supper sitting outside under the awning. Ayr seems a lovely spot, picture shows some of the bridges looking out through the harbour to sea.

Carnoustie - Ladies Open Final Day

Fine weather after lunch again, sat on the 18th Stand and watched ...

The final medal ceremony is above, and the winner was Yani Tseng of Taiwan.

Packed away the awning and mats, chairs and tables just before some light rain, all ready for setting off tomorrow morning.

Carnoustie - Ladies Open Day 3

Mrs B set off early to follow the Golfers round the course, leaving me to do the washing, two loads of it! Sun came out midday, and settled down to watching the Golf at the 18th, fueled by the nearby Belgian Waffle stand.

Camera crew were right in front of the stand.

Dropped into the local shop to replenish the cider supply, and a very good take-away curry eaten outside the van.

Carnoustie - Ladies Open Day 2

A much sunnier day, made the Golf by midday, and after lunch sat in the Grandstand and watched the arrivals at the 18th Hole. Lovely and warm, so bought a sun hat.

On the way home called in to the local Butchers and Spar, and had a healthy (!!) supper of: Mince round, Beans and Crabbie's alcoholic ginger beer .....

Carnoustie - Ladies Open Day 1

Started a bright day, but then rained most of the day, so watched the golf on the TV!!

Finally ventured out at 4 PM, and sat in the Grand Stand at the 18th Hole, not many other hardy souls out, so plenty of seats. Left at about 6PM, and wandered through town, and stopped to buy some local strawberries and rasberries at the Co-Op.

Note the many other people in the rain!!

Glenrothes to Carnoustie

A slow start, first a visit to get a new tyre put on (the spare, the spare was put on to replace the bulging tyre, at least we have the same make on all six tyres!). Then spotted an ASDA next door, and called in there: started with Breakfast, and then some shopping. Finally hit the road, although only 35 miles on the A92 we crossed the Tay Bridge into Dundee.

Dundee was a roadworks mess, which meant we had to divert through the middle, and then carry on to  Carnoustie and Woodland  Campsite. A nice little place, run by the local authority. Put up the awning and side screen, as we will be here for five days to see the Ladies Open. Wandered into town to have a beer or two, sitting in the sun looking at the Golf Links, then back up the hill to the van. Small water leak on the water heater inlet pipe so fixed another circlip to it. Good TV reception and OK internet, so should be settled in for a while!!

Berwick to Glenrothes

About 100 miles up the A1, over the Forth Bridge and on to Balbirnie Park Caravan Club site at Glenrothes. The sun appeared just as we reached Edinburgh! Stopped off to buy an awning carpet at Marshall's just outside Berwick (with a sausage sandwich snack and coffee) then on into Scotland.

Skirted round Edinburgh and then over the Forth Road Bridge (rail bridge in the distance) ...

Then on to the site, where we caught up on some work and blogging..... noticed a large bulge in one of the sidewalls of the rear tyres - so we are booked into the local Kwik-Fit tomorrow!

Our tyre bulge, notice the new 'Bling' hub caps, best ABS chromed plastic, from Parma of Saxmundham... fitted to save the loss of the expensive metal ones.

Worksop to Berwick on Tweed

A 200 mile drive, left at 0930 and arrived at 1500, all on the A1.

Found a good truck stop off just north of Scotch Corner, where we had an Omelette and an English Breakfast with truckers mugs of coffee. Refuelled and pressed on to Berwick, passing the Angel of the North at Newcastle.

Now at another Caravan Club site, Seaview, in Berwick. It's raining now, but we have a great Sea View!! Boat trips from the Harbour to Lindisfarne just down the coast.

The harbour is in the distance. The train track is just behind us, but slept well.

Home to Worksop

150 miles from home to Clumber Park Caravan Club site near Worksop via the A14 and A1. Stopped at a Motorway service station for lunch at M&S and a rest. Cumber Park is set in National Trust property with a lake and lots of cycle ways, but no mobile coverage!!

Lovely sunny evening, ate outside. What was impressive was the entrance to the site!

Starting

After the success of last week's Tour to The North Norfolk Beer Festival and Steam Railway, tomorrow sees us off to Scotland, to see the Golf in Carnoustie (Ladies Open).

Spent most of today preparing the Van