Weymouth to see the Olympic Sailing 26 July to 2 August 2012

We went to the Crossways Caravan Club near Weymouth via Alderstead Heath CC site stopping off overnight for both the outward and return trips (convenient near to J8 of the M25, just outside the London Emission Zone).

Over the Queen Elizabeth Bridge on the M25

Crossways is right next to Moreton Railway Station which is on the main London Waterloo to Weymouth line. Also the Frampton Arms (where we had Ciders and a meal). It also the burial place of TE Lawrence.

On the first day we went shopping by train to Dorchester, which was market day. A lovely market town.

On the second day we took the train to Weymouth, and were lucky enough to get on the Balmoral and watch the sailing close up, since we had the Volvo Family Day out in the front half of the boat.

The Balmoral (Finns racing in the distance!)

The Nothe at Weymouth, where you had to have tickets (not us!)

Day three we had a quiet day at the site, with deer wandering around.

Day 4 was a long trip, train to Wareham, 40 Bus to Swanage.There we took the steam train past Corfe Castle.

Corfe Castle from the Train

Swanage pier

Then we took the number 50 bus to Bournemouth, which went over the Chain Ferry at Sandbanks, followed by the train back to Moreton.

and finally home!

Flat battery at the final stop for fuel, so jump started from the leisure battery .....

12 to 16 July 2012 - North Norfolk

Spent the last few days at Incleboro Fields Caravan Club site which is near West Runton. We have stayed at the Camping and Caravan Club site before, pleasant enough, but an 'interesting' approach road. The Caravan Club site approach hazards are only golf balls!

Site was fine, we did trips to the Beer Festival at Sheringham Station:

The strawberry cider and burger was not bad either at over 8% proof, we only had 130 to try ...

Then a trip to Holt by Steam Train from Sheringham Station on the Poppy Line -

Also did a trip on the 44 Bus from West Runton to Norwich for the day, this took over an hour but was cheap and went at 30 minute intervals Monday to Saturday. Visit to M&S for more food stocks!

30th June to 4th July Ludham Bridge

Took a long weekend to the Caravan Club Broadlands site on Norfolk, near Ludham Bridge.

Ludham Bridge

The site is very short walk from the bridge, where there is a shop, cafe, and gallery and bike hire. There is also a boatyard that hires day boats.

Ludham Bridge Stores and Cafe

In the other direction a short distance the Dog Public House, a Freehouse that serves food as well. It also has a campsite behind it. Also look out for Ken's Fruit and Veg shack!

Dancing Duck at the back of our van!

A nice peaceful site, we took the number 12 bus (every 2 hours, leaves from opposite the phone box by the bridge) and did some shopping, including Roy's of Wroxham which rather dominates the place!

Wroxham

30th May Chapel Lane to home ...

Left Chapel Lane

View from the inside of Chapel Lane

A quick stop at the farm shop for Breakfast, and a three hour trip home via the M42/ M6/ A14, stopping off at the A1/ A14 junction for some fuel and a small rest.

Breakfast at Becketts Farm Shop just a quick walk from Chapel Lane.

Chapel Lane CC Birmingham 29th May

Yesterday we lots of work at Peter's - mains sockets, new kitchen tap (failed microswitch), and the Oyster Satellite dome with a few more bits, and finished with a Whisky tasting. This looks a neat bit of work and looks like a Golf Ball - we think it looks like aliens have landed on the roof. It is awaiting a new Avtex TV with satellite reception and then we can check it out. We borrowed a car and went to relatives in Kirby Lonsdale for lunch.

Spent the afternoon chilling after a long drive down the M6, pausing only at a Motorway Service station. Very expensive with a very poor selection, so will avoid that franchise in future!

Lazy day planned tomorrow morning .......

New Oyster satellite dome on roof, smaller in size than other domes, and no dishes fitted our roofspace, so our only choice!

Blackpool South again - 27th May

A lovely sunny afternoon at Blackpool South Caravan Club site. Got a spot underneath a shady tree, and just had supper sitting outside. Makes a change from the weather last week.

Came via Keele Services (which had a good dozen coach and caravan slots outside) and Chapel Lane CC near Birmingham from Suffolk. Last night had a BBQ with food from the Farm Shop near Chapel Lane, hopefully will stop off there on the way back.

Alfresco living on the road .....

Easter Bank Holiday Weekend at Felixstowe 6-9th April

This weekend was spent at Peewit Caravan Park in Felixstowe - to tidy up the WiFi network and Website.

Rained most of the time, but met some friends and shopped a little! Nice Chinese Meal  from the nearby take away as well ....

Stopped off at the Orwell Truck Stop for Breakfast on the way back.

18th March Return Home

Today returned home from Sandringham through the rain, a dull day....

For some reason the fan from the Truma 3000 Heater will not run off, so a small visit for a repair is due soon. Yesterday it rained too, so we stayed at the site as well!

Refuelled and regassed at the A140 Beacon Hills stop. About £12 of LPG, and one bottle sued. Not bad, considering we had heaters on most of the time. So end another small break!

Kings Lynn by bus

Took the No. 11 bus the other way to Kings Lynn. Had a look at the free local museum, where they had a good display of the Seahenge

Then a walk down the old town to look at the Harbour by the Great Ouse.

The statue is of Captain George Vancouver after whom Vancouver in Canada is named.

Nearby is the Customs House which is now the Tourist Information Centre.

Had lunch at the nearby Archers. Got a curry from M&S and returned back on the afternoon bus.

Lazy day at the site

Some sunshine today at the site so a lazy day .... but happened across another Hymer S700 so we had a good couple of hours comparing modifications and fittings!

Sandringham Day out

Sun almost came out today! Took a short bus trip to the Sandringham Visitor Centre. The house and church are all closed until the 1st April, but the shops and restaurant were open, so we had lunch there.

Met one of the giant squirrels that roam around the place ....

There were lots of ladybirds about:

Hunstanton Day out

Today took a bus ride to Hunstanton. The hourly No. 11 Bus leaves outside the Caravan Club, and it takes about 40 minutes ride to town centre. Had a wander around the town.

Weather still a little misty, so not much of a sea view!!:

We had lunch in a nice local Restaurant called Chives Brasserie and got some more supplies at the local Sainsbury near the bus stop, as well as some pies from the small bakery.

Then back by bus to update this and log on to the Internet. We have a small hotspot on the Hymer created by a wireless router made by Teltonika and bought off Ebay. Noted we get a good 3G connection on Three, but the Vodafone connection is non-existent!

Sandringham Caravan Club

Arrived here just before 3pm after an interesting route contributed by the Garmin Dezl. We find this SatNav pretty good at not getting us stuck under bridges and works well at sorting out good routes, though for some reason it took us off the A14 and back on again .....

Now we are on pitch 99 and in Glucksberg woods and have the awning and side screens up. Sunny for the afternoon, but misty this morning. No newspapers so nothing intellectual to read like The Sun!

First outing for 2012: Polstead near Hadleigh, Suffolk

After a habitation check at Stowmarket Caravans (passed with flying colours, "Like a new van ....") we went for a small shakedown 2 night visit to Polstead Camping and Caravan site nearby.

Started off in the pouring rain along the A140, windscreen wipers clicked in after the battery charged for a few miles:

Then on to Polstead, a peaceful spot (pitch 21). Sunshine though a bit cold on the following day. Ordered The Sun for the morning!

Went to nearby Brewer's Arms for Lunch. Roast beef from carvery, Greene King IPA. Snooze in the afternoon!