More of the Same, Avebury & a Big Decision - 5th / 6th Nov ‘25

Wednesday 5th: More rain - up till around 1pm. Another visit to Lyme.

Another lie in too, but this one was longer. This time we showered as well! 2 showers necessitates two fillings of Brunnehilda’s on board water tanks. This site makes that very easy as each pitch has its own tap.

By the time we finally got out (at about 2), the mornings heavy rain had rolled through. We did debate taking Tilly to Golden Cap for a walk but this would have been a wood and cliff walk rather than beach. We thought she would like a beach walk as this was her (and our!) last opportunity for a bit. 

We parked up at Charmouth beach. Just a mile or so outside of Lyme. This was the chosen beach for Tilly’s walk. After the nonsense of paying for the car park with a bloody App (we didn’t have enough cash and they didn’t take cc) we headed off eastward along a half sand / half pebble beach being crashed into by a very noisy and angry sea. 

The beach wasn’t busy but every couple on there, seemed to be a fossil hunter - including a group of about 20 6th formers who were clearly in a Geography field trip! Although one up from train spotting, fossil collecting wasn’t a pastime that ever seriously grabbed me as a useful way of spending your spare time. I would counter that by saying that they seemed to be enjoying themselves - but they didn’t! 

We had a bracing 45 mins walk - although I think the sea was a bit too loud for Tilly and she mostly kept to our side with little of her normal barking at the sea birds and running in and out of the waves! Maybe she was puzzled / troubled by the fossil hunters too?? 

Off then back to Lyme Regis for another walk along the front and a coffee / danish. We walked back up to the town and grabbed a drink before walking back to the car for 5 pm.

When we got back to Brunnehilda we did an hours packing up to speed up our getaway tomorrow- we’re taking Brunnehilda upto Shaftesbury to be serviced (and fix her brakes) at Blackmore Vale Leisure. 

We had planned to go to the Crown at Uplodders to eat (the one we went to the first night) but when we arrived we discovered it was shut on a Wednesday so we headed off to the Marquis of Lorne in the neighbouring village of 

Nettlecombe.

What a place. Such an old atmospheric pub, lovely staff, lovely fellow customers and a fabulous meal! They also had some scary and impressive Halloween decorations hanging around outside as well!!

Back to Brunnehilda - for just one episode of  Slow Horses (in bed this time). Early night as the alarm is set for 6 to get up and out by 8!

Thursday 6th: After an invigorating cup of coffee we got Brunnehilda ready and hooked up 5 mins ahead of the planned 8.15 scheduled leave time.

The 1 1/4 hour journey was a little stressed as the roads picked by Google were not as wide as Brunnehilda would have liked! Mostly a series of B roads which were fine until you went through villages with cars parked up on one or both sides! We also had a short wait while the road was cleared after a 3 car smash. We thought we were going to be in for a long wait - there is no way we could turn round like all the cars in the queue - but as it happened we were through in under 5 minutes.

We dropped off her off with the guys at Blackmore Vale Leisure at just gone 9.30 and headed for Shaftesbury (10 mins up the road) for breakfast.

The Salt Cellar has been well used by Kim and I over the years. We sat at the top of the famous (Hovis advert) Gold Hill to have a very acceptable breakfast. I had the large one, Di had the small! Which in itself adequately explains the differences in weight and size!

A quick walk and a visit to the bakery and we were on our way. Meanwhile Pete at BVL had quickly taken off one of Beunnehilda’s wheels and determined both brake drums and shoes were needed. By driving the van 150 miles with the brakes on I had managed to cook them! Who would have thought eh?! The parts would need to be ordered so we wouldn’t be raking Brunnehilda home with us this afternoon! 

We decided against Salisbury and I suggested Stonehenge on the way home. Then I remembered how unimpressive the whole visitor experience was so I suggested the much more accessible and evocative, Avebury stone circle. 

We arrived at the biggest stone circle in the world (so they claim) at about 1pm. They have no idea why they are where they are but 4500 years ago a lot of our relatives went to a lot of bother to erect the stones and dig the huge circular ditch. The slightly gloomy and misty weather made them seem even more fascinating, mystical and menacing! 

We all 3 had a nice walk around the circle before heading to the pub for a drink. A non productive 15 minute wait and we aborted to the NT cafe for a coffee and cake. Not only did we get served straight away but 20% of the bill as well!

Pete rang with the bad news as we were driving home - £2k! That’s how much the brakes, service, tyres and other bits are going to cost. Oh, Brunnehilda! As I was already swivering about her future, this news was a real curved ball! I asked for a price they would give me to take her off my hands. As expected, it was a long way short of what I think she’s worth, but …

So, at time of writing I am 80% sure this is the end of my travels with Brunnehilda! Huge mixed thoughts at this stage but one thing I do know … whatever happens, she has been a wonderful influence in my life. She has facilitated so much happiness and fun as well as special and unforgettable memories. So many of my strongest memories of Kim are based around my Teutonic warrioress. Thank you Brunnehilda. ♥️

Travels with Brunnehilda blog:

1st post: 13th June 2019

Last post: 6th November 2025

Number of posts: 229

Number of views: 41,065

A Rainy Day in Dorset - 4th Nov ‘25

They were right - heavy rain showers all day today was only made worse by the fact it was glorious weather at home!

No great motivation to get out when the rains hammering down on Brunnehilda’s roof but we still did manage out for midday. We were both going to shower but the motivation for this seemed to be washed away by the Dorsetshire rain!

We decided on an early lunch so headed off to Hive Beach. A quick 20 minute walk on the beach in the drizzle was nicer for Tilly than for us. Although we did meet a couple (mother and son) with a lovely border collie called Jasper. No one can believe that Tilly is 13 years old. That said, she does struggle now to jump on Brunnehilda’s bed and my new car’s boot is impossible for her to manage on her own!

The lunch was fab. Hive Beach Cafe is well known locally for its great sea food. Di had the fish stew and I had mackerel. They were both excellent! The view would be gorgeous in the summer but on a rainy November day was still a high point with the sound and sight of the storm waves crashing into the beach.

Given the weather situation we thought a town would be best as our next destination so we set off on the 15 mile trip to Dorchester.

We parked up in the big car park at the back of the high street. We walked along the rather depressing and sparsely populated Main Street. I remember it being much  prettier and more vibrant when I came last about 6 years ago? It’s amazing what heavy cloud and steady rain does to a places desirability!

We flirted with the idea of going into the museum to escape the rain but £15 each seemed a high price to pay for dryness! We poked around a few shops and ended up having a very nice coffee and cake at the Cornish Bakery. This is a SW coffee house chain that never disappoints!

By 4.30 we had had our fill of a rainy Dorchester so headed back to Brunnehilda to her warm and dry embrace!

As before, more Slow Horses binging, a yoghurt based tea and lashings of chocolate in recognition of our healthy tea! 

Even with the weather, it’s so nice to spend the day with Di and Tilly. I hit a bit of a reflective mood later tonight - brought on maybe by Kim and my regular Brunnehilda visits to this part of the world. There are still some levels of residual guilt felt that I’m still here and very happy but I continue to focus on the thing she always wanted more than anything - our (especially the kids and grandkids) health and happiness. ♥️

Abbotsbury Gardens & Weymouth - 3rd Nov ‘25

No rain today! Only about 5 minutes of sun but no rain so that was a significant win! Again with the prospect of awful weather starting tomorrow, we aimed to get out of Brunnehilda ASAP. A lack of breakfast food on board also made it relatively easy to be out before midday!

Coffee in Brunnehilda’s big Teutonic bed isn’t very conducive for early starts! However, we did manage to get out before noon. Although we did spend 30 minutes helping Len the farmer set up his new iPhone before escaping.

We had planned a trip to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens. The 10 minute journey took about half an hour due to a road closure and the alternative roads round here being rather sparse and where they do exist being very Devonian in their size and ability to go from a to b via k and x!

The painful journey was worth it. Although when we arrived at 12.45 we were greeted by a sign saying they were shutting early (at 2) due to a private event. The upshot was we got in cheap (only £6.50 each) and they gave us a free coffee voucher for the cafe as well.

We had a fantastic 1 1/2 hours strolling round the gardens. There was a signed route that snaked around 30 acres of the most wonderful trees, shrubs and vistas. The colours (mostly greens and browns) and smells were amazing. And best of all, apart from one elderly couple and their greyhound, we didn’t see a soul! Time for a quick browse round the shop before being chucked out at 2.

Tilly was less pleased as she had to be on the lead the whole time. We did keep on reminding her though that this was better than the alternative of being left in the back of the XC90! Unfortunately, as intelligent as Border Collies are, she didn’t seem to get the very valid point we were making!

After the Gardens we headed off to Weymouth to give Tilly a walk on the beach - still conscious that the forecast for the next 2 days might render any future beach walks impossible!

We parked up in the centre of town and had a walk through the shops before a quick run on the beach. Got to say, the town felt very run down and there was clearly a lot of poverty around. The folks were friendly enough though. That said, while Di was in Boots I was approached by 2 “nutters”. One old lady who pointed at a young couple holding hands. Told me it’s been a long time since anyone held her hand like that but she was very lucky and had a wonderful husband! No sooner as I had got rid of her, a younger guy wearing a bobble hat and sounding just like Peter Kay, told me that I would never lose my dog by my side as Jesus Christ meant that she would live forever. As apparently would my beautiful wife, who I need to look after! He went off muttering about a poodle / collie cross he used to own called Shep!

The beach was quite welcome after that. 

We then wandered around both sides of the port / river. Most of the places were shut so we just walked and then headed to the Ship Inn on the quayside to have something to eat. This was the same chain as yesterday’s food in Lyme Regis but disappointingly had run out of the fish pie / sea bass risotto! It was good enough though and afterwards we headed out for a final stroll through the town and a run (for Tilly) on the beach as the darkness was setting in.

Back home, via Sainsburys for fuel for the car and chocolate for us! As with yesterday and the night before we finished off the day with several episodes of Slow Horses lashings of chocolate as well as tarts and sausage rolls we had purchased from a bakers in Weymouth.

After this we both headed to bed rather bloated and outdoing each other with farts and burps as a result of this decadent over eating. Me thinks after 18 months a little bit of the magic has finally disappeared!! 😉😂

Dorset Again - 1st / 2nd Nov ‘25

The 4th trip out with Brunnehilda during a very quiet caravan year. This was the 3rd with Di and the 2nd to Dorset.

It all started yesterday (1st Nov) a little later than it should have done! I met Di at Welton Lodge at about 12.30. I had the caravan hitched up and ready to go but we really needed to have left before midday to beat the sunset. Note to self - next time tell Di the target leaving time is 60 mins before the actual target leaving time and we might only be 30 mins late! 😉

After a damp ride down the A34, M3, A31 and A35 we arrived at the Barnhouse Retreat CL campsite near Bridport at about 5.15 - about 20 mins after sundown! This necessitated the wearing of our new head torches to get set up. But not before a near disaster. I had left the caravan brake slightly on for the journey down which may have caused the issue. The issue was the caravan brake wasn’t working when I unhitched the van and it started rolling down the incline towards the car. Di had the foresight to lean against it to push it off course and divert a disaster!

The site is lovely - only 5 pitches and our only neighbour is due to leave tomorrow. Each pitch has its own water supply so that’s a bonus. There is a field we can walk the dog as the farmer very obligingly said he would move his sheep to another field. He also provided us lots of information about local walks and pubs!

After the near disaster, the set up went off well with the very friendly farmer coming out to welcome us as we were nearing completion. After a cuppa we went off for a well deserved and very enjoyable meal at the village local - The Crown at Uplodders. There was only about 10 locals in - plus us - which was hardly rocking for a Saturday night. But the landlady (who doubled up as the chef) was very pleasant. We shared a starter and pudding with a very nice fish pie and lasagne squeezed in the middle. 

Back home to Brunnehilda for a cuppa, a couple of episodes of Slow Horses and an early night. 

The 2nd November was a lovely sunny day. The weather is due to be mixed on Monday and down right dreadful on Tuesday and Wednesday. So we thought we had better make the most of the good weather and head for a beach pronto!

After having a chat with ChatGBT we headed out to the recommended for dogs, Cogden Beach. It took about 15 mins to drive there. We parked up in a National Trust car park (result: free parking with my volunteers card) and walked down the gentle slope for a couple of hundred yards to the beach.

It’s right at the far end (western end) of Chesil Beach. It’s not nice sand but the pebbles are small enough to be easy(ish) to walk on. Tilly had a great time in and out the waves as we walked westward along the beach about a mile to Hive Beach.

It was very blustery but sunny and warm enough to be coatless. The beach wasn’t too busy but there was a steady stream of dog walkers - mostly middle age couples! Tilly was impeccably behaved. 

There was a cafe at Hive Beach so it seemed rude not to go in! It’s our 18 month anniversary today so we celebrated with a cake and coffee. Neither was especially nice but to be fair the place seemed to specialise in fish and everyone’s meal sitting around us looked and smelt wonderful?

We didn’t fancy the walk back along the beach retracing our steps so we made the return journey on the cliff - the SW Coastal Path. It didn’t take long. Before we went back up to the car we picked some sea kale from the beach. All the locals were doing it and they told us it made great Christmas decorations! So like the cafe stop, it seemed rude not to! 

The sun was still shining so we headed for Lyme Regis via West Bay (which looked really nice) and Bridport. We parked up on the Eastern edge of town and walked down the hill onto the busy beach front. We walked all the way along and then up onto the iconic Cobb - of French Lieutenant Woman’s fame.

The sea was gloriously rough which made for some very dramatic scenes of the waves crashing against the rocks. For health and safety reasons, we didn’t get close enough for a good picture though!

More strolling through the fairly busy port and then up into town. By this stage we were bloody starving. Both the eateries recommended by ChatGBT didn’t seem to be serving food at this time - it was gone 3.30. Just when we thought we may have missed out, we stumbled across the Royal Lion. It was full of dogs and a more than acceptable menu. I had the pork Sunday lunch and Di had a splendid fish risotto.

We had a long chat with a nice couple from Surrey - although he was Scottish and she was Yorkshire! They had 2 gorgeous Retrievers called Arthur and Humphrey. Di is like a dog whisperer and is just as adept at talking to every 4 legged creature as she is at chatting with their human owners!

After the meal we had a lovely walk back to the car in the half light along the Church Cliff Walk.

Back home to Brunnehilda for tea, chocolate and more Slow Horses. A smashing day. We need to brace ourself for the worse weather starting tomorrow!

A Bad Day - 15th Aug ‘25

This should have been the last day of a lovely few days in the sun. It turned out it wasn’t! Although it was nice and sunny and very hot again today!

To use a football cliche, this was a day of 2 halves. The first half was great. The second half, not so good!

It started with the normal breakfast and ablutions. We decided to have a game of football golf in Swanage and a final visit to the beach and then pack up and be on the road by 3.30 at the latest. 

The foot golf was great fun. Charlie won the first 9 holes, Harry won the second 9. Finners got a hole in one so everyone was happy. Apart from me of course but I’m the adult so it didn’t matter!!  It was really hot but much fun was had by all!

We headed for the car park by the beach / fun fair in Swanage. Amazingly we got parked and walked down a very busy beach front. It was absolutely rammed. We decided against a swim / paddle and headed for Wright on the Beach chip shop. The consensus - well 3 of the 4 - was they were the best curry and chips ever! Praise indeed from a group (especially me!) that have consumed a lot of chips!

At 1.45 we got in the car to get Brunnehilda packed up and on the road for 3.30pm. Then it happened…

I waited for a lady to cross the car park exit and swung out wider than normal. I hit a raised kerb in the road that I just hadn’t seen. A very loud noise and I realised immediately I had a burst tyre. There is no spare in the Volvo so we instantly phoned Assistance. I quickly sourced a replacement tyre from a Kwik Fit in Poole and we began our wait at 13.50. 

I won’t bore you (or me) with the sorry story but the eta of the breakdown lorry went from 4 to 4.30 to 5 to 7 to 9 to cancelled!! Mean time I was struggling to get back in touch with the assistance people. It was 31 degrees and I had 3 kids patiently waiting. We wasted a bit of time and then I decided to get a taxi with them back to the site. I came back to the car, discovered it wasn’t going to happen tonight and got a taxi back to the site. 

As everyone had a busy day booked the next day, Laura and George decided to make the 3.5 hour journey down to pick up the boys and leave me to sort out the car in the morning. 

They left the site at about 10.30 and I went to bed with a taxi booked for 7.45. Fingers crossed!!!!

PS Although the nice lady in the flats opposite says that particular kerb gets a lot of people and that I should write to the council, the fact is the only person to blame for the rotten end to a nice holiday is me!! The boys were perfect during the “crisis” and no one got hurt so …. Onwards and upwards. 

Not sure when the next Brunnehilda outing will be - probably Autumn with Di and Tilly as travelling companions this time. 

Corfe Castle, Studland Bay & Poole - 14th Aug ‘25

That’s much better - wall to wall sunshine with a temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees all day. Phew, what a scorcher!

The normal big breakfast and a rush to the toilet block before it shuts at 10.30!! I like the caravan club but I’ve always thought this to be a huge own goal - just when most people on holiday are getting up and want to ablute, they’re bloody shut!

The boys are taking it in turn to sleep with their old grandad! Harry got his out the way early and it was Finners last night. Charlie brings up the rear tonight. I don’t take offence at being someone to be avoided to be in bed with! I certainly wouldn’t want to!! Got to say though, Harry was a much less troubled sleeper than Finners.

Off on the short 3 miles trip to Corfe Castle. The first 2 car parks we tried were full - and this was before midday - so i headed for the one we had used before on the outskirts of the village. A short walk in to the castle entrance. The volunteer checking us in wasn’t as generous as some others. With my volunteer card and membership card she still made me pay for Twinnies!

We had a quick romp round the ruins - including a game of Jenga on the bailey. It was blimin hot so we snacked in the shelter of the very thick ruined Norman walls. A visit to the NT shop finished the visit. The volunteer here was much more friendly including a chat about the virtues of Corfe Castle and Canons Ashby.

The next stop was a beach - well it was pushing 30 degrees by now. The plan was to go over the ferry to Sandbanks but I was a little concerned if we’d get in the car park. So, as we were passing Knoll Beach on Studland Bay, I decided to pull in there. 2 reasons … I remembered it being a huge car park and it’s all NT land so free parking!

It was mobbed! When we came here with the family last time if you walked 50 metres you could be away from the crowds. We walk 150 metres and there were still more people than sand! Eventually we squeezed in and settled down. Charlie doesn’t moan about it but it’s clearly not his thing - understandable, why would a nearly 18 year old worrying about his street cred want to be on a beach with his grandad and 2 little brothers!

The twins and I went for a swim. It was gorgeous - although Harry took a lot of persuading to get in! By the time we had dried off the body language of the 3 of them suggested it was time to get off the beach. Bless them, they never actually moan or ask to do something else but it’s not hard to tell when they’ve had enough. 

It would have been rude to pass the beach cafe without stopping and having a drink and to share a plate or 2 of chips. Holidaying with these 3 is not conducive to any sort of diet - unless the diet includes obscene amounts of sugar and fat!

The short trip then to the ferry over to Sandbanks. The boys enjoyed the quick ferry ride and really enjoyed driving around Sandbanks looking at the amazing footballers houses on the water. 

We parked up at the multi story just by Poole quayside. We had a walk round the block including the shops and quayside. The Twinnies were up for a boat ride but their older brother did block this one so we settled for a drink in one of the many quayside pubs. The Jolly Sailer was not so jolly as by this stage in the holiday the boys were getting tired and the usual fun good tempered banter between them - especially Charlie and Harry - was getting a wee bit more fractious !

Actually, the main reason why we did that was that one of them was desperate for the loo. I gotta say, these boys go to the toilet a lot! As a 66 year old man, I thought I had some urinary challenges but blimey nothing compared to them! If I had a fiver for every time one of the Twinnies has wee’d against one of the car wheels, I’d have enough to buy a round of ice creams!

By this time they were getting hungry. They fancied Italian. We walked along the quayside a bit more and found a restaurant with a few Italian dishes on the menu. We ordered and everyone agreed it was a good choice. As was confirmed by the empty plates! Oriel on the Quay was definitely a success.

A quick go on the trampolines and then a visit to the legendary old fashioned sweet shop - Truly Scrumptious - before heading back to the car. 

Straight home for more cards (me and Twinnies) and more showering (Charlie). 

Lots of memories of Kim today. She loved Sandbanks / Poole and we did about half a dozen BH weekends down here with the family. Plus we had a nice stay in Brunnehilda just the 2 of us!

Plan to have a nice morning / lunch and then get on the road for home tomorrow afternoon.