Picking up Brunnehilda from Damage Barton - 24th August ‘21

Laura, George and the boys have had 6 nights at Damage Barton. Typical UK mixed summer weather, although the last 3 or 4 days have been really rather pleasant.

Bobby and I took the dogs for a walk soon after 7 and dropped them off at mums and were on the road by 8.15. Tilly & Ben have avoided the dreaded visit to the kennels as Grandma ChooChoo had kindly offered to dog sit. 

After a couple of brief stops we were in the queue for Woolacombe Beach Car Park just before 1pm. There was a streaky trickle of folks leaving the beach at that time so after a fairly modest amount of time waiting we were in and parked. 

We soon found Laura and crew - the boys eagerly waiting to get started dressed in their hired wet suits and equipped with hired body boards and a paddle board.

The weather was perfect for the beach and the boys had a splendid couple of hours body and paddle boarding. Got to say, I didn’t give it a go, but Bobby and George confirmed that paddle boarding was quite challenging in the sea - even with a fairly modest swell and wind. After a round of ice creams and a couple of shared pasties, we were ready for our tea!!

We walked back to the car, got changed and then walked around to a very busy Barricane Beach. Sri Lankan curries all round and they were blimin lovely! The beach was really busy as the tide was right out. Go to say though, due to the sheltered positioning of the bay, the conditions for paddle boarding looked a lot easier!

The MacArthurs returned to Damage Barton for a quick shower and they were then soon on the road heading home to The Shire! Bobby snd I then had a very productive hour or so as we stripped down Isabella and packed her away. 

After this frantic activity, we decided on a quick evening trip into Ilfracombe. We had a wee walk round absorbing the rather nice laid back holiday atmosphere. There was a rather splendid sunset to enjoy as well.

Home to Brunnehilda via Tesco’s to stock up on snacks and a modest supper! We were both absolutely knackered so after one episode of The Sopranos and a cup of tea we hit the sack!

Tomorrow will be a quick pack up and hopefully on the road by 11am. 

So another, albeit brief, Brunnehilda visit. It has been much better with company - Bobby and the MacArthurs. Being busy does give you less time to think back to earlier visits. I’m sure, given time, these lovely memories will be a source of comfort but at the moment, they are still quite painful.

Damage Barton was a favourite place for Kim. She was at her happiest here, both with and without the family, so whenever we come back here she will always feel very close.

Set up & Tea at Ilfracombe - 18th August ‘21

Slept well but found it hard to get out of bed this morning. Did eventually drag myself up the hill to ablute and buy a couple of croissants from the site shop.

Had a lazy breakfast watching another episode of the Sopranos. The next few hours were spent pegging out internally, putting down ground covering, putting up storage, sorting out awning lights, changing bed covers and general tidy up.

All finished 30 mins before Laura, George and kids arrived at about 3. I took the boys for a wee walk while L&G got unpacked.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0K6SLGv1jSFdVUI6_ERSpq_3w#Woolacombe_-_Mortehoe

So that I could get on the road by 6, we went off to get an early fish and chip tea in Ilfracombe. It was very busy but we fell lucky with parking - in the car park at the end of the quay by the Verity statue.

We aborted the first restaurant as they kept us waiting for about 30 minutes and then took 3 people’s orders that came in after us! Not sure Kim would have walked out but we all did - with kids in tow, who by this time we’re getting hungry!

We went to the old faithful, Lyn Bay Fish and Chips next door. Their restaurant was shut so we ordered and enjoyed our grub sitting on the beach. The fish wasn’t as good as I remembered but the cheesy chips snd curry sauce were both splendid. 

After that we bought ice creams - the adults in the party partaking in the delights of a clotted cream topping on our ice cream! We all walked up the hill to St Nicholas Chapel to take in the magnificent views. I guess the exercise helped with a small (and insignificant) clotted cream calorie burn off?!

I hit the road at 6pm leaving the MacArthurs to head for a supermarket and then back to Brunnehilda for the evening. Bobby and I are coming back down to pack up in 6 days time.

I arrived back at Long Buckby at about 10.30. An interesting couple of days.I thought I might have made up my mind by the end of this first trip - to sell or not to sell Brunnehilda. I think I’m a bit closer to the decision but not quite ready yet to commit just yet. Maybe another short trip but this time to someone Kim snd I haven’t visited. 

A Difficult Trip back to Morthoe - 17th August ‘21

My beautiful wife and true companion, Kim - passed away on July 15th. We had a wonderful Celebration of Life event for her on the 9th August and now this is my first trip away in Brunnehilda without her!

I’m not sure why I wanted to try a night without her so soon and with hindsight, maybe I should have left it a bit longer. My reasoning was to get everything ready for Laura, George and the boys who are using Brunnehilda (and Isabella) for their holiday. They arrive tomorrow and I’ll come back with Bobby in a weeks time to pack her up and drive back up the M5.

Early start this morning. I dropped off Thom and Rach at Birmingham airport at 6 to catch their flight to Dublin - they’ve been home for the last 5 weeks and I’m going to miss them so much. The motorway flowed really well and I was feasting on a 7 piece breakfast at the wonderful (and Kim’s favourite) Gloucester Services by 2 minutes past 7. And after one more stop to fill up with diesel at Tiverton, I was driving through the gates at Damage Barton at about 10.15.

As always at Damage Barton, it’s blimin windy! We have been allocated  a super pitch - fully serviced and a splendid view across the Bristol Channel. A long walk up the hill to the toilet block though?!

I was desperately trying to justify leaving the Isabella erection until tomorrow but, after giving myself a good talking to, I got started. Without my foreman and chief pole holder it was a bit of a slog. Especially in the wind. It took me about 2 hours to get her up and pegged out. I’ll do the internals tomorrow. Actually, fairly pleased with myself really! Putting up awnings is definitely easier as a pair. Folks say that caravan awnings are “divorces in a bag” but Kim and I never really got into trouble putting up Isabella - we always had a good giggle putting up her up!

At 2 pm I set off on a rather ambitious walk. I planned to find the footpath to Bull Head Lighthouse and then follow the South West Coastal path to Morthoe. It all went wrong very quickly as I got myself totally lost! Eventually I managed to stumble across the path to the lighthouse. Although very cool and breezy on the cliffs it was a lovely spot to have a black coke and a large bar of fruit and nut.

The walk along the Coast Path was splendid - although very taxing on my old knees as it was very up and down! There was less people on the footpath than I expected but it was nice to exchange a cheery good afternoon to those that I did meet. The coastline is wild and rugged on this little bit with no way to get down to the sea. There was a nice isolated beach but the access footpath was shut.

I Eventually got to Morthoe at about 4.30 and had a quick pint at the Chichester Arms. Got to say drinking solo is no fun. I felt very paranoid that everyone was looking at the funny old boy drinking a pint on his own. A dog in tow would have helped! Shame I left them at home.

Walked back home to Damage Barton across the fields and had the kettle boiled, cup of tea made and an episode of Sopranos watched before 6.30. I planned to try the Mexican Street Food van that’s on sight on a Tuesday night. The queue was too much so I headed for Barricane Beach for a Sri Lankan curry on the beach. They’ve put their prices up to £12 so, due to lack of cash, I had a child’s portion for £6. It was gorgeous and the child portion was just right. Again, I felt like a pork pie at a Jewish wedding sitting eating my curry on the beach on my own. It was a busy beach and everywhere I looked there were couples and families. Not surprising really but something I’d never been conscious of before!

I sat on the bench on the cliffs that Kim and I had sat on many times before and called the kids to say hi. That’s when it all hit me square in the face. It’s hard to do stuff again without her. I suspect it’ll be easier doing new things / going to new places but the memories of recent trips, although all lovely, are tough.

Back to Damage Barton just as the Mexican Street Food van was shutting. They’d run out of a lot of stuff, so as their last customer they gave me a half price chilli nachos - nice! So 2 teas tonight! My justification was the big walk and just a children’s portion of curry! Not sure I believe my own arguments but …

A couple of episodes of The sopranos and off to bed to write the blog. Brunnehilda’s big German bed seems enormous  tonight!