Only the 3rd Brunnehilda trip in the last 12 months - and all to Northumberland!
This one was a special one - for lots of reasons! As mentioned at the end of the last trip - after a wonderful summer break with my fabulous grandsons - this was my first Brunnehilda trip with Di. Although that’s not strictly true as we did get a short weekend at Carsington Water (Derbyshire) where Brunnehilda provided the overnight accom for a friend’s 60th birthday party.
Obviously, as usual at this stage, lots of thoughts of Kim as I hitched up Brunnehilda. I was on the road at about 10.30. My very speedy set up was facilitated by a visit the previous afternoon with the twins to get her ready. Although I wished I’d had the gumption to wash her - she looks incredibly grubby and “unloved”.
I parked in the lay-by by Di’s house just outside Melbourne. She drove a very full car up and emptied the contents into my car. She’s getting better, but I learnt from a smashing week away to a cottage in Wales in the summer, that Di doesn't do “travelling light”!!?
It was an uneventful journey up. The weather was grey, we stopped for a Pret at Wetherby and we stopped to refuel on the A1 at Darlington. We arrived at Embleton Bay Caravan Site (my usual) at about 5. Just in time to do a very quick set up - it’s amazing how quicker it is with 2 - and then down to the beach in the glomin’
Embleton Bay beach at Dunstan Steads was as beautiful as ever - even in the half dark. Tilly enjoyed her first swim and we carefully walked back along the dunes.
We were hungry so it seemed rude not to pop into the lovely local pub - The Greys Inn. Di refuses (rightly) to eat anywhere that Tilly can’t join us - so she did. I have to say though, that wasn’t an easy option when Ben was still around - bless him. She was wonderfully behaved (Tilly not Di!), including a successful meeting with a lovely collie cross called Ernie.
The football was on the TV so, with a spot of Di’s (and mine if I’m honest!) favourite sport of people watching, we had a nice night. Although Di chose wrong and didn’t enjoy her meal quite as much - they also rather cheekily swapped fries for sweet potatoes fries!
Back home to Brunnehilda and watching the first half of Burn After Reading. Di hasn’t seen any Cohen Brothers films, so I thought this was a good one to start her education with. I thought the combination of George Clooney and Brad Pitt might give her an enjoyable introduction - and it did.
So, a nice first day / albeit mostly in the car. A trip in Brunnehilda with someone else was something I was looking forward to but with some anxiety mixed in with the excitement. This is true for Di as well as she has “memories” of travelling in a campervan that will bring mixed memories back to her. But we both agree that you have to embrace the old memories in order for you to make new ones.
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