Gloucs & Worcs (June ‘19) - Day 8

The Old Orchard site sits on top of a hill. Not only does this give it the great views but it also provides a gentle cooling breeze which, given the heat of the sun today, was as appreciated as the vista.

The discipline of writing this blog has become my new “work e-mail”. What I mean by that is I don’t look forward to it, know if I don’t do it I’ll regret it and feel very virtuous when it is complete. I suppose that is no bad thing as it helps “wean” me off work and into a non-work life?!

When the weather is good you do spend virtually every second of the day outdoors. Just in 2 days of sun my skin is resembling a cricket ball towards the end of its active life.

The late night last night meant a bit of lie in. A leisurely coffee enjoying the morning sun and then off to Tesco’s at Stourport on Severn. For the purpose of this blog it was to stock up with a few provisions (beer and things) but if you refer back to yesterdays blog and this site’s lack of certain facilities, you may work out for yourselves the main reason for the 5 mile trip. 

Stourport is a weird (but interesting) place. Lots of water activity with the river and the canal but it reminded me of a sea side resort with its big fair, crazy golf, amusements and slightly tired high street. Definitely worth a proper visit at some stage.

The heavy traffic in Stourport (I think the river crossing makes it a bit of a bottle neck) meant we didn’t get back to the site until 12.45. Bobby and I got Isabella up and pegged out in under 90 minutes. She glided on fairly easily (the silicon spray definitely helping), the wind didn’t help the pole erection but overall this was the best yet and a B+ score for speed and elegance of final finish!

Tilly even chipped in!

Time for a very quick lunch of Heinz beans, sourdough toast and Oxford sauce http://oxfordfinefood.com/baron-pouget%E2%80%99s-oxford-sauce.html/. I am specific about the ingredients of this seemingly simple lunch because you may want to replicate it? It’s a wonderful spin on a basic meal. OMG, now I’m giving culinary advice ... whatever next?

We walked the 45 minute walk into Ombersley village. The route through tiny back roads and bridleways was great. I think we only met one car and no other dog walkers - which was a bit strange really given the loveliness of the weather?

We planned to meet Kim at Ombersley but she had a horrendous journey (partly caused by heavy traffic and partly caused by ... oh well, let’s just leave it at that!). We waited for about an hour. Firstly at a splendid little local coffee shop / butchers called Checketts https://www.checketts.co.uk/ and then, to avoid the heat of the sun, under the shade of the trees in the park opposite.

Back to Brunnehilda for Kim to tag Bobby and send him home. He did the journey in half the time - the traffic was clearly better?

We went into Worcester for an evening stroll by the river and a very nice Chinese / Malay meal at the Singapore Restaurant http://www.singaporerestaurant.co.uk/  The food was very tasty and very generous helpings. Highly recommend the satay sticks! I think our enjoyment of the food was further enhanced by how bloody hungry we both were by this time (about 8.30).

When we returned, we planned to have a cup of tea and a game of backgammon - in the spirit of the rock and roll lifestyle we were now leading - but Brunnehilda’s big bed was more tempting to our tired limbs so, that’s where we went.

Gloucs & Worcs (June ‘19) - Day 7

Another moving day and another blazing hot day with cloudless skies. It’s just all the pooey weather in between!

The strip down went well. Isabella came off her rails without a hitch and Bobby and I got everything packed up and ready to go fairly effortlessly. We even had time for a shower and a very pleasant cafetière of Tewksbury coffee. On the road by midday and this time with some pre-planning! We dropped down to pick up the M5 so we could breakfast at Trensham Services https://www.roadchef.com/motorway-service-area-strensham - which by the way is fabulous for us caravaners!

We arrived at The Old Orchard, Ombersby (just north of Worcester) at about 1.30  https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificated-locations/england/worcestershire/worcester/the-old-orchard/https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificated-locations/england/worcestershire/worcester/the-old-orchard/. And what a site this is? Huge flat pitches with views to die for. No shower and toilet but hey personal hygiene is a small price to pay for a location like this. We met a really nice old couple from the Lake District who were in their 48th year of caravanning!! They couldn’t have been nicer though. Caravan couples do seem to like to talk but, to be fair, the ones we have come across so far have been extremely friendly and helpful.

I set up and, as Bobby had a strong 4G signal, he did his work from the van. I took Tilly for a walk around the farmers fields- a real treat for us both. The views across to the Malverns were great and the weather / temperature was about perfect. We headed off to Worcester at about 4pm.

How have I got to being 60 (next week) without visiting Worcester? What a great place - lots of history and so pretty. We walked along the river, by the Cathedral and then down the main pedestrianised shopping street. We bought a coffee at Patt Val and drank it in the sun by the river watching the workers rushing home from work- gee, it’s a tough life!?

When we got back to Brunnehilda we both decided it was too nice an evening to mess about with Isabella - the awning would have to wait to the morning! I read and Bobby did some more work. We then had a 45 minute walk around the farmers crop fields. Building up quite an appetite in the evening sunshine.

We feasted on “posh” tinned soup - not this cheap Heinz stuff for us - while we watched the sun setting over the Malverns - a totally idyllic end to a good day.

When the sun went in and Bobby had finished his work we managed 4 games of backgammon and a round or 2 of cards. Modesty won’t allow me to tell you who won (convincingly!) the backgammon but let’s just say beginners luck clearly doesn’t last forever!!

Bobby has been a perfect travel companion - always tolerant, always positive and always fun - but I’m looking forward to Kim joining Brunnehilda, Isabella and I tomorrow.

Gloucs & Worcs (June ‘19) - Day 6

One of the great things I’ve noticed about being retired is that I don’t spend half my holiday thinking how far through my holiday I am! I’m more than half way through / I’m 3/4s the way through / This time next week it’ll be over. I didn’t realise I did this until I didn’t!

Any way .. onto the travel blog.
A dry, windy(ish) and cold day - considering the time of year!

Another lazy morning. By the time we had got up, got ready and had breakfast it was gone midday. Breakfast in Isabella - yesterday was so miserable we stayed in Brunnehilda to eat,  I suspect if we had just a little sun this morning it would have got us out altogether?!

We went to the over side of the Malverns today - the Welsh side. That was via B&Q for the regular purchase of bigger and longer screws for the badly designed dinette. It is such a shame, Brunnehilda is wonderful apart from this one silly little issue!

Bobby, Tilly and I had a great couple of hours up the hills. We climbed a couple of the peaks and enjoyed the Malvern spring water we had filled up with down below in the car park. The views were hampered by the low cloud but it didn’t spoil our enjoyment. I managed to fall over - I reached out to Bobby for a steadying hand but that didn’t stop my graceless full. Bobby says it was his slippery coat that made me lose my grip ... I think he moved himself out of the way?!

A stop at Waitrose on the way hone to stock up with the essentials - bread and beer!

Kim and the boys came over for the evening - it was great to see them all. They arrived at about 5.30. Another nice meal at the Robin Hood - the boys loved the play area in the garden. Needless to say, the weather meant we had the large garden and play area to ourselves! I would highly recommend the food and the value of this place. The staff are just a little on the glum side - certainly didn’t see many smiles - but hey, you can’t have everything.

We wrapped up as warm as we could for a walk on the Common. The boys and the dogs enjoyed the leg stretch. Back to Brunnehilda for drink, cake, ice cream and chocolate before they set off for home - about 9 pm. It was lovely to see them- Brunnehilda does seem small though with 3 adults, 3 children and 2 dogs going about their business!

Bobby has a bit of a cold coming on so we didn’t want too late a night. Although by the time we played a game of backgammon (he beat me again!) and watched another offering from the Coen Brothers collection, it was nearly midnight.

Big day tomorrow- another moving experience!

Gloucs & Worcs (June ‘19) - Day 5

I think that’s one of my new favourite sounds ... the sound of rain on the caravan / awning roof when you’re lying in bed and have no where particular to go!

OMG, did it rain ... from about 4 in the morning until midday it threw it down. Good news ... Isabella didn’t leak. First job this morning - after breakfast - was to peg her down internally. Then we wasted time until the rain stopped.

Bobby had a call to make at 2.30 so we headed out to find a coffee shop in Tewksbury. This particular venue was chosen as I wanted to browse the wonderful second hand map shop on the High Street. Cornell Maps https://www.cornellmaps.co.uk/ didn’t disappoint - if you ever need an old OS this is like Aladdin’s cave.

When Bob was taking care of business, Tilly and I had a stroll along the river / canal. She has been confined to the lead for 3 months and is relishing the chance to stretch her legs again. This included chasing after all the bird life - until I read the sign about that particular field bring some sort of world heritage site for rare bird breeds! Thankfully she is too slow / dumb to catch anything!

After walks / work we met up at Miss Muffet’s Deli https://missmuffetsdelicatessen.co.uk/ coffee shop. Lovely friendly staff and a vegetarian Scotch Egg that I couldn’t recommend highly enough. Who would have thought it ... a veggie option (based around a cheese and potato mix) that was far better than the original meat based version?!

Then onto Ledbury for an early evening stroll round the town. We went in a beautiful old church - to be fair it was the only thing open. St Michael’s http://www.ledburyparishchurch.org.uk/guide.html was so peaceful and tranquil - reminded me what I have always known, old church’s are wasted on the religious.

Before we tucked into our soup, beer and sourdough bread back in Brunnehilda , we did a 45 minute circular walk around the Castlemorton Common - just 2 mins drive from the campsite. It was as interesting and beautiful as it was damp and wild! Apparently there was a very famous rave there 35 year ago - it was hard to imagine 30,000 New Age travellers raving away at such a desolate place? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlemorton_Common_Festival

I taught Bobby backgammon and then he beat me on the first game - God, I’m a good teacher ... of course it might be that I’m rubbish at Backgammon!!? Another evening with the brothers Coen - this one was the Hudsucker Proxy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hudsucker_Proxy .Not as gripping as Blood Simple but certainly a funny / light view.

Just settling down in bed when .... crash! The dinette bed collapsed again- it really is a poor design. Even longer and thicker screws will he needed tomorrow.

The lousy weather and England being thrashed at cricket couldn’t spoil another nice day. Tilly’s day was going great as well, until right up to bed time ... she was sleeping under Bobby’s bed when it collapsed!!

Gloucs & Worcs (June ‘19) - Day 4

Moving day today. Bobby and I got an early start. A grey but dry morning - just right for the next round of our Isabella relationship.

And we did well .. by 11.30 we were driving off the pitch at Cirencester reflecting on a productive 3 hours of awning decommissioning, site pack up, caravan hitching up and personal grooming.

As the wise man said .., “Everyday is a school day!” 2 lessons learnt today:
1) Always plan your journey - we were starving (no breakfast!) but couldn’t find anywhere that obviously took caravans. Also the sat nav instructions to the next site took us through the middle of Tewksbury and 2 very scary hairpin turns.
2) The awning was hard to get off the van rails (and even harder to put on!) so next time, maybe try with the window panels out?

We got to the Foothill CL site at Castlemorton, Malvern  https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificated-locations/england/worcestershire/great-malvern/foothills/ at exactly 1 o’clock. The greyness burnt away and it turned into a very hot, sunny and humid afternoon. As we were starving by this time, after 30 mins taking on water, levelling and securing Brunnehilda, we went the 2 mins in the car to one of 2 very accessible pubs.

The Robin Hood  https://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/category/Pub/The-Robin-Hood-Castlemorton-Malvern-1391018187834971/ was a great choice. Great food choice very reasonable priced and a big garden for Tilly to join us in the afternoon sunshine. Not sure if it was because we were so hungry but OMG it was a splendid lunch. We could have gone for even better value lunchtime offers but the smaller potions didn't seem so attractive at the time!

The weather and the pub lunch must have invigorated us because we decided on an afternoon romp up onto the Malvern Hills. Stupidly we neither had coins for a car park or water for the scorching hot afternoon - clearly missing Kim’s un-appreciated planning skills!! It was a stiff climb to the top but we were rewarded with the stunning views and a rather embarrassing inflated sense of achievement. Tilly was on the lead most of the time - which was handy going up but positively dangerous going down!

The visit to Morrison’s to stock up was a very weary one. A stop to take on fluids at MacDonalds helped. Then back to the site and what a great site Foothills is. The site is like a very big beautifully cared for lawn and Mr Lowe was as genuine and friendly bloke you are likely to meet! After a brief “rest” for me and some work on line for Bobby, we attempted Isabella election part 2!

It was a hard fought 2 hour 5 minute battle but I think we just about won! I must the say the slight slope back to front didn’t help us!

The busy (physically and mentally) day meant that the beer and beans on toast with Oxford sauce at 10pm was pure nectar. Just time to watch Blood Simple on the DVD while trying to stay awake - although that’s not fair to the Coen Brothers - it’s a very good film! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Simple

A splendid day .. a more restful one scheduled tomorrow- especially as the rain is due back!

Gloucs & Worcs (June '19) - Day 3

Bobby came over with dogs late last night. We headed off for a late night shop st Tesco’s to buy a quilt and some more essentials. By the time we met up and got the car parked it was well after 11. Kim made up the dinette bed. It looked as long as the fixed bed so I had s quick try - crack, bang, scrape ... I was on the floor and the bed had collapsed! To be fair to Brunnehilda I may not have clicked it into place properly but ... the design (4 very small screws holding it up)  is not great! We got it propped up on cushions to allow it to be used as a bed.
Oh, BTW, it is as long as the other bed!!

Weather not as good today but all had a good night. 3 adults and 2 rather confused collies fitted in and all seemed to have had a good night sleep?
The sun did poke it’s head out for a bit after we finished another alfresco breakfast fry up. The walk through the park into Cirencester was gorgeous. We had a coffee in the sun before walking back. The dogs thoroughly enjoying the leg stretch after a confined nights sleep.

In the afternoon we went back into Cirencester with the car - lots of things to buy from DIY, pet and camping shops! We still had time for a very good value cup of tea in Cirencester town centre - £1 each. Thumbs up to Caffe Kilim (3 Market Place) ... Afterwards we walked round a rather eclectic but nevertheless impressive array of old cars being shown in the main Square.

Back to Brunnehilda for a snack. Well to be fair we snacked in Isabella as by this time the weather had broken and it was drizzling then raining then pouring, may be rubbish weather but it did prove that  Isabella is fully waterproof - yippee.

We were planning a walk into Cirencester for dinner. The weather had other plans - you can’t change the weather so just change your plans!! Yeh, screw you English June weather!
Fab meal at The Fleece https://www.thefleececirencester.co.uk/. You could have moved a small family into Kim’s steak and ale pie. My Flatbread was nice but the wrong choice.

Kim and Ben (one of the collies!) headed home at about 8.30 - well someone has to earn some money in this family!

Bobby, Tilly (the other collie) and I settled down for a restful evening - Bobby writing a work proposal, Tilly watching the dogs walking by the awning en-route to the dog exercise field and me just chilling. After 37 years of e-mail fuelled Sunday nights, I’m getting used to this chilling malarkey!

So last night was the first night with dogs, tonight is the first night without Kim!

Gloucs & Worcs (June '19) - Day 2

Thank God for Nick from Exeter!

Absolutely perfect weather today - warm and pleasant sunshine from 8 in the morning (it may have been sunny before then but we wouldn't have known!) until 9 at night.

June 22nd will forever be known as Isabella Day. Straight after a fry up in the morning sun, we started the erection of the awning. And thats where Nick from Exeter comes in .. not only did we borrow his steps (otherwise I would have never of reached the top of the van) but we took advantage of his 35 years of caravanning! And Nick wasn't the sort to pass instructions from afar ... no Nick was a get your sleeves rolled up sort of a guy.

So after an instructional couple of hours in the sun, with Nick by our side, we got Isabella fully erected. She'll do - although I want to get her a bit tidier each time I do it. I think I could become a bit anal about Isabella's lines!?

BTW Nick wasn't just some random guy - he and his wife, Helen, were in the next door van with their 6 (yes, six) perfectly behaved Cocker Spaniels.

After Isabella was safely pegged out we walked through the beautiful Great Park http://cirencesterpark.co.uk/ directly into the centre of Cirencester. A welcome cup of tea and slice of cake at Keiths http://restaurantwebexperts.com/KeithsCoffeeShop/ got us in the mood for a bit of shop browsing. Not too long though, after a 20 minute relax on a seat out side the Corn Hall we pressed on back up the hill to Brunnehilda - the Park was closed by this time so the walk home wasn't as pleasant.

The fish and chip van was visiting the caravan site and it seemed rude and inhospitable not to buy some. So while I re-pegged Isabella - I realised a big booboo (see picture) on my return - Kim went to buy some chips.

We ate the chips outside in the evening sunshine with Brunnehilda and Isabella looking splendid behind us. I'm a very lucky man - on my travels with 3 strong and beautiful women! I'll get the sick bag ....

Last Day of the First Trip

Charlie and the Twinnies were perfect first guests. All 3 of them squeezed onto the made up dinette bed. They slept right through until 8 am and awoke with a ferocious appetite. Within a few minutes the bed was turned back to its original purpose and they consumed 2 bowls of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes each. Grandma foresaking her one bowl so they could have their two - that’s Grandma love for you?

It’s Father’s Day today so after George (my son-in-law)  picked the kids up we headed home for a bath and a rather splendid fry up. We picked up my mum and dad and bought them over to meet Brunnehilda. Kim prepared , with some help from Mr Marks and Mr Spencer, a high tea that The Ritz would have been proud of. Grandad (my dad) was suitable impressed with the tea, the view and, of course, Brunnehilda. My son Bobby joined us as well to make it a great Father’s Day treat for me too.

Brunnehilda has now been introduced to 7 members of the family and from aged 4 to aged 90 all have given her the thumbs up.

After taking the oldies home and some dog walking duties, Kim and I headed back to the site at Kilsby. The site is great, the views are fantastic and the owner really friendly. It wasn’t a great first pitch for me though - with quite a steep slope to contend with I failed to get her totally level which made us just that little bit uncomfortable throughout. Being novices we had horrible thoughts of her rolling down the hill and the Twinnies were under strict instructions, like the monkey's in the nursery rhyme, “ no more jumping on the bed!”

We sat outside when we returned with our coats on, watching the light turn to grey and having a very welcome Pims and strawberries whilst listening to the Virgin trains thundering through the Kilsby tunnel en-route to London.

So no blog tomorrow as that just involves us tucking Brunnehilda up for a few days at Whilton Marina https://whiltoncaravanstorage.co.uk/before we hit the road with her again on Friday.

Sleep tight Brunnehilda and thanks for a memorable first (of many) trip.

The First Journey

It was certainly a “high noon” at Blackmore Vale Leisure! We headed out at 12 o’clock after I had expertly followed the clear instructions to de-rig. I do love a well written  process so all went well and I was like a pig in s***.

Then Mark turned up to help us motor move Brunnehilda into place. I know we can put a man on the moon and make cars that drive themselves but to see her turn on a sixpence like a remote control car was still jaw dropping! I was very paranoid about Brunnehilda’s nose weight - not sure why- but the BMV guys calmed my nerves and told me all would be ok!

As you would expect with our flaming British June, it rained most of the way home. No real incident apart from me going wrong and heading through the centre of Warminster. As it turns out, it was a good day to lose my caravan touring virginity - dual carriageway nearly all the way and very few lorries! The Volvo XC60 found Brunnehilda’s weight to its liking and, apart from an 10mpg drop in consumption, she hardly raised a sweat.

We arrived back in Northamptonshire at 5 and rocked up at a beautiful little site at Kilsby (about 5 miles from home) - bookings@shireviewkilsby.co.uk
The fabulous view was due to it being on the side of a hill which meant the van needed to be very high at the front and low at the back. The motor mover earned its crust again and I had a first go at driving up a ramp on one wheel to even Brunnehilda up. Apart from tripping over a Dutch couples tent guy ropes and breaking my key in a lock ( and the lock!) all went well.

We picked up Bobby (our youngest son) and the 3 grandchildren and took them to meet Brunnehilda. A walk and a cup of coffee later and Bobby headed home. The Twinnies and Charlie watched a DVD and settled down to bed - 5 of us in a 3/4 berth? But to be fair, two of them are only little.

This could be a long night ?!

The First Full Day

We slept like babies in our Knaus Sudwind van (aka Brunnehilda) last night. The only excitement being me having to climb over Kim at 5 am to get to the toilet - far from graceful but I’m sure I’ll get better!? It certainly makes going to the loo a team sport!


The first breakfast of toast and cereal was a real feast. Then lots of checks to make sure Brunnehilda was fully functional. As you would expect with a fine piece of German engineering - she didn’t disappoint. Both “problem” items we found were tactfully explained as user errors by the ever patient BMV team of Mark, Pete and Paul. Getting us “caravan ready is clearly another team sport!

The deed was then done and a vast amount of money changed hands - although I suspect the 30 minutes on the phone to HSBC was slightly overkill? As if to celebrate the official change of Brunnehilda’s ownership,

Paul kindly booked us into the Salt Cellar https://thesaltcellargoldhill.co.uk/in Shaftesbury for a pot of tea, an egg and bacon roll and a view of Gold Hill that money can’t buy?



Back to the site for a lesson in motor moving. It sounds very easy but I’m sure it’s not - all to be revealed tomorrow.

We treated ourselves to an afternoon / evening visit to Weymouth. The journey through Sherborne was delightful. The first glimpse of June sunshine for a long time.

Once we arrived we convinced ourselves that a long walk would more than compensate for the fish and chip supper we had our hearts set on.
So we set off from the car park to the North Quay, a pit stop for a coffee and a pint of Timothy Taylors and then up and down Weymouth Beach.

Weymouth Beach huts

Seagull enjoying a jellyfish

Culminating at Fish and Fritz (according to Trip Advisor the best one in town). Fritz and TA didn’t let us down. Although it’s fair to say that fish always tastes better when eaten overlooking the sea on a calm and sunny evening. http://www.fishnfritz.co.uk/

Back to Brunnehilda in time for bed. To tea or not to tea that is the question? Early morning gymnastics may be too big a price to pay?!