Trip 37 - Pt 1 - Shabbington and Stow on the Wold

Thursday 4th August (Day 1)

A slow start, as the traffic report stated a lorry breakdown and slow / stationary traffic on M25. So around 11.30am we left. The drive was quite easy, albeit the satnav did not know about the new 3t limit approaching Shabbington - this then involved a slight detour but no real issue. The main problem was a lack of signage for where the steam fair was. Fortunately Shabbinbgton is a small place so eventually we arrived and set up. It was a big gathering of 30 odd vans. The first bit was the saying hello / getting re-acquainted with people. Then, slowly a small group of 6 people expanded until 24 were sitting in a circle chatting and drinking. By nearly 7.00pm the group split into smaller ones to BBQ before re-forming into slightly larger groups again with space in awnings etc being the main limiting factor. Our group was a dozen strong and we talked and laughed until around 11.00pm.

Friday 5th August (Day 2)

A nice bright sunny start to the day. After breakfast we sat and tanned ourselves for a while. We watched some heavy horses arrive in vehicles and helped as they had a problem getting their horse drawn cart out. Then we went for a walk into Shabbington - only about half mile! We continued on in an attempt to do a circular walk. However, the A418 had no pavement so we had to re-trace our route. We then found a footpath going in the right direction but, after about a mile, it turned through 90 degrees to cross the A418 some mile short of where we wanted to be and still no pavement along the main road. We had to retrace our steps as the A418 was a busy road. Back at Shabbington we had a beer in the local pub to console ourselves which was very nice - both beer and location. The walk, while not what we hoped for was a good walk. On the walk we saw many butterflies and dragonflies - including some with a red body that were new to us. Also, apart form the usual birds, we had great views of red kites using the thermals above us and even a heron, a great stroll. After a drink we returned to the site and had lunch while watching more heavy horses being unloaded. Some lazing and sunning continued until we BBQ'd. We then retired to Resa and Eric's van and played some games until around 11.00pm when we went to bed.

Saturday 6th August (Day 3)

Weather-wise the best day so far. No clouds, no wind, bright sunshine and 20 degrees by 9.00am. After breakfast we sat around and enjoyed the weather before going into the steam fair. They take things seriously in the classification of things. By way of example here is an extract:

"Engines that operate none place, but can be moved to another place for later operation, are called portable engines. Although stationary engines and portable engines are both 'stationary' (not moving) while running, preferred usage (for clarity's sake) reserves the term 'Stationary Engine' to the permanent immobile type, and 'portable engine' to the mobile type. (Well at least that is clear!)

Well an interesting day. The whole day was sorted with parades in the arena; classic cars; classic commercial vehicles; classic motorcycles; miniature steam engines; 'big boy' steam engines; heavy horses all were involved. It was something really different to see.

We then returned to where we were parked and gathered for a mass BBQ and between 4.00 and 6.00pm the thirty plus people ate. The rest of the evening was a drink / chat / laugh event until around midnight we elected to sleep in preparation of another day.

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Sunday 7th August (Day 4)

We awoke today to rain. After breakfast we just sat around and did very little. A bit later, as it started to brighten up, we went over to the main field and watched the heavy horses which we had missed yesterday. We then walked around the old cars again as there were some that were not present yesterday. Back to the motorhome for lunch and a bit later we went for a walk into Ickford. Ickford is nicer than Shabbington (sorry) with very few houses that we would turn our noses up at. The pub, The Rising Sun, while not as nice a setting as the Shabbington 'Old Fisherman' appeared to be more welcoming. Back to the site and we sat and chatted with a group while watching the heavy horses being loaded into the horse boxes - some of which did not want to go in. We then continued 'chewing the cud' until we cooked dinner. It was then all into Resa and Eric's motorhome until it was time for bed.

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Monday 8th August (Day 5)

We awoke to an almost empty field with almost all of the exhibitors gone. After breakfast we went around saying goodbye. (Having said that, most would be at Malvern next weekend and some with us for the next three days also.) After driving off our first stop was a shop at Asda then off to Stow on the Wold Rugby Football Club to a temporary holiday site run by the Camping & Caravan Club. First though an hours drive which ended up to be over 90 minutes, curtesy of the A40 which had a holdup after Oxford. The drive on the whole was enjoyable with the yellow stone buildings in the towns in the Cotswolds being really pretty. We set up quickly and had lunch. Originally three motorhomes from Shabbington were coming to Stow, however in the end nine arrived. In the afternoon we went for a walk along a footpath to Oddington which was a lovely village where every house had a 'wow' factor except for one street which Eric named 'council street'! Back at the site a group sat out and chatted but the clouds gathered and covered the sun and it chilled down. We just got into our motorhomes before the skies opened and heavy rain fell for about an hour. We sat in the motorhome had dinner and the watched the olympics before bed.

Tuesday 9th August (Day 6)

It was a early start, as by 8.35am we had decided to catch a bus to Moreton on Water. It was a charity bus driven by a volunteer (an ex-police offer who retired in 2000 after 42 years in the police). We could not go on the bus initially, as there were eight of us, and it might mean that the locals on the villages couldn't get on. However, the driver rang around to see who from the local villages wanted to go to the market at Moreton on Water. Eventually we were cleared to go. First off all we wanted to pay; no one had paid for ages, as they were all old, so it took a while to find out the cost (£3.50 per person return). Then we had a trip around the villages to pick up three other people; Pam; Barbera and an other. June had not rang anyone to say she wanted picking up so we in ignored her! It was an interesting trip where, among other stops, we drove into a farmyard to pick a customer up. The small villages were great to look at, really picturesque. Moreton had a market which was an ok experience but just that. After purchasing a few item and a nice breakfast from a van we had a short time to fill before the bus came to take us back. While perusing the shops I found the most useless book (and daft). It was sectioned into the alphabet like a telephone book but was entitled 'The personal Internet Address & Password Logbook' (Think about it). So about two hours after arriving we found ourselves on the bus for the return but it was the express trip as we ignored the locations that on the inward journey we had picked no one up. Back at the site we had a lunch and then played Kubb for a couple of hours before we split up and cooked dinner. Then, as it was cool outside,we had eight in the motorhome sitting and chatting the evening away. An early-ish night, around 11.0pm.

Wednesday 10th August (Day 7)

A nice sunny start to the day and, after breakfast, a group of ten of us took a footpath / back road walk into Stow on Wold. This is the nearest town to our stop over place and a charming town to visit. The traditional yellow stone buildings and most shops being different from the 'norm'. No Boots, Primark, Holland & Barrett etc. As such it was an interesting stroll around the shops. We had a brief stop for lunch in a pub before a stroll back. We then all slowly packed things away as we were off in the morning to Malvern. Dinner was had and we stayed separate as some of us were very tired after the days walk. More Olympics before bed for all.

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