Thursday 20th June (Day 1)
So off to Stoneliegh, near Coventry. Both M25 and A14 were shown as 'slow', due to this we went up the M11 and diverted onto the A428 to avoid all the issues which seemed to work well. This resulted in a good run to the Stoneleigh Showground just to the south of Coventry. We set up and, well, just sat around with others from the group and chatted, although a few went on an 'orientation' walk to find out what was where. It cooled down considerably quite early in the evening so we all went into our own motorhomes to cook / eat. Then Resa Eric and ourselves went to Sue and Alan's van where 'Suno' was played.
Friday 21st June (Day 2)
An interesting start to the day. Our usual habit is that I put the kettle on and Chirs turns on the water heater and radio. We then laze in bed until the tea is drinkable and, having drunk it, I go and shower. No problem up to this point. However, while in the shower it wasn't working very well. I soldiered on bravely and got soaped up. Chris informed me the water pump was making a funny noise. As she said this the water stopped. We had completely run out of 120 litres of water! The drain tap was slightly open so we had drip, drip dripped all our fresh water over the roads and field. A flannel was used to de-soap me and then I dressed and, with an army of helpers, filled the tank up again. Alls well that ends well. So a delayed breakfast and then into the show. There are three things we were after - a replacement plate, some lights and a suction hook. All three were purchased very quickly. The rest of the morning was just strolling around looking at the stalls selling things we didn't know we needed - and so did not buy. A pint sitting at lunchtime in the sunshine and then back to the motorhome where I had a doze in the sun while the others all gathered together to chew the cud. We all BBQ'd and in the evening gathered again in Sue and Alan's awning.
Saturday 22nd June (Day 3)
A glorious day in the promise. After breakfast we walked to the main gate and caught a bus into Leamington Spa about six miles away. The five couples then bomb blasted away, agreeing to meet up at 1.00pm in the Benjamin Satchwell pub (yes a Wetherspoon pub). Benjamin Satchwell was a shoemaker who in the 1800's found a second spa and, declaring it good for the constitution, made the town a popular destination where even Queen Victoria stayed. He, and a doctor called Jephson 'ruled the roost' in Leamington and the doctor was a great benefactor to the area also. We visited the Pump Room (the Spa closed twenty plus years ago) and we had a look around the small museum before a visit to the parish church of All Saints. For a parish church it was very big, indeed I have seen smaller cathedrals on our journeys. Then into Jepherson Park and a riverside walk, stopping in the large greenhouse to see the exotic plants. We also went into a small lodge house at one of the entry gates where individual artists were displaying their efforts - some good and some decidedly less so. A stroll around one or two shops before lunch, meeting with the others, although as Wetherspoon's is always busy we had to sit at three separate tables. After this we took the bus back to lounge around in the 20 plus degree sunshine. Later, due to the meal in Leamington Spa, we had a tea of 'picky bits'. Then it was a split in the group. Six of our group went to the entertainment and Resa, Eric an ourselves stayed sitting in the sunshine before retiring for a few games of Rummikub. 11.00pm saw us 'hitting the sack'.
Sunday 23rd June (Day 4)
A real slow start today. Pam and Keith were driving over to join the ten of us for a late breakfast / brunch. They were due to be here all weekend but her son, who is in the police, got seriously injured when his police car was t-boned while on a call. In hospital and operated on and things look much better. Anyway, all the tables together in the open and a big boys for 12. Then a mass wash and dry up followed by general chit-chat. Around 1.00pm we walked into the show to just peruse a few motorhomes, other than finding £50-60k extra, we did not find anything we liked better than our Chausson. We met up at the food area for a beer and were entertained by some live singing until around 4.00pm. A few spits of rain encouraged us to leave, we walked back and then said goodbye to Pam and Keith. I sat in the motorhome and watched England .v. Cameroon (Women's World Football Cup) which England won 3-0 but the Cameroonians lost the plot in the game due to some decisions going (rightly) against them. After eating, most of our group went over to the entertainment but Tucker and I sat in his motorhome and watched a very entertaining France .v. Brazil game (which France won 2-1 after extra time). By then the others were returning so we said our goodnights.
Photo Big Boys
Monday 24th June (Day 5)
The day to say our goodbyes. Slowly most of the others left until just two MH's were on our part of the field. We drove off and filled with water etc and then joined the procession of motorhomes and caravans leaving the site. Then an uneventful trip to the River Severn and a lovely drive alongside it and through some pretty little villages. Our destination was The Fountain Inn, Parkend near Lydney, Gloucestershire, having arranged to stop here while travelling today. We pulled in around 1.00pm and had a light lunch before venturing out into the Forest of Dean as this location is within the forest. After a short walk we encountered a camp site with very good facilities but with a prices to match (£25 to 40 a night). We left this site and crossed into the Nagshead Nature Reserve where we had a lovely stroll through the trees quite thankful for the shade as it was around 23 degrees. Having completed the circular walk we walked into Parkend village (not the most exciting place) for a coffee. Then up the hill to the church of All Saints. Here we saw signs warning us to ensure gates and doors were locked due to sheep and wild boar. Apparently this is the only place left in the country where sheep can roam where they like. It was a nice little church and lovely and cool. Back down the hill and into the hot motorhome for a well earned rest. After a laze around we went into the pub for a meal. The pub from the outside, bearing in mind it is meant to 18th century, looks very bland. Inside it is homely and the food really good value, tasty and a good quantity. We couldn't even manage a second drink! Back to the motorhome to watch a DVD and then a game of scrabble (or two). While playing we were 'serenaded' by youths, who were not to far away, singing camp fire songs. It took us back a few years to 'happy' days when we ran a scout group and cub pack. The weather forecast for tonight threatens heavy rain so we battened down the hatches despite the closeness of the weather. Bed just after 11.00pm
Tuesday 25th June (Day 6)
Asstated rain was forecast for overnight. Well there were not wrong, it rained and by 6.00am it was of biblical proportions. Over two inches in total. We, therefore, decided to have a much slower start than normal. Indeed it was not until gone 10.00am that we had breakfast. We strolled over to the local shop for some milk as the tea tasted a bit off. We had decided to go for a circular walk along a 'family cycle route'. Due to the rain the cycle way in parts was awash with the rainwater and we walked in 'mizzle'. We stopped partway for a 'picnic' that we had prepared and by then it had stopped trying to get us damp. It was a great walk and we even saw a wild boar (well the rump of it disappearing ahead of us). That said, by the time we had returned we had walked almost 12miles and 28,000 steps. Knackered 'R' Us. After dinner we went for a quick pint before returning to the motorhome to watch a bit of 'Gavin and Stacey'.
Wednesday 26th June (Day 7)
A prompt start and by 9.00am we were off for a fifteen minute drive to Norchard the main station for the Forest of Dean Steam Railway line. We parked easily in the huge car park and had breakfast and a cup of tea. Then we bought two tickets (for Oldies) which, at £12 a ticket afforded us unlimited travel all day. The line only runs Wednesday's at the moment and this one was a 'steam day'. Every other train was a steam engine with all the nostalgia that brings. The first train, the 10.30am, took us back to Parkend where we had stayed for the last two nights. There we watched the locomotive be unhitched, driven along the adjoining line; filled with water; and connected to the other end for the ride back to Norchard and on to Lydney Junction. We remained on the train at Sydney and returned to Norchard a total journey of one hour and thirty minutes. We looked in the museum and shop before returning to the motorhome as we had planned a visit to Chepstow and have lunch. This was only forty minutes away and as we pulled into the car park we realised that (a) we had been here before and (b) the building work in the car park meant there were not enough spaces for us. After a short consultation we opted to drive to Clevedon Court about another forty minute drive towards the area we wanted to stop at tonight. Clevedon Court is an 12th century house and grounds owned since being built by only three families and the current family, the Elton's, had lived in it for 320 years and still do. It is only open three afternoons a week for six months of the year so we were fortunate it was open. It is National Trust property so 'free' for us to enter. We were stopped as we drove in as we would not get past the low overhangs. We parked just before the reception and had to leave via the one-way 'in' road. The house itself was an interesting hour or so with many original exhibits / furniture. The master bedroom is only used when not open to the public and for guests and the electric blanket control looked so out of place but shows it is used. There were also several 'deportment' chairs. These are basic, upright, wooden chairs that a young women would sit on for an hour a day with a holly leaf under their chin. This was supposed to improve their deportment and grace! In addition there were items to demonstrate to the illiterate what the shop sold. Glass hunting horns for the coach house and glass tobacco pipes for tobacconists for example . In addition there was an exhibit of knuckle duster, one of many given by the vicar to his parishioners to defend themselves against the Kensitites, a late 19th century movement against ritualism in the church. Just before we left we telephoned a Caravan and Motorhomes Club certified location for tonights stop. This meant another fifty minute drive to West Hill Farm, Highbridge. By now the sun had come out and it was lovely and warm. We sat out for a while until it was time to eat then the rest of the evening was spent inside.
Thursday 27th June (Day 8)
While we were in no rush it was a muggy hot start so by just after 9.0am we left for the ten minute journey to Highbridge Caravan site. We then handed the motorhome over for the damp in the garage to be sorted. We loaded the equipment from the garage area into the Nissan Micra loan car. Four hours later we were home.