Trip 143 - Stratford-Upon-Avon

Wednesday 30th April (Day 1)

Tonight we are stopping at a pub near to Stratford-on-Avon where we are meeting up with the Coggers tomorrow. We left home just before 1100 and our first stop was to fill up locally with diesel. We then had a trouble free drive to The Fish Pub at Wixford near to Alcester. We arrived at 1320 and were welcomed and shown to a field next to the pub. We quickly set up we had lunch and then went for a walk along the River Arrow towards Alcester. It was a lovely little town all decked in red, white and blue for VE Day. We visited the St Nicholas church. This had a Benefaction Board which had a bullet hole in it.  Next The Hollybush pub for a pint of Everards. We then returned on a different route via Oversley Castle. We didn’t actually see it but walked around the base of it, as it was hidden by trees - it couldn’t have been too big. It was just too hot to walk up to the castle! Back at the motorhome after a six plus mile walk we sat in the sunshine with a small libation before having a meal at The Fish.

Thursday 1st May (Day 2)

A good day in the offing, indeed today will be the hottest May day in several years. We quickly sorted ourselves and drove the ten miles to Stratford Racecourse. By 1030 we were set up and welcoming friends both old and new. During the day many more arrived, we will be 160 people when all finally arrive!. It is steaming hot not all braved siting in a circle to chat, indeed we left for a couple of hours to sit in the  shade. After an evening meal we made our way to this evening shindig in one of the bars overlooking the racecourse itself. Just some background music a couke of ‘pound nearest the bottle’ and chatting. 2300 saw us returning to the motorhome for our bed.

Friday 2nd May (Day 3)

Another sunny day is promised, albeit  a bit cooler (21 degrees). After a shower  and breakfast we walked the mile to Morrisons for some much needed provisions (scotch). While there I received a phone call form todays pizza van which informed me I need to re-order as i did it wrong. A return via a park and some stunning properties and then we got our bikes off the motorhome and Chris ordered our pizzas correctly. A short sit and chill out until 1300 when we gathered to meet the River Motorhomes team - Owner John, Stratford ‘main man’ Steve and valued ‘lackey’ Becky. It was time for issues to be raised an aired and knowledge to exchanged. We did learn several things, not least that Chausson issues / problems are less than several other marques! Most have had good experience and many still with issues were told to turn up on Tuesday to sort it out much to Steve’s horror. It was a good frank exchange with one person who had a really bad time venting her spleen. We therefore had a late lunch - very small as the pizzas were around 1815 this evening. Some help to set up the chairs and tables for tonight and then we collected our pizzas. 1930 saw us over in the main building. This time not upstairs but on the ground floor. The hope was it gave more room and would be less noisy with no glass wall reflecting all the chatter. It was a bit better but not greatly. We even had the background music turned off to assist people to hear. During the evening a woman spoke from the ‘Our Jay Foundation’. This is a charity we are supporting. Her son Jay died aged 18 of a heart condition. The police arrived and they were outside a school that had a defibrillator - but it was locked inside. He died. She has run this charity to buy publicly accessible defibs. Not all ambulances have this equipment and only a few police vehicles, yet alone a lot in public places. She has now got her local police to agree to have a defibrillator in every operational vehicle as a trial and to review this with the idea to go national. They know to date that the defibs have saved 16 lives, surely this is a worthwhile aim. We will speak tomorrow to her as she can purchase defies and have them installed cheaper than the national government. 2230 saw us back for a nightcap before bed.

Saturday 3rd May (Day 4)

So a cycle ride today with a meal at the Four All pub around 1300. It was first a photo call for all taking part at 0940 so we got up a bit earlier to ensure we were there. There are three ride options, 10, 19 and 25 miles. We are on the 25 miles ride which will take in Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire counties. The majority on the short ride left in three tranches, the next in two and the remaining twelve of us started last. It was around 1020 when we left. The route was part greenway and part quiet roads.  After about 11 miles we stopped at a pre-arranged coffee stop. By now it was 1140 as we had some slower riders. The café owner was also a friend of theirs and slow to serve our drinks. We had to contact the pub to let them know we would be late for our pre-booked meals. Just before midday we left for the ten mile ride to the pub - with a route slowly climbing and into the northerly wind it would be a challenge to get there anywhere near 1300. We stopped partway to view a ‘party house’. This was owned by Felix Dennis, a hedonistic entrepreneur from the 1960’s - he co-founded Oz magazine, and was infamous for sex, drugs and rock and roll. The house was built solely for parties with him living next door. Jacuzzi, Swimming pool, palm trees, a fish tank along one of the walls, a crows nest, well everything was ‘over the top’. We finished the ride to the pub and had our meals, which were ok but had been cooked before we arrived. When leaving there were two route options. Route one (the shortest) 800m along a main road and then two miles along quietist roads or route two the greenway. Seven of us opted for the latter as several did not relish the busy road. This was about four miles. Off road along footpaths and bridleways almost from the off. Unfortunately, Chris took a tumble into bramble bushes. She actually was quite lucky as a few yards either side and the river would have beckoned. That said it did shake her up. Having eaten well at lunchtime we did not feel like anything the evening. 1930 saw us in the main hall for the evenings entertainment. It comprised of a 16 year old girl and an older man. Both with guitars. She was the main act and had a great voice. Drinks were free! Everyone had a great night dancing away. Just after 2300 we walked back for a well earned rest.

Sunday 4th May (Day 5)

A much cooler day with grey overcast skies. After breakfast we sat around and relaxed. Later in the morning we saw that there was a market in Stratford-upon-Avon so we strolled in along the footpaths. A nice selection of stalls but no purchases. Sitting by the river in the intermittent sunshine we watched the swans, boats and people for a while before going for a coffee in a pub. We intended to sit out at one of the market suppliers but it was too chilly. Martyn and Caroline joined us and, after a quick food shop in M&S we started making our way back to the site. We met up with another couple and ended up up in the garden of ‘The Dirty Duck’ for a drink. At 1600 we were all due to get our tables decorated, food etc to celebrate VE Day (80th Anniversary on 8th May). As we had a few picky bits to cook we left the pub in good time to getting back by 1500. Tables and chairs set up and WWII music in the background we sat and had scones, jam and clotted cream plus the cooked party bits. It was quite windy and not overly warm. By just after 1700 people were packing up and a bottle draw was next in the hall - as usual we didn’t win any of the forty or so prizes.  Back to the motorhome we went. The evening was to start at 1930 and upon arriving we made the eleventh and twelve person there. We decided to return to Bilina and return to the hall a bit later. Getting back after 2015 made a difference with around fifty people present. The DJ wsas poor to start with but soon ’learned’. Eventually, he played some ‘good’ music and a lot were up and dancing until 2300.

Monday 5th May (Day 6)

A bit of rain early morning and a dull cool start - the coldest day to date. After breakfast we walked to the car boot sale next door and looked at a load of tat. Back for a coffee in the hall and then ten of us went for a cycle ride. We cycled along Saturday’s route to Long Marston to “The Masons Arms’ arriving at 1230 for a drink and a meal. However, no food is available on Bank Holiday Mondays. Eventually we stayed for a drink and bought some hot pies from the Community shop across the road. Even this was lucky as it should have been closed but the volunteer stayed on to defrost the freezer. A quite acceptable pie was had. We then cycled along green routes back and upon arriving started the packing away. Chris went over for a game of card bingo (using packs of plain cards) and I just lazed around. A simple cheese and biscuit meal before we were back in the hall at  1930. Another great night. Two ‘old’uns’ on acoustic guitars played all the great songs to get us dancing. Midway we had a medley of WWII songs to all sing, eg Roll Out the Barrel, Lily Marlene, Blue Birds Over the White Cliffs of Dover. It all finished about 2315.

Tuesday 6th May (Day 7)

Last day so after putting some chairs etc straight and tea tea we left about 1100. Good run home at about 1330