Trip 162 - Stratford-on-Avon

Wednesday 29th March (Day 1)

So tomorrow we are attending the Chausson Owners Group (COGers) Stratford-on-Avon meeting and have booked in to a CCC site at Weston Farm, Weston-on -Avon, a few miles away. We could not leave home until after 1400 as Ben, a near neighbour, was installing a new fence for us. It was then a two and a half hour journey which was really smooth and problem free. Having arrive at Weston-on-Avon we had an issue finding the site but after a couple of attempts did so with the help a local lady. A nice flat grass site by the side of a small brook. (Had we managed to get onto the CL at the same location the brook would have been the river with the chance of narrow boats passing by.) After a short while we had a curry and then went for a walk across the fields to The Shakespeare Inn pub. We went just for a beer and found it was a quiz night. There was a local couple who were on their own as the normal two who joined them were away. We ended up joining them for the quiz. While we didn’t win we did not disgrace ourselves and had a really nice fun time with them. About 2230 we left to go back home but missed the footpath. That said, with the use of the OS app, a second option was available and so we walked across the fields with a full moon guiding us. Back at the motorhome we watched the recorded Eastenders before bed.

Thursday 30th March (Day 2)

The meet at Stratford should start at 1000 but we had an message yesterday that it would no start until 1115 due to a previous rally still being there. So a very slow start and then we arrived at …….. 1115! We quickly were sited and set up and commenced doing the rounds to say hello to many ‘old’ friends. Nothing was planned for today until a BBQ in the late afternoon / evening. So the day was a round of sitting outside a variety of motorhomes and catching up on gossip and news. Fortunately, apart for a stiff breeze, it was a warm day. At 1800 the BBQ should have been ready, one of the group was cooking venison burgers or sausages with salad for a fee with the profits going to Our Jays Foundation. We both had venison burgers which were absolutely to die for and we sat out eating them in the warm evening sunshine. It was only later that I found out that the chef not only cooked them but shot the deer and made the burgers. I can only reiterate that they were so good. By about 1930 the sun was very low and it was chilling down so we moved into the hall and continued chatting and laughing. 2200 and we were back sitting in the motorhome before sleep.

Friday 1st May (Day 3)

Another sunny warm day with less wind than yesterday. After breakfast, at around 1030 we went for a cycle ride with John and Divina. About fourteen miles in total. Halfway we stopped at The Barn, a café and antique place. We had a nice coffee / tea and a bun each before spending some time in the antique place. On the return along the disused train line we followed for for a couple of hundred metres a deer until it left the pathway and disappeared into the woods / fields.We got back about 1330 and sat in the sunshine. What followed was a stroll down the field with our chairs to a couple of the admin / organisers to sit and chat. The wind quite suddenly came up and we had to grab their awning and wind it in. The evening meal was a visit by the pizza van but we opted for cooking in the motorhome. Then at 1930 we all gathered in the functions room for an professionally organised race night. Nine races and good fun. For the first seven races the horses I picked all came last. I then asked Siri for a random number between ‘1’ and ‘8’ and Siri got me two winners for the eight and ninth race!. It was around 2300 when we returned for sleep.

Saturday 2nd May (Day 4)

Today is a day of cycling. Three routes, short (about 6 miles), medium (about 19 miles) and long (about 26 miles). Each with a café stop and pub lunch stop. Those with dogs had their own walk planned. We had opted for the long ride and so by 0945 were off with fifteen other souls. A route of mainly country lanes and the stop was at a café / bakery with cakes to die for. The downside, for many, was no toilet! It was then a seven mile ride to the Cottage of Comfort pub. This, in the distant past, was a brothel so I suppose that explains the name. Here we had absolutely smashing food both tasty and good quantity, indeed a bit too much. This was washed down by some Batty Bach beer. We discussed the return route as part of it was along an ‘A’ road. There was an alternative along a Greenway but it increased the mileage. All but two opted for this and the two that didn’t was because their bikes were very expensive and not made for ‘off road’. So setting off we made it back to the site abut 1500 having cycled just over thirty miles. A sit down and rest, then a game of Kubb. Around 1715 it started to rain so we put things away in the Quest and went inside. The evening start was a 1900 for 1930. The drinks were all paid for by River Motorhomes and it lasted for 99% of the evening depending on your poison. The singer was the same as the couple for the last two years called Altered Ego. When the female singer performed two years ago she was only fifteen and the other person about twenty two. They we’re brilliant two years ago and today they did not disappoint. Three music sessions all about forty five minutes long and so many of the campers were dancing. One lady in a wheelchair was brought onto the dance floor to join in and she was so happy that tears resulted. She even led a conga out one of the doors and in the other. However to get in she had to be pulled in backwards so all the conga line came in backwards, so thoughtful and fun. Around 2230 we made our happy way back for a nightcap and then bed.

Sunday 3rd May (Day 5)

After the rain yesterday evening and the ‘promise’ of more today the day started warm but overcast. We went to Pam and Malcolm’s for American pancakes, bacon and maple syrup for breakfast and included in the invite were John, Davina, Martyn and Caroline. A good start to the day. We then just sat around and chatted. (How can we chat so much?) Lunch was a simple ham roll and in the afternoon we gathered for a game of Mexican Train Game. Around 1615 we decided on a ride into Stratford and we stopped at the Dirty Duck for a drink, returning to the motorhome around 1830 for a cooked tea. 1930 saw us all over in the hall for a disco which was good and finished at 2300.

Monday 4th May (Day 6)

A grey sky greeted us in the morning. After breakfast we had agreed as a small group to cycle to ‘The Barn’ a café and antique place that we actually went to on Friday. Our cycle leader took us the wrong way adding about a mile but we eventually arrived for coffee and pain au raison. For some reason a small contingent of our group opted for a five mile ride to another café. I looked up what was around the area and found a National Trust site a similar distance away called Hicote Gardens. So as a group we split up with six of us going to the gardens. As we approached one of the hills was a monster, so much that full power and the lowest gear beat me and I walked about 200m. We arrived at the gardens and spent a couple of hours strolling around in what was now, warm sunshine. The café had a queue and most of us did not want to join it. About 1430 we started the ride back and stopped at The College Arms in Quinton for some sustenance. Chris recognised it as a pub we visited a year or two ago. Finishing our ‘energy drinks’ we moved off and cycled home arriving about 1645. The weather had ensured the Quest was dry and so we packed it up before a simple pork pie and salad tea. The evening started at 1930 and so just before that we arrived in the hall. It was much depleted as so many people had left as they had work tomorrow. We were entertained by  two guitarists called ‘Acoustica’ who were with us last year. They were great last year and just as good today. Lots of dancing and enjoyment until just before 2245 when we stacked the chairs etc and then back to the motorhome for a nightcap and bed.

Tuesday 5th May (Day 7)

Off home today in the nice sunshine. By 1045 we had left and were home by 1330.