Week in Warwick 2015

Warwick, 28th of June to the 5th of July

Just over a week after our trip to Harrogate we set off for a week away in Warwick, I didn't know at the time we set off that it was only about 10 miles from Stratford on Avon, where we went last year. As last year we had also booked a train ride day out to London, which I will cover in a separate blog also as I did last year.

Day one, Sunday 28th of June

So as last year, we took the A19 to the A168 and the A1M then down to the M18 and the M1. As last year, the M1 had road works and was very busy, from the M1 we took the M69 / A46 to the second Warwick turn off and headed down the A425. Then turned right at the second roundabout and turned right again after the third pelican crossing, following the Racecourse signs to the site.

Warwick Racecourse Caravan Club Site

Hampton Street,Warwick,Warwickshire,CV34 6HN

Web Site Warwick Racecourse

We got booked in and decided to have a walk into town even though it was getting late and it was Sunday. We walked straight through town and had a look at where the train station was (to see if we could walk there on Wednesday morning) and decided that we would get a taxi.

Next we walked back into the town centre and eventually came to the Wetherspoon's, The Toms Lloyd, it didn't look bad at all but we stopped using it later in the week (more on that later). We sat outside in the very hot sun and had two or three beers before we set of back for our pre made supper. I was going to have a meal in there but Dot pointed out, I had made food for tonight. It must have been warm as Dot had a large glass of fruity cider and ice, the beers I had, are covered in separate blogs, Beers in Warwick, part one and Beers in Warwick, part two.

We just sat their and enjoyed the sun, it was after eight by the time we set off back to the campsite and van for supper.

Day two, Monday 29th of June

Today we decided to visit the castle, although it was the afternoon before we set off for into town, through the West Gate.

We had a pass from the Caravan Club for half price entrance into Warwick Castle, although we had to pay full price for the ticket and not the reduced price for over sixties as we both are. So it wasn't quite half price through the Caravan Club.

I have had my moan about the entrance fee but the castle was very nice and we had a fantastic day there.

We walked down towards the castle but first came to a nice rose garden and had a walk around there first before continued on into the castle.

 

We entered the castle through the Barbican, then we had a walk around the big house and enjoyed the way it was all set out, with tableaux from the last century and earlier. From there we went into the Watergate Tower with a pictorial history of the castle on show, some of it using video and very well done it all was.

 

Next we left the house and headed out of the castle towards a large catapult in the garden. Only we didn't get there straight away, as there was a birds of prey show in just outside the gate (can not find a name for this gate), at the far side from where we came in. The birds where all a bit fast for me to photograph but I honestly did try.

 

After the show we continued on to the catapult, the boat house next to it on the river, had burned down and looked very sad indeed. After a visiting the catapult, we saw the waterwheel down the river side of the castle and headed off back towards the castles for a better look.

 

When we got to the water wheel we had a good look around, then walked back the way we came to get back inside the castle.

 

Back in the castle we went up onto the battlements, a bit of a mistake as it was up and down stone steps inside towers all the way.  It did take quite a while to do and we are not the fittest people in the world any more.

 

By the time we had done the walls and towers, I was knackered, so we started to make our way out. Back at the way in, we saw a sign stating that you could come back tomorrow for only one pound. This had not been mentioned to us at all (very remiss of them), we did buy a ticket anyway.

From there we walked straight to Wetherspoon and had a nice cooling pint of beer, it was after five anyway.

Day three, Tuesday 30th of June

Had a wander up to reception on the morning to see about booking a taxi for tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, of the numbers that worked, they were all too busy at that time of the morning. So I fingered that we would just have to walk to the train station in the morning.

That afternoon, it was practically the same time as yesterday when we set off for the Castle and once in there, we had a walk to where the birds of pry are kept resting before their show.

 

From there we had a walk along the river, than back towards the Conservatory and had a nice cup of tea sat in the sun, overlooking the gardens.

After the cup of tea we made our way to see the birds of pry show right from the beginning. I did as well as yesterday with the photos, I think I got only this one.

After the show we wandered around the inside of the castle and after a good walk, eventually made our way towards the exit.

 

I checked the time as we left the Castle and it was about an hour and a half earlier than yesterday. Anyway that gave us time to have a look around the shops before we made for Spoons. The service in Spoons was atrocious and I walked out before even getting a beer. I think there was new staff in training but there should have been someone there in charge, to see it all went well though.

So we just set off back to the van, after all, it was nice and hot and I had beers back there. On the way back though we passed the Old Post Office a bar and a man sat outside, convinced us to go in and try a beer (it didn't take much really). In fact we had a couple and sat outside talking to the gentleman that convinced us to go in there. It is a very nice place and we will be back.

On the way back to the van we passed the place were a taxi company lived, and took their number, called them and got a car for the morning. We then popped into the pub just down the road from there and had one more beer before we went back to the van for the night.

Day four, Wednesday 1st of July

Up early got ready and set of to get our taxi from the campsite gate. Our London Trip is covered here.

Day five, Thursday 2nd of July

After the scorching heat of yesterday today was quite cool and we spent most of the day sat in or around the van reading.

I think it was about four by the time I got fed up and we set off for a drink in the Old Post Office. We did sit outside for a wile but had to go inside when it started to rain and sat by the window. I made a mistake and bought a cider but only drank about half and gave it to Dot, I do not like cider that much.

 

We were only out for about two hours but we did get out that day.

Day six, Friday 3rd of July

A much better day today and after lunch we set off for a walk along the river Avon. We walked through the town via the old gateways, then through the park after the castle to the river.

I have been unable to find the battery charger for the camera battery's and wouldn't you know it, they stopped working on the walk. The cameras in our phone's were working but they are not that good.  I did get photos of the two bridges that cross the river here.

 

Later back in town we had a look around the shops before going to the pub near to the Spoons, The Tilted Wig, I had decided to give Spoons a miss, sad but they had their chance. After our fist very nice drink in the sun out the front and while I was getting another, Dot told me we had to move to a seat out the back.

The market for tomorrow was setting up out the front right now and half the seating had to go, the seating we were sat in. It was ok out the back but I think I would have just moved on if I had known. Anyway we finished our drinks and moved on to the Old Post Office to finish the night off..

Day seven Saturday 4th of July

It was about eleven before we eventually got up to the market and had a good look around but we didn't buy much.

 

Around one o'clock, we went into the The Tilted Wig again sat in the window and ordered some lunch. I had not noticed that they had Hoegaarden on draught until we sat around this side of the bar and I ordered us one each. I say one each but I got a pint and Dot a half, but she wasn't happy with that so we shared.

After that we went walking and eventually ended up back at the van. That night we wandered back to the Old Post Office.

Day eight, Sunday 5th of July

We drove straight home as we had to get ready to be away again the next day.

Harrogate showground for a long weekend 2015

Harrogate 2015, June 13th to June 24th

We are not using the van as much as we used to, so we were well ready for some time away together. Dot had booked us in at the old Caravan Club site in Harrogate, now just, Harrogate Caravan Park, on the show ground.

Day One, Saturday June 13th

Its not far to Harrogate, about fifty miles from home but it could be anywhere, it is fairly big but very rural, like being in the middle of the countryside.

Another thing that reflects on the fact that I had my stroke, is that I did not take a photo of the site. I had five days to do it, even thought about it but never did it. 

Harrogate Caravan Park

Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 8NZ

Web Site, http://www.harrogatecaravanpark.co.uk/index.html

We got what looked like one of the last pitches but it wasn't too bad a place to be, fairly near the toilet and washing block. We thought about walking in to the centre, about two miles, but as it was getting late, we walked up to the main road to get the bus.

The road up here at the bus stop was very slow, it had been when we came in and we could see the bus long before it got to us. We actually got the wrong bus in, we were asked if we wanted a return and it went exactly the same way but this bus company stopped running very early, so by the time we wanted to go back these buses had finished. So it actually cost us more than it should have for the bus rides.

In the centre we had a good walk around the shops, but eventually I was very tired and we had to have a sit by the war memorial for about half an hour for a rest.

We then did more shopping until it was time to hit the bars, and as we were closest to the Spoons, that is were we went.  It was good to have a nice sit down and a rest, although it looked like every one else had the same idea and it was heaving in there.

Another thing with my memory, is that I can not remember what I had to drink first but I do remember my second beer.  I had two because Dot went back out to get a dress she had seen in the shops earlier and I ran out of beer.

We then moved on, out the back door and along the back lane, until we came to The Slug and Lettuce and opposite there, The Montpellier, we went into The Montpellier. We could have sat outside but it was cooling down slightly, I had a pint of Old Peculiar and Dot had half a lager.

From there we moved on to the Banyan Bar, I actually thought we were in the Pitcher & Piano but I was wrong, they look almost identical and they are next door to each other. Again I did not have a new beer just what was on draft but it was a nice beer. We had our tea already made back at the van so after these beers, we made our way back to the bus station. We got the other bus back, and even popped into Sainsburys as we were passing on the way to the van but we didn't need much.

Day Two, Sunday June 14th

The weather was atrocious, June is not as good as its supposed to be, we would normally be in France now but that's a different story isn't it. We spent the day in the van watching TV. Also we had no beers in the van, so that night we had an orange liqueur with coke, while I watched the football.

England were playing Slovenian and managed to win 3 - 2.

I woke in the middle of the night and my heart started to go into defib, it stayed that way until we got up, then it just went back to normal.

Day Three, Monday June 15th

Dot would not have known about my heart at all, if it had corrected itself just ten mins earlier but I had just told her when it went back to normal.

It was a much better day so we got reddy and headed into Harrogate, after a good look around the shops we went for lunch in the Slug and Lettuce, it was Monday after all. After a nice lunch at half price and a couple of beers (one each that is) we moved on, crossed over the road and went for a walk into the park.

 

It was quiet in there and very relaxing, we spent about an hour just walking around before moving on, back into town.

 

With being awake for quite a long time during the night I was getting a bit tired, so we made our way back to the bus station and then the campsite. Only we had to stop off at Sainsbury's after we got off the bus, I did get some new beers in there though.

After a short rest we made our way across the field to the pub we could see from the campsite, The Travellers Rest, it was only a short walk. I did however forget my camera, although I did have the my phone with me.  I had a beer I had not had before and Dot got a Bulmers Cider, Crushed Red Berry and Lime, different.

 

The pub was very nice and we though about eating there but we had a large meal in the Slug and Lettuce at lunch time, so we decided we could come back tomorrow night for food. We did have a couple more beers before we left and as for the heart problem, I have decided to just get on with life.

Day Four, Tuesday June 16th

Our last day in Harrogate and we decided we would have a nice rest day, with maybe a walk in the sun, not too far from the van.  It was about eleven when we eventually set off  and we walked clockwise around the outside of the show ground.

Just at the bottom end of the show ground are a couple of railways, one and old abandoned line, the other the line from Leeds.

 

After a while walking, we made our way back to the van for a light lunch as we were going out for tea, we also had a test, I am not in as good a way as I would like to be. About three o'clock a lady came down to near the site entrance to feed the big birds, Red Kites, they are very nice but I am sure you are not supposed to feed them, apparently she dose this every day.

 

It was still fairly early when we made our way over to the The Travellers Rest for our tea. We ordered from the early two for a certain price menu, starter and main or main and afters. We chose to have main and afters. I had the fish and chips and I can not remember what Dot had but I do know it wasn't the same as me, it could have been the steak pie. For afters I had a very lovely cheese cake and Dot had the rather large thing with strawberries in it.

We also had a few more beers nothing new but not bad at all, we sat and watched the Red Kites hunting from the window in the pub.

Day Five, Wednesday June 13th

Well it was home today but we were going to drop into Knaresborough first, the drive there was only just three miles to the car park by the river.

As we walked up into town it started to rain, so we popped into the Spoons there and ordered two breakfasts, it was about quarter to twelve, so we only just made it. The breakfasts are only served up until twelve, so we were lucky to get it. The Crown Inn is really nice and it was packed, we did well to get a seat. Wetherspoons are hated by some people but I think that the vast majority of people love them, or at least the prices. We had fizzy water to drink (without alcohol), not great but I was driving and it was free.

About an hour or so later we set of shopping again Dot was looking at clothes and me at beers, although I tolled the booz shop owner that I would be back latter as the weight was too much to carry around shopping. It was market day so there was plenty of shopping to do, if you wanted.

Eventually we finished shopping, I went back for my beers and we walked down to the river by the ruins of the castle. Then along the river under the viaduct, back towards the car, the weather was much better now.

 

We got back to the Van with about half and hour still on our parking ticket but we just drove home, so until next time towards the end of June, that's all for now.

Peterborough 2015 Ambers 10th Birthday

Well it was time to go to the Caravan Club Ferry Meadows site in Peterborough, for Ambers birthday. Got the van ready and the only difference to usual, was the young Ralph was travelling down with us this year.

Peterborough 2015, April 18th to April 22nd

Day One, Saturday April 18th

We set of fairly early only for the A1 to be closed half way down, the detour took bout half an hour, bit of a pain. We had to go and pick Amber up before we moved on the the campsite.  On arrival I was surprised to see just how full the site was, it has been getting busier every year since we started to come just after Amber was born. In fact we got one of the last palaces available over in the old field.

Dot and Amber went for a walk into Ferry Meadows although the weather was not as good as it usual was around Ambers birthday.

Latter we had chips from the van that visits the campsite, with the chips we decided to have something different than fish and got spam fritters. Well I have never seen spam fritters like them, instead of large round spam fritters, these looked like a tin of spam cut in half and then that half being dipped in batter and fried. It was very edible though.

That night we watched a film and went to bed early.

Day Two, Sunday April 19th (Ambers Birthday)

Up very early for someone to open presents and it was still before eleven when we went out for a walk. The weather was still not very good and it was pretty cold but we set off for a long walk, well long for us that is. Amber took her scooter and off we went, in the wrong direction towards the train station, then right following the train lines. It seems that lots of trees have been felled along by the train lines and also by the campsite, not sure why. At the first bridge over the lines we turned the opposite way and headed towards Gunwade Lake and walked round the far side.

 

As we wandered off towards the lake, a steam train went past and we were lucky enough to get a photo before we walked off to the Lake.

 

After walking around Gunwade Lake we continued on around Overton Lake and at the bottom end, we were to head back but Amber wanted to walk on to the bird hides. So next we turned left to the river Nean and followed it round to the hides. The two small ponds that the hides look onto seemed to be in a rather bad condition, certainly not as good as when we were last there. We then headed back toward the van when we came to the railway again, in all we did about 3.5 miles.

 

That afternoon the rest of Ambers family came for a birthday visit while Ralph and I watched the Bahrain GP on TV, another victory for Lewis Hamilton.

 

When Ambers other family left we got ready and walked to the pub for a birthday tea for Amber and we had a couple of beers. Only they made a mistake with the order and I had to have three beers, for the price of two, very sad.

Day Three, Monday April 20th

The weather finally got around to being what it is usually like around Ambers birthday and we made the best of it. After a light lunch, we set off for a walk towards Orton Lock, following the railway.  It was over a mile to the lock but it was very nice in the sun.

 

From there we walked on passed the station and up on to the main road were we called into the Botolph Arms, as we were passing. Amber could play on the park there while we had a beer or two. If you have read any of these before, you will know I like Sam Smiths Beers and this is a Sam Smiths pub, although under new management it is very badly run. We sat outside and got just a little bit sunburnt but not too much.

 

After the walk back, we set up the BBQ and basically had a very nice afternoon sat in the sun with burgers and sausages. It got cooler on the night though and we watched a film again. We did get ice creams from the van that travelled around the campsite, very nice.

Day Four, Monday April 21st

Young Ralph got ready and left for work before eleven and the rest of us went for a walk after dinner. We just went for a walk into the park and had ice creams again from the bar/shop by the lake.

  

Another BBQ for tea and we had more ice creams from the van that visits the site, before another film before bed.

Day Five, Tuesday April 22nd

Amber was up early to go to school and after she left we also got ready to leave.

We drove straight home but didn't quite make it without stopping for petrol.

Time to sort the van again

Well we are away again next weekend, its Ambers birthday so we are off to see her in Peterborough as is usual at this time of year.

The van is relatively ready, as its only a month since our last trip, just a bit of sorting to do and we are set to go.  The van also needs a good wash.

First Trip, 2015, Hawes

Hawes, 8th to the 14th of March.

Well we booked Hawes in north Yorkshire for almost a week, made a change from always going to York for Dots birthday and this birthday was special.

Day one, Sunday 8th March 2015

We arrived at the site just before we were allowed to but the warden let us on anyway, very good of them and a vast change from York.

Nick Tim and the girls arrived not much later and we all went for dinner. We went up to Simonstone Hall outside Hawes and Tim had to do a couple of trips to get us all there. You may have heard of Simonstone Hall in the news recently but on that day it was just a quiet, very descent place to have our Sunday dinner. As for Simonstone Hall, Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson, I will get back to that, at a later date in the Blog.

We had a very good Sunday dinner and I had a pint of Theakston's Bitter, before we made our way back to the campsite.

From the campsite we had a walk into Hawes and the girls had big ice cream, when the others went home Dot and I stopped out for an early beer or two.

We started at the far end of town and went onto The Old Board Inn, were I stuck with Theakston's Bitter.  We sat by the fire and it was lovely and warm, better than where we go on a Friday night.  It was practically empty in there but three at the bar were were very noisy and had been in there since it opened.

After our drink we moved on, next door to The Crown and had the same beer again.  It was fairly full in there but a lot quieter.

After that drink we made our way back to the van and still being full after diner we had crackers and cheese for supper.

Day two, Monday 9th March 2015

The weather was really bad so we did not do anything, in fact we had a very relaxing time watching TV.

Day three, Tuseday 10th March 2015

Today is Dots Birthday and it was nice and sunny (it was the only really sunny day of the holiday).

We had a walk across the fields to Hardraw Falls, we have done this before but Dot wanted to do it, the walkway was not excellent but it was fairly dry, if you were very careful.  Out of the site the first thing we came to was the confluence of the River Ure and Duerley Beck or Gayle Beck (not sure about the name of the beck).

Then the shortish walk to Hardraw Falls, you have to go through the pub (The Green Dragon), to get to the end of the valley containing the falls.  It was out of the sun here and very cold but the falls looked ok.

 

Dot wanted to go up to were we had lunch on Sunday, Simonstone Hall, for a birthday lunch.  So from the The Green Dragon we headed along the path up the hill, hoping that it would take us to the hotel.

As the hill levelled out we came to the back (or maybe it was the front) of Simonstone Hall, which I thought was very lucky indeed.  Dot was bothered about getting mud into the Hall but I think they would be used to that happening.

It was pretty quiet compared to Sunday but there where a few people eating in there and we got served straight away.  We both had Beef Carbonnade, which was very nice and we also had a couple of drinks with our meal.

We walked via the road back to the the campsite and van for a rest and to get changed into something with less mud on it, before we went out later for another drink or two.  It was getting on for about five before we went out into town.

We went to the White Hart Inn, which had just reopened after being done up and it was very nice indeed.  We sat in the bar by the fire and for a change this holiday, I had three different beers in there (see separate write up for the beers).

Back in the van latter we watch a film that Nicole and the girls has brought us before bed.

Day four, Wednesday 11th March 2015

Raining again so did not go out until five, it had stopped raining by then, we had time to get some things we needed from the small supermarket before it closed.

We then went into the only pub that we hadn't been in so far, The Fountain, the only people in there where watching the horse racing from Cheltenham. I got another new beer in there (again, see separate write up for the beer) and the place was quite pleasant but not as nice as the White Hart Inn.

So after our beers there, we moved on to the White Hart Inn, where we had another beer before we set off back to the van.

Back at the van we watched another film, before bed.

It was about the time we went to bed that Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson was committing working suicide up at Simonstone Hall.  For him all of the fun he has had, for all these years, seems to be over.

Day five, Thursday 12th March 2015

It was just before dinner when we set off for a walk up to the Wensleydale cheese factory, my shoes were acting up and hurting the back of my ankle.  So I was glad when we got there and had a rest.   In there we got the cheese we had promised to get and ate lots of cheese from the displays.

When we came out, Dot wanted to walk up to the watermill at Gayle, just outside Hawes.  So I put up with my foot and walked up to the mill.  Its was fine at the moment but was supposed to rain latter, so we made our way back down into Hawes.

We took the path across the fields which led down to the church and it was very cold by then.  Dot decided it would be good to pop into the White Hart Inn for lunch, so we did without me arguing. Lunch was very good, we had homemade pie of the day, very good and a beer or two before we set off back to the van.

Back at the van it did rain eventually but we just sat and watched some old films.

Day five, Friday 13th March 2015

Another horrible day with the weather but at about four we set off into town. We had a quick look down at the old train station but Dot remembered we had a card to post and only just made it to the post office before the last post.

Then we just went to the White Hart Inn again and had our tea in there, I had Wensleydale shin of beef casserole and Dot had the 10oz Gammon steak. Then just sat and had a couple of beers (by this time I was just drinking Black Sheep).

When we walked back to the van we just watched films again.

Day six, Saturday 14th March 2015

We were going to do some sightseeing on the way back but discovering the Dot was going out tonight (I did know but had forgotten) and remembering that the Boro where on TV just after twelve, changed what was planed.

We got ready really early and went straight home.

Sorting the Van

Well its time to get the van sorted out ready for this new year. I think getting the outside cleaned up and polished is the main thing that needs doing.

Still haven't decided if we will be taking the van abroad this year or not, the high costs plus my ill heath is bit of a worry.  Although the price is coming down and my health is improving (I hope).

We have however booked onto several UK sites leading right through the year but we will have to see what happens as time goes on.