England 2007
+ Scotland
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England 2007
+ Scotland |
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2007
Originally was going to book the Camping & Caravan Club site at Boroughbridge for our fist outing this year but in my opinion it was far too expensive for out of season. In fact I emailed them to say so, as follows
Just been on to book Boroughbridge in Feb, but at £53.00 for three days with a Motorhome, I just do not think this is reasonable. Other private run sites are hugely discounted at this time of year, so I will book with one of them instead. I will have to think hard before I renew my membership this year.
I received the following answer.
I have read your comments, and am sorry that you feel fees on Club Sites are too expensive. However, I would stress that all fees are discussed and agreed upon by the UK Club Sites Committee, a body that consists purely of Club Members. Decisions by this Committee are made to meet the best interests of all Club Members, and to ensure the Club continues to raise sufficient revenue to maintain and improve Club Sites to the high standards that our Members have come to expect.
However, I appreciate you are unhappy with the fee structure as it currently stands, and will ensure that your comments will be recorded for possible reference by the UK Club Sites Committee.
So I booked elsewhere and emailed back.
Thanks for your reply, I appreciate what you are saying but I have managed to book a site with similar facilities in North Yorkshire for £37.50. I also checked the Caravan Club and the Stockton site for the same dates, for a member, would have been £33.60 this is also a site with similar facilities. Its not that I feel the club sites are too expensive all year just at this time of year.
February 18th to 21st
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Sutton-on-the-Forest Goosewood Holiday Park Sutton-on-the-Forest, North Yorks, YO61 1ET
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The site is not far from Easingwold and fairly close to York, although we had no intention of leaving the site this trip. There is a health suite on site, small pool etc, you have exclusive use of this facility for 45 mins at £10.00 per session but were very disappointed to discover it was not in use over winter (just when it would be of most use).
We had the twins with us and the weather was wet most of the time we where there (this was before the wet weather of 2007) but we had some dry spells and the girls enjoyed it very much.
This is one of those crazy sites that have hardstanding but a six to ten foot gap between it and the road, I was reassured by the warden, that if I did get stuck they could tow me off though.
We spent our time there walking (there is a short but muddy circuit of the fishing lake) but outside the site the is no pavement (sidewalk) so it was a bit dodgy with the twins and in the adventure playground. Where the girls made lots of friends.
A good point for this site was a bathroom, very handy for getting twins ready for bed, £1.00 for the hot water. We had new torches for the dark walk to and from the bathroom loads of fun. Also a small shop in reception for sweets, milk, bread. etc.
When it was time to leave, I walk over to reception to let them know I would require towing of the pitch, as I didn't want to churn up the site any more than it was and it was quite bad in places. The warden turned up with their small tractor but insisted I try first to reverse off first, as I feared the van just sank in the mud, the warden then suggested I try to go forward and round in a circle. Eventually when it sank in to his brain as well as the mud I got towed onto the road and the site was slightly worse than it needed to be.
March 4th to 7th
As usual we visit the CC site in York three or four times every year and the first time this year was for three nights, for my birthday in March.
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York Rowntree Park, Caravan Club Site
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It was very cold and this time we were away without the twins although they did come down to visit on my birthday and we all went out for a meal. Just across the river to the Witherspoons, handy for the site and for feeding the twins.
As it was cold we spent the next couple of days in and around the shops and believe or not we actually got Christmas presents for the girls on offer from Argos and because the boxes were so big, we had to pick them up in the van on our way home.
September 1st to 5th
1st Sep
This time we did have the twins with us, we arrived (just after noon, you have to or you get a poor pitch) and was asked to switch off the engine while I checked in (even though Dot was in the van) never done that before but all of the staff seemed to be new to York. Got our usual pitch and as the sun was out Dot and the girls were playing by the van while I got food ready, when a group of people had a sort of service behind out van and left flowers and toys against the hedge.
We later heard that a little boy was knocked down on the site and later died in hospital. So I had been asked to switch off the engine but nothing else had been said about being careful or keeping speed down, nor were they forthcoming with information when asked.
So as soon as we got home I emailed the club to voice my concerns, more of the story is in the email.
Click Here to view my email to the Caravan Club and their reply.
Some time around the middle of November barriers were erected so that this type of accident would never happen again. The boy had ridden his bike out from behind the hedge, between a car and caravan that were passing at the time.
All this did put quite a damper on the holiday.
2nd Sep
Early the next day went to the park for the girls to play but it started to rain then Nicole and her friend Andrea came for a visit and on finding out about the accident put the flowers back to the front of the hedge from the position someone had moved them to.
As it had cleared up we went for a walk into town for lunch, at the Slug and Lettuce. The girls had a go on some small fairground rides on Davygate and then on the way back on a big ride near the river. We walked back along the opposite side of the river to the campsite and over the millennium bridge into the park where the girls (all of them) spent ages in the playground. There was also an inflatable slide, bouncy castle and trampolines for them not to mention ice cream.
3rd Sep
First thing in the morning the girls wanted to go back to the park and play on the inflatable slide, bouncy castle and trampolines, etc.
Later we all went into town and had a walk along the river Ouse, a picnic in the York Botanical Gardens and a couple of beers in my favourite pub in York the Kings Arms. Then after a long day, on the way back to the campsite, we got fish and chips for tea .
4th Sep
Another day in the sun in Rowntree Park and even went back to the pub for a couple, but it was very busy.
5ht Sep
Popped into Thirsk on the way home to feed the ducks under the bridge at Cod Beck, the playground there had been vandalised.
October 27th to 31st
27th October
This trip to Rowntree Park York for four nights, we only had the twins for one night this time and the weather was good again.
28th October
Nicole and Tim came down for the twins on the Sunday, we went out for a meal for Tim's birthday, when they left for home, they dropped off Dot and I at the Kings Arms (see previous entries on York), prices have gone up, its now £2.50 for a pint of bitter and a half larger and lime, a rise of 4 pence, still amazing value for money.
29th October
Next day we both have colds, we make the effort of sightseeing and shopping but our harts are not really in it so we retreat to the Kings Arms for warmth and good beer for comfort.
30th October
Our last day there was a copy of the day before with both of us felling worse than previously. Was actually glad to get home and that's not something I would usually say.
It was several weeks before we both felt better.
April 10th to 14th
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Hartlepool Crimdon Dene Park
Blackhall
Colliery, Hartlepool, Cleveland, TS27 4BN
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We had booked in to Crimdon just for somewhere to take the girls, as they were off school for Easter.
The site was very busy but the pool did not get too crowded.
On the beach on Wednesday on what turned out to be one of the best days of the year, we actually got sunburnt (not bad for April) but the Friday was cold and the sea fret (or fog) was very bad. Mick and Brenda came to visit on the Friday and we all went over the clubhouse for a beer.
October 23rd to 24th
Back again, just because its handy and the girls love the pool it is also very cheap, £5.00 for the night.
As in April when we were last there, the site was very busy but again, the pool did not get too crowded and after the pool we went down on beach but this time there was no sunburn. Had a drink in the bar on the way back to the van and then at night watching kids films. One bad thing about the site since the beginning of the year< children are no longer allowed in the Jacuzzi, the girls loved being in there, but because some parents do not supervise there children it affects them all.
Next morning the girls went to the pool again while I got packed up, we were supposed to be off for 10:00 but were allowed to stay until 12:00. Where else can go to a heated indoor pool, twice, have a pitch with electrics on a site with clubhouse and all for just £5.00?
On the way home we stopped off at Hartlepool marina for a picnic and a walk around the Museum of Hartlepool (not the Historic quay the Museum of Hartlepool is free), plenty for the girls to do including a tour of the paddle steamer, PSS Wingfield Castle. The PSS Wingfield Castle was built in Hartlepool by William Gray & Co. for the L. N. E. R. as a passenger and vehicle ferry over the Humber estuary between Hull and New Holland.
May 28th to 30th
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Thirsk Thirsk Racecourse Caravan Club Site Thirsk, Yorkshire, YO7 1QL |
Two nights at Thirsk Racecourse with the twins, Monday and Tuesday of the half term holidays. Weather was poor but the girls had a good time and we had walks into town to feed the ducks.
On Tuesday afternoon I noticed a scratch mark close to the bottom hinge of the accommodation door (if that's what it's called), on investigation I found that the hinge pin had sheared. I removed the other hinge pines and removed the door so I could get at the sized pin. I had to leave Dot and the twins to mind the van with no door on, while I went into town to get parts. Got a coach bolt and nuts from a hardware shop in Thirsk (35p) and bodged up the hinge, it should do until we get back from our trip to Germany that we are starting at the weekend.
July 14th to 18th
Nicole, Tim and the Twins together with Tim's Parents, Jim and Jean had booked a week at Primrose Valley Holiday Park, Filey, so we booked a few days on a site close by so we could visit.
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Hunmanby Orchard Farm Holiday Village Hunmanby, Filey, Yorkshire, YO14 0PU
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Saturday 14th
Things started to go wrong as soon as we setoff, we got a phone call from Nicole asking if we could turn around and come for the girls (Jim and Jean had setoff some time before us). Nicole had been to the Doctors with double vision the day before and the hospital had just phoned and asked her to come in, the intention was for us the take the girls and they would catch up with us later.
Next the sat nav stopped working again, I had installed a new system since out Germany trip where it initially went wrong, so we had to stop and get the maps out again, anyway we found our way ok. We went straight to Primrose Valley to drop the girls but their mobile home was not ready so we took them to find our site and have some lunch. After lunch I dropped Dot and the twins off at Primrose Valley and then went back to setup the van for the night before heading back down for Dot on the scooter only the scooter battery was flat. I jumped it off with the booster ok but was a bit worried it would not start to get us back.
The news from the hospital was not good, they needed to keep Nicole in overnight for observation, if fact it would be Monday before they would eventually let her out.
Tim came that night to bring the rest of their things but went back to Nicole first thing in the morning.
Later when we got back to the site (the scooter started ok with the kick-start), Dot and I went over to the clubhouse for a beer.
Sunday 15th
We went back down to to Primrose Valley on the scooter for the day, to help look after the girls we went in the excellent pool complex, had burgers at Burger King, went to the playground and we even went to the children's evening-time entertainment in the kids club.
Went we got back to the campsite the clubhouse was closed.
Monday 16th
Back at Primrose Valley we only went for a walk and ended up on the beach for the day, only the girls were not dressed for it, but how do we stop them. They discovered that, if they threw their shoes into the stream, they would float out to sea and you would have to run very fast to catch them.
Nicole and Tim eventually arrived in the evening
Tuesday 17th
With Nicole and Tim back with the Girls, Dot and I used the free morning to have a walk round the small town of Hunmanby. it is quite a nice place and in different circumstances I think we would have spent more time there. Anyway the skies went very dark so we headed back to the van just in time before the rain.
With the wet weather and with the intention of having a few beers that night, Tim came collect in the car and we would get a Taxi back. This arrangement also let me get the scooter back on the rack ready for the off tomorrow.
We all spent most of the rest of day at the fairground at Primrose Valley
Wednesday 18th
Cloud burst, roads blocked by floods, had to go home a different way
July 21st to 25th
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Hawes Brown Moor, Caravan Club Site. Brunt Acres Rd, Hawes, DL8 3PS |
21st July
The girls arrived back from Filey just in time for us to pick them up to go the Hawes.
22nd July
Did what we usually do when we come to Hawes, walked into town, girls played in the park. looked in the shops had some chips (fries) and wandered back to the campsite.
In the afternoon back on the site, the sun was shining and we got the new swing ball out (I thing we had, had it for months but this was the first time we remembered to bring it), I think the football was the best for the girls as they are not that good with the rackets yet.
That evening when Georgia was asleep me and Emily had a walk around the campsite in the dusk, looking at the dozens of rabbits that had suddenly all over the place, Emily tried to catch that but she had no chance they are much too quick.
23rd July
Much the same as yesterday only first we set up the two man tent for the girls to pay in and also keep all their toy in at night. After the obligatory hour or so at the playground in town, we had a nice picnic lunch before retuning to the playground.
Because Emily had been out with the rabbits the night before, I had to take Georgia round the site tonight.
24th July
On our last day we explored the countryside, no toys, no playgrounds just grass, rivers, streams, old bridges and lots of energy. The girls discovered the ancient pastime of throwing stones into rivers and then skipping them over the river to the other side. I think the girls enjoyed themselves more that day, than other day we have had together (we have not been to Disney with them yet), the best thinks in life may be free after all.
August 17 to 18th
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Melrose Gibson Park, Caravan Club Site High Street, Melrose, Scotland, TD6 9RY
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Got an Acer n35 PDA with GPS capabilities built in, off eBay for £90.00 and was trying it out for the first time, it seemed to work very well. I do not think it is as easy to use as the laptop but it had other advantages.
Only sopped for one night on our way to Aviemore, we like Melrose and used to visit for the Sevens, so it seemed like a good place for the night. It is a CC site in the centre of Melrose just opposite the rugby club, not far off the A68 or A7, in an excellent position, two mins walk to the shops and bars and has the usual good CC facilities.
There were a lot of Italian registered motorhome about, strange as we do not usually see many foreign vans at all.
Walked to town on the evening and had a bar meal in one of the pubs and a few beers as well.
Next morning we were lucky to get out of town just as the pipe band championships were starting.
August 18th to 22nd
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Aviemore Glenmore Forest Camping & Caravan Park Aviemore, Inverness-shire, Scotland, PH22 1QU
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18th Aug
Site is in the heart of the Cairngorms on Loch Morlich, with its sandy beaches, ideal for sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, fishing and relaxing. It is a Forestry Commission site but it is now run by the Camping & Caravan Club and has new facilities. Scotland's largest ski area is nearby with a funicular railway up Mount Cairngorm. We had been here before on our honeymoon, 35 years ago and the only change I could see was the new toilet block.
It was very wet when we arrived and the only hard standing had caravans on, luckily a percentage of the site is on hard rocky ground so we pitched there.
I managed to get the satellite working, to a certain extent anyway, we had some channels and we had forgotten the sky card for the didge box. It was at this time I discovered a problem with Midges, I was almost eaten alive in the short time I was setting up the dish. It was also very cold.
19th Aug
Our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary and it was still wet and cold, thirty-five years earlier it had been warm and sunny, this global warming is working and strange ways.
We headed off into Aviemore to have a look round, to see how much it had changed and have an anniversary meal. First we decided we would eat, and had a good three course Sunday lunch in one of the hotels and a beer that tasted like home brew. Then we went for our walk round.
Well most of the town has been taken over by Mcdonalds Highland Resort a hotel group, the old main street looked the same but what was the new town centre last time we were there had gone, replaced by this resort. We had, had a problem finding somewhere to park in Aviemore, Mcdonalds Highland Resort seemed to have car parks all over their resort but they are not in use. As I have already mentioned they pulled down the old centre and built a shop and car park that were both empty, when the rest of the main street was heaving. The whole of Mcdonalds Highland Resort looked empty when we where there (presumably it is used during the winter), what a waste. Lastly the ice rink had gone, a winter resort without an ice rink?? It was all very disappointing.
We finished the day with a trip to Cairngorm but we were too late to take the trip in funicular railway so we went back to the campsite and had a walk to Loch Morlich.
20th Aug
Unusually
for us we went out for a drive in the van again, first we had a drive to Loch
Ness and then over the river to the north side of the Moray Firth and the Black Isle for
a spot of dolphin watching, of course we didn't see any, just lots of other
people looking for them. It is still very cold.
21st Aug
Went back up Cairngorm but on the scooter this time and this time we did get on the funicular railway to the visitor centre. Now you can walk to the top of Cairngorm but if you get on the funicular railway to the visitor centre, you are not allowed outside, anyway the fog was that bad you couldn't even see outside, we came up for the view and it was foggy so we had a beer and went back down.
Eventually the sun came out and we had a pleasant evening watching the sun go down over the loch.
22nd Aug
It was a very long drive back home.
August 27th to 29th
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Carlton-in-Cleveland The Blackwell Ox Caravan Park Carlton-on-Cleveland, Cleveland TS9 7DJ |
This is a small site is in the village behind the Blackwell Ox
pub/restaurant which serves traditional English fare and authentic Thai cuisine,
plus some very good beers.
We met up with Nicole and the twins there, they had been to the pub for their
lunch, then she left the girls with us for two days. There is a very good
playground and tree house so the girls were very happy there and there were some
other children for them to play with.
We had a walk around the village (very small) and a beer in the pub, we also met a couple who were members of the Motorhome Facts forum, Ken and Steph.
Unfortunately it looks like 2007 will be the last season for this site as they are going to build cabins on the touring site
September 10th to 12th
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Osmotherley Cote Ghyll Caravan & Camping Park Osmotherley, Northallerton, Yorkshire, DL6 3AH |
Very quiet site (outside school holidays that
is) just off the A19 and just north of Osmotherley, with good new facilities.
If you like walking then this is the site for you, Osmotherley is the start of
the Lyke Wake Walk is on the Cleveland Way and nearby is the Coast to Coast
walk. One word of warning, this site does not take credit cards or debit cards,
only cash or cheques.
There are three very good pubs in the village with good food, about ten mins walk
away, also a
cafe, a post office/shop, an outdoors shop and a chip shop (not open Monday and
Tuesday).
10th Sep
We arrived on the Monday and had a day to ourselves for a change, we also had the car with us as we were going to pick up the girls from school the next day.
We had a walk into town and had a few beers in a couple of the pubs.
11th Sep
At lunch time we picked the girls up from school in the car and when straight back to the site where the girls headed over to the playground.
After a picnic lunch its back to the playground, a play in the beck, followed by a walk in the woods.
Next morning we were up early to get the girls to school and I had to go to the dentist.
September 13th to 18th
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Pateley Bridge
Riverside Caravan Park
Low Wath Road, Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, HG3 5HL
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The site is on the bank of the river Nidd, a short walk from Pateley Bridge centre (about 500 yards), average facilities but old. Pubs, banks and shops in the village and also two Indian takeaways and two chip shops. Good place for a relaxing holiday or for walking and exploring if you feel like it. One word of warning, this site does not take credit cards or debit cards, only cash or cheques.
13th Sep
When we arrived it was sunny, so we set up the van for the evening got the satellite working and then sat in the sun for a while. When it started to cool down we had a walk in to town and had a couple of beers in the bar of the Crown Hotel.
14th Sep
Today we just set off walking along the riverside and ended up in a tiny village called Wath, it had a pub so we had a beer, we thought about having food there but it was rather expensive, so we set off back to Pateley Bridge along the other side of the river, the trail followed an abandoned railway line. Back at Pateley Bridge we had a beer in the Crown and went back to the van for something to eat.
We usually get an Indian on Friday night so tonight we were going to do the same, we would have some beers in the Crown Hotel, order from the Bangladeshi over the road and take it back to the van to have while we watch England v South Africa in the Rugby World Cup. As the time to the game got closer, the pub started to fill up, there was a wall lamp close to the TV that could not be switched off without all of the other lights, so the landlord passed a tea towel to one of the rugby fans, asking him to remove the bulb but as soon as he touched it, the whole fitting came away from the wall. I think he was set up, and there was much hilarity and cheering from the others, as we got up to leave, the lads at the bar said there was no need to go, we could stay and watch with them, I said "no thanks, I think we will be a lot safer back at the van".
Back at the van the food was excellent (only it wasn't what we had ordered) but the rugby was the worst game I have ever seen, Eng 0 - 23 RSA, glad we watched on our own and not in the pub.
15th Sep
There are plenty of places to visit in the area, Brimham Rocks three and a half miles, Stump Cross Caverns four miles, How Stean Gorge seven miles but we had done them all before and we didn't want to take the van out. So we went for another walk along the river only in the opposite direction to the day before, we took a picnic to have of lunch. The beginning of the walk was a continuation of yesterday following the old railway until the river starts dropped away, then there was a nice path to follow. The river eventually meandered off into the trees but the path followed a man made channel, that I surmised was a mill race and it did eventually lead to a large man made lake, a mill pond. So we had our picnic on a bench by the lake and watched some girls learning how to canoe.
At the far end of the lake we crossed over a bridge and walked the long way back, along the road to Pateley Bridge. The road came back into town by the Royal Oak Inn, so we had to pop in for a beer, they were doing a roaring trade in steaks and it wasn't until left that we saw the big sign that they were on special offer.
We got fish and chips from the shop on the high street for tea and of course we went to the crown on the evening.
16th Sep
Sat by the van most of the day relaxing and reading in the sun, we did pop into town for a very acceptable lunch in the Crown and then again later for a few beers.
September 17th to 18th
On the way back from Pateley Bridge we decided to have a night in Masham just to see what the new site was like.
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Masham
Old Station Yard Caravan & Camping Park
Station Road, Masham, Yorkshire, HG4 4DF
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Arrived at the site but it looked overcrowded and a bit scruffy, anyway we drove straight past and into town, just to see how far the walk would be. If was too far, we were going to carry on to another site next to a pub but the walk was not too bad so we decided we would stay. As we drove through town to head back to the site, we were held up by filming for ITV's Heartbeat and when we got back, it was all of the equipment for the actors and crew that was making the place look cluttered.
We drove in but couldn't see where to go because of all the film crew but a girl came out and guided us to a pitch through all of the vans, busses, costume caravans, generators, catering wagon and parked cars. In the end there was hardly anyone else on the site.
We got changed and headed back to see if we could see any of the filming but as we where leaving the site everyone was coming back for lunch from the chuck wagon. We headed in to town anyway and had some fish and chips in the square. As it was cold and there was no filming going on we headed to the pub for a libation, it was very busy but we managed to get a seat. My eye was drawn to a man having a meal on the next table and I eventually worked out it was the actor John Duttine, as we had stopped watching Heartbeat some time ago I hadn't realised he was in it. Anyway he wasn't with the others back at the campsite he was booked in the hotel we were drinking in.
After a couple of drinks we headed back in the general direction of the site but didn't get far, we got a few thing for tea in a small but very well stocked shop and ended up in another pub.
When we did get back, the TV people were clearing up and soon the site was just about empty. I set the dish up and we had the rest of the evening in.
November 4th to 6th
The Stockton site is a Caravan Club
site on the banks of the river Tees, adjacent to the Tees barrage and white
water canoeing / rafting course, and has the usual good CC facilities.
There is a hotel and pub, the Talpore, next door, and you can get to Stockton centre via a one
and a half mile riverside walk, where you can get river trips Yarm.
Teesside Park is one mile away, with shops, restaurants, multi-screen cinema,
bowling alley, casino and night club
Even though the Stockton site is on our doorstep, it's worth booking in for the Stockton-on-Tees firework display, saves battling with the traffic and you can go straight to the pub afterwards.
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Stockton-on-Tees White Water Caravan Club Park Tees Barrage, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 2QW |
5th Nov
Through the Motorhome Fun website I had arranged to meet up with another couple Keith and Jean to watch the display.
The plan was for me to arrive at the site early, then when Dot finished work she would follow on in the Car, we would then use the car to pick up the girls from school the next day. Only the car was in the garage with a broken clutch, so the plan changed to Nicole would collect Dot from work, drop her off and come back with the twins, it time for the display.
I got there and drove round until I found Keith and Jean then parked next to them and after introductions they made me a cup of tea while I set the van up. Latter, after they had been out, I made tea for them.
Dot eventually arrived and as soon as we finished tea we called for Keith and Jean and set of to meet up with Nicole, Tim, the Twins and Tim's Parents, Jim and Jean. As usual for bonfire night it was very very cold, after a good display we said goodbye to Nick and her lot and Me, Dot, Keith and Jean walked back to the Talpore for a couple of beers and a chat.
6th Nov
Picked the girls up from school got chips from a shop local to the school and drove back to the campsite for lunch. There was a handy playground on site for the girls and we had a walk along the river and play by the white water course.
That night there was a wonderful sunset and at the time we did think that this was the last time we would by away this year, but we did use it again at Christmas to visit Ralph in Peterborough.