3rd August - strong winds!

Golf ended at 1233PM due to high winds. Went into St Andrews to have a (small?!) pizza each at Pizza Express, then the bus back where strong winds buffeted the van for an afternoon snooze!

Golf starts again tomorrow ...............

St Andrews - 2nd August

It rained until about 11AM, when we  caught the X27 to the Bus station and walked the short distance to the old course.

Sat on the stand by the 17th hole for a while, then moved (after a coffee!) to the spectator area whilst Helen watched in the stand on the 18th hole, which was carefully positioned so that you could not see the Pin!

Swilcan Burn Bridge

Left at about 4PM to walk to Tesco to do some shopping, followed by a taxi home. It turned into a sunny day, but quite windy (35 mph the BBC claimed) and our washing had fallen over when we arrived back home, sat out in the evening.

31st July St Andrews for the Golf

We arrived at St Andrews for the Ladies Open which starts tomorow.

From Edinburgh we went over the Forth Bridge (which was being painted!)

Then from dual carriageway to the small main road to St Andrews which is the A915 - some tight turns in villages on the way!

Finally arrived at Cairnsmill Camp site. Quite pleasant overlooking St Andrews in the distance. Shower and toilet block was very clean and new, and had water and drainage as well as electric to each pitch.

Tried the hourly X27 Bus, but that was full, so we took a taxi into town for only £5. Took the £8 open top bus tour for an hour, lunch at Nando's, some shopping, and a taxi back. Started raining when we got back at about 5 PM.

27th to 29th July Suffolk to Edinburgh

Started off from Home to Clumber Park, a journey of 149 miles for the first day. Sunny day, stopped off at service station and bought food at M&S. Very busy including the caravan and motor home parking.

This time got a picture of the entrance as we approached! Bikes have to be locked away here in sheds, as they have a theft problem. Was interesting to see a security guard every so often doing his rounds.

Next day we set off on the long 200 mile journey to Berwick. Our favourite trruck stop at J52 on the A1 was closed on a Sunday, but we did refuel at the petrol station and got some coffee. Stopped off in a lay by on the A1. Passed Ferry bridge Power Station and Newcastle and the Angel of the North.

Crossing the border on the A1.

Arrived at Berwick Caravan Club - lovely view from above the Harbour and Town.

The fimal trip was 65 miles to Edinburgh Caravan Club on Marine Parade. Small detour around some roads, but arrived safely. We then had Thunder and Lightning and floods of rain! No chance of doing anything at night!

A view from the van of the outside:

Edinburgh CC in the rain!

Kessingland Beach Caravan Club 8-12th June 2013 (again)!

Here again! The Sailor's Home for the first night for a pie and pint, and the Waterfront Cafe (Booking required!) for Sunday lunch.

Took the 601 hourly bus to Lowestoft that leaves opposite the Sailor's Home.

Bus Stop opposite the Sailor's Home Pub

Then a bit of shopping and a visit to Cafe and RNLI Life Boat Station along the Sea Front.

Lowestoft Sea Front

The 601 carries on to Great Yarmouth. Only £4.00 return for the 30 minute trip to Lowestoft.

Musical Fountain outside South Pier

On Tuesday we took the 601 to Southwold and Th Pier where we had a really good breakfast (at 1045!). Had a look at the Tim Hunkin show and looked at the water clock .........

Southwold Pier Water Clock- strikes on the hour and every half ...

Some technical notes

Our existing set up of the Oyster 50 ST dome connected to the Avtex 164DRS TV which includes a Freesat satellite receiver does not give us a Programme Guide on normal Freesat. So I connected in a DRX595 HD mini Sky receiver (cheap from EBay) to give us 'Freesat from Sky' using an old Sky card - and the Programme for 7 days!

This should allow for better (I hope!) Continental coverage as well on 28.2. The Sky box is very low consumption so will easily run off our 150W Sterling inverter if required (everything else is 12V). So we can get Freeview, Freesat and Sky .... with Freesat and Sky through a simple manual switch.

Motorhome Fun Meeting - 24-26 May 2013

Went to the Motorhome Fun meeting at Thetford Rugby Club. Our first visit to such an event.

Our wipers failed on the way, but we got in, after that the weather was lovely and sunny. Lots of events, bike racing, ping-pong catching, and a cooked breakfast every day! Had to leave early to get home.

A line of Funsters
 

Bike racing

Kessingland 5th to 8th April 2013

The motorhome is ready, habitation checked and an MOT with no advisories. The windscreen wiper motor was replaced with one from a Citreon XM (!!), as the original Bosch no longer exists, and a quick trip to White House Caravan Club site at Kessingland. All seems to be working so far - just the satellite dome to be realigned by Oyster next week.

We got a space on the beach front parking, second row.

Not too wind swept! The sun even shone, although the wind was still strong and it was still cold. Still, the heating is working well! Went to the Sailor Home pub for pasties, mash and peas and a pint or two  of mole catcher.

Saturday went for a morning coffee at the Sweet Retreat, and then back to the pub for another pint and baps (one cheese, one sausage). Also signed up to the Grand National sweep which we did not win .....

Sunday lunch was lovely at the Waterfront Restaurant - though maybe the bottle of wine was a bit of a mistake as slept all afternoon! Though made it back to the pub for more beer in the evening ....

Weymouth to see the Olympic Sailing 26 July to 2 August 2012

We went to the Crossways Caravan Club near Weymouth via Alderstead Heath CC site stopping off overnight for both the outward and return trips (convenient near to J8 of the M25, just outside the London Emission Zone).

Over the Queen Elizabeth Bridge on the M25

Crossways is right next to Moreton Railway Station which is on the main London Waterloo to Weymouth line. Also the Frampton Arms (where we had Ciders and a meal). It also the burial place of TE Lawrence.

On the first day we went shopping by train to Dorchester, which was market day. A lovely market town.

On the second day we took the train to Weymouth, and were lucky enough to get on the Balmoral and watch the sailing close up, since we had the Volvo Family Day out in the front half of the boat.

The Balmoral (Finns racing in the distance!)

The Nothe at Weymouth, where you had to have tickets (not us!)

Day three we had a quiet day at the site, with deer wandering around.

Day 4 was a long trip, train to Wareham, 40 Bus to Swanage.There we took the steam train past Corfe Castle.

Corfe Castle from the Train

Swanage pier

Then we took the number 50 bus to Bournemouth, which went over the Chain Ferry at Sandbanks, followed by the train back to Moreton.

and finally home!

Flat battery at the final stop for fuel, so jump started from the leisure battery .....

12 to 16 July 2012 - North Norfolk

Spent the last few days at Incleboro Fields Caravan Club site which is near West Runton. We have stayed at the Camping and Caravan Club site before, pleasant enough, but an 'interesting' approach road. The Caravan Club site approach hazards are only golf balls!

Site was fine, we did trips to the Beer Festival at Sheringham Station:

The strawberry cider and burger was not bad either at over 8% proof, we only had 130 to try ...

Then a trip to Holt by Steam Train from Sheringham Station on the Poppy Line -

Also did a trip on the 44 Bus from West Runton to Norwich for the day, this took over an hour but was cheap and went at 30 minute intervals Monday to Saturday. Visit to M&S for more food stocks!

30th June to 4th July Ludham Bridge

Took a long weekend to the Caravan Club Broadlands site on Norfolk, near Ludham Bridge.

Ludham Bridge

The site is very short walk from the bridge, where there is a shop, cafe, and gallery and bike hire. There is also a boatyard that hires day boats.

Ludham Bridge Stores and Cafe

In the other direction a short distance the Dog Public House, a Freehouse that serves food as well. It also has a campsite behind it. Also look out for Ken's Fruit and Veg shack!

Dancing Duck at the back of our van!

A nice peaceful site, we took the number 12 bus (every 2 hours, leaves from opposite the phone box by the bridge) and did some shopping, including Roy's of Wroxham which rather dominates the place!

Wroxham

30th May Chapel Lane to home ...

Left Chapel Lane

View from the inside of Chapel Lane

A quick stop at the farm shop for Breakfast, and a three hour trip home via the M42/ M6/ A14, stopping off at the A1/ A14 junction for some fuel and a small rest.

Breakfast at Becketts Farm Shop just a quick walk from Chapel Lane.

Chapel Lane CC Birmingham 29th May

Yesterday we lots of work at Peter's - mains sockets, new kitchen tap (failed microswitch), and the Oyster Satellite dome with a few more bits, and finished with a Whisky tasting. This looks a neat bit of work and looks like a Golf Ball - we think it looks like aliens have landed on the roof. It is awaiting a new Avtex TV with satellite reception and then we can check it out. We borrowed a car and went to relatives in Kirby Lonsdale for lunch.

Spent the afternoon chilling after a long drive down the M6, pausing only at a Motorway Service station. Very expensive with a very poor selection, so will avoid that franchise in future!

Lazy day planned tomorrow morning .......

New Oyster satellite dome on roof, smaller in size than other domes, and no dishes fitted our roofspace, so our only choice!

Blackpool South again - 27th May

A lovely sunny afternoon at Blackpool South Caravan Club site. Got a spot underneath a shady tree, and just had supper sitting outside. Makes a change from the weather last week.

Came via Keele Services (which had a good dozen coach and caravan slots outside) and Chapel Lane CC near Birmingham from Suffolk. Last night had a BBQ with food from the Farm Shop near Chapel Lane, hopefully will stop off there on the way back.

Alfresco living on the road .....

Easter Bank Holiday Weekend at Felixstowe 6-9th April

This weekend was spent at Peewit Caravan Park in Felixstowe - to tidy up the WiFi network and Website.

Rained most of the time, but met some friends and shopped a little! Nice Chinese Meal  from the nearby take away as well ....

Stopped off at the Orwell Truck Stop for Breakfast on the way back.