Easter, March 28-April 2, 2013 – Ty Coch Farm, Cardiff.

At last Spring has arrived!  lots of snow, roads closed, caravan sites closed in Yorkshire and the Peak District, rallies cancelled due to wet ground; but the forecast looked good for South Wales. We had a nice Easter break, lots of blue sky and sunshine, but still cold with frosty mornings. Stayed at Ty Coch Farm again, between Cardiff and Newport, this makes it easy for us to visit Carl, Ruth and family.

On our visits to Carl, we took the dogs for walks around the local lake and then had a few drinks when we got back; Sue went to the Good Friday and Easter Sunday church services.

A short drive from the site is the Sirhowy Valley Country Park with some lovely walks, good cycle rides along old rail, tramway tracks and also way marked walking trails. These tramways brought coal and iron ore from the local mines in the valley down to Newport, lots of history.

Also sampled some of the culinary delights of Wales and also that Welsh delicacy Laverbread (seaweed), very nice on toast with a slice of bacon on top. Highly recommended for a hearty breakfast and it is good for the heart as well!

Willow Farm, New Leake, Lincolnshire – February 16-19, 2013

Due to all the bad weather we have not used the caravan since getting back from the Czech Republic and Germany, at the end of September 2012. For the first time out in 2013 we visited Willow Farm again for a long weekend.

The ground was still waterlogged and very soft, after all the rain and recent snow, however a pitch was on firmer ground which we used and then realised why we purchased the Octavia with 4×4 traction.

The weather was dry, nice and sunny with frost on a morning, so plenty of dog walking on the side roads through the Lincolnshire fields.

The recent weather had been causing problems, even the Lincolnshire ‘drains’ sides were in a state of subside and collapse, some of the minor roads were also closed.

Fountain Farm, Driffield – July 25-29, 2012

Due to the bad weather, lots of rain, and rallies cancelled, we have not been out with the caravan for a while and with a good weather forecast for a few days, we decided to have a short 4 night break with Kim, Lee and family. We booked in at Fountain Farm, a C&CC five van site, Watton between Driffield and Beverley, and also close to the East Yorkshire coast. It is a very good site with plenty of room for the kids to play and have a good run about, also a small play area is provided. Some of the farm buildings are now use for a children’s day nursery! The farmyard dates back to 1786.

 Ideal for the kids and also for dog walking, there is a small woodland walk of about a mile or so. Lots of trees, plants, a pond and wildlife and if the kids want to go off and explore, plenty of information boards explaining what they may see. It is safe and all they have to do is follow the arrows, so they do not get lost and get back.

The East Coast and its great beaches are not too far away, Hornsea 20 miles and Bridlington 26 miles. A day was spent on the beach at Hornsea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weather was good, giving time to sit out, relax and have a drink or two and of course chance to see the BBQ again, yes three BBQ’s and the local Spar shop had Scrumpy cider.

 

 

 

And yes, the heavy shower did miss us!

May Bank Holiday, Chipping, Lancashire – May 4-6, 2012.

Went to the C&CC Mountain Activity Section Rally on the showground at Chipping in the Forest of Bowland.  

Kim and family also came in their trailer tent.  It is a nice area and we have been a few times over the years.  At least the weather was good although very cold at night.

From the showground you get nice views of Parlick, Longridge Fell and in the distance Pendle Hill.

 

Chipping is mentioned in the Doomsday book and is a very nice village, although now the village shop is closed and lots of houses are up for sale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a few walks around the country lanes and village, while Kim and family paid a visit to the Wild Boar Park down the road.

Even had time in the nice weather to give the caravan a wash!!

The weather had a bad forcast, rain for Bank Holiday Monday, so we packed up dry and came back home on the Sunday evening.

 

Lincolnshire – April 27–30, 2012.

Stayed at a nice 5 van site just North of Boston, Bridges Lakes at Old Leake. The site has Carp fishing lakes with hard standing (small loose gravel) and the awning pegs do not get a good grip.

 

All that can be said about this long weekend; very, very wet and very windy.  Not much to do but drink plenty of tea and coffee, the stronger stuff came later on our visits to see mother, Sue liked to drive back on the flooded side roads, with water splashing all over.

 

Had to re-peg with longer ‘V’ shaped steel pegs to get a grip in the ground under the gravel.

 

 

 

 

 

Did see a fisherman and he had some nice size fish in his keep net, before he let them go.

 

Lincolnshire was famous for it’s airfields and bombers in WW2, therefore named ‘Bomber County’ and it tastes good!

The sun did shine with blue sky on the Monday, when it was time to pack up and go home.

 

Easter – April 6 – 9, 2012

We attended a Camping and Caravanning Club rally at Bishopthorpe, York; not to far a drive from home, at that time there was the scare of a fuel shortage! The first field was full and the second field soon become nearly full after we arrived, a popular venue.

Bishopthorpe is a small village on the outskirts of York and reference is made about the village in the Doomsday book. The rally field was flat and with easy access to the cycle network to York and beyond and also to Selby. Bishopthorpe Palace is the residence of the Archbishop of York. The weather was not too good compared with the mini heat wave a week before.   We had a few walks alongside the river Ouse and did manage a drink outside the Social Club in the bit of ‘sun’ on Easter Sunday; Sue attended the Easter service at the village church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also had a meal out on Saturday evening, went to the village, got fish and chips and ate them in the village penfold; in medieval times all the stray cattle were rounded up and stored there, some nice seats for a couple of strays! and we did enjoy the fish and chips.

Another caravanner parked his car next to us, thought I was seeing double (maybe too much wine) he had the same Octavia model, same colour, ordered at the same time and built at the same time and we both agreed on what a good towcar the Octavia is, at least for our needs.

The weather was forecasted for rain on Easter Monday so we decided to pack up and come home a day early.

Rufforth, York – February 24-26, 2012

The first time out since October 2011, gave us chance to try out the Octavia as a towcar and we went to a Camping and Caravanning Club 5 van site at Rufforth. It is part of the local sports club and the area was part of Rufforth Airfield in WW2 with hard standing / grass and electric hook up and at £8 a night not too expensive. I think the hard standing we were on was a dispersal area for Halifax bombers that were stationed there.

We had a walk around a wildlife conservation area, just off the A64, Askham Bog. It was formed 7 million years ago, and then the Romans made good use of this boggy area by digging out the peat for their fires, the holes then filled in with water to make it as it is today, with lots of plants and wildlife. Spring was starting with leaves starting to come out and plenty of catkins out, also snowdrops, crocus, daffodils and tulips all out at the same time!

The airfield is used by gliders and micro light aircraft and was good watching them taking off and flying around.

The Octavia is very good for towing and really very pleased with it, there is more power than the Citroen and it pulls well with plenty of power to spare.

And Sue likes it!

Our New Tow car.

The Citroen C5 started to develop problems, it was going to start to cost in repairs to keep it going, so we started to look around for a new car. Wanted a car no bigger than the C5 so it would fit in the garage, had to have a kerbwieght of 1,500kg for a good match with the caravan, better traction for getting off muddy rally fields and plenty of load space. Looked at plenty of car makes, Kia, Jeep, Ford, VW, etc., etc. and then the decision was made. Decided on a Škoda due to lots of good reports and test results from caravanning magazines and other owners, the specification and price was also good.

We placed an order for a Škoda Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4×4, 138Bhp, in June 2011. We got a phone call from the dealer in November, to tell us it was to be built w/c December 5, we then took delivery January 16, 2012. There was a seven month wait, due to the demand for VW diesel engines. It met all the criteria and with a good towing match of 82%.

At the dealer with it’s protection wraps still on.

Now it is home.

Visit to the Swift Caravan Factory – November 24, 2011

I met up with another 23 members of the Swift Talk Forum, for the visit to see how caravans are built. We had a presentation first on the history of Swift, followed by presentations from the various teams; design, technical, production and customer services. We also learnt how Swift test their caravans including the design for streamlining and airflow to reduce drag. We were also told about quality control and how they react to feed back from dealers, the forum and us, the customer.

Then the tour started, where we saw wood and aluminium brought into the production sheds at one end and caravans coming out at the other end. We started at the cutting shed, where all the wood is cut to shape, then on to the laminating lines. The floors are then produced and bonded with insulation; moving on to see how the caravan sides are produced, inner boards with the wooden frame structure in place. The sides are then bonded with insulation and the aluminium outer skin, large machines do this. Into another shed to see all the furniture, cupboards and kitchens made and all the other associated parts, these are bundled up ready to go to the production line. On to the GRP shed to see how the caravan fronts and rear ends are moulded and produced.

The production line is where all the parts come together. The floors are laid out and the Alko chassis is fitted on, followed by the axles with the wheels. Next is the pipe work for gas and water, then the cables, 230v & 12v, all fitted to be connected up later. The chassis then moves along to where all the cupboards and other fittings are fixed to the sides.  The sides are finally lifted, fitted and sealed to the chassis. Water heaters, ovens, toilets are now fixed inside and connected up. The front and backs are now fitted, road lighting, follow by the windows, door and fridge vents. At the end of the line, graphics are put on the caravan. Here is the final quality check and then the caravan is signed off as ‘completed’. After this the caravans go for final cleaning, then to storage awaiting transporters to take them off to the dealers and the eagerly waiting customer.

Settle and Walton on Thames, May 27 – June 4, 2011

The BCC Rally (THS) was held at Lodge Barn Langcliffe, in the small market town of Settle. A very good field, in fact 2 fields and full, with a short walk into Settle for shops, cafes and pubs. Of course the rest of the Yorkshire Dales are in easy reach, with good walking, cycling (road and of road) or just take the car. You can also take a ride on the senic Settle to Carlisle railway, over the Ribblehead Viaduct with fantastic views of wild Yorkshire.

The forecast for the Bank Holiday weekend was cloudy but dry (it was on the Friday and Saturday) but they forgot to mention the wind and rain Sunday and Monday, it did stop in the late afternoons though and started again in the night.

So a nice short 24 mile bike ride to Ribblehead Viaduct on Saturday, to have a look at the 3 peaks, walked them years ago, got the badges and blisters. Good exercise, peddling uphill into a strong head wind, but good on the way back!

On Monday, got a bit worried due to the rain and was hoping for an early start Tuesday and would we have to be towed off. The rain did stop and the sun came out, the ground seemed OK. Told the steward we would be leaving at 7.30 am, he said he would be on standby just in case I got stuck, no problem though, got off the field Ok in bright sunshine.

Then the scenic route to London; M6, M5, M42, M40, M25.

For the rest of the week, we were at C&CC site at Walton-On-Thames. A good site however a basic one, no toilet blocks just hook ups at 10 amp. The sun came out and temperature rose to 25c.

Just down the road (5 miles) is Hampton Court and Henry’s Palace. The site is a peaceful one, being so close to London and has its own resident flock of parakeets. They were noted, when I opened the Heki roof blind to let the sun in and look at the blue sky one morning, what a mess, they left there mark! A mile down the road at Hersham, you can get trains into London.

Sue wanted to meet with an old school friend who moved down there years ago, so we met up for a meal at a nice pub at Harts Boat Yard on the Portsmouth Road between Esher and Richmond, if you are down that way give it a try, good menu and food.

Got the bike out again for a couple of hours, 24 miles along the Thames to Richmond Park and back.

The next day (Thursday) I decided to follow part of the Sustrans route 4 from Hampton Court. The route follows the Thames to Richmond, then on cycle tracks through the town to pick up the Thames again and on to Teddington Lock. It then cuts through Ham and the common to Richmond Park and on to the London Wetlands Centre and then back along the river to Putney Bridge. The route is on minor roads now missing all the London traffic as it makes it way through Chelsea and comes out on Chelsea Embankment. Then on to some blue road lanes (cycles only) and on to Westminster and the Houses of Parliament. Here a short rest, to get some energy back (bananas and malt loaf) then back to the site. Stopped off at the Eight Bells in Putney for a quick pint of Fullers London Pride (in York the other week, paid £1.70, here £3.50 pint!!!).

So a good 50 mile bike ride, in just under 5 hours including a pub stop and photo stops.