Monday 10 February 2014

Hunters Moon CC Site, Wareham, Dorset.

Well we should have gone to Minehead CC site, but that is really a bit of a dreary site with lots, and I realy mean lots of gravel and not much grass!  So we settled on Hunters Moon site,which was to be a new one for us!
It really is a pleasant drive down to Wareham through Bath, Warminster and Blandford. When heading this way it always makes us feel as if we should be on our way to France, as we travel this route on our way to our channel crossing from Poole.   Oh well that is a few weeks away!

We set upon pitch 47, and then realized that we had forgotten a few things, principally the awning!  That is a result of not making a list of what needs to be moved from the garage to the caravan!  During the winter we tend to keep a few thingsin the garage rather than storing them in the caravan.

After a good nights sleep,I was up early for a quick trip home! Despite the bad weather we have been having it was a beautiful day!   Fortunately without the caravan on the back it is not too much of an arduous journey.  I was back at the site by one, to be greeted by a full cooked late breakfast prepared by Lizzie! Then it was off to explore Wareham, and a bit of afternoon tea! Itisamazing how our life revolves around food and drink.

On the Wednesday, another beautiful day it was off to Poole as we needed toiloet fluid.  We then drove through Sandbanks, admiring the expensive houses. We then did a first for us and crossed on the chain ferry to Studland!



There was a market advertised in Wareham for Thursday, so we decided to visit it.  One stall,so that was a waste of time. We decided to head back to camp via Bovingtion Tank museum. Did not pay to go in, as I have been before,but enjoyed looking at the static exhibits.  Then we went round to the viewing area where we were able to see some tracked personnel carriers running about!



Friday was wet all day, so time for some reading!  When I say wet, it was absolutely horrible!

Saturday was bright and clear, but very windy, so as we were going out for the day the awning was packed away.  We set off for the Norden station on the Swanage railway.  This railway operates every weekend of the year,and for late spring, summer and the autumn it operates everyday of the week. We caught the train and had a super journey through beautiful countryside to Swanage. I have to say this is another superb railway. Everything was neat and tidy.



 As we rode through their storeage area, everything was lined up really neat and tidy!  I think we will ride on this railway again in late spring or summer.  After coffee in Swanage, we returned on the train,sitting on the other side of the carriage, so we could enjoy different views.



From there we drove down through Studland to the ferry to Poole, as we needed to purchase some evening dinner.

Sunday was a beautiful day. No need for coats as we cleared up.

We had intended to stay here for only three nights, but as the railway was open and the weather, apart from Friday was excellent, we stayed for six nights!

One comment about the Hunters Moon site is that as it was very quiet, one ablutions block was closed, which I have no problem with. However, even though it was closed, the heating was going full blast and the lights were all blazing away.  I thought that the Caravan Club were trying to save money by not using so much electricity.

Home now,planning our next trip!



2014 Gets Underway

On the 10th of January we set off for Broadway Caravan Club Site, which is at Broadway in the Cotswolds.

We pulled on to the site, which is built on the old Broadway Station Goods Yard.  The site was nice and bright in the sun. We pitched up ready to set up which usually takes us about 45 minutes, Lizzie doing the inside and me doing the outside! But inside there were signs that we had been invaded by little furry things that could have made themselves at home!  All the big things were emptied out, fortunately it was dry and sunny. I made sure there were none in residence and Lizzie went throught th caravan making it cleaner than it had ever been before.
Slept well that night considering.

The Saturday dawned bright and sunny so after a leisurely breakfast it was off to Broadway for coffee. Brodway is certainly a lovely Cotswoldy place - lots of Antique shops and  very busy with visitors.


We then drove on to the spectacular Broadway Tower, 300m above sea level, where it is said you can see 16 counties!






Then home for prawn cocktail and steak for tea, cooked on the Cadac of course!

Sunday was a contrasting day to the Saturday, dull and a bit Chilly.  We drove to Toddington station which is on the Gloucester Warickshire railway. It had been advertised that the station cafe was open,but unfortunately it was not!  However the station looked immaculate, unlike the Dean Forest Railway that we visited a few weeks ago.Next time we are up this way we will come back to visit this station, and have a ride on the railway.


We drove on to Winchcombe for coffee. I have never been here before.It is a rather typical Cotswold town, with plenty of little independent shops. We found a building that was once a Doctors surgery, and had been converted to an antique shop with a small cafe.  Enjoyed excellent beverages and were able to browse the antiques at the same time.

We left Winchcombe, heading west for the ridge high above the town, when the fog came down. There was nothing for it but to head back to the caravan

Monday produced good weather again, so we decided to visit Evesham as we needed to get Jade a 21st birthday present. Before doing that though we went to see the very first touring caravan that is displayed in the old goods shed on the site. This caravan certainly is spectacular. It was pulled by two shire horses.  There is a full record of it travels displayed on the walls around the caravan.

From there we went to Evesham to complete the shopping before heading back to Broadway for coffee.

Tuesday was another nice day so we were able to clear up easilly before leaving the site and heading back to storeage!
Another good break!