Leek and Bury

Well it was soon time to head off again. Our first site was to be Blackshaw Moor, Leek, which is in the southern Peak District.
We had a good run up, taking about three hours and found the site very easily.
Overnight it was very wet and windy, but we survived.

Pitched up at the top of the site.

Sunset over the site.

We popped into Leek to do some shopping and discovered that their Waitrose had recently closed down, so it was off to Morrisons.

Leek has quite a decent shopping centre which I enjoyed wandering around.

Robert and Kathy, and Dennis of course, came to join us on the Sunday, and we set off to the Churnet railway.    www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk.

Dennis being a big softie.

Our engine running around the train

We enjoyed the ride, especially the long haul up the Ipstone incline! Good to hear an engine working that hard.

A great day out.

As the weather was looking good Lizzie and I decided that we would head to the National Tramway museum at Crick. The weather was remarkable  and we were able to ride a tram and the wander round the rest of the village. Another great day out.

This is the tram that was running on the day of our visit.

The drivers view going up the track.

The Tram shed. Each track has at least three trams on it.

Inside the museum

We set off for Burrs CC site in Bury on the Wednesday . Although we have been to this site many times before, this was our first time since the new pitches had all been opened up. First impressions were good, although there does seem to be an awful lot of fully serviced pitches.

On the Thursday I bought a new to us Discovery Sport, for delivery in about 10 days.

We spent Friday watching a steam charter train chugging backwards and forwards on the railway, before setting off for Bury Market.

The site was absolutely full on the Saturday

Saturday was the start of the East Lancs Railway Steam Gala. So Robert and I set off to spend the day riding on different trains.

 We were joined at Lunch time by Mark and his Dad. We did spend time at Ramsbottom and Rawenstall away from the trains whilst we visited a few local hostelries.

They watched me as I took the photo!

We spent Sunday watching the trains again, before joining Kathy and Rob for Sunday dinner.

Pulling away from Burrs Country Park Station'

On Monday we drove down to Stretton to meet up with my cousin Tony and his wife for lunch. Good to seem them again.

Tuesday saw us clear up and then a gentle run home.

Carrog Station Camp Site, North Wales.

10th of September saw us heading up to Carrog Station Camp Site, which is on the side of the Llangollen railway. www.stationcampsite.com
We were in a big field directly behind the station and had good views of the Station and the railway, which was operating steam trains every day.
Our nice new awning went up easily . Kampa Rally Pro 260, the poled version.

Carrog Station from the road bridge.

I enjoyed traveling on this DMU

Thhis engine had just run round the train to take it backwards to Llangollen

Carrog Station. The two storey building is a private house.

On the Tuesday we went to travel on the train, which was absolutely packed. Good ride up and down the line though, and it is very scenic. www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

Heading towards Llangollen

We went out for a run in the countryside up through Ruthin, before going on to Aldi in Llangollen for shopping. Very scenic area and enjoyed it. There was a storm forceast overnight, but apart from some heavy rain, the strong winds did not materialise.

On the Thursday we headed up North towards Rhyl and Prestatyn. Very showery day . When we got up to Rhyl and drove along the coast we were amazed at how many caravan sites there were, mostly statics with a few touring ones. We then went on to Flint, before cutting South to Mold and back to the caravan.
It was an excellent day out

Friday was again very showery, so Lizzie had a PJ day and I spent most of it up at the station, photographing trains.

Next to us on the site four families pitched up. There were very well organised and had a great weekend.

It really did rain overnight, but the sun came out, so I went up to the railway again to travel on the Diesel Multiple Unit that was running on the line.  It was built in 1958 and was in superb condition.

The  Diesel Multiple Unit.

Every day we watched coaches arrive at the station, loaded with tourists, who were going to ride the railway. Two coaches that arrived on the Sunday were full of American Tourists, who had come from a cruise ship that had berthed in Liverpool

Whilst up at the station on the Sunday I was invited up into the Signal Box that was a very interesting experience.

Inside the signal box.

The Ffestiniog railway was our destination.  www.festrail.co.uk We had a good run over to it and the journey on the train was good. Again the Photos can tell the story.

We ran out of gas on the Monday night, so I set off to find a Calor Lite bottle. Well they seem to be like hens teeth in North Wales. The Calor dealer in Llangollen did not have any, but he gave me a 6kg cylinder as long as I paid for the gas, and let me keep my Calor Lite, so I could exchange it elsewhere.

On the Wednesday we took a packed lunch down to the Bala Lake railway.
 www.bala-lake-railway.co.uk
It is a narrow gauge railway built on the track bed of a disused standard gauge railway.

Bala Lake Railway

On the Friday we departed at 10.45 for the Adventure Overland show on Stratford race course, where we met up with Robert and Kathy, Dennis the Dog, Steve and Barry.
www.adventureoverlandshow.net
 We had an excellent weekend and headed home late on Sunday afternoon,

Barry, Steve, Kathy, Dennis the dog, Robert and Liz

Our Stand.

Again an excellent few weeks away.

Sea Breeze CL, Appledore.

Well just five days at home and we were off down to Devon again, this time to a lovely little CL, (Caravan Club  Certified Location 5 Caravan Site)
We found the site easily and set up on what was a really lovely little site, that was beautifully kept.
We had never been to Appledore before and had decided to come here as James, Jade, Josie and Jack were staying in the town with Andy and Val, James's parents.
As we set up the awning roof split from top to bottom, caused by UV degradation, so it was repaired with gaffer tape!  It lasted the week though, and a new one, made of more substantial material was ordered during the week, to be delivered when we got home.
I did take a lot of photos, but they see to have escaped somewhere into space. A few remain though!

Sunday was a very hot day and we popped into Appledore for quick look, then back to sit outside the caravan.

On the Monday it was again very hot, so we made up a packed lunch and went to Westward Ho to join the 4 J's.
Westward Ho was very busy, but we managed to park, courtesy of the Blue Badge! We met up with the J's and spent a couple of hours with them before returning to camp to sit in the sun!
My thoughts on Westward Ho that it was very busy, and smelt of Fish, Chips and Candy Floss.

Sunset from the Camp Site

On Wednesday we drove over to Hartland Quay which was a stunning place.

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From there we went round to Hartland Point and I climbed up to look down on the Lighthouse.

The lighthouse looks very little from the top of the cliffs.

It was Andy's birthday on the Thursday so we all went out for an excellent dinner.

Friday was again a stunning day, and we spent it at Northam Burrows which is a country park.

Northam Burrows Country park, looking towards Appledore.

We drove home on the Saturday, through extremely heavy traffic.

Excellent week with only one damp spell, the rest of the weather being perfect.
Site cost £15.00 per night.

Adventures in South Devon.

Well a few days at home and then it was off down to South Devon for three weeks or so.
We traveled down on Saturday to Steamer Quay, at Totnes for just one night, where all it did was rain. The following morning we then made the short trip to Start Bay Caravan Club site.
It was an easy run through as being a Sunday morning the roads were very quiet.
We set up on a pitch right in the middle of the site, next to the service point.
We soon fell into life in Devon, enjoying some good weather, but on the Wednesday the rain was so hard that water flowed through the awning.

Devon in August!

During the week I also fitted USB ports to the front of the caravan! It makes a lot easier when charging the I pads.
Kathy and Rob arrived at their site, which was a couple of miles from us on Thursday, so the following day we popped up to see them .
On the Sunday we went out for dinner with them.



On the Monday I took Lizzie into Kingsbridge hospital for her carpal tunnel operation to be dressed. Excellent service from them, and we were to to go back every couple of days and they would change the dressings and when it was ready they would take the stitches out.
During the afternoon Zoe and Mitch arrived for their annual few days in South Devon
All of us, including Rob and Kathy went to the Tradesmans Arms in Stokenham for dinner.


Lizzie and I drove up to Torquay on Wednesday, where we stayed in the Premier Inn. It was quite nice to be spoilt for a few days. We spent Thursday wandering around Torquay, which, as far as I can recall I have never been to before. Discovered it was quite a nice town.

A different sort of Railway!  Enjoyed watching this !

Torquay Harbour

When we left on the Friday we drove over to Teignmouth where we had a lovely lunch with Angela and Alan. Good to see them again. Then it was back to the caravan.
Zoe and Mitch departed on Saturday morning, so life returned to normal.
We went up to join Rob and Kathy on Sunday for a barbecue. They now had all the family staying with them, so it was quite a lively affair.

Rob and Kathy's Barbecue

We spent the rest of the week wandering the area, Bee Sands, Hope Cove, Salcombe and Kingsbridge.

Britannia Fish restaurant and shop, Bee Sands

We also took the opportunity to ride on the miniature railway that runs along the quay side in Kingsbridge. www.kdlr.co.uk  

Riding the Railway

It was quite surprising how many people I bumped into from home. Most notable being Paul C, who like me is a past mayor of Chipping Sodbury. Amazingly he was staying in his caravan at Karragen, and had done the same thing for the last 30 or so years. Quite surprising that we had never bumped into each other before.
We also met up with Robert and Kathy a few times, before they departed for home on the Friday, and us on the Sunday.
An excellent, if damp at times three weeks.

One of my favourite views! Salcombe harbour and lifeboat!

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