Morn Hill CC Site, Winchester. 31st July

We had arranged to meet Kim and Graham to celebrate his 60th birthday, so we decided that we would give Morn Hill CC site a try as it is quite close to their home.
Had a good run down through Devizes and Andover, finding the site easily. The site is on two levels, and seems to be rather strangely laid out with the pegs that you pitch up to being in strange positions.
We opted for pitch 25, on the top field tucked away in a corner.  Then we discovered that there was no internet access!
We rose comparatively early on Friday and set off to Beaulieu to visit the Motor Museum. We had an excellent day there, as you will see from the photos that follow.

Jaguar XK140

One of the land speed record cars

Even I remember these

Early series one

New Forest Pony

On Saturday we were meeting Graham and Kim for lunch at 2pm, so we had a lazy morning.  Some excitement though as a car and caravan leaving a pitch near us became detached!  lots of noise as the caravan crashed to the ground.  Fortunately no apparent damage.  Then as we were setting off to meet Graham and Kim, a Car and Caravan leaving the lower site also became detached! Obviously no breakaway cable attached as the caravan careered backwards, demolishing the exit barrier and writing itself off!  Careless hitching up was the cause in both cases I would think.
Anyway off down to The Golden Lion to join Kim and Graham. We had an excellent lunch, despite there being a wedding reception in the same room. They had come inside as the marquee they should have been using was leaking.

Lizzie enjoying pudding!

After lunch we all went back to the caravan for drinks.

Sunday we had earmarked for a trip on the Watercress line that runs from Alresford to Alton.   We enjoyed the journey, even though much of the journey  was through cuttings. The railway though was well presented and very tidy. We were pulled by Lord Nelson, then a class 37, with Cheltenham bring up the rear.

Cheltenham

Lord Neson. On loan from the National Railway Museum

A very tidy station

The Engine Yard

Class 37 Diesel

An Austin A40 rally at the station

Winchester was our destination for Monday, so it was in there for coffee and a good wander round. It certainly has changed a lot since I was a student there.

Winchester Cathedral

King Arthur

Cleared up on Tuesday before departing for home. We popped the caravan back to storage as we will not be away now for about 10 days.

MaythorneCamping and Fishing Campsite, Southwell, Notts. 23rd July

We had intended to go up and stay with Stuart, Nic and Scarlet, who live at Maythorne in a top floor apartment, up three flights of stairs. Unfortunately Lizzie fell and hurt her leg which made walking more difficult than it normally is. So a hasty change of plans and we decided to take the caravan and stay on the site next to where they live.
I collected the caravan from storage, came back home to load up and collect Lizzie. We then drove up the M5 as far as the Tewkesbury turning. We then got on to the A46, which we followed until we got to the Southwell turning. The journey was a very pleasant one, taking just over 3 hours, covering 147 miles. We found the site easily, and it really was close to Stu and Nic's apartment, just about 100 yards.

We started setting up and soon Stuart and company arrived, armed with Beer and Wine. It was a very hot afternoon so we set up in a leisurely way, ably assisted by Scarlet.

On the Thursday all of us went to Lincoln. Had a good wander round the cathedral and then down a very steep hill to the old town.  There are some very steep hills there!  Enjoyed the town, and purchased some new sandals.

Fine old buildings in Lincoln

Lincoln Cathedral

We then drove back to the camp site for a BBQ by the caravan

Friday was spent in Southwell, which is a lovely little town, especially the Minster.

The inside of Southwell Minster.

Stuart and Nic have bought a bell tent so that they can go camping back in Zimbabwe, so we spent a couple of hours putting that up.  For the evening we all enjoyed a BBQ.

The Tent

Saturday was a really hot day so Lizzie and I decided to go to Skegness as it was not far away. When we got there, a look was enough, we did not even get out of the car. Skeggy was absolutely heaving, and just seemed to be miles of amusement arcades, cafes and static caravans.  Blackpool looks good compared to this place.

We then tracked our way north up the coastal road in the direction of Mablethorpe. As we went along we came across some absolutely cracking beaches that stretched for miles and were virtually deserted.

On Sunday we all went out for lunch at a local pub, along with Norman and Sandra, Nic's parents.  It was very good to meet up with them again. As for the meal, it was a carvery and the meat was excellent. As for the vegetables, well...........

Stuart and Scarlet

We then sat outside the caravan in the sun for the rest of the day.

On the Monday morning we cleared up in the warm weather, before saying farewell to Stuart, Nic and Scarlet, as they were returning to Zimbabwe in a couple of days, and we are unlikely to see them in the flesh until next summer. It was really good to see them.

Nic and Scarlet

We drove home and put the caravan on the drive as we were off again in a few days.