Class 40 Diesel Gala, East Lancs Railway, 11th to 17th April.

Well we were soon off to Burrs Country Park CMC site for the gala celebrating 60 years of the Class 60 Diesel Locomotive.
We had a good run up, this time using the M6 toll to avoid the congestion on the M5 around Birmingham.
The site was very full when we arrived, but we still managed to get a pitch on the edge of the railway.
As usual we met up with Kathy and Rob, and shared many meals with them.
This time though Robert and Kathy came down to us twice to share meals in our caravan.

On the Thursday City of Wells was running, so I took the opportunity of using one of my members tickets to travel up and down the line behind her.

On the Friday morning the Diesel Gala started and we had trains hauled by class 60's going up and down the line. Robert and I went out to play trains for the day! I can honestly say I have never seen the trains so busy!  At times we could not find a seat!

Now let the pictures do the talking!

 

 

 

They made quite an impressive display

On the Saturday we rode the trains again, with Mark joining Robert and I.
At about 5.00 pm Kathy collected Lizzie and together with Dennis they joined us at Bury Station.

Dennis did want to pose by City of Wells that was taking the dining train out on the Saturday evening.

We spent a day doing some shopping on the Monday, before Robert and Kathy came down for dinner!

We cleared up on Tuesday, and owing to a broken Jockey wheel the warden helped us hitch up. We left by 10.30 and headed home. We reached Chipping Sodbury Caravans just before 3.00, and they soon had it fixed!
A great trip away!

Uplands CL, Chittlehamholt, Umberleigh. 2nd to 4th April

 Our review says it all!

Well what an absolutely fantastic site!

Access road are narrow, but if you follow Clare and Colin’s instructions there are plenty of passing places, there instructions are better than the club instructions!

On arrival at the site we were served with tea, or coffee and biscuits, very welcome after a long bank holiday Monday drive!

Excellent welcome pack. All we needed to know!

The pitches are all large hard standings, with water and electric on each pitch. Superb views over the beautiful countryside.

As for the shower and loo, well they are better than most people have at home.

The information area contains all the leaflets for the area and a book and DVD loan area!

The pub next door is due to reopen in the next few weeks! They were taking deliveries as we left, so it cannot be far away!

Recycling on site, and a superb community shop two minutes from the site.

Once we were all set up, Clare and Colin came down to check all was well, a really nice touch.

We were only there for two nights, but are back again in July for a week!

When we left, Clare and Colin gave us instructions for the best way out of the site back to the motorway! Again superb ones!

Now for the downside ...........Nope, cannot think of anything!

We did get to see Jade, James, Josie and Jack on Monday and Tuesday, and had a lovely time.

Views over open country side!

We are at the site again in a few days so will take lots more photos!

Hurn Lane CMC site, Brean.

Well we decided that we would pop down to Brean for a week. For those who do not now about Brean, it has amazing long beaches, and it is lovely just to sit there reading and watching the sea, even if it is half a mile away.
Brean is also made up of many huge caravan sites, each with swimming pools, clubhouses, bars and restaurants.  Well Hurn Lane CMC site has just 139 pitches, mostly hard standing and a toilet block.
We pitched up opposite a line of pitches that were not in use as the electric had failed. Gave us a good view across the site though.

Empty pitches as the electric hook ups were awaiting repair.

We went into Burnham on the Friday to do the weeks shopping.

On the Saturday I drove to Wellington to collect a beer engine that Robert had bought on Ebay.
We then went to the beach and Lizzie was driving up and down. First time in two years that she had been behind the wheel. It was a nice day, albeit a trifle chilly.

Brean Beach

The Sunday was Palm Sunday so I decided to go to the 8.00am service, but could not find where the service was so I went to the 9.15 service at St Bridget's Brean, and it was a very good service. It was a really beautiful day so we ended up sitting outside the caravan for the first time in 2018.

Sitting outside the caravan in the spring sunshine.

 I then cooked a proper Sunday Dinner!

Roast Gammon with all the trimmings

We met up with Danna and Pete in Weston Super Mare on Monday at the Atlantic Fish Bar, and had some amazing Fish and Chips. It was good to see Donna and Pete as we have not seen them for a few months.

Tuesday and Wednesday were quite wet days , particularly over night! So much so that neighbouring sites were cancelling their grass pitches for the forthcoming Easter weekend.
Fortunately it dried up on Wednesday during the day and we were able to get the awning down dry.
We then left on the Thursday and had a good run home.