Back to Woodhall Spa

Jubilee Park, Woodhall Spa.

Trip 19, 26th - 30th September, 2017

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You can always tell when it is getting towards the end of the season when we go back to Woodhall Spa. We are a week earlier than last year but we have  another couple of sites to fit in before November.

There is a bonus this year in that the swimming pool is open until the 1st of October. It is kept at 29c so warmer than outside and campers get in for half price. After lunch Sue decided that because the sun was out she would give it a try, I decided to watch the croquet instead. I will give it a go tomorrow. The pool only had half a dozen swimmers but by the time Sue had got out it was beginning to fill as the schools finished.

I had a wander around the grounds which were more colourful this year because we are a week or so earlier in the season. The rose garden was still in bloom.

The sun stayed out until after 5pm and then we retired to the van for a Chinese style chicken curry to end the day. 

Day 2:

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We walked to the Kinema in the woods to check on times but it was closed so we carried on our walk into town via the museum and then down the high street to check out the fish and chip shop. We continued on and found the Viking Way which took us to green lane that runs at the back of the campsite.

We walked past the campsite and out towards Woodhall Country Park but we turned right into the woods that ran by the golf course and eventually took us back to the Kinema, and from there back home. A total of 5 miles.

For tea tonight we had Beef Wellington, carrots, beans, potato and mushrooms.

Day 3:

Today was chill out day,so we got up late and walked to the cafe for a cuppa, Sue had a bacon and egg roll while I went for a cheese burger that was not good. The burger appeared to have been precooked and then reheated. The outside was quite chewy but hunger got the better of me. Outside the cafe was this decoration in the patio, but there was no explanation of what it was all about.

This afternoon Sue went for a swim while I stayed by the van with a beer and my kindle. Tea tonight was van made macaroni cheese.

Day 4:

Went for a walk around The Pinewood and then headed for the Petwood Hotel to see what changes had been made. The outside is being painted and there is a new terrace with plenty of tables and chairs. It was not warm enough to sit out today.

We found a relic from the war. The only remaining prototype of the Barnes Wallace bouncing Bomb.

Trip 19: 56 miles, 25.4 mpg, 29 mph av, 1 hr 52m  travel.

Iona goes to Cambridgeshire

C&CC Site, St Neots, Cambs

Trip 18: Sept 18th-21st

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The drive down to the St Neots site was very easy with most of the route on the A1, the final half mile was winding our way through a housing estate to find the narrow road to the site. Our Nozatec sat nav knew exactly where to go. When I checked in I was told that I could not have a grass pitch because of the recent rain so they had allocated us a hard standing pitch at the same price. We happen to be next to the only other Auto-Trail on the site, a Tracker FB. The same as our friend Carol has just bought. The pitch was right next to the river Great Ouse, hopefully it will not rain too much because we are on a flood plain.

We started to set up and I tested the cooker hob that I had mended, well I got working at the weekend after leaving it for months before I could get it fixed. It worked on cue.  Sue turned the water pump on that gave a few bursts and stopped working. Great, day one and no water. I checked the fuse,OK. I read the manual and it said to bypass the micro switch to see if the pump worked. I managed to unplug the wires and joined them with a paper clip, the pump worked. I cleaned the contacts as best I could without removing the pump and thank goodness the problem was fixed. 

We walked along the river to a weir and locks  and from there past a pub/restaurant into Eaton Socon. 

We had a walk around the church yard and the village green. Walking back we found an old lockup, that was used to hold villains in the distant past.

Back at the campsite we had a drink and Sue made a Chinese style curry which was better than a real Chinese curry.

Day 2:

Awoke at 9.00am, I just love the bed in Iona. Jobs done by 11.am so with the weather looking good we walked into St Neots. The walk took us over the river and through the riverside park. Then back over the river via the road bridge and into town. 

 
Sue needed to get the lottery tickets and some cash from the bank, then it was to M&S to find a special pie, unfortunately we could not find the exact pie Sue was looking for so we settled for Steak and Ale pie.

The next stop was B&M for some dehumidifier refills, the only problem was the shop was over a mile away. Off we set, we stopped to ask a lady where it was and she gave us some great directions which took us through the park and across a field to a long footpath.

We eventually ended at St Mary's church in Easton Socon , where we were yesterday, another 1/4 mile and we found the shop plus others on an out of town retail park. B&M did not have any of the refills we were after so about turn and head back to the campsite via the same path we took yesterday.
 

We saw a heron on the path in front of us just as it caught a frog, it swallowed it in one, looked at us and walked a bit further on and took to the air as we approached.

Sue made some sandwiches for lunch and we spent the afternoon reading and progressed to sitting outside when the sun came out. There were five men fishing along the riverbank but I didn't see them catch anything although this morning there were lots of roach near the bank. The river is quite quiet and only three boats went by this afternoon.

Day 3:

Sculptures near the Park entrance

Sculptures near the Park entrance

Today started as overcast and dull, and this was when we were all ready to go by 9.30am. When we did leave we walked along the river to the park, taking a different route we found another park the other side of the main road. Walking along the river we found a large number of Swans that were convinced I had some food. 

Over head we had a display by a Hawker Hunter classic fighter. We walked around the meadows park and back to the van where Sue cooked some crusty bread to go with Smoked Salmon and Mussel Chowder for lunch.

I had an interesting conversation with a fisherman who explained the ins and outs of fishing with a roach pole while still catching fish. We have some new neighbours arrive in a converted Mk1 Renault Traffic van, which was completely covered in some great artwork.

Day 4:

We stayed around the van this morning and after lunch we went for a walk towards the weir and locks, but we took a different route that turned out to be less hazardous than following the path next to the river. We saw a kestrel hunting in the grass and another green woodpecker. 

We passed our neighbours as they were walking their dogs so when we got back to Iona I made a point of taking a picture of the other side of their camper van.

Trip 18: 1131 miles, 29.6 mpg, 40mph av, 3.25 hrs travel.

The National Forest beckons

Ingles Hill Farm,  Ashby de la Zouch,

Trip 17: Sept 11th-13th

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Day 1:

This trip is going to take us to the National Forest for a short three night stay. We needed to get Iona back to Grantham Caravans so they can check the broken gas hob valve and order a replacement under warranty, however they have since told me they want £60 to do an inspection before they order the replacement part. Appointment cancelled.

The site has 6 pitches and a large rally field. We were on some hard standing looking out onto the National Forest. The wind is fairly strong today but the pitch is sheltered. I went for a quick walk around the woodland planting but it was very wet and it soon started to rain. The rest of the afternoon was spent in the van reading.

Day 2: 

A great sunny morning so after breakfast we headed for the National Forest. The owners of the campsite, Mr & Mrs Stanley gave 16.7 hectares, about 42 acres, of farmland to the National Forest scheme, and the plantation on their land has been split into sections, each is enclosed with styles at various points. I have to say that the tracks tended to be circular so we made sure we moved from one plantation to another.

We found a plant nursery and attached to it is a RHS Arboretum, so we spent a bit of time looking at trees from various parts of the world. We made our way back to the van via another forest track. It had been heavy going in places and our legs were suffering when we got back. It was worth it and we had done almost 8000 steps, about 4 miles.

This will be a peaceful site but at the moment they are building a housing development nearby and there is the constant sound of banging as they pile drive the supports for the foundations into the ground.

Day 3:

Today we walked into Ashby de la Zouch, the walk was a bit longer than we thought but we found the high street and walked up the hill towards the church where we found signs to the castle ruins.

The Tower with spiral staircase

We paid and collected our digital guides and set off around the ruins. After a while it was obvious we were going in reverse order but we could still get the guide to tell us about each point. The kitchen was huge and there was an underground tunnel of about 50 yards long that lead to the main tower across a courtyard. The tower was blown up in the 1700s but there is still a large part remaining including the spiral staircase that takes you to the top. Sue declined but I thought I would give the 96 steps a go. On each floor there was a door into the tower, now they were doors onto the outside so each one was barred but I managed to get a picture of Sue on the ground. Near the top there was a stone bench that looked out over the ruins , I continued up to the top. I don't like heights but I managed to take a picture looking across the ruins but leaning over to look down was sometime I could not do.

The castle was three stories high and you could see ornate fireplaces on different levels on the walls, great sockets that once held huge beams to support the floors, on the outside there were dents in the stone work made by musket balls. There was a chapel within the castle and a great hall with ornate stonework. Overall it was very interesting and the mixture of commentary and information boards gave you a sense of how it was in the 1600/1700s.

The tunnel from the Kitchens to the Tower

A View from the Tower

On top of the tower

One of the ornate fireplaces

We met Henry the tame squirrel, he goes into the gift shop if the door is left open.

Henry the tame squirrel

The walk home was all uphill and it was great to get back to the van for a cup of tea and a sandwich. The weather turned and the wind and rain came back with a vengeance, the rest of the day was spent reading.

Trip 17:

114 miles, 32 mph,  25.7 mpg, 3.5 hours.