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.

Iona goes to Baston Fen

Windmill Farm Camping and Caravan site

Trip 16: August 29th-Sept 2nd

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We were looking for somewhere different instead of Rutland Water and we found this site very close to home. This should be a good move because the next trip is miles away.

After the hottest Bank Holiday Monday on record it looks like our trip at Baston Feb will be a lot cooler with the odd shower of rain. Tomorrow will be the test , we are nearly packed and the site is only 30 miles away.

The sat nav gave several routes but in some reviews they remarked about the very rough road. I picked the wrong route and we had two miles of rough road and approached the site via a blind 90' bend. Information gained later explained that as the peat bed shrinks, about 3cm a year, the road moves and adopts the undulations in the subsurface peat.

The warden Lorraine met us at the barrier and took us to our pitch next to a laural bush, so we set up in the triangle to cover all wind directions. Gazebo out and up and we were soon having a cup of tea and a sandwich for lunch.

After lunch we went to explore the camp site and found various mobile homes scattered about the fir tree wood, there is a carp pond as well if you like fishing. We wandered through the farm yard and in a secluded corner was a small fenced off area complete with a pig 🐷 , although we left feeling that the pig was dead, it was not moving and it was unresponsive to the noises we made.

A short distance along the road was a farm access bridge over the river Glenn and this then lead to the Baston Fen Wildlife reserve. We walked around the outside track an then followed a path to the high flood defence banks of the Counter Drain. Once on the top of the banks we could see for miles, and below us was the river Glen which is part of the fenland drainage system. We walked a couple of hundred yards and saw swans feeding in the wetlands of the nature reserve. Sue noticed a herd of cows in the distance grazing on the flood defences so we turned around and headed back for some steps I had seen earlier. The thought of Sue breaking her arm again pushed us on to find the steps.

Counter Drain

Back on level ground, thanks to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust steps and we headed back to the campsite, we passed the pig 🐷 who was now alive and well and having a good scratch.

Sat in the gazebo as the light showers arrive, it is a bit fresh but we will use this piece of kit no matter what. Gas bottle ran out this afternoon which just confirms that it will be worth getting a refillable system. So far this year we have spent £127 on gas bottles whereas the equivalent auto gas is £48, no contest it has to be done.

Day 2:

Rather overcast today but dry so I said to Sue, "let's go for a walk" . I suggested we walk along the top of the Counter Drain bank, Sue was a bit worried about the cows which were on the bank yesterday but today they were in a lower field, we got past them without problem much to Sue's relief. The next part of the bank had not been recently grazed and it was harder walking but eventually we came to the point to turn off the flood bank and follow a drovers road which took us past the new quarry workings and nearly into Baston village.

We found the Post Office / shop and bought sandwiches and chocolate bars. We made our way to the park and sat down and had lunch, we had been walking for two hours. We now had two options, go back the same way or take an easier route and follow the road. The easy route won and it was a quiet road where we could get onto the verge if vehicles came, but there was not a lot of traffic to worry about.

We stopped and looked at the old quarry pits that are now Lakes and we managed to put some two hundred geese and ducks to flight , they only flew over a track and landed on the lake next door. A bit further on Sue pointed out two Apache helicopters flying low and towards us. They were not more than 250' off the ground and you could see the pilots head of the one that passed directly overhead. I managed to fumble and get two pictures, one OK and one blurred.

Natures Red Arrows with Pink Feet

Low Level Apache

We did a slight detour and left the road to follow a farm track before rejoining the road some two hundred yards from the campsite. Our feet were throbbing and my hips were beginning to ache but we were home, we had been walking for 3.5 hours in total with a 15 minute stop for lunch. We had walked for 9 miles, I don't think I will be in charge of the next walk.

Tonight's Tea

Day 3:

After yesterday we decided to stay by the van, the sun was out and the forecast was good for most of the day. I went for a walk around the fishing pond. There were hundreds of small fish near the surface, mainly carp and roach.

Chilling with a Kindle

This afternoon I prepared the lobsters outside and cut our first butternut squash into chips ready for tonight. We were just washing up and heard a helicopter so we went outside just as a chinook came around the wood and over the campsite at no more the 250 feet, as it banked around you could see a crew member sat in the side doorway. They were that close you could see his flying helmet and the insignia on his flight suit. They were just too quick to get a picture, but they were much closer than yesterday's Apache helicopter gunships. That was today's excitement, although we have not had tea yet.

Tonight's Tea is Lobster in a brioche bun with garlic mayonaise and butternut squash 'chips'. It was good.

Day 4:

Chilling by the van all day. Rain forecast from five o'clock so at four o'clock we took the gazebo down and the carpet up as they were dry. The rain came at seven o'clock and it rained heavily on and off for an hour.

Chez Iona

Sue in her Wi-Fi position

Trip 16: 62 miles, 31mph, 27.6 mpg, 2hrs travel.