Iona goes to the Coast

Bridlington Yacht Club.

We are going back up north, over the river Humber to Fraisthorpe just south of Bridlington, Yorkshire. We were very near here last year and it was a great seaside venue, only 300 metres to the beach. This year the campsite is even closer.

Now that we consider winter has gone the motorhome has been re-equipped with the summer kit, gone is the winter storage box with the wellies and waterproofs. It has been replaced with the pop up gazebo and an extra table. We can only hope that the weather continues as summer. This brings up another motorhome anomaly , weight. This year we will go to the Mountains Transport weighbridge and check both axles as well as the overall weight. This is also a requirement to get the correct tyre pressures or so I was told.............

Although we have all we need regarding kit in the motorhome, we found that we were carrying a lot of drinking water when every site has at least one drinking water tap. I have bought a 2.2 Litre bottle and a couple of 1 litre bottles so that we can fill up on site as opposed to buying bottled water. The other advantage is that these new bottles and two extra drink bottles are all BPA free and can be used without the fear of ingesting plastic from the plastic.

Another problem was charging both iPads and iPhones at once. To overcome this I have bought a dual cigarette lighter socket and I found a twin usb point that fits any cigar lighter socket. We can now charge all the iPads and phones without having to have charging leads everywhere. 

The final preparation was cleaning Iona. There has been a build up of dirt and green algae in the panel joins so I decided to clean them with a paint brush. I got a bit carried away and ended up on the roof giving a full clean to the entire van. Three hours later I had finish what was mean to be a quick makeover.

After a day away at our daughter’s for her birthday we had a day at home before leaving for Fraisthorpe near Bridlington. I just checked the Leeds District website to make sure the event was still on and it became apparent that they had put a lot of restrictions in place, plus there was only one fresh water tap during the day and at the weekend you could only leave at certain times.

I was not happy with these new rules or the fact that it joins a car park that could see over 1000 cars at the weekend. I rang the other campsite that we had used last year and they had space so I discussed it with Sue and we decided to change the venue although we will lose our small deposit on the other site. 

The Humber Bridge

We set off the following day via Newark to avoid the traffic through Lincoln, we then headed north to the Humber bridge which is a spectacle on it’s own. Then on around Beverley and up to Wilsthorpe near Bridlington to the campsite. The site is easier to get to than Fraisthorpe and the access road is a bit better with passing places.

By the time we arrived the wind was up around 20mph and it took us far longer to get set up with the windbreak out.

After lunch we walked along the beach to check out the Fraisthorpe site and I am glad we moved. Access was a bumpy field track and the pitches were not very level with some on a ridge and furrow field. The wind seemed to get up as we made our way back to Iona but at least everything was still standing and working when arrived back.

The site we were booked at.

There was a cold wind today.

We sat outside for a while but it was not that warm and we retired inside for tea.

Day 2:

This morning the wind is still here along with the clouds and there is a little sea mist but the forecast gets better as the morning progresses. We went for a walk on the beach and luckily we were wrapped up because the wind was cold but there was a great smell of the sea. Something went wrong and although we were only going for a short walk suddenly we were on the prom at Bridlington and only a few hundred yards from the new Lifeboat Station. After a quick look at the new RNLI building which was just a building site when we visited last year, Sue suggested that we may as well walk to the harbour as the tide was in.

Bridlington Harbour

We walked around the harbour, checked out the fresh fish and started back home. Now the sun was out from behind the clouds and the wind had eased. When we got back to Iona it was warm enough to sit outside and have a drink, cider in my case. We walked down to the beach and sheltered from the wind in the sand dunes for an hour, reading and people watching, then back to Iona for the rest of the afternoon ,  sitting outside and reading while Sue also got some knitting done for Katie’s blanket.

Later this afternoon we were treated by a fly by of a Coast Guard helicopter that then landed further up the beach and was greeted by two RNLI  vehicles and about thirty lifeguards. It was an exercise of some sort and the large helicopter made severaval circuits and landings as well as hovering over the ‘casualty’ for several minutes.

Coast Guard exercise with the lifeguards

Day 3:

It was a better day today so after a late start we completed all the normal jobs and at about 11.00 am we went for a walk along the the beach, this time in an opposite Direct to Bridlington. After about half an hour we stopped and realised that the tide was on the way in so we turned around and headed back to Iona.

The sea is reclaiming the land

WW2 defences

Sand Martin Nest holes

The walk took just over an hour and we settled for lunch outside where we spent most of the afternoon, reading and Sue with her red nose did some knitting. 

Tea tonight was Steak, onion rings and chips, washed down with a glass of Merlot.

We stayed in the van and watched a bit of television and also watched all the new arrivals as the stewards took them to their pitches, how sad is that. Tomorrow is forecast to be wet so all the chairs and tables are packed away just in case.

Day 4:

We awoke to rain and more rain as it continued to lunchtime. Thunderstorms were forecast with the rain finally clearing tonight. Today was spent in the van reading. Without sun to charge the batteries we could not watch TV during the day. We went for a short walk in the afternoon and found a shop in the holiday village next door . Next time we don't have to walk the two miles into Bridlington.

Trip 7: 204 miles, 27.4 mpg, 33 mph, 6 hours travel.

Iona returns to Empingham Reservoir

All set up

Our planned trip to Hatton Country World was cancelled due to last weeks wet weather and the venue is waterlogged. We have been stuck before on muddy grass so a wet rally field is a bit off putting. So we have planned to go to Lyndon top which is basically 117 acres of grass field. The difference is that Lyndon top has been an all year venue for years so we should be OK.

 

The View today

 For once there is no wind blowing a gale. Our new milenco ramps are much easier to use and we are level without being right at the top which is a bonus compared to the old ramps which were smaller. The sun is about despite the cloud cover that keeps drifting across. We have parked next to a small caravan to keep the row straight. We have a great view of Rutland Water but the gap between two units will no doubt be filled. We could have parked there but it looked a bit narrow, until we had set up, but it is too late to change now.  Day 2: The site filled up yesterday evening  but we are not crowded in .    

 

Getting busy

The gap in front of Iona was too tempting and the warden put a camper with a small tent there, then later on a motorhome arrived. Still we still have a view and the sun is out so it should be a good day.   

 

Our view this evening

I had a chat with the wardens about the state of the elsan point and how the tap is in the wrong position and is unusable. The new warden said he had no screw drivers and there was no flexibility in the pipe. Well I hate to think what it will be like by Monday with about 300 caravans and motorhomes using it. I was not impressed with his attitude. We went for a walk to the visitor centre to get an ice-cream. We were about 200yds from the entrance and we heard the ice-cream van arrive at the site. We ignored the chimes and continued to the visitor centre. 

 

Rutland Water is known for it’s breeding pairs of Ospreys. The Ospreys have returned and the first egg was laid in March and the clutch of eggs is due to hatch very soon. Apparently This was the earliest an egg has been laid since 2001. 

 
Back at Iona there was no wind, the temperature outside behind the windbreak has reached 100f / 38c, the hot weather was taking it’s toll on the fridge, the kitchen sink was hot and the temperature above the cooling fins was 52c. I installed some extractor fans and a temperature sensor last year. I switched it to automatic and it soon reduced the temperature to 35c which enables the cooling fins to do their job and cool the fridge at the same time cooling the sink.  We had two new motorhomes turn up, the first one parked in front of an existing van and they asked if it was ok, then later their friends arrived and parked next to them. Then it all kicked off with a woman in a neighbouring motorhome shouting at them for blocking their view, and further arguments followed, the site manger was called and the different parties split up and peace was restored although it was obvious that arguments were still going on. 

 

This evening we had our first bar-b-que of the year using the cadac. We had a simple burger and bratwurst sausage but that was quite enough. We sat outside until about 9 pm and then retired inside before it got too cool. Day 3: The forecast is for another hot day, so we may just sit around Iona, read and people watch. We did have the Virgin hot-air balloon take off nearby. 

 

Virgin Balloon

     

Hawthorn

 

Gorse

 

Bluebells

Day 4: 

Preparing for the hottest bank holiday since records began. We got up fairly early, Sue had been woken by the toddler next door crying, luckily the grandchildren are going home today and we should have peace for our final day.  There is a steady stream of vans and caravans leaving today so this evening there may not be a queue for the elsan point. After breakfast and the normal jobs we went for a circular walk from the site along the reservoir and back.  We both thought it was longer than it was and although the steep hill was the final part i could have done it again.  Tonight we have gone Spanish, home made Paella on the cadac. 

Paella

 

The Final Sunset before we left

       Trip 6: 70 miles, 27.4 mpg, 34mph

Iona heads to Epworth

We have bought some Milenco Quatro ramps from a lady in Cambridgeshire. We need to pick them up the day before we set off for Epworth. This extra task will shorten the pre trip loading time so Sue has decided to load as much as she can on the Tuesday before we leave on a Thursday.

We drove to Chatteris and collected the ramps. By the time I added on the petrol and a McDonalds lunch it would have been as cheap to order new ones from ebay. Still we did get to see parts of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire that we have not visited for years. 

We had quite a good run up to Epworth although it was mainly on twisty A roads. The site itself is just along the high street behind a bungalow that was built in-front of the old farm house. The pitches are on fields behind the old farm yard that is being developed into a house. The fields lead up a hill to a converted windmill and what looks like a fire beacon of some kind.

Our friend Carol is going to join us in her motorhome on friday evening. This will be Carol’s first camping trip off grid. I think it will be quite an eye opener for her because as a caravaner she is used to having electric, and a toilet and shower block. We are going to have to train her in economic use of lights etc.

Carol's Motorhome

We went for a walk and followed a footpath alongside a former railway line although the cuttings had been filled in over the years making a hilly landscape. At the top of an incline we changed direction and headed towards one of two converted windmills.

The town is famous for it’s links with John Wesley and a church in the centre is named after him. We were surprised how many different shops there were, especially hair and beauty based salons. Restaurants are also many and varied, catering for all tastes.   

                                                              

Eventually we ran out of town centre and headed back to the campsite, although I did manage to get Sue into the White Bear public house. Here we sampled a pint and a wine. I have to say the ale was outstanding and it was only the price and time that stopped a second being purchased.

We walked back to Iona and found another gastro pub in a converted school, we bypassed it and soon arrived back at Iona. It is fairly apparent now that without the sunshine and no electric hook up we are going to have to manage the battery use. We limited the TV to a couple of programs and the heating fan needs to be on eco. Sue cooked a prawn risotto tonight but before I remembered to take a we had finished it so all I can show is the finished result.

 Day 2: We awoke to rain and it continued throughout the morning. After lunch we decided to go for a walk rain or no rain. Today we started our walk along the same footpath as yesterday. At the top of the hill we turned right along the edge of the hill looking down to the campsite.  

The path lead us to the windmill that we thought was converted to a house but it appeared to be intact but uninhabited.  A short walk further on there was the beacon that we could see from our campsite. There is a plaque on the post which hopefully you can read in the picture.     From here we reached the road and headed back the way we had walked yesterday but we continued past the railway cutting and followed another footpath back towards Epworth. 

Along the way I took a picture of the original one roomed Schoolhouse which has now been extended and attache d to a new build Methodist church.      It was beginning to look brighter as we got back to Iona but the rain continued as we settled down to a cup of tea, or a beer in my case. Our friend Carol arrived at about six and after setting up she joined us for supper. We had a great evening catching up and with plenty off laughs the evening flew by.     

Day 3: No sun or rain just another overcast day. The rain did arrive in the afternoon so the day was spent reading. In the evening we went to Carol’s van for supper and Sue persuaded us to play a children's game of cards where you describe something without saying certain words. Anyway we were confused by the rules so we made it up as we went along. It was not helped by the Jack Daniels liquor that made the game funnier as the evening progressed. Eventually we left Carol and went back to Iona while we could still walk. 

Day 4: It was a brighter day and after waving goodbye to Carol we walked into town where there is a garden centre. It was Sunday and the restaurant was very popular but we had the rest of the place virtually to ourselves as we walked around. 

Sue spotted a couple of donkeys so we walked over to see them, they were here on 6 weeks holiday before spending the summer on Skegness beach giving children rides. Sue bought an Acer plant and we walked back home via the Co-op, where we bought a few bits for lunch. 

On the way home we passed a building that was a Temperance Hall according to the signage on the gable end. Further on there is a spar shop which again has been converted from  religious buildings. One is not a style salon while the other houses the spar shop.  

Trip 5: 120.6 miles, 33 mph, 27.9 mpg, 3.5 hrs travel.