What are you all up to
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Millie, I totally understand. It's a situation that rapidly approaches due to age and ability and you've done very well to keep going this long. Once it becomes a struggle to live in the tin box, it's time to do other things.
Enjoy the alternatives out there.👍
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Millie Sorry to hear you are selling your caravan , as ,we have been told "you will know when it is time, to move on" we are now even going down the route of still using club sites(many friends still use their LVs )and as now we meet on sites, but with in the future us in cc alternative accommodation,, as per a conversation with others here a couple of days ago
Ps the new lidl on the old suger factory site is Good ,on the Oundle road
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My pleasure, you are worth every syllable(with due respect to Mr Mills too)😊
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Millie
It will be a decision that will probably face us all at some stage. Better that it's a thought through decision rather than being forced upon you. One of the reasons we changed to a motorhome was because of concerns that caravanning was likely to become more taxing, me with a hip replacement and Margaret with major heart surgery. I suspect COVID has also had an impact on us all with an enforced stop to our hobby for months on end. I hope the sale of the caravan goes well. It will probably seem strange at first but you might be surprise by the different opportunities that it offers. No reason at all why you shouldn't remain a member of the forum. Perhaps we need to start a new section for retired caravanners
David
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Sorry to read your news Millie but it will happen to us sooner than later, had an email from friends of ours and they have just sold their twin axle swift only used 4 times back to the dealer they bought it from, with Corvid and she had breast cancer last year now recovered and a new grand daughter last May they have bought a modern static van at Praa sands in Cornwall as all the family can use it plus the park has a swimming pool and bistro plus many other things to do on the park which will used by their family and they all love Cornwall.
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This issue was the very topic over lunch with OH. AS the years advance, cruising has much to commend it as would seem to be demonstrated by the demographic I see on the trips I've done.
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Our last day here today. We walked from Youlgreave back down to Lathkill Dale (maybe your route, WN, via Meadow Place Grange farm?) where we shared our coffee stop with this pair of nesting swans, mum (I assume) on the nest and Dad gently cruising up and down the river. Returned to Youlgreave via Bradford Dale which, if anything, is even prettier.
And then, this afternoon, strolled down through the village to Rowtor Rocks a curious collection of natural and man made caves and carved rocks, supposedly the scene of some sort of religious rites!
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Hi M.
Another lovely place to walk. I think the area you stayed in this week is one of the prettier places to stroll in the peaks, along with the dales around Tideswell area.
I know Meadow Grange Farm and we have done that when we park at the C.P. above Youlgreave and don't want to do the 10 mile one and cut back to the C.P. from Over Haddon region but One Grange Ash Farm is much nearer to Monyash just up the hill from the wooden bridge which is near the entrance (about half a mile or so) in from the Monyash end.
Sounds like the weather didn't get in the way that much for you both. Hopefully the Red Setter meet will go ahead next year.
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A funny old day with a ride for breakfast at Tynemouth and for the first time I can recall the pier was open. It was sunny first then very dark and cloudy at mid morning but by the time I got to Newcastle at midday glorious sunshine.
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Wherenext.....if you are around......or anyone else........can you recommend a CL, or small site in North Wales within say 20 miles of Ruthin?
Must be quiet, have EHU and hardstandings of some type, decent access for an 8m twin axle, but other facilities not required.
We are visiting friends a few miles west of Ruthin and usually stay at Crabmill Farm near Broughton, but OH has tried several times to ring them without getting a reply.
We have provisionally booked CAMC LMP at Chirk, but it is a bit of a trek to our friends' house from there.......lots of hills in the way!
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Kj
Try Maes Carafanau Llanbenwch which is about 3 miles from Ruthin. Not stayed myself but someone in the village has and recommended it to us. Has Hardstanding.
Edit - Just thinking about it a bit more, you could try Bryn Glas CL on the outskirts of Denbigh. It's a straight run down to Ruthin and it has H/S.
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We left home late on this afternoon but only an hours tow to our site. Weather has been decent today so after we set up we cooked dinner on the Cadac and sat outside for a while before it got a bit chilly Just sitting in the caravan now watching the Chase and having a few drinks. Don’t know what our plan is for tomorrow it will depend on the weather.
Hope everyone else is having a nice weekend
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A lovely day today, walked from the site up the River Garry today, through the pass of Killiecrankie. It’s a long time since we last visited, but I still think I wouldn’t like to try jumping the gorge at soldiers leap. Although a hoard of Jacobites in kilts with murderous intent might provide sufficient motivation.😂 Still plenty of snow on the tops, although it is likely to disappear in the warmer rain of tomorrow before we head further north on Sunday. Hopefully we can get a walk in before it arrives.
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It was a perfect day for a walk today, sunny, not too warm and no breeze to speak of. We parked on the N/T car park at Rhossili and climbed up onto the Downs. Walked the ridge and descended to Holland and returned by the Welsh Coastal Path. Sat for lunch watching a few out on their surf boards and others up in the air paragliding. Then wandered down to the Coast Guard station for the view across to Worm's Head. There are quite a few horses grazing on the peninsula, one with a lovely white newly born foal. Clouded up later in the afternoon as the weather starts to change for the weekend.
Millie, hope you won't regret getting rid of your caravan, but you do have many interests to keep both you and your OH occupied.
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Thanks, both of those look good. We will be continuing south on the A5 afterwards, so trying not to go too far into Wales.
LMP is convenient in that respect, but pricey for what it offers, so we have taken to using the CL near Broughton.
Will try them again tomorrow, if no reply, will try the ones you have suggested, thanks again!
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We are currently at Exmoor House CC site, Dulverton. Had a nice walk at Tarr Steps including the Clapper Bridge, a first for us. It’s a nice circular walk of around 1.5 miles from the top car park (£3 for the day fee) and highly recommended.
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Kj, Try the Independent site first. Probably easier to get to Ruthin thinking about it and checking some maps.
If you don't fancy the hills then stay on A55 and come of at St.Asaph and drive through Denbigh that way to Ruthin along the valley.
You could also try Ty Newydd, a lovely CL near Corwen just off the A5. It's within your 20 miles to Ruthin. That one is a nice site that we've used.
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Oh, that looks to be a lovely site , just a bit far west for this trip as we will be continuing south on the A5 past Shrewsbury and down to join the M5. But looks very nice, will bear that one in mind for the future, thanks again
We try to visit our friends near Ruthin every year, he is a former work colleague, they do not enjoy the best of health so do not get out much, so love having visitors. Unfortunately, their garden/driveway is not big enough to take our caravan, so we have to find a site.
From LMP site, we have to go over the Horseshoe Pass, lovely in daytime, not so great in the dark! Coming from the north we can avoid that.
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Lovely spot Freddy, hope you're enjoying Dulverton too. I hope we can visit the area again soon.
We're gearing up for our long and winding trip north. For some strange reason our van doesn't have lifting hinges on the seat bases and we've never sorted it. I now have to thank DK because a photo of his van water tank prompted me to look closely at the hinges on the base which revealed the tank. The job is finally being done, can't face a longish trip keeping up the base with a shoulder or similar balancing act. We do have flaps at floor level but pulling bedding out is hard work. Daft how long we put up with awkward things.
Much needed rain today so plants and veg might start to grow. 🥕🌱
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Yesterday I had my hair cut, first time for 15 months. It had got to the stage where I could carry on having long hair, but I was fed up of waking up with a tangled birds nest on my head.
Horrible weather today - wet and windy. So I’ll be lighting the fire and sitting in a comfy chair most of the day. My poor husband had just donned all his wet weather gear and gone round the stock.
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Freddy we stayed at Dulverton a few years ago - lovely site. We also like Dulverton, it is a really nice little town and there is such a lot to see and do in that beautiful area.
Glad you holiday went well moulesy. Hopefully the red setter walk can go ahead next year.
brue yes isn't it amazing how long we put up with inconveniences until we finally decide to do something about them. At least you will have a more comfortable ride on your forthcoming trip. Presumably you will be going to see your family at long last. We still don't know whether we are going to be allowed in and out of N.Ireland this summer to see our son and his family. Flights are booked and fingers are crossed.
Hope all those away are having a good time and that your weather is better than ours. It is teeming with rain but hopefully the garden will be grateful and hopefully our water butts will be full. I am just glad we decided to clear and clean the caravan yesterday. It wouldn't have been a lot of fun in this weather.
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Sorry you have had to give up Millie, must have been a wrench for you. But, I can highly recommend cottage holidays, and with careful choice you can get some surprisingly good deals. We have stayed in some nice two berth cottages, but have used bigger ones as well with family. Those lovely Easton estate cottages look very tempting to us by the way. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need a recommendation, we know lots, and some have CLs as well.😁
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I’m sat watching a wide variety of birds including blue tits, coal tits, great tits and woodpeckers on the feeder right outside our caravan window on what is the best CL we have ever been to, Venn Farm near Launceston. Everything about the site is just perfect and a big contrast to our previous week on a CL which was more expensive and facilities leaving a bit to be desired and only with 10amp electric. Pity it’s our last day and it’s raining and blowing a gale. I hope the wind drops for our journey north tomorrow.
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Dunster and Porlock Weir are very nice Freddy, some nice walks and strolls from there. If you like history, Cleeve Abbey is good, big car park as well, so good with MH. 👍
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Bit wet today
as this site has clay in many areas it is on ,numerous hard standings are now under water in various. amounts, has been raining quite heavily since early hours, quite a few have left, but the trailer tenters on site seem more hardy
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Thanks tda. We might well be in touch for recommendations when we are making our plans for next year. This year we are concentrating on, hopefully, meeting up with our N.Ireland family. We have a cottage booked with them in Staithes in the summer and we are just hoping they will be allowed out and back in again. Especially their dog. They are having to organise a pet passport for her as they will effectively be going back home to a EU country. What a ridiculous situation it has turned out to be for NI.
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Yes Millie, we hope to see the family on our trip, two places booked one for a pub meal and the next maybe near enough for an actual house visit...our son has built an aviary in the garden so that will be new to see. Do hope the family from NI can make it over here, it really isn't a good situation, so complicated and frustrating for everyone.
I'm having a break this morning....but suddenly felt peckish and could muster up enough ingredients to make some Houghton Mill scones (I like their very easy recipe although they're more like rock cakes.
) just waiting for them to cook.I did a bit of on line family history, after the on line family funeral yesterday I decided to pull some things together rather than leave bits of paper in boxes etc. It has been a different sort of week with the funeral at the end and no real family contact except phone calls. Strange times indeed.
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Sorry to hear your caravan news Milliehull. You are being sensible though so that must help your decision. Hope you get a good price from your dealer. It’s a decision we are dreading making but it’s coming, more in my head than OH! We are in Troutbeck at present, typical Lakes downpour today! It’s our first time away in 8 months and I’m beginning to realise my hips don’t cope well with the travel or caravan, sadly. My left hip has been bad for sometime and the hospital recommended I take paracetamol and keep it moving, now just in the past few weeks the right hip is so painful I can barely walk at all and getting up the caravan steps is a two man, very undignified procedure, same as getting in the car!! I suppose I’m in for more hospital visits and, terrifyingly, perhaps an operation. I’m going to have to broach the subject of cancelling Cornwall in June with OH I know he will be disappointed (as am I) but really don’t think I can do it. I often remember my MIL saying old age can be hard work, I can see what she means now! 😢
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Yes, without saying too much, it’s not been a good situation for Northern Ireland and it’s residents. Others aspects don’t seem to be going well either, there’s still a shortage of some pet medicines, which might also be partly Covid related. My sister needed a new injector for her Skoda a fortnight ago. Independent garage we use were scouring the internet for the part. They ended up having to use a VW branded part, with the VW price tag attached. They are really good, it didn’t take long to fit so they only charged her a small amount over the cost of the part. But he said they have little chance at the moment of getting the same part again.
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A dull start to the day and with rain increasingly likely from noon, we decided to get an early ( for us ) start to our walk. It was delayed slightly when I caught my almost full coffee cup with the edge of my pad and emptied it over one of the seats and the van floor.☹️ A towel rapidly soaked it up and the seat has come clean just by blotting with kitchen paper and wiping with a clean wet cloth. The anti stain treatment on them apparently works well.😂
Set off about 9:15 and walked along the side of the Tummel river and loch Faskally into Pitlochry. A pleasant walk mainly through woodland. The dam was closed due to covid, the walkway being rather narrow. As we couldn’t cross the dam we came back more or less the same way. It did start raining on the way back, but only fairly light so we didn’t get very wet. Raining steadily now. The stag was outside a smart new hotel, quite fancy one for the garden.😀
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