What are you all up to
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We had 3 motorhomes and 2 caravans during our MH/caravanning years. My favourite was the Swift Kontiki motorhome, it was wonderful but old age caught up with it in the end. My least favourite was the replacement, a Benimar motorhome. It was full of 'bells and whistles' that frequently went wrong. Our last caravan was an Eldiss Quantum, a dealer's special bought from new and in the 7 years that we had it the only problem we had was with the water pump. We never had any problems with damp with any of our vehicles luckily.
Absolutely wonderful photos moulesy. I am in awe of what the Romans did.
I love your photo as well nellie. That looks a very fine castle.
Yesterday was cold and blustery with some heavy downpours and some thunder. Today looks grey. I need to catch up with some houswork today as I haven't done much recently 😒.
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Pouring with rain here in Devon this morning. Granddaughter staying with us at present as her college is just two miles from us, so a much shorter journey than from their house. As it is very difficult for her to get the bus in her wheelchair we always ferry her in and out. This morning the journey for me, 4 miles there and back, took 90 minutes! Two sets of traffic lights where the utilities are digging the roads up. Absolute chaos. No one actually working just a workman at both set of lights. Why can’t these people talk to each other and dig the road up at different times. Or next week when it is half term and just a quarter of the rush hour traffic.
House work for me too today Millie, it’s miserable weather out so seems like a good day for it.
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It's very impressive isn't it moulesy, although Cassies interest was elsewhere
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Nellie, we stopped off at Brougham on Sunday, on way home😁 First ruin we got into, everything in Scotland is closed☹️
Lovely photos M, so interesting. The Romans were geniuses of building, be it roads, forts, entertainment centres or whole cities. It’s astonishing just how much of what they left behind still influences different aspects of today’s world. Many of Britains roads are built using Roman routes, we did Dere Street last week.
Nice weather up here. Sunny, warm out of breeze.
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JVB It sounds like a good plan for your OH to go into a local care home for her recovery. I hope things work out well for you both.
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You can always trust a Dog to prioritise mate👍🏻-food, drink, comfort. Way to go Cassie👏🏻👏🏻
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Moulesy and Wherenext
Thanks for the feed back on the River Cruise V Sea Cruises. The region we are particularly interested in is the Rhine/Danube. Not sure about France as judging by Moulesy's photographs it would appear that we have already visited those areas quite a lot. Its probable that our next cruise will be a sea cruise although we have noticed that since COVID many cruise lines now don't do the extended cruises to the Eastern Med, which is an area of interest, but they now expect people to fly which we don't do!
David
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Our final port of call today, the beautiful city of Avignon with so much classical architecture around the main square - the Pope's Palace, the clock tower and the cathedral. Not forgetting, of course, the feature the city is most famous for (and, no, I didn't dance!)
Just the gala dinner to prepare for now, should sleep soundly tonight and hope that the flight home from Marseille tomorrow is as straightforward as the one out just a week ago.
This has been a wonderful week, and, although we are still not being quite as carefree as in pre Covid days, it's great that the world is opening up again for international travel.
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Thanks Moulesy, I remember these places from years ago, perennial places of enjoyment, glad you had such a good trip.
We're getting buffeted by strong winds in the Borders but have had a good time wandering round the area. Saw some nice art work today on loan from the Scottish National Gallery.
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We too have enjoyed a memory trip with you Moulesy. Mrs WN and MiL also had a holiday in the area and stayed in Avignon but part of the trip included a day boat trip down to Arles so happy memories for Mrs WN as well.
I get the impression from your posts that this is the first time you've seen this area and if so then your reaction will have been the same as most others when they saw it for the first time as well. One of sheer enjoyment and wonderment. Glad you enjoyed the trip. Hope the flight home goes without a hitch.
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M, brilliant photos. I remember visiting all of these places, they all wow you but the Pont has to be my favourite. To sit by the river on a sunny day, looking up at the Pont and trying to imagine how many people had done that before me. If only the Pont could talk, what stories it would tell.
Moved again today after doing Rocamador yesterday. We are now in the Limousin, a few quiet days (I hope) public holiday here from tonight. Tomorrow is Ascension day so that is the holiday but it so happens lots of folk have taken Friday off so a 4 day break. We have chosen a small town with a nice rustic site, we have a couple of ponies and 2 Alpacas in the field next to the site. Across from that is a stream and large pond and the town park. Will investigate a bit more tomorrow.
Caravans and MHs, we've had 8 caravans and 2 MHs. None of the caravans had any damp including a 25 year old Abbey and a Lunar. Like AD we loved the Lunar, the layout was perfect for us.
Coachman we have had 2 of, both have been dealer specials, no issues with either though the first one was a better build quality than the current one. Not that we have any issues with it, just not as solid as the first one we had. We had an Elddis which we both loved and was very happy with it but decided we wanted a fixed bed.
Our first MH was a Bailey and in 6 years we had to have the floor at the rear replaced 3 times under warrenty due to damp. It's the only LV we have ever had damp in. Our current MH a PVC is 6 years old and has no issues, good build pretty solid and comfy. Though I can't say the same for the vans after 2018, they seem to suffer a fair few issues, usually down to bad build quality.
Weather here has cooled down to a rather nice 21/22c much better for sightseeing, though last night the heating kicked in the early hours, so temp must have really dropped as its only set to 16c.
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Moving day today. High winds were forecast from lunchtime onwards and and so we chanced arriving at the next site about 60 miles further east a bit earlier than normal. We did check their website to see what time they expected people and none was given. As it happens they weren't at all bothered when we turned up at 11.00 am and were actually quite happy as it's holiday time from tonight until Sunday and they are fully booked, mostly with German tourists as the border is only about 10 miles away.
Site is quite sheltered from the winds or at least our pitch is which we are happy with. We did venture out on the bikes just to get some fresh air but the wind won after just 10 miles. Can't cope with 30mph+ winds. No peloton to shield me.
The site has a first for us. A dishwasher, free to use for the campers. It's described as a dishwasher but in actuality it's just a glorified rinser as you still have to clear the plates first before giving them the 5 minutes rinse through. Called "Easy Be". We were given free tokens to use but doubt we'll bother.
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I love your photo as well nellie. That looks a very fine castle.
Thanks, millie. It's not a huge castle but we'll worth visiting, although I suspect it doesn't get too many visitors. Parking is a bit limited, so a midweek visit would be recommended, from that point of view. It stands next to a large grassed-over Roman Fort, however there is no direct access to that, unfortunately. It can be viewed over the wall by the road in.
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Glad folks are enjoying their breaks away, TG see you were in our area and not to far and we stopped in the Limousin area on the way back two weeks ago,what was the name of the site you stayed at next to the river Dordogne sounds like our sort of site.
Had a short trip out pm to a local plant nursery opposite St Cirq la Popie lovely views a lot of plants gone but did find some ready to plant up and then onto Limogne so OH could get the part from our local Gamm Vert for his outside tap and a bit of shopping elsewhere then home met 2 m/hs on two narrow roads one I was able to reverse so they could get pass on a wider bit but the other one just decided to drive on a wall and then the river next to me if he had thought the road was a bit wider where he first slowed down still managed to squeeze by as OH moved the mirror out of his way thankfully in my smaller car and not his Landcruiser would not have been enough room. Folks are away for the 4 day break as the French like to bridge a day and have a long weekend and a lot of things on tomorrow and over the weekend.
Would like to get away for a few days somewhere local next month but will have to see as we have a few chores to do and we do not do July or August just to busy everywhere.
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More great photos, M. Just a pity they didn't finish the bridge.😄 Have a safe and trouble free flight home.
Shame about the Scottish Castles not being open, tda, as they were one of your reasons for heading up there I suspect. We found the same earlier in the year, although Blackness Castle was open. If Historic Scotland are struggling for cash, as are NTS, then not having their properties open won't help.
Good to read that you got moved safely, WN. With the influx of Germans onto your new site you will get a chance to practice another tongue for a few days.
Another dry day, although cloudy and breezy at times. We went to Appleby today, a town we've not visited in many a year. Did a circular walk along the river before lunch then walked up into the town from Bondgate bridge. Thought about walking round the castle grounds but decided against it when they wanted to charge us £10 for the privilege. After walking down to the church and back up we had a second walk by the Eden, upstream this time. The signs were out for The Horse Fair parking, which takes place this year a week later than normal because of you know what.
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nellie Some good few years ago we were travelling over to NI for our son's wedding in June and got caught up with the people from the Appleby Horse Fair travelling home. It was 'interesting' to say the least, especially on the A66!.
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Never sure of the truth of some tales from Appleby, MillieH
Like the chap who took an elderly horse to sell with the intention of buying a replacement. After a short while he did the deal but when he got home & brushed & curry-combed the horse he found it was the one he'd sold 1 -
Redkite, if its the English owned site, its called Camping de La Bastide at St Foy-la-Grande Acsi 1413. Its a lovely well looked after site, very pretty with flowers all around the shower block and pool. There are 4 mobile homes on the site but none were in use while we were there. There are 2 pitching areas one by the pool gets more sun or the other one which is the other side of the facilities block gets more shade. Nice and quiet, plenty of supermarkets and the town market is on Saturdays quite a good one. It's between St Emillion and Bergerac.
Wash day for me today, after doing 3 one night stopovers we are staying here until Saturday. Its not a fancy site, kind of rustic but the sanfacs are good, pitches big, grass could do with a cut on some of the pitches but the main thing for this weekend it's nice and quiet. Mostly couples in MHs.
A bit cloudy today and cooler but after the heat of last week it's welcome, at least we get to sleep at night.
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Many thanks TG will make a note as we do not have the Acsi card and book may do for next year.
Have planted the plants I got yesterday and after a friend had been around with help for her parking at Toulouse Airport next week and a few other things, OH then went out and has cut most of our field and the birds are enjoying the bugs and the seeds he will finish the rest tomorrow at least it has been cool for him.
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Weather cooling off despite it being sunny today. Very windy. We're due to have a dip in temperatures down to about 13 º from tomorrow for about 3 days. Good job we've moved to a site with 10 amps instead of 6.
OH spoke to Mother who rang in a panic. She (MiL) used her mobile phone which was a miracle but then explained that the phone lines thereabouts were not working. We were in the car at the time but OH found an emergency number for her to ring and when she phoned they merely had a recored message saying look at the website. She doesn't do the internet!!! Not her fault but how is someone her age supposed to find out what is going on? She was worried in case we were trying to get in touch.
Told her to go around to a neighbour until we could look into it and when we rang back she had been told by said neighbour that everyone local had been cut off and BT were working on the problem so she is now going to leave her mobile on ( and charge it as OH told her to).
These multi national companies seem to have reduced their customer service base to almost next to nothing for any sort of personal contact. Not fair on a significant portion of the population, who either don't know how to use the internet or can't afford it.
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We have just got back from a 25 day tour, our longest trip since 2019! We stayed at 8 sites, a mix of CMC. C&CC and commercial sites plus one CL. We were pleasantly surprised by the two commercial site, one at Whitby and the other at South Shields. We then crossed over to Ayr in Scotland and then down to Garlieston (which was my favourite) followed by the C&CC site at Ravenglass. Our final stop was the CL at Overwater Marina at Audlem. It was almost a pleasure to get onto the M6 after all those narrow and twisty roads! Weather very mixed, less inclined to do much when the weather is dull or wet. Treated ourselves to the M6 Toll, sorry Midland Expressway, so we could avoid the worst of the M6.
Will put something in the Story Section in due course.
David
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It started off dry so we headed over to Acorn Bank, spotting 2 Red Squirrels on the road over. It started to look a bit iffy so took our brollies on the woodland walk and it was good job too as we had a heavy downpour towards the end of the walk. Had lunch in the car and then visited the formal gardens where we saw 3 Great Crested Newts in the garden pond, and a female pheasant with 3 chicks in the orchard. The weather cleared and we stopped off at Whinfell Forest for a walk along the outside of CenterParc's fence. Our last night here before we move down to Kendal for our last site on this trip.
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WN there has been quite a lot in the press in the past few days saying that older people cannot/do not want to cope with everything having to be done via a smartphone or the internet. It started with complaints about how we now have to have various apps on our smartphones to pay for parking. I refuse to pay for parking via my phone which I know reduces my options somewhat. I feel like I have won the lottery if I find somewhere to park using actual money! I will use a carpark where I can pay by card as well but never by phone. People are saying it discriminates against people without the internet especially older people. I dont suppose anything will change though.
Dentist for me this morning for a check up. No problems luckily but had my teeth cleaned and polished at long last. It is nearly 3 years since I last had that done so they feel very clean and shiny. This afternoon was a visit to the chiropractor to try and sort out my bad back.
Very chilly and windy here today.
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Just a couple of photos from Acorn Bank today.
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Wherenext,
Thats the problem with Copper telephone lines nowadays !! BT has in it's tiny little mind the idea that we can use Digital phones over the Broadband so the old phones are redundant
.The fact that a mains power outage will take down both Broadband & Digital Voice things matters not a jot, since you can always use your mobile can't you ! Well not if the battery is low and your charging system is , er well er, MAINS POWERED too !!
It's not too bad for me these days since the little Lithium-ion gubbins I bought cheaply { as if
} to help with starting the Ducato last year has a USB point to power up/charge mobiles etc as well as a torch so I can see where to connect things at 3:00 in the morning. But should an elderly non-techy happen to reside out in a village or similar then the power could well be down for over twenty-four hours and may the power suppliers have a good thick Anti-curse coating !! Should anybody see a thread, forum or similar asking for views on this sort of idea ==== PLEASE DON'T ignore it but please give 'em both barrels as fast and often as you can.
Brian
P.S. Mine is DigiVoice over Broadband but I'm well aware of what I'm doing BUT folks do need to use their local dialling codes all the time since mine regularly tells me it cannot recognise my next door neighbours number !!
B
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Looks interesting Nellie. On our list for next time. Hope the last bit of your trip goes well👍
Wedding prep for us today. Weekend away in MH at venue, so we can stay as safe as possible before OH’s op. Taking the Jeep as well, can’t get my hat box into MH🤣 And the bikes of course. My current dilemma is what colour nail varnish……OH is pondering on larger issues totally non wedding related……….which bike to take🤔 We are 400 metres from Trans Pennine Trail, does he go gravel, or should he stick with road? I bet I fall off again, I have got really good at disguising bruises and gravel rash with make up😁
I might trim the dog’s chariot up, he has an invite as well.
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Which site at Whitby did you use DK?
We drove into Garlieston for a quick look around, years since we have stayed there, it looked quite busy.
Any visitors to Scotland looking for an overnight stop, Forestry Commission up there is trialling “Stay in the Forest” at the moment, principally for campers and MH’s. However, some venues are allowing caravans as well, so long as they are unhitched and tow car parked alongside. It’s limited to one night only for all, but there’s loads of space, and the facilities available vary. You simply pay for two day tickets for a 6pm to 10am stopover. We used two venues, Kirroughtrees near Newton Stewart (which does allow caravans), no facilities overnight, but showers and loos, cafe, shop after opening up. Lovely and quiet and safe. That cost us £8 for night, with access to bike trails. Our second Forestry stopover was 7Stanes Dalbeattie, again very nice and safe. This has 24 hour loos, but nothing else, isn’t suitable for caravans as parking is twisty. That should have been £6, but machine was out of order, and you couldn’t pay by card or phone. So it was…free😁 Cafe nearby. We found them both to be great stopovers, would definitely use again. Another we stopped in for lunch only is Clatteringshaws, stunning loch side location between New Galloway and Newton Stewart. This had a 24hr CDP emptying point, and visitor centre when open.
Clatteringshaws…….Kirroughtrees………Dalbeattie
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Arrived back home last night about 10 ish after a nice final day (stroll around Avignon in the morning then a leisurely coach trip to Marseille airport which was surprisingly quiet and easy drive home along the M4). Glad folk have enjoyed the pictures, it's been a pleasure sharing them and I know it's brought back memories for some of you.
Picked up the dogs this morning, Ralph super excited to be home (it was his first canine staycation
), Lady a bit less bothered! Will start catching up with other news now, good to know everyone away seems to be enjoying things, pleasant week weather wise in prospect and a long bank holiday weekend to come.
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