It’s Been a While…. – Part 1
Where Airplanes go to die
Many miles under the RV, many hours in and under the RV fettling and firkling. All good stuff and now we’re just about there and really ready to get out on a longer road trip
Since the last blog we’ve proved To ourselves that we can live off the grid pretty much indefinitely, an essential test for an extended trip around Europe. The location for our test…. Minehead and Portland, what a hoot we had.
First stop was the lovely and historic town of Malmesbury. We pulled into town just in time to catch the car park attendant emptying the machines. We had found a parking space, well, five parking spaces right next to the brook, beautiful spot. ” Will we be ok here for the night” I asked. “Yes you’ll be fine” he replied, “there’s nowhere else for you to park around here”. Which that peace of mind we downed jacks and extended the slide out for a chilled evening.
We found we were parked in the shadow of Malmesbury Abbey, historically linked to Henry VIII and battered by civil war and electric storms. Today what’s left is beautifully kept and well Worth a visit. We watched
Airplane Graveyard
the sun go down over the town and tucked ourselves for a good night’s sleep.
Airplane Graveyard
the sun go down over the town and tucked ourselves for a good night’s sleep.
For good reason, I’m always twitchy about parking up in public car parks so I made sure I was up early to try and catch the CP attendant morning shift. A jolly looking lady and an attentive trainee turned up to check the machines. She saw me leave the RV and as I approached I could see she had something to say. I got in first to explain the evening shift chap had said it was OK to stay where we were and that we’d be off by 1100hrs,after we’d enjoyed a dog walk around her lovely town…. I paused. She looked at her trainee and made an, oh bugger, kind of face. “Well” she said, “thank you for letting me know, the chap yesterday shouldn’t have said it was OK and I’ve been sent to give you a ticket for parking across 5 spaces.” She went on to say that as long as we were gone before it got busy then we were ok. A lesson in discretion rather than ticket issuing for her trainee, all was good.
We walked the dogs,
Malmesbury Abbey
picked up some supplies, had breakie, then headed off towards Myned. Oh yes Via some very narrow roads and lunch in Cheddar Gorge…
Malmesbury Abbey
picked up some supplies, had breakie, then headed off towards Myned. Oh yes Via some very narrow roads and lunch in Cheddar Gorge…
To be continued…. ‘It’s been a while Part-2’
It’s been a While – Part 2… ‘Myned’
Local Yokel
With Malmesbury in our rear view mirror, we headed off to Minehead, formerly Myned, which is old English for Mountain or Hill. Yes it’s got one them, a big one, hill that is, and we parked right underneath it for a week. More about that in a bit, firstly I need to tell you about our little diversion to Cheddar Gorge and how Lydia’s place on the Right is fun when it comes to meeting other drivers.
As we trundled along I saw a sign for Cheddar Gorge and thought it’d be a nice place for lunch, well what an adventure. All A roads but don’t mean squat, I checked for a bus in front and we passed Articulated lorries coming towards us but that didn’t mean it got a little tight. Generally we are 8 American inches wider that most UK heavy vehicles. Ah how I chuckled as Lyd put on her finest apology voice, calling down to held up drivers saying “Sorry” and “The Sat Nav sent us here”. only one bloke got rude telling her ours was a stupid vehicle to bring down these roads. He may have had a point but I thought if he got
Tides Out
his mouth down them then we’d have no problem.
Tides Out
his mouth down them then we’d have no problem.
Eventually we got to and parked up in Cheddar, spectacular walls of rock. We had some lunch while I plotted a route out that didn’t involve narrow lanes…
Another lovely drive and we found ourselves in Minehead, directed away from Butlins, don’t want any of that, and a double length parking slot right on the Quay behind the Lifeboat Station. Oh yes and 10 yards from the Pub, brilliant spot.
During the next few days our Fit Bits almost exploded, we walked the coastal path to Porlock and Dunster Castle, not mention hours wandering around the woods and old cottages of Minehead. I found out one of my best Buddies was Married in Minehead Church and that we were actually parked less that 100 yards from his sister’s house. We had a hoot, and eve saw a double lifeboat launch, some fella had been away for hours with no life jacket and no comms, paddling around the Bristol Channel on SUP Board. Brave men and women of our RNLI found him and bought him safely home to his worried but relieved family.
A highlight of the week
Butlins by Moonlight
was a lesson learned, we ran out of water… Doh! I found a tap and tried filling up using a 5 litre water bottle. The angles didn’t work and I was getting more down my leg than in the tank. Then thanks to a lovely lady traveller in a nearby Motorhome, inspiration struck, “I use a watering can” she said. Of course madam, I wondered how long it would take her to think of that… he he. So off I went and purchased a 7 litre can (four quid from the local Arkwrights). Do the maths, I walked 100yard filled the can, 100yards back, emptied into the RV and so on until we were full up. Our tank is just under 300 litres so that’s a lot of trips to the tap. I just told the local fishermen I had a lot of Window Boxes to water.
Butlins by Moonlight
was a lesson learned, we ran out of water… Doh! I found a tap and tried filling up using a 5 litre water bottle. The angles didn’t work and I was getting more down my leg than in the tank. Then thanks to a lovely lady traveller in a nearby Motorhome, inspiration struck, “I use a watering can” she said. Of course madam, I wondered how long it would take her to think of that… he he. So off I went and purchased a 7 litre can (four quid from the local Arkwrights). Do the maths, I walked 100yard filled the can, 100yards back, emptied into the RV and so on until we were full up. Our tank is just under 300 litres so that’s a lot of trips to the tap. I just told the local fishermen I had a lot of Window Boxes to water.
As a special treat for so lovely, Lyd could now wash her hair and make herself even lovelier, we even flicked on the Genny and fired up the hair drier. All mod cons…
Next stop was Portland but not before a stopover in Lyme Regis, but that’s for Part 3….
It’s Been a While Pt 3 – The Last Bit, Portland via Lyme Regis
Cliff Top Lyme Regis
So where to next? Didn’t fancy any more narrow roads, A roads or not, if we headed West things would only get trickier. South it was then and Lyme Regis seemed a nice place to go spend a few days… Hmmm.
We pulled in to LR early evening and was chuffed to see that the two main car parks had designated Motorhome spaces, hmm well they were if you’re a Euro Box. We stuck out about eight feet so they were no good for us. Being considerate RV types, we found a spot in the Cliff Top Car Park and tucked ourselves away in the corner where we didn’t bother anyone, not that there was anyone to bother, the place was empty. We were on a bit of a slope but that didn’t bother us, time for a walk and some supper. Lyme Regis is indeed a beautiful place with nice beach front bars and cafes, even had a Thai right on the sea. We had a lovely evening and planned to explore some more the following day, however that parking thing was bothering me…
First thing we’re up and about and at the stroke of 9 I called
We do stick out a bit
the local Parking Officers Office. I explained we were a Motorhome but too big for the spaces provided, we were tucked away in a corner not getting in anyone’s way. “Never mind that mate, you’ll get a ticket if your not within the lines”. Not very friendly…. There were some longer spaces designated for HGV’s Coaches and Cars pulling Caravans which I was happy to pay the extra and park in one of them. Can’t park there mate, you’ll get a ticket, they’re not for Motorhomes. So thank you Lyme Regis Parking Services for your welcoming attitude and flexible approach to allowing tourism into your town. Thank you also from the businesses that no doubt lose out due to the same. Lyd walked the dogs while I stayed with the RV, keeping watch for a man, or woman with a Hat and a job to do. We left a couple of hours later, a near empty car park and no Jobs worth Clippie in sight.
We do stick out a bit
the local Parking Officers Office. I explained we were a Motorhome but too big for the spaces provided, we were tucked away in a corner not getting in anyone’s way. “Never mind that mate, you’ll get a ticket if your not within the lines”. Not very friendly…. There were some longer spaces designated for HGV’s Coaches and Cars pulling Caravans which I was happy to pay the extra and park in one of them. Can’t park there mate, you’ll get a ticket, they’re not for Motorhomes. So thank you Lyme Regis Parking Services for your welcoming attitude and flexible approach to allowing tourism into your town. Thank you also from the businesses that no doubt lose out due to the same. Lyd walked the dogs while I stayed with the RV, keeping watch for a man, or woman with a Hat and a job to do. We left a couple of hours later, a near empty car park and no Jobs worth Clippie in sight.
With an air of disappointment we checked the map and pointed our selves at Weymouth, well to be more precise, Portland. No more disappointment, Chesil Beach looked spectacular and wasted no time in parking
Not always on the level
up and setting off over the Pebble Dunes, well what else would you call them? We spent a lovely few hours messing about with the dogs and watching the Kite Surfers go nuts. As evening fell we moved just a short way up the road to our final parking spot, right next to a heavy helicopter training centre. That was to prove amazing as we watched trainee pilots being put through their paces with low level manoeuvre’s not 50ft from our spot. Portland Castle, The Verne and the Sculptures of the Quarry were all visited an yes we walked a few miles to do so. Portland is so much like Gibraltar, just on a smaller scale, I guess with the history involved its not surprising.
Not always on the level
up and setting off over the Pebble Dunes, well what else would you call them? We spent a lovely few hours messing about with the dogs and watching the Kite Surfers go nuts. As evening fell we moved just a short way up the road to our final parking spot, right next to a heavy helicopter training centre. That was to prove amazing as we watched trainee pilots being put through their paces with low level manoeuvre’s not 50ft from our spot. Portland Castle, The Verne and the Sculptures of the Quarry were all visited an yes we walked a few miles to do so. Portland is so much like Gibraltar, just on a smaller scale, I guess with the history involved its not surprising.
You’ll remember me mentioning Port-en-Bessin in an earlier Blog, well another great engineering achievement of that time was the Mulberry Harbour. Sodding great lumps of hollow concrete, floated and towed across the Channel to form a secure harbour and gantry to get troops, vehicles and supplies ashore after D-Day. There’s two of the sections in Portland harbour as a monument to the achievement. If you look closely you can see life size statues of
Jurassic Coast
troops standing on the top. All good stuff and well worth a visit.
Jurassic Coast
troops standing on the top. All good stuff and well worth a visit.
Well finally we were empty in one tank and full up in another, also we’d watched a bit of telly on this trip so the leisure batteries were a bit low, so we left for home. No real issues, no major stuff to do, we’d had a brilliant trip. Just a couple of things I guess, since then we’ve decided to get Solar Panel’s fitted to keep the Batteries topped up on longer static stop overs plus I’ve fitted a backward facing camera, just cos I had one in the Man Drawer really but it’s a useful addition anyway.
So that’s it for now, we’ve been at home for a week or so and getting itchy feet. We’ll be off again soon, up Norf maybe this time, who knows…..
Thanks for reading. xx
