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Suzy the motorhome is just starting out her adventure today. Our first trip of 2014. It started with the inevitable trip to the supermarket to buy groceries to fill up the fridge, moving her off the drive which was no mean task and filling her up with water. We set out just after lunch. The journey taking us a very different way to the Channel Tunnel. None of the half hour drive to from Wales to England and then another hour before hitting the M6. This time heading south to Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Robin Hood, Maid Marian, the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sherwood forest fame. Beyond that to Lincolnshire – flat, pig breeding country and into Rutland which was until government reorganisation in 1974 the smallest county in England. Its motto Multo en parva – something big in something small. Through Cambridgeshire to our campsite for the night . Ferry Meadows a large and sprawling site over two areas. The west site with most of the hard standings of which there was only one left and the east side laid up mostly to grass. A caravan club site it had the usual facilities – a small reception and shop, a fish and
chip van that turned up at 5 until 7, a play area for the children and two toilet blocks. The cost for the night £24.90 which is very expensive compared to what you can pay abroad for camping overnight.
The site is set in Ferry Meadows a large recreation area laid out to mature trees, grassy areas and many footpaths. Cowslips and Queen Annes Lace left to go to seed. Grey squirrels and rabbits running wildly.. As it was a Bank Holiday weekend the site and the area was heaving with people. If you wanted a get away from it all weekend this one wasn’t the one to pick . Wherever you went people were walking and cycling. It felt like the M1 on a bad day.
After the drive down we fancied a walk and headed up to the old station on the Nene Valley Steam railway line. The trains run four time a day to Peterborough. We heard the last passing through and sadly missed the photo opportunity. We sat for a while talking to a elderly man from the North East of England originally – a steam buff or as he described himself a train spotter in his youth. We discussed steam trains we had been on and whiled away half an hour until his wife came and dragged him away.
On returning to Suzy we went to pick up our supper Fish and Chips and how nice they were. Wrapped in paper and doused in salt and vinegar . Who could want more for supper. To round off the day we planned to walk up to the local – The Granary – recommended by the campsite staff. The pub car park was heaving which did not auger well – the pint of bitter and a glass of wine were calling. The pub is a Beefeater inn and also a Travel Lodge and when we walked in we were greeted by a carcophany of sound. All tables full with people eating and drinking. I queued at the bar and waited……………. And waited . I watched the bar staff disappearing into the back or glass collecting and still waited . Eventually it seemed we were destined not to get the drink and gave up and walked home to Suzy.
And so ended our first day of the trip. Tomorrow the Tunnel and France.
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Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
Good to see you on your way...
have a great vacation. We'll be following your adventures.