Warwickshire 2 - Horrible Histories and victorian postboxes

---

What a good nights sleep. Peace and quiet and watching the stars before the night sky clouded over and the rain started . The dripping on the roof lights sounding like gentle drumming but it felt very reassuring. Before the darkness fell we watched rigs arriving and leaving. Caravans of all shades and sorts – some old – some new. Motorhomes – Roma home types and larger outfits. It was interesting scrutinizing their gadgets from miniscule satellite dishes to wheely containers for waste water. We found those interesting and possibly useful but pondered on where they could be stored. Some rigs had aluminium foil blinds which I did not like although I guess they have some merit. We have found in the six weeks since we purchased Suzy that we have developed a coping strategy. There is not enough room to stand two abreast therefore we use passing places. When we make the beds it feels like an assembly line with one of us moving the seating, removing the throws and making the bed and the other getting out everything we need and putting away what we do not need. Everything has a place and I am beginning to remember which box holds what item and where it is likely to be stored. Tidiness is a must – more so than in a house and it is all coming together gradually.

We do still have niggles. We have little idea what is happening with the broken lockers. Lowdhams did not acknowledge our photographs and e-mails and it took a week to find out that they had referred them on to Swift. We doubt they will get sorted before we go on holiday. The bathroom door keeps opening when we go over big bumps in the road. Nothing major that cannot be sorted by moving the lock keeper. The biggest frustration is probably the oven door which appears slightly loose and opens with regular monotony on a journey. We find ourselves stopping to close it and this does irritate. An adjustment has been made but still it opens. But despite these niggles she feels like home and we feel we have everything we need from the IPAD to my Kindle. It feels much cosier than being in a hotel room without any facilities and this was something we really wanted when we decided to invest in a motorhome.

Our morning began brightly and for a moment we thought Spring had arrived. The Lesser Celandines shone brightly in the sunlight and the dainty nodding heads of the Wood Anemone brighted the banks. There was even a blue haze showing the arrival of Bluebells. We walked up to the town which indeed did take only 6 minutes. We arrived at the Town Gate entrance to the castle at exactly the same time as a busload of tourists swarming like locusts on the ticket office. Luckily we have booked on line - twice in fact when our computer stopped working halfway through the booking and we received two tickets but were charged for four. Not a problem as we knew we would get the overpayment back into our bank account next week and we could skip the line. Upon entering the castle you are confronted by the local blacksmith, some serving wenches, the tavarn owner, various assorted servants and a boiling cauldron which welcomed visitors to the Dungeon. Rather commercialised but fun nevertheless. We had foolishly booked the Dungeon tour but arrived too early so spent half an hour visiting the Kingmaker Exhibition which told the story of the castle which sits on the River Avon.

The castle was originally built by William the Conqueror. The remains of the motte and bailey still can be seen on the mound which now is covered by paths and shrubs. The castle changed over time and curtain walls and ramparts added. These provide a lovely walk with views over the town. It was in 1547 that the castle and lands were given to the Dudley family and work was carried out to improve and enlarge it. Even Capability Brown had a hand in landscaping the gardens. It is the home of the worlds largest working trebouchet, peacocks wander through the grounds and there are two displays of falconry every day. We were delighted by Stan who performed for us circling overhead and buzzing the crowds.

We then arrived at our Dungeon Tour to be told that we were the only members joining the trip and were given the choice of going in on our own or waiting for the next tour. We decided to go on our own and were delighted by much shouting down our ears, much jumping from behind darkened rooms and were given a horrible history lesson about the plague and crime and punishment. I apparently was guilty of dancing naked on the local hill and denounced as a witch, I contacted the plague and was treated to medieval medicine and Glenn found himself charged with peeing in the town well.

Lunch was hot dog with onions which we ate watching the mallard ducks and peacocks strutting their stuff. We missed the Princess Tower exhibition as we had no princess with us and also avoided the Merlin exhibition. These would suit young children better. Instead we toured the stately rooms which were decked out for an Edwardian smoking party and followed this with a tour of the grounds and water mill. The mill still had its water mill, its eel trap and equipment to produce electricity for batteries. Interesting if you like things mechanical.

Our last visit of the day was to the Rose Garden which had little colour in it due to the roses still not being out. In the height of summer it would have looked both colourful and would smell divine with the scent of the flowers.

As a day out it hit the spot. There was plenty to see and do. We rounded the day off walking up the town trying to find the railway station. This was hidden some way out of town. We were not sure how we were going to get to Stratford tomorrow - the trains ran fairly regularly and the fare £4.60 return. Using the train would mean a long walk to and from both stations. Our other choice as to drive the 8 miles in Suzy and park up on the new Park and Ride just outside Stratford. There was reputed to be a good deal of parking some of which was delegated for motorhome use only. The bus fare was £1.70 each and it seemed a good option. On the way home as usual the clouds rolled in black and gloomy and it began to rain which meant no walking just another night in with a glass of wine.

---

Photos

Warwick Castle
From the river

Warwick
The motte and bailey

Warwick
a preening peacock

Warwick
A victorian postbox

Warwick
The castle entrance

Comments

[Home and Away]

Thanks for the memories...
Warwick Castle was one of our favorite destinations. The kids liked the peacocks; especially when I would make their sound and the feather tails would come right up! Linda didn't approve. I can also be embarrassing at zoos.

[JenGog]

warwick
Never been before but it was a lovely few days. Shame about the weather which was awful. Still better than working .