the way to Canterbury

Let's explore

Van-Man worked hard at de-winterising the van first thing in the morning while I loaded clothes, pillows and duvet. The trickiest bit was manoeuvring the beds down the stairs without our Lurcher grabbing them helpfully. Yes that was the down side of Van-Man removing the mattresses and soft furnishings over winter.

I was filling the fridge when I realised Van-Man was perplexed.

“The water pump’s not working,” he muttered and phoned the caravan service people who had just given our motor home its first service.

Suddenly he announced “They’re going to look at it now,” and dashed off. They found the problem after checking everything and Van-Man returned home for lunch. We finally set off at 13.45 three hours later than normal.

I took over driving at Clacket Lane services and was fine even with the narrow lanes through the road works. However I fumbled the gears when changing down at the end of my drive. Van-Man was not amused. “You’ll ruin the gearbox,” he said.

Gorse

I got my revenge by not spotting he had taken the wrong turn in Canterbury. Well I was reading the map at the time. After turning round we found the right road to Sandwich and came to a stop. Road works beyond the junction had caused a long tailback. It took over twenty minutes to creep to the men digging a huge hole.

on the track

Van-Man liked the camp site but was surprised that 80% of the caravan and motor home pitches were taken. By contrast there was one lonely tent in the corner. Our pitch was level so we didn’t need our ramps. Before Van-Man could drink his cup of coffee Lottie demanded a toilet trip. Leaving his cup untouched he took her to the dog walk and fed her as soon as he got back.

As soon as he had settled down with his book Lottie demanded a proper walk so we set off to explore the nearby heath land following directions to a pub in the next village.

After crossing the road we were soon walking across a wide expanse of land with gorse in full bloom. The weather was mild and there was no wind. We didn’t find the pub so it was just as well that we had dinner back at the van.

At last we could relax as our hound fell asleep.

February at home

When the weather is cold and I’ve been unwell I’m glad I can write and paint. As long as I don’t have to move I can work and enjoy it. Last month I painted birds of prey and horses. This month I’m moving through the different breeds of dogs. There are so many and so many variations between breeds that the various combinations are countless. Next time someone asks have you got a breed I haven’t painted I won’t feel silly.

However bad I feel Lottie still needs her walk. Today she trotted ahead briskly as if following some alluring scent. Whatever it was she didn’t find anything. I was amazed at the signs of spring all around, from snowdrops to crocus tips. Above the birds in the trees are full of song. It seems far from the snow of last week.

We may not be travelling but there is plenty to see on our doorstep.

homeward bound

It was still mild in the morning but it was wet and windy, not good for our return drive home. Van-Man spent ten minutes emptying the grey water at the service point. He kept nipping out to see how it was draining then jumping back into the cab to keep dry. Why didn’t he just put on his raincoat? As we drove off the camp site there were areas where it wasn’t raining so we headed for a beach to give Lottie a last run on the beach before the long drive home. I suggested Harlyn Bay as it was on the route to the A 30 and it had a car park. The last mile to the beach was down a single track road but it had lots of passing places. We parked right by the beach.

We had a half hour walk on the beach in drizzle with the wind lashing in our faces on the way down to the sea. Lottie made the most of the beach walk but we were all wet. It was hard to get our wet coats away, but I laid one coat over the shower and the other over the sink. Thank goodness we have a wet room for our bathroom.

We changed into dry clothes and set out at10.55. As he had driven to Harlyn Bay Van-Man asked me to drive once we were on theA30 so we changed at a lay-by. It rained all the way to just before Exeter but I had a trouble free trip trundling along at 55 mph or less where the road was exposed to the wind. As soon as we changed drivers the rain stopped.

Van-Man stopped in a big lay-by near Honiton for lunch, then Van-Man drove a second time. I took over before Stonehenge and managed to go all the way to Fleet services on the M3. There was nowhere to park so we changed drivers and setoff straight away.

We had no trouble until we reached the M25 when we had to queue to join it.

It has been a tiring trip but worth it to help our daughter. It’s a shame that our commitments prevented us from staying longer.

Holywell

After breakfast we returned to Porthcothen beach thankful for the mild weather. This time another dog walker was crossing the sand. Lottie played chase with the two labradors until they left the beach then explored the base of the cliff.

the rocks at Holywell

Van-Man intended followed the diversion again but we only met cars.

Our son in law headed off to see our daughter in hospital leaving us looking after the youngest twp children. In between playing with them I concentrated on the laundry and sorted out the main meal while Van-Man tackled the cleaning.

Our son-in-law collected the children from school and we set out to walk our restless hound at Holywell. This is a place we love. There is parking for the Motor Home and a lovely walk to the sea over sandy grass across a stream then up through high dunes.

Holywell beach

Finally we emerged on the peaceful beach, strewn with pretty shells and pebbles. Lottie explored the dunes and raced across the beach. When we reached the stream she paddled in to cool down and drank. Back at my daughters she wolfed down her dinner then curled up in the corner behind a chair where children couldn’t accidentally run into her.

After a lovely family meal I helped get the children to bed while Van-Man cleared up again. Finally we headed back to Padstow leaving our son-in-law still putting the children to bed. It was good to rest in peace in our lovely Motor Home after the bustle we had left behind.

Narrow diversion

We woke up late, just before 8.00. Van-Man walked Lottie round the small fenced off square for dogs and then we had a quick breakfast before heading to Porthcothen beach for probably our only fresh air for the day. The wind had lessened overnight and the morning was mild. The beach was deserted, making it more alluring than normal. Only one other dog walker arrived as we were leaving. The waves started rolling up the beach as we retreated but there was still plenty of golden sand to walk on.

Cooling down after chasing seagulls

Van-Man intended going to our daughter’s house via the wider road but the road was diverted at Morgan Porth. The narrow winding road with infrequent passing places was not the best route for a short but plump motor home but the only other way was back to Padstow and a huge diversion. Predictably we met a lorry on a narrow section.

Seagull

Van-Man pulled tight to the stone wall. I pulled in the wing mirror and he inched forward. The lorry crept towards us and it was obvious that he couldn’t get through the gap.

The lorry driver signaled that we should reverse so reluctantly Van-Man inched backwards. As we cornered backwards a side turn opened up opposite us. Van-Man stopped opposite it and the lorry squeezed past.  We headed off again and this time got through the narrow section before meeting a big van at a wider place.

gull flying

We reached our daughters town from the wrong side so Van-Man had to negotiate streets barely wider than his van. At last we pulled up in our daughters drive much later than intended.

Our son in law headed off for work doing a large landscaping job for a client while we looked after the youngest child and tackled the housework. I concentrated on the laundry while Van-Man tackled the kitchen hampered by Verity playing with him. They enjoyed their games so much that she fell asleep just as I was about to do the school run.

I set off alone and collected Asher from Preschool. Then I headed to the main school. I picked the first two children up fine but Asher disappeared on the way to the third classroom. I panicked but a helpful friend of my daughters steered him back to me.

The walk home was uneventful and the children were well behaved. I made macaroni cheese for them all and helped get the children to bed while Van-Man cleared up again. Finally we ate a beef stew that a church member had made with a weary son-in-law.

We headed back to Padstow about 20.30 bleary eyed with a resigned hound. Fortunately the weather was dry and warm for January with the temperature 9 C

Boat Substitute

After being without a boat for a year and searching for a replacement the captain decided on a change of life style and became Van-Man. He spotted the ideal Motor Home for us. It was roomy enough for two humans and a large Lurcher with attitude but short enough to fit on our drive and that of our daughter in Cornwall. If it wasn’t for us spending so much time in Cornwall we would have bought another boat, but coastal sailing around those shores was not what the Captain desired.

Back to Van-Man. He spotted a second hand van he liked then saw a new one with a large price cut due to minor damage that was about to be repaired. Boat forgotten he spaced out on a palace of the road. Being used to compact living we found there was plenty of storage space. Better still the log fire was replaced by push button heating. A lovely kitchen and compact bathroom completed the interior. The only thing lacking was a permanent bed but any van that had one was too long for our drive and could not be moored at our daughters.

Sally our new Motor Home

I was concerned that we bought it without test driving the beast but my husband was happy to driver it as he had driven large vans in the past.

The first time I drove it I felt I was steering a hovercraft which wafted in the breeze every time something passed me. However I managed a few minutes feeling out of control. Van-Man adapted a stair gate to keep our hound in the back of the van or she would curl up under his feet, awkward when he is driving.

When my daughter was taken into hospital Van-Man booked a site in Cornwall for the next few nights so we could help out with the children (she has five) so her self employed husband could work. Van-Man de-winterized the van and we loaded the van the night before and put the heating on overnight to stop the van freezing

We set out at 10.02 with our sofa/bed piled on one side of the van to stop Lottie sleeping on it making it smelly on the other side we put Lottie’s duvet and bed. She attacked it excitedly as we set off, the way she used to when setting off for the boat. I’m glad she couldn’t get her teeth into our bed. We stopped at a lay-by a few miles from home to replace her bed on the wooden slats. Fortunately this time she lay down and watched the view through the front window.

Van-Man drove round the motorway and then it was my turn to give him a rest. We stopped at a Starbucks on the A303 and had lunch. While I plucked up the courage to drive the monster Van-Man fiddled with the mirror/reversing camera which he had managed to swipe from its holder.

I drove off slowly. My first problem was the brake was on the right hand side and I had to lean over to fully release it. My second problem was the gears which were on a knob high up on the dash board rather than the usual position between the seats.

I crawled out of the services and sauntered slowly along the A303 at 40mph. that felt too fast as the van was buffeted by the wind from vans and lorries overtaking us. I concentrated on keeping in my lane. Thankfully the A303 was duel carriage way so I held no one up. As my confidence grew I speeded up to 45. Van-Man was happy. We were heading the right way and I had driven for more than 20 minutes even though I still felt I was driving a hovercraft.

Stonehenge

At Stonehenge we joined our first queue and it took over 20 minutes to reach the roundabout beyond it. I managed to creep along in first and second gear. Changing up was easy, for some reason I had trouble changing down. With the slow stop and start, I managed to drive for an hour before handing over to Van-Man. He was happy as a pig in mud at the handling of our new beast. He drove through the Blackdown Hills in rain to the Hog and Hedge. After another long stop I took the wheel again and trundled us to Victoria services where Van-Man took over for the final push to Padstow, to the nearest campsite to my daughter’s house that was open in January. The journey had taken eight hours instead of the normal six but then I had been driving slowly. The campsite looked fine Van-Man reversed onto the pitch and checked for the slope. It looked as if he needed to use the ramps but he drove off the pitch then drove on. This time the van was level.

“I thought so,” Van-Man said. “The rear of Sally (that’s what our van is called) is higher than the front.” Only a few vans and a couple of caravans were on site all on hard standing like us. Van-Man filled up with water.

“It’s overflowing,” I pointed out.

“It can’t be,” Van-Man exclaimed. “the gauge is only showing half full.”

The journey to our daughters took 15 minutes. We walked into chaos. The younger ones were noisy and the whole family was hungry but Dad was busy on the phone trying to organize his work for the week. We got stuck into feeding the tribe, heating up a spaghetti bolognaise a kind member of the church had provided. After a hectic bedtime routine with me on bath duty and Van-Man doing story time we retreated to Padstow for an hour’s peace before bed.

Golitha falls and Chapel Porth

Golitha Falls

Today the weather forecast was dry and warm. Steve wanted to look at Siblyback lake and thought we could have a picnic there.  Then we could drive on to Halfords at Truro to get Chloe’s birthday present.

Again Lottie was not up for a long walk first thing, so that was good with what we had planned.

Stepping stones

After breakfast we got a picnic together and headed off for Siblyback lake, which is the other side of Minions.  We found Siblyback lake okay after following some very narrow lanes. Unfortunately it had been developed as an activity centre, with parking charges and nowhere for Lottie to run free.  We turned round and drove back  along the twisty lanes until we could turn off for Golitha falls where Lottie could enjoy herself.

fast flowing water

Thankfully there was plenty of space to park at Golitha falls. We followed the river along to the falls and scrambled over boulders to reach parts of the cascade. Lottie enjoyed being able to get into the river Fowey when she liked to cool off.

“Watch out it’s slippery,” Steve said as I put my foot on a large stone in the middle of the stream. I immediately lost my balance, wobbled sideways and put my left foot down into the water. Well it was better than falling flat on my face.

 My wet foot didn’t hamper me on the return trek to the car. Once back at the car park Steve suggested eating in the cafe there as it was lunch time, in fact 12:45 was rather late for him.  I checked that Lottie was allowed to sit at the tables in the porch at the front and then we ordered food and drinks.

A quiet pool to paddle in

After that I was free to change into dry footwear. The small cafe was busy. While waiting for our food Lottie was very well behaved and watched the people and dogs coming and going. Her nose went into overdrive each time a tray of steaming pulled pork or beef passed within inches of her upturned nose. As we were in the shade Steve had to take her for a walk in the sun to warm up as she had grown cold due to her wet coat.

upturned tree

Our food arrived after 30 minutes - hot, freshly cooked BBQ pork (in a bap for him or a wrap for me). The food was delicious and very good value for money. Having eaten and used the facilities we drove on to find a small lake. Although my navigation was fine we did not reach this lake as the road to it was so narrow and poor looking that Steve refused to drive along it. Instead he went onto Colliford lake and gave Lottie a short walk there before going to Truro.

We had an easy drive to Truro and found a skateboard for Chloe’s approaching birthday at Halfords.

The steep path up from Chapel Porth beach

As it was mid afternoon and too early to go to Chelle’s we headed on to St Agnes head, where we intended having a walk. However, Steve decided to try  Chapel Porth and have a look at the beach.  Because we were arriving about 16:00 there were spaces in the car park, so we stopped.

We took Lottie for a walk up towards Wheal Coates and back.  There were two reasons we did not walk the beach, which looks quite spectacular at low tide, 1 the tide was in and 2 dogs are not allowed on the beach.

view across the headland

Once back at the car park we took Lottie to the stream for a drink and then bought ourselves coffees, which we drank at the car while Lottie ate her dinner.

heather and sea

We had Chloe’s birthday present, but no wrapping paper, so I suggested going into St Agnes on our way back to see if we could get some there. We parked in St Agnes and had just  left the car park when we were assaulted by another heavy shower. Naturally we ran straight back to the car. We decided not to bother with wrapping paper and drove on to Chelle’s.

Turning round before Wheal Coates

When we arrived we found that they were all back from their parties. The girls were playing with their friends across the road, so Lynne was able to wrap Chloe’s present with some paper Chelle had. The children had enjoyed the parties, but Stu stayed at home and rested, as his work has been very busy.

We said good bye to the children as they went to bed. Once they were all asleep Steve went and fetched a Chinese takeaway.  After eating we said our goodbyes to Chelle and Stu and went back to our cottage.

Tomorrow we will spend the day driving home.