Wednesday 31st October 2012

After leaving Knighthayes Court at Tiverton we headed for Bristol where we had booked two nights at the Caravan Club site at Baltic Wharf. From the site a gate lead straight onto the quayside and then after a short walk to the many attractions of the Bristol Harbour, one of which was Isambard Kingdom Brunel's SS Great Britain.

Propellor (replica of original design) and rudder of SS Great Britain

Stern above the waterline showing the glazed panels that keep the rain from the rest of the lower hull

Detail of stern port quarter showing decoration details

Interior of hull towards the bow showing some of the many rust holes in the wrought iron hull.

We visited this vessel on the Thursday and were fascinated by the story that unfolded about it and its long life. A lot of work had gone into reconstructing the interior to what it looked like before the ship was scuttled in the Falkland Islands in the 1930s and it was very graphic the way that the story was told.

After touring the ship we had a walk into Bristol along the dockside then returned to the van before going to a nearby pub on the quayside by the site for an evening meal.

On the next day we returned to Whimple where we went to a site on a farm about one and a half miles from where our home used to be and we had a peaceful night there before exchanging our motorhome for our car.

We took More Time back to the compound and got into the car before driving to Eastbourne to visit my Mum as it was the last chance we had to see her before going to Spain. She is 96 at the end of November so any visits mean a lot to her and we spent several days with her before driving to visit Sues sister in London. 

After a night in a Travel Lodge in Basingstoke we came back to the farm after collecting the motorhome so we have both vehicles for a while which makes visiting people a bit easier without moving the MH.

One thing we have noticed while travelling around the country recently is the changing nature of the trees. When driving from Stafford to Shrewsbury we were amazed at the brilliance of the Autumn colours on the trees. In Sussex they were very dull and quite bare in places yet heading over Salisbury Plain the colours were back and brightened up a rather dull day nicely.

Colours of Autumn

When next Wednesday arrives ( I try to update the Blog once a week on a Wednesday) we will be just one day before leaving for Spain. It is currently 7degrees here and 26 degrees where we are heading to on the Mediterranean coast.

Wednesday 24th October

Weather at Slimbridge was kind to us and we spent a couple of pleasant days there exploring the Sharpness to Gloucester Canal and the next village of Frampton on Severn, a delightful village that has the longest village green in England. It certainly seemed it as we walked from one end to the other and back. Fortunately it had a pub at the far end and we sat in the autumn sunshine and enjoyed a leisurely drink while there.

Ready for Winter at Frampton on Severn

Tithe Barn at Frampton on Severn with unusual wooden, woven wall at far end

Swing Bridge over the Sharpness to Gloucester Canal, still operated by hand

Sunset at Slimbridge

After   a couple of days we moved on to Dulverton on Exmoor driving there via Dunster then across the moor. Not a route I would drive again in the motorhome but pleasant scenery, what we could see through the mist. Our friends Dave and Louise joined us at Dulverton and we spent most of our two days together chatting and catching up. We did manage to fit in a lovely circular walk from the town, arriving back by walking along the side of the River Barle, lovely. We enjoyed a meal out at the local Thai restaurant also. 

Altogether a really enjoyable couple of days in their company which we concluded by stopping off at the National Trust Knightshayes Court at Tiverton for a final coffee and cake.

Dave, Louise and Sue with our two Motorhomes at Knighthayes Court, Tiverton

Wednesday 17th October

From Leek we headed off to Shrewsbury where we had booked a site for two nights. As the site was right by the Park and Ride into town we took advantage of its reasonable price and headed into the city to explore a little and see how it had changed. We had lived in Shropshire back in the 1980s so had visited Shrewsbury frequently then, it was good to see how little the city centre had changed in the intervening years. We also said hello to some friends (Hi Mark and Misako) from Wellington who had opened a shop selling Japanese food and culinary items back then and still trading in what used to be the Shrewsbury Infirmary, since converted to apartments and shops. Setonaikai is the name if you are ever in area. Mark loves Lotus cars and is proud owner of a 1968 Lotus Elan and a 2006 Lotus Europa, not that I am envious at all.

After two nights at Shrewsbury we headed to Malvern and returned to the site there, well, actually the one next door as the Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravan Club sites back onto each other. With a visit into Worcester by bus and some walking around the area our four nights here passed quickly and we are off to Slimbridge in Gloucestershire tomorrow for two nights before heading to deepest Exmoor to meet a couple of friends at the Dulverton Caravan Club site. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us there.

Hanley Swan village centre with duck pond and pub beyond

It's remarkable how quickly this month is going. Although we are only passing the time until we head off to Spain on 8th November we can't believe that we have already been away for nearly three weeks and although we haven't done anything particularly exciting we have enjoyed our time immensely. 

Thursday 11th October

Four nights at Stoke Gabriel saw us ready to move on and we headed to a site just outside Malvern in Worcestershire in a village called Hanley Swan. Not a very big village but a lovely situation just a couple of miles from the Malvern Hills. Unfortunately the weather didn't co-operate so we were unable to explore much but a walk into the village found a good butchers, pub and Post Office cum stores, all you need really.

From here we went to Bury where we had arranged for our daughter Carly to meet up with us. She came and we had a few good days together culminating in a visit into Manchester where we all went to the Manchester City Museum and Art Gallery. I was most surprised in the museum as it is the only one I have ever visited with live exhibits such a Iguanas, Lizards and Tree Frogs, all alongside Fossils, stuffed animals and many other exhibits. Worth visiting though.

Properly named now so easily recognisable

Home for the next 7 months, here in sunshine at Bury

From Bury we have now come to Leek in Staffordshire for two nights as we have arranged to meet some friends we met in Spain. They came today and we had a lovely meal in the local pub (The Three Horseshoes) followed by a walk round Rudyard Lake, a large reservoir not far away that was created to supply water to a local canal. It was visited by a couple in the 1800's that were enchanted by it. So much so that they names their son after it......Rudyard Kipling. Unfortunately the narrow gauge railway that runs along the lakeside was not in steam at the time of our visit.

Rudyard Lake near Leek in Staffordshire

Tuesday 2nd October

Tuesday 2nd October

We are now officially homeless.

We moved out of our home at The Paddock on Saturday morning after spending our last night there in More Time parked outside the front door. No real regrets at leaving the home, possibly because we know we will be returning there next year, it is only a temporary departure. We handed the keys over to the agent and drove down to Dartmouth to spend the evening with our friends who had gone there on a sailing rally. With six boats afloat and More Time ashore  we had a good evening eating and chatting at the Floating Bridge, just by the Higher Ferry. We retired to More Time as the others left for their boats and had a good nights sleep on the side of the road (and free).

After a quick visit to M&S (Dine in for a tenner) we headed to Stoke Gabriel to the site we have visited before. We quickly got the awning up and sat waiting for the expected rain to make it's appearance. It never arrived but today (Tuesday) we woke to fairly heavy rain and the ground now squelches as you walk across the grass.

However, the sun as just come out so things are looking up !