LOOE.....

Friday 13th July

Having spent a lovely time with Carol and Warwick we stocked up Campy with supplies and set off for what is in effect our first venture with our new van.  Predictably, the weather was awful and it rained on and off all the way to Looe. We climbed and climbed in Campy along the way we saw some very picturesque countryside and villages. At lunch time we were reached the summit and decided to stop for lunch. A super spot and we shared our time with a small heard of wild Ponies.

We arrived at our campsite about 2.30pm and set about setting up the Awning. This was the first time we have set it up in anger and we had forgotten all the practice sessions we had in the garden. Then it was lovely dry and sunny. Today was wet miserable and dull. We had a quick shower to prove who was in charge but two hours later we were completely finished all our tasks and were happily sitting on the chairs in the Awning. We are assured it gets better with practice. Mind you we did wonder why no one else had put their awnings up. The owner came and told us that the previous day the previous person on the same spot as ours had their awning collapse whilst they were out and they came back to a pile of sopping wet tent and all their stuff under it.

This is what we look like and we must have done ok as it was still standing the next day. For some reason we both slept very well indeed last night and didn't wake till 08.20hrs un heard of in our house..... we thought we would take a walk into Looe in the morning on a promise of 'Fish 'n' Chips for lunch and set off at about 11.00am. Goodness only knows what went wrong but we found ourselves back at the van for lunch. We followed the signs to Looe but came face to face with a major A road and no pavements. Decided that discretion was the better than valour and made a hasty retreat. Having had lunch and consulting the map (note to self) we headed off in the opposite direction to the morning. The distance on the map looked nothing and we were confident we would be there in no time. Turns out we are used to the Pathfinder maps and our new maps are Landranger.....(another note to self) Anyway an hour and a half later and a lot of huffing and puffing up and down dale we finally walked into Looe. We took some pictures, so here they are

First sight of the sea

? couldn't resist it!

Thankfully our toilet block is better than this......

Looe island from Millendreath Bay, Looe is just around the corner but we had to scale the North side of the Eiger to get to get to it....

Petra with ....you know who!

Petra with ice cream...well it would be rude not too.

'Campy' is ours...yipeeeee.

Kevin & Petra

Today, 10:39 PM

Thursday 5 July

Following a relaxing time at Walberton, we set off to visit the Parents back in Burton on Trent. The weather was terrible all the way. We arrived at Kevin's Dad's for welcome break and a large Whisky for Kev.

Saturday 7 July

We all went for a walk around the Historic Town of Tutbury. The Castle is famous for being one of the many places Mary Queen or Scotts was held prior to having had head chopped off.....

Tutbuty Castle (Whats left of it....)

and more...

Tutbury Parish Church

Kev's Dad (Our Bill...!)

The River Trent at Hatton/Tutbury Bridge

Tutbury Arcade

Coffee at 'Slice' Tutbury with all Bill's Friends Lovely day.

Trent upon Burton?    

We had a lovely time with Bill and his friends.

Sunday 8 July

A day with Alan and June. (Petra's Dad and step-mum) Scones with cream and jam. Lunch out at the Spread Eagle and a lovely relaxing afternoon chatting about old times.

Monday 9 July

Christopher's 21st Birthday meal at the 'Dog and Partridge' Tutbury. It was great to see all the Mills Family and we all had a lovely time. We have known Chris since he was a baby and it has been a pleasure to see him grow in to a man. Good luck Chris with the Paramedic career you have chosen and we look forward to seeing you succeed in  achieving your ambition. We are both very proud of you.

 Charlotte, Steph and Birthday boy Chris

John, Norah, Barbara and Derek

Christine and Sue

Caroline, Chris and Charlie

Tuesday 10 July

Big day for Kevin and Petra, it's the day we collect 'Campy'.

We set off from Bills early to get to Bilbo in South Godstone by 11.15. It was not quite ready for us as the Valet was not quite finished and there was a couple of additions still to put on. However, once we had finished all the paperwork (paying for it....) it was ready. All our things were still in the loaner so we then took 2 hours to carefully transfer all our things from one van to the other. The Bilbo staff kept coming out to see we were ok and we think they couldn't believe how much stuff we had.

 Not easy when it is raining stair rods (slight exaggeration but you know what we mean) it could have been better.

Finally everything had a home and we set off to visit Carol and Warwick in Chard, Somerset. Very proud of our new purchase. At last!!!

So, the Kettle and hob get their first call of duty and make a well deserved cup of tea for two very tired travellers. (whistling kettle of course....)

We are at a Little Chuff not far from Stonehenge. 

We arrived at Carol and Warwicks at at about 6.20pm and received a walk welcome from Warwick consisting of a glass of Sherry and a Beer for Petra...? It was great to see them both and take full advantage of the hot pot and roast potatoes, followed by Warwick's apple and plum pie. yum!

Wednesday 11 July

Warwick, is a volunteer at Barrington Court, (National Trust Property) in Ilmininster. We were very keen to visit as Anthony Gormley's Field for the British Isles is on its biannual outing and is currently on exhibition there. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and thought the exhibition was fantastic. Well worth the visit. We even decided to take the plunge and joined the National Trust. We intend to take full advantage of the membership. For further information on the exhibition you can follow this link. 

http://www.ntsouthwest.co.uk/2012/04/antony-gormleys-field-for-the-british-isles-arrives-at-barrington-court/

If you can't be bothered this is what it looked like....

The house has a lovely Garden and we spent a couple of hours looking around. It was a real shame that the weather had taken its toll on the flowers but nevertheless it was a treat.

For Gaby, saw this and thought of you. x

Ralph?

Big Sis and Petra

Kev and Carol

It doesn't come more English than this

The Long Gallery

Thursday 12 July

It rained yet again most of the day but decided we couldn't stay in all day so as is our custom when visiting Carol and Warwick we went to the Leach Pottery at Mucheleny. We could have bought the entire shop  but ended up buying a lovely couple of coffee mugs. A very happy addition to Campy.

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Walberton

July 3

The weather has finally taken a turn for the better but, we doubt it will last for long. When I say it has turned for the better what I mean is it hasn't rained much. We have had a lovely day receiving visitors. In the morning we had Sam and Phil, enjoyed half a cup of tea as clearly 1 into 4 don't go. Still we had a nice chat and some favourite treats.

Just before lunch we walked down to our local village Walberton, it's a very nice Sussex village with a village pond a pub 'The Holly Tree' and a small row of very useful shops. 

Just in case you were wondering where we are. It's here!

Come the afternoon we have more visitors, this time our dear friends Linda and Ashley. More tea and the remainder of the biscuits. Much fun and a happy afternoon was spent as we finally were able to get the chairs out and sit outside with our new camping table. 

Petra trying to get to grips with the Cadac, realising too late that she should have asked Sam and Phil this morning....(where does the gas go????)

The site owner