As on previous occasions the sand buggies were out in force, as were the surf sails upon the water.
UPHILL. September 24th
This morning we were up bright and early and decided to head for the beach. The sky offered the potential for mixed weather, but knowing Julian to be a warm and comfortable space we weren't concerned by the threat of rain. In fact this didn't happen and we enjoyed lunch on the beach, with a bacon butty and tea to tide us over. Whilst on that subject, the tide was coming in when we arrived and within a couple of hours I was able to walk through the sandy waves.
As on previous occasions the sand buggies were out in force, as were the surf sails upon the water.
As on previous occasions the sand buggies were out in force, as were the surf sails upon the water.
BUNDU. September 17th/18th
*Bundu was actually our fifth choice (from web searches) for this weekend break. I discovered that many sites (the previous four) only accept two-night bookings, which isn't convenient for us. However, hopefully we will gradually gather a portfolio of preferred sites that allow us a one-night-stay...then we can ring around these when the opportunity for a break arises.
Situated near Okehampton (Devon) Bundu is within the boundaries of the Dartmoor National Park. It is a short drive from Exmouth. My choice for this weekend was to find moorland, so this met my search criteria.
Our journey to Bundu began after breakfast on Saturday, with a steady drive to Exmouth. We stopped part way to buy a bacon buttie from a van parked in a layby (bang went my diet!). The guy running the place repeated the thoughts that had been shared with him by a previous customer, relating to UK's over-relaxed immigration laws. I smiled my encouragement so, assuming my agreement with the theories expounded, he continued. I said mildly "The trouble is, we do visit other countries...so maybe that gives them the idea that 'they' might be welcome to visit ours...". He agreed, but stressed that we visit other countries, and then return home. Like his mother, he said. His mother bought a property in Crete and lived there for many years, but when her health failed she sold up, making a healthy profit, and returned home to benefit from the UK's free health service. Spot the irony!
Leaving the gentleman's pork scratchings, we moved on to Exmouth...where we spent a couple of hours combing the gritty sand for shells.
We even caught a brief glimpse of the rarely sighted 'Loch x monster'!
After that we wandered around the local town and later, finally, we headed for Bundu. The site was small and quiet. Although oddly we discovered that some local boy scouts from Nailsea were camping at t'other end of the field : )
There's not a lot to say about the Bundu site, other than that it was quiet there and the facilities were adequate. This was okay, as by the time we arrived and had slobbed around we were ready to sleep.
We woke bright and early at 6am and were happy to cook breakfast before going for a wander round the site. We found that there was a cycle track adjoining, so we took the dog for a walk along there. If we visit again we'll take our bikes with us. Julian has a bike rack fitted.
By 9.30am on the Sunday morning we were ready to head for the open road again. The weather was fine...it felt good!
I love the 'loneliness' of the moors...and today we covered parts of both Dartmoor and Exmoor.
Situated near Okehampton (Devon) Bundu is within the boundaries of the Dartmoor National Park. It is a short drive from Exmouth. My choice for this weekend was to find moorland, so this met my search criteria.
Our journey to Bundu began after breakfast on Saturday, with a steady drive to Exmouth. We stopped part way to buy a bacon buttie from a van parked in a layby (bang went my diet!). The guy running the place repeated the thoughts that had been shared with him by a previous customer, relating to UK's over-relaxed immigration laws. I smiled my encouragement so, assuming my agreement with the theories expounded, he continued. I said mildly "The trouble is, we do visit other countries...so maybe that gives them the idea that 'they' might be welcome to visit ours...". He agreed, but stressed that we visit other countries, and then return home. Like his mother, he said. His mother bought a property in Crete and lived there for many years, but when her health failed she sold up, making a healthy profit, and returned home to benefit from the UK's free health service. Spot the irony!
Leaving the gentleman's pork scratchings, we moved on to Exmouth...where we spent a couple of hours combing the gritty sand for shells.
There's not a lot to say about the Bundu site, other than that it was quiet there and the facilities were adequate. This was okay, as by the time we arrived and had slobbed around we were ready to sleep.
We woke bright and early at 6am and were happy to cook breakfast before going for a wander round the site. We found that there was a cycle track adjoining, so we took the dog for a walk along there. If we visit again we'll take our bikes with us. Julian has a bike rack fitted.
By 9.30am on the Sunday morning we were ready to head for the open road again. The weather was fine...it felt good!
Note: What on earth will I do with the bags of conkers, sea shells, heather sprigs and small slate scraps that I've collected along the way? Several days of crafty moves ahead methinks!
A ditty from our friend Bert...
The open road is calling,
To sunny sand and sea
Though I shan't be travelling far;
I'll be home in time for tea.
Four rounded wheels a rolling
Where e'er they stop and brake,
Fresh air will I be breathing
A peaceful rest I'll take.
Escape from all the hum drum
The whirring noise of life
Will leave all thoughts behind today
Chitter, chatter, trouble and strife.
I'll laugh as a happy memory
Comes floating through my head
A cheeky joke, a riddle,
Enough to make me blush bright red!
I gaze along my stickers;
Pause at each one with fond regard,
A heartfelt smile brings a warming glow
With bubbles it ain't hard.
Come on our trusty Julian
My gallant steed this day,
I'm ready for an adventure
Let nowt stand in the way!
To sunny sand and sea
Though I shan't be travelling far;
I'll be home in time for tea.
Four rounded wheels a rolling
Where e'er they stop and brake,
Fresh air will I be breathing
A peaceful rest I'll take.
Escape from all the hum drum
The whirring noise of life
Will leave all thoughts behind today
Chitter, chatter, trouble and strife.
I'll laugh as a happy memory
Comes floating through my head
A cheeky joke, a riddle,
Enough to make me blush bright red!
I gaze along my stickers;
Pause at each one with fond regard,
A heartfelt smile brings a warming glow
With bubbles it ain't hard.
Come on our trusty Julian
My gallant steed this day,
I'm ready for an adventure
Let nowt stand in the way!
BREAN. September 10th.
This morning we headed to Uphill and spent a large part of the day there simply enjoying the peace, sand and sea (just as we did a few weeks ago). Alan had, in fact, been feeling slightly unwell the day previous, so the opportunity to 'do nothing' was much welcomed.
Later in the day we decided to drive along the coast to take a look at Brean beach, as cars are also permitted to park on the sand there. We shouldn't have bothered though, it was a dump!
The trouble with the telephone is that, even though I have an answering machine, the ring is heard (even when I'm outside enjoying the garden) and this causes me to wonder whether the caller requires an urgent response. I therefore invariably stop what I am doing to answer it. I am of an age when the 'phone was used only for emergency contact, and as my husband has aged parents and I have a son requiring on-going support, it's difficult not to subconsciously experience 'alert' mode whenever the 'phone rings. Then, of course, urgent call or otherwise, my personal thoughts, actions or enjoyment have been halted as, more often than not, I respond to the caller....or if I didn't I feel some subconscious concern.
Whatever...the camper van today solved the problem for several hours. The damned 'phone did ring three times in succession soon after we got back home, which proves my point!
Later in the day we decided to drive along the coast to take a look at Brean beach, as cars are also permitted to park on the sand there. We shouldn't have bothered though, it was a dump!
But the dog loved it!
Although we personally didn't like Brean, the flat sandy beach stretched for miles and the tide came in very gently. I walked at least 20ft into the sea and the water was then only just covering my ankles. It's therefore a comparatively safe beach for young kids. There is also a beach patrol van that runs up and down fairly regularly.
A mile away from the beach, along the main road, and accessible from the beach along some paths through the sand dunes, there's an 'adventure' park and typical seaside pubs and shops. So the place would probably suit families with young children.
Thereby endeth my personal review of the area!
Note:
I was personally amazed at how much I enjoyed uninterrupted thoughts whilst spending time on the beach. After all, we have a nice house, pretty garden and so on...so it seems daft to me that I felt more relaxed when sitting in the camper van on a beach, that's only a few miles away from my home than when I am actually sitting at home! I wonder, again, whether we should do away with the peace-interrupting telephone? Having chosen to move to a house that is at the end of a cul-de-sac I solved the social problems created by passers by, and by having a high-walled rear garden and locked gates I have successfully secured privacy. I haven't lived my life to date without being aware of, and providing for, the social isolation that I enjoy! For it is within social isolation that my creativity flourishes. Obviously when shared interests are enjoyed then, within that context, socialising can be a pleasure. It's a matter of balance I guess.
The trouble with the telephone is that, even though I have an answering machine, the ring is heard (even when I'm outside enjoying the garden) and this causes me to wonder whether the caller requires an urgent response. I therefore invariably stop what I am doing to answer it. I am of an age when the 'phone was used only for emergency contact, and as my husband has aged parents and I have a son requiring on-going support, it's difficult not to subconsciously experience 'alert' mode whenever the 'phone rings. Then, of course, urgent call or otherwise, my personal thoughts, actions or enjoyment have been halted as, more often than not, I respond to the caller....or if I didn't I feel some subconscious concern.
Whatever...the camper van today solved the problem for several hours. The damned 'phone did ring three times in succession soon after we got back home, which proves my point!
FOREST AND WYE VALLEY. September 3rd.
Where we stayed: Forest and Wye Valley
This site appears newly fresh and clean...but certainly the owners don't lack experience as amenity provisions (for a small secluded camp site) couldn't be faulted.
I would say that although there were some children present, the setting best suited adults. There are other camp sites nearby that offer equipped play areas, and a few have club house amenities too. As these sites are better suited to families with children, we didn't go to them!
It was raining when we arrived at the site in the afternoon, and this persisted through the evening and overnight. However, we were warm and dry within the camper and in fact enjoyed 'playing house' despite being confined to barracks. We'd ordered a take-away from the site café, and this was delivered to us promptly at 6.30pm as requested.
Following a decent nights sleep (our first night spent in the camper) we walked across to the café for a full English breakfast. Then, after a bit of wandering around the site, followed by half-an-hour of packing up, we left and headed for a tour of the local area, which included a wander around Simonds Yat.
After that we drove off again, before stopping later for a camper-picnic late-lunch at Tintern Abbey before returning home.
Puzzlewood. Coleford GL16 8QB.
Other local attractions (some dog friendly, some not):
Beechwood
Perrygrove Railway
Butterfly Zoo
Mary Rose Young
Note:
Our first overnight camper session caused us to make a list of 'sort it' notes. Like, some velcro needed to hold a sliding cushion in place, elastic needed to secure something in a cupboard, an annoying unwanted hook in an inconvenient place, and a re-arrangement of the contents within a couple of the cupboards. When we arrived home we immediately dealt with these things...so hopefully our next camper play day will be enjoyed without those annoyances.
Over all our first sleepover experience went well despite the wet weather.
This site appears newly fresh and clean...but certainly the owners don't lack experience as amenity provisions (for a small secluded camp site) couldn't be faulted.
I would say that although there were some children present, the setting best suited adults. There are other camp sites nearby that offer equipped play areas, and a few have club house amenities too. As these sites are better suited to families with children, we didn't go to them!
It was raining when we arrived at the site in the afternoon, and this persisted through the evening and overnight. However, we were warm and dry within the camper and in fact enjoyed 'playing house' despite being confined to barracks. We'd ordered a take-away from the site café, and this was delivered to us promptly at 6.30pm as requested.
Following a decent nights sleep (our first night spent in the camper) we walked across to the café for a full English breakfast. Then, after a bit of wandering around the site, followed by half-an-hour of packing up, we left and headed for a tour of the local area, which included a wander around Simonds Yat.
Local area:
Puzzlewood is one nearby attraction that we'd have liked to visit, but as it isn't dog friendly (due to the farm location holding sheep which have been molested by dogs in the past) we didn't get to go there on this occasion:Puzzlewood. Coleford GL16 8QB.
Other local attractions (some dog friendly, some not):
Beechwood
Perrygrove Railway
Butterfly Zoo
Mary Rose Young
Note:
Our first overnight camper session caused us to make a list of 'sort it' notes. Like, some velcro needed to hold a sliding cushion in place, elastic needed to secure something in a cupboard, an annoying unwanted hook in an inconvenient place, and a re-arrangement of the contents within a couple of the cupboards. When we arrived home we immediately dealt with these things...so hopefully our next camper play day will be enjoyed without those annoyances.
Over all our first sleepover experience went well despite the wet weather.
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