Cambridge Folk Festival 27 Jul to 1 Aug 22

 Haven't been here since 2017 as we thought it was getting a bit tired, plus it hasn't been held for the last two years because of Covid. Usually you can't get into the Motorhome and Cackyvan Club site at Cherry Hinton unless you book a year in advance, but there was actually space this year. Is it because the C&MC is becoming eye wateringly expensive or is the Folk Festival not as popular?

On Weds we trundled down to Cherry Hinton, parked up and walked into, and back from, Cambridge City Centre. After all the miles and inclines we had completed in Cornwall, this 8.5 miles should have been a breeze, but our feet and legs ached from the effort.  It is probably the constant pounding on a hard surface that did it. We thought we would have a meal in the Robin Hood pub, next to the site, but it was full so we settled on a relaxing meal and a glass or two in the van.

On Thursday we took advantage of the free bus ticket to go back into town. We had a mooch around, bought a pair of trousers and a top in the sales and had a nice burger in the Bath House, and an equally nice Gelato at Jacks, both in Bene't Street. 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday were very tiring days at the festival, meeting up with friends we had met at this event before. Pretty unimpressed with festival content, the crammed in crowds and the sea of camping chairs, but it was ever thus and will probably not change. We agreed that this year there was nothing new to "float our boat". Hopefully Shrewsbury will be better. Will we go again? Who knows.

Monday it was a very easy run home.

Skywriter above Addenbrookes

West Country 18 Jun - 15 Jul 22

Sat 18 Jun. We were meant to be leaving on Friday, but had to wait for all clear from the Doc regarding tests for a never ending chest infection. Thankfully it was all clear and whilst Friday was a boiling hot day, Saturday was cool and wet. On Friday we had weighed the van at the local tip and, although within limits, it was quite tight. Mind you, we did have a fair bit of bottled and tank water on board. Given the price of fuel (£2 a litre), we had a slow, easy drive down at an average 54mph to Briarfields campsite, which lies adjacent to GCHQ in Cheltenham,  pitched up then took the toad into Gloucester Quays for a bit of a mooch around.

Sun 19 Jun. I realised that, stupidly, I hadn't packed the keys for the bike locks or the bike batteries. We needed new ones anyway, so we decided to walk into Cheltenham, buy some locks, have a spot of lunch then walk back. 10 miles and exhausted. Haven't walked that far in ages and luckily no effects from the chest infection.

Mon 20 Jun. The Sun was back out for the next part of the journey, which was a gentle drive down to Devon, stopping at Gloucester services for a nice pork pie. It was fine on the main roads, but the last stretch had us negotiating the narrow, hilly back roads so prevalent in the South-West. We soon settled in to the lovely, quiet, site at Smytham Manor, Little Torrington, and chillaxed in the sunshine for the remainder of the day.

Tue 21 Jun. With shiny new locks and batteries that can, luckily, be recharged on the bikes, we took to the Tarka Trail. The site has direct access to this beautiful trail and we spent the day - and 30 miles - in the saddle along the old railway route to Fremington Quay for a cream Tea, stopping in Bideford for a mooch around and a delicious ice cream from Hockings on the way back. A lovely sunny day and a beautiful route - well worth the aching bodies after the ride.

Wed 22 Jun. A hot, sunny day so we drove up to Croyde Bay, a place we haven't been to for years, to enjoy some time on the beach. Later we walked along to Baggy Point, then did some reprovisioning in Tesco in Braunton. It has changed an awful lot around there - not sure if I like it now, but there again I am getting old.....

Thu 23 Jun. They charge an absolute fortune to visit Clovelly (£8.50 an adult) and we didn't want to be ripped off by those pirates, so we parked up at the National Trust Car park at Brownsham and walked the couple of miles to Clovelly, sticking two fingers up at the turnstiles as we passed underneath them. Clovelly wasn't too busy (not surprised at those prices) and we enjoyed our walk up and down the incredibly steep village. Our dosh was much better spent on a couple of refreshing pints of lager shandy and some pasties. We walked back along the coast path, enjoying some lovely views en-route,  arriving back at the car very hot and sticky. Charging to go into a village - bloody ridiculous. They'll be charging to go into churches next.

Fri 24 Jun. Reluctantly, we packed up and left Devon and headed down to the Lizard in Cornwall. The Satnag took us on a shortcut around Stithians - a single track hilly, narrow road and, of course, we met a huge lorry coming the other way. It was a good 15 mins of unhitching, shuffling and sweating before we finally managed to get through. It was incredibly stressful. Eventually we arrived at the delightful Little Trethvas campsite. We had a quick shufty at Lizard point before heading back for dinner and then back down to Cadgwith where we had a pint in the very busy Cadgwith Cove Inn, hoping to see the Friday night singing. However, time went on, we were sitting outside and it had rained,  plus it was getting bloody cold,  so we bailed out leaving shanty singing for another time.

Sat 25 Jun.  Time for some SW Coast Path walking, so we walked through Mullion to Mullion Cove then Polurrian and Poldhu, enjoying wonderful scenery and a well deserved pasty when we got back to the car.

Sun 26 Jun. We walked around the stunningly beautiful Kynance Cove and back round to the Lizard. Later we took to the car and had a quick visit to the delightful village of Coverack.

Mon 27 Jun. A rest day, so a trip out to Porthleven where we bought some nice baps to eat on the harbourside. My God, the horseradish on the roast beef was hot! I was tempted to feed some to the flying scavengers around these parts but even I couldn't be that cruel. On to Helston, which I remember as being a bit dull. My memory hadn't failed me. It is dull. 

Tue 28 Jun.  It rained heavily all day whilst we moved up to St Agnes, stopping at Healeys cider farm enroute.  They've changed their access, now charging a fortune to visit (apart from their shop, which sells cider at a considerably dearer price than the local Tescos), so we ate our lunch in their car park and went to St Agnes for the 1300hr check in. It chucked it down. We got soaked.

Wed 29 Jun. A bit drier, we walked to Aggie for lunch in the excellent Driftwood Spars, then back up the very steep route to the site. We'd forgotten how hilly it is around here.

Thu 30 Jun. A really delightful walk along the beach at low tide to Porthtowan. The sea was turquoise and clear, the sand soft and very clean and it made you feel very good indeed. We came back over the cliff top route, stopping at Chapel Porth for a hedgehog ice cream. We are definitely getting fitter!  In the afternoon we did some washing then went down to Wheal Coates to watch the sunset. It was very chilly!

Fri 1 Jul.  We took the Toad into Truro for a bit of retail therapy and a pint in the Ale House, one of our favourite pubs. Lunch was the obligatory pasty, which we ate as we walked over to Tesco to get some provisions. It was there that she suffered a seagull attack, despite holding the pasty close to her chest. The cheeky barstewards swooped  right in and whipped it away, cutting her finger in the process.

Sat 2 Jul was a lazy day of admin, lounging and spending a bit of time protecting a tiny Shrew that had decided that our pitch was a happy hunting ground.

Sun 3 Jul. We drove to Portreath to have a quick look and were very unimpressed - perhaps the cool wind and cloudy skies had something to do with it. It was then back to the Driftwood Spars in Aggie for a stunning roast dinner and to watch Suns'ls perform sea shanties in the beer garden. We then sat on top of the outside bar in deckchairs and drank Rattler. Bliss. 

Mon 4 Jul. A bit of culture today and off to Trerice, near Newquay, a 16th century National Trust Elizabethan mansion. The back roads there were daunting, even in a Smart car! Glad we didn't take the van! Nice place though. 

Tue 5 Jul. More culture - Trelissick National Trust near Truro. A lovely property with beautiful gardens stretching down to the River Fal. Again, it was back across the road later for yet another sunset

Wed 6 Jul. More exercise needed, so a very long and steep walk from the site along the SW Coast Path to Sally's bottom. 

Thu 7 Jul.  This was a full day in beautiful weather, firstly to Pendennis Castle in Falmouth for an excellent tour and wander around this fascinating and interesting site, then a wander into Falmouth, which we found to be  a pleasant enough place. Shame the parking is so expensive. 

The warden at St Agnes Club Site is not only a charming and friendly lady but a very good artist. We bought a nice piece of hers to hang in the Motorhome between the beds.

Fri 8 Jul. We were due to leave Aggie on Sunday, but the weather forecast was so good that we extended for 3 days. Accordingly it was off to Truro again for a few provisions and another pint and pasty in the wonderful Ale House and then back to Wheal Coates to watch yet another beautiful sunset.

Sat 9 Jul - A glorious day on the beach at Chapel Porth. Shame the tide came in and made us evacuate our prime spot earlier than we would have liked. By now we were so fit we sprang up the steep cliff home like a couple of mountain goats.

Sun 10 Jul  - Down to the Driftwood Spars again for their fantastic Sunday Roast (even though it was a hot, sunny day), then a long walk back along the coast path past St Agnes Head.

Mon 11 Jul. We drove down to Chapel Porth and were greeted at the National Trust car park like long lost friends. "I've been waiting for someone like you - I have a tiny space just your size along there". That's the second time National Trust staff have called us tiny. Poor Mr Toad is getting a complex! It was a lovely, hot sunny day and the sea was beautifully clear and cool. Could be anywhere in the world.

Tue 12 Jul - We drove along to Carbis Bay to walk along the undulating path into St Ives, which was absolutely rammed and we didn't like it much. We had a quick shuffle around amongst the crowds and were then glad to walk back to the peace of Carbis Bay and the car. Later we walked down to the Driftwood Spars for a last dinner of delicious fresh mackerel. 

Wed 13 Jul - Reluctantly we packed up, left St Agnes and travelled the 90 or so miles across Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor to the Exeter racecourse cackyvan site, which although somewhat bare and boring is an ideal stopping place.

Thu 14 Jul. On from Exeter racecourse to Fromebridge Mill, where we parked up for the night and enjoyed a very pleasant meal. Before dinner we walked along the road to Attwools, a massive camping and outdoor shop, and a very nice garden centre.

Fri 15 Jul. Arrived home ready to start the endless cycles of washing.