Surrey and Kent 1-9 Dec 21

 We don't do "South" around the M25. It is always horrendous. For some strange reason, however, on this occasion we did decide to go South just to see if it is still bad. It was. The first port of call was Chertsey Camping and Caravanning Club Site for 3 nights and, as expected, we hit traffic on the M25. On arrival we unhitched Mr Toad and whizzed via the Sunbury Costco to Chiswick to visit mother for her birthday. 

The following day we visited Brooklands Museum, fighting the traffic through Weybridge. It was a bright, sunny day, but bitterly cold and the museum was fairly empty. Accordingly the staff were bored and wanted to chat. It took ages to get around, but it was lovely. Following a very full, and interesting, day at Brooklands we quickly popped into the impressive Mercedes World next door and had a wander around before doing a bit of shopping in the local supermarket and heading back through the traffic to Chertsey.

Chertsey C&CC Site

Concorde

Brough Superior

Friday was a chance to visit old haunts and we took Mr Toad out to the Silent Pool, tried some Gin (well, the non-driver had quite a few samples) then on to Shere for a wander around this delightful little village. This is where Mr Toad came into his own. The car park was full apart from a Toad-sized space in the corner which we squeezed into, despite the sneers from the arrogant 4x4 owning pricks who seem to make up the majority of the population in these parts. We then took the short cut over the steep and windy Surrey Hills back to Chertsey, again encountering numerous examples of the absolute arrogance of the local 4x4 owning knobs. In the evening we enjoyed an absolutely massive plate of fish and chips in the Bridge Hotel, just outside the campsite. 

Shere

Silent Pool

On Saturday we were pleased to leave Surrey and head to the C&MC site at Bearsted, near Maidstone, for one night.  This is a delightful little site and we would like to go back and visit again, although we don't do South. Again we took to the Toad to visit the other Mother for the afternoon - and yet more fish and chips!

Bearstead C&MC site

Sunday it was on to Canterbury, a fairly easy run down the A2, albeit the traffic in Canterbury is an absolute nightmare. Parking up we walked into the city and had a good bimble around.

Canterbury Cathedral

On Monday we visited Sandwich and Deal, enjoying a nice lunch in the Royal Hotel overlooking the beach in Deal The forecast rain then hit as we walked along the pier and we got soaked. We drove along the coast to Dover, but the weather was horrendous, so we headed back to the van to dry out.

Sandwich

Deal

On Tuesday we continued our exploration of this area of Kent, taking in Ramsgate (bit of a dump), Broadstairs (very nice place), the Hornby visitor centre (interesting, but over-priced) and then Margate just as the rain hit again. We scuttled back into Canterbury to try and post some Christmas cards and were mugged by the local pay and display and the typically inefficient and useless main Post Office was manned by 2 staff during the busiest part of the day. The queues were ridiculous. Luckily we found a tiny little post office near the rip-off car park where we managed to get rid of the cards. Fighting the traffic once again, we restocked with food and headed back to the van.

Ramsgate

Broadstairs

On Wednesday we headed for Dover with the intention of visiting the castle. It was closed. We stopped by a memorial to Bleriot then on to the National Trust White Cliffs place. We walked along the soggy, slippery cliff tops in a biting wind, then warmed ourselves with a delicious honey roast swede soup in  the visitor centre.

Bleriot Memorial

Thursday it was up and home and more traffic on the A2 and a subsequent diversion down Bluebell Hill and up the M20.

We don't do South. How can anybody live there with the constant traffic jams. It would drive us nuts!

Lincoln 17 - 20 Nov 21

 Off to Camper UK to have a few jobs done on the van, namely a replacement seat cover (the original had a small tear in it  when we bought the van), a new cover for the end of the kitchen unit, an updated owner's manual, and replacement bulbs for the awning light. All minor jobs, but Camper UK had booked the van into their massive workshops for 2 days just in case, so we booked ourselves on to a small certified site, Seven Acres Campsite, about 4 miles outside the city.

Arriving on Wednesday afternoon after an easy run up the A1, we found ourselves to be the only campers on this charming little site. After chatting to the lovely lady running the place, we settled down for a relaxing evening.  

Seven Acres Camping

On Thursday we were up early and off to Camper UK. Leaving the van in their capable hands, we popped into Go Outdoors to buy a new fleece, then spent the whole day wandering around Lincoln, fortifying ourselves with a rather nice snack at Madam Waffle, which we highly recommend.  After climbing up and down the hill twice, and trundling around 11 miles, exhausted we sought some more sustenance at the Lincolnshire Poacher pub, picked up a bit of shopping, then collected the van at Camper UK, which had, by then, had all the work completed.

Steep Hill

Waffle - nom nom

The Glory Hole

New covering

New seat cover

Friday was a lovely day and, as the van was no longer required by Camper UK, we were at a loose end. We thought about riding along the excellent cycle path that runs alongside the River Witham to Woodhall Spa, but two things prevented us: I had forgotten to pack the cycle helmets and the road outside the campsite was narrow and very fast. We would have had to cycle along this road for a mile and a half before reaching the cycle track and we weren't happy about that, especially considering the very poor surface of the road. Likewise, a long walk along this same road presented similar problems. This single access and egress from the campsite is a major downside to what would otherwise be a perfect spot. It would be fine if we had brought the Toad. Deciding that we would try to reach the local pub off-piste, we set off through the adjacent nature reserve and along the banks of the river. Frustratingly, it was blocked in both directions and we didn't really fancy a splodge around a muddy field, so instead we found a small microbrewery (Ferry Ales Brewery) , bought a shedload of beer (which they kindly delivered to the campsite) and spent an afternoon chatting to the donkeys, goats, chickens and sheep on the site and consuming a few beers. Later, God treated us to a fantastic firework display with an amazing sunset.

Ferry Ales - very nice

Saturday it was up and home, stopping briefly at Boundary Mills outlet, where we spent the princely sum of £5 on a radiator duster.

Cambridgeshire 12 - 27 Oct 21

Time to assist with the grape harvest, albeit later than usual and with low expectations after such a bad summer. So, on Tue 12 Oct, we hitched up Mr Toad and moved off grid at the vineyard for 2 days before moving on to Cambridge Camping and Caravanning club site for the weekend. The site is so noisy after spending 2 nights located miles from anywhere.

Over the long weekend we drove out to Burwash Manor for a quick mooch around, then stopped for tea and cake in the Orchard tea garden before heading for an appointment at Addenbrookes Hospital in the afternoon and then had pizza in the evening from the excellent van that stopped on site. Saturday we walked from Grantchester into Cambridge along the Grantchester Grind,  but the city was packed with tourists and quite unpleasant so we had a quick pint in the Anchor before walking back to Grantchester and home. Sunday we filled the van to the brim with water, charged everything electrical we could find, went back to the vineyard, then out in Mr Toad to get some provisions for the week.

The Orchard Tea Rooms, Grantchester

The Old Vicarage Grantchester

The clock not standing at 10 to 3

Kings College

Mon and Tues we picked the dreaded back muller (Muller-Thurgau left unpruned) and on Wednesday, as the forecast was so foul, we had a day off. It actually turned out to be a nice day. We went into Saffron Walden, had lunch in a pub, then off for a wander around Audley End house.

Saffron Walden

St Mary's Church, Saffron Walden

Audley End House

Thursday and Friday it was back to picking and on Saturday it was a quick trip home for admin.

How much can you get in the back of a smart car

On Sunday in glorious weather we were privileged to enjoy the first sample of the new season Sparkling Wine in glorious sunshine sitting amongst the Pinot Noir vines that produce that same wine.

On Monday and Tuesday it was a slog to get the last of the grapes in and the end of the harvest for another year. On Wednesday morning we hitched up, said our goodbyes and headed for home. In all, a great experience staying in a beautiful, peaceful location.

Different fruit for a change