Lincoln 27-28 May 25

It's that time again for the annual habitation and damp check at Camper UK in Lincoln. It was a wet, miserable, dirty day as we completed the drive up to Lincoln, stopping briefly at Boundary Mills in Grantham to buy some colourful socks and some bargain Radley bags.

Arriving at Camper UK we checked in and had a quick wander around the thousands of motorhomes they have in stock, cringing at the hideous price that these things have risen to. Don't think we will be able to buy a new one any time soon (but, mind you, there wasn't much there that could beat our current van).

Our pitch for the night

We wandered down to the Lincolnshire Poacher for dinner and, amazingly for Lincoln, we managed to stay dry during the walk there and back.

As usual, it was a noisy night parked up outside, but we checked the van in at 0830 and, after a bacon bap in Tescos, we wandered into Lincoln for a mooch around and a delicious waffle in Madame Waffle.

We were hoping that Camper UK may be able to resolve the troublesome Control Panel switch, but of course the van wouldn't play and they couldn't recreate the fault. That is until we were just about to leave and the switch wouldn't operate, so into the workshops it went to be checked. Eventually they said that the Elektroblok is at fault and we'd need a new one - at £758!!! We were certain that they couldn't actually identify the fault so were looking to replace the parts that could be the issue, starting with the most expensive first.

Anyway, an uneventful drive back and we arrived home safely, but knackered.

Cambridge 14-18 May 25

We had two events in a week at the Rugby Club, the weather forecast was excellent, we needed to go to a C&CC site to get a stamp for an age concession rate and we needed a rest,  so a very short hop for a short break in Cambridge seemed like a good idea.

The Control Panel 12v switch is still playing up and it wouldn't turn on when we collected the van from the farm. We had visions of using the van like a tent, with no water pump and lights (we had heating and fridge) but, suddenly, it turned on later on the Tuesday afternoon. We left it on all trip.... 

The rogue Control Panel

On Wednesday afternoon we trundled down to the site and arrived 4 minutes early. Being the C&CC you cannot check in until 1300hrs precisely, so we waited for 4 minutes then checked in. It was sunny weather so we tried sitting outside the van, but the wind was a strong northerly and, despite the sun, we soon got chilled, so we retired to the van and dossed around/dozed for a couple of hours before changing and catching the Number 7 bus to the club for a 1stXV dinner. Well, that was the plan anyway. We were slightly delayed when, as we left the site, a great fat pigeon decided that it would drop a massive load onto her jacket. We had to detour to the newsagent for water and tissues and made sure we bought a lottery ticket for that evening (we won a £5 lucky dip - big deal). The dinner itself was a  great event and we enjoyed a fabulous meal and a briefing from the new coach, Craig Newby. We are looking forwards to next season already! Luckily, Laura and Steve gave us a lift back to the campsite as Cambridgeshire's useless buses don't tend to run after 2200hrs.

Bloody Pigeon!

Craig Newby (and Jonny Bear)

We had a bit of a lie in on Thursday, then caught the No7 back into Cambridge where she bought yet another pair of shoes in Timberland. We lunched in the Brewdog, had an ice cream in Jaks, had a bit of a mooch around then caught the bus home. Despite the promised sunshine it remained cool and cloudy all day.

Surely the useless Met Office must get a forecast right once in a while? It was due to be warmer and sunnier on Friday and we wanted to spend time in the University Botanical Gardens. It was cold and cloudy and the cafe in the gardens looked a bit uninviting, so we had a very quick look around with an aim of going back later if the weather improved. We walked into Cambridge, fought the thousands of tourists, had a nice lunch in the Pickerel where we noticed the barmaid placing a few coins in the mantel. She told us that if she didn't do this whenever the landlord left the premises then the long-dead landlady would cause problems. All very weird! Back to the Botanical Gardens for a longer look around, then on to the marvellous Cambridge Blue pub for a couple of pints before heading for home. 

Pickerel - hole in the mantel

Botanic Gardens

The ceiling of the wonderful Cambridge Blue pub

Saturday was match day against the awful Bedford Blues, and our last home game of the season. We enjoyed a splendid breakfast in the garden centre then headed to the ground. The match was frustrating. We were in it for the first half, despite the best efforts of the crap referee, but out patched together squad couldn't hold out and we lost once again, Roll on next season.

Botanic Gardens

Egret on Coe Fen

Cows on Coe Fen

Hobson's Folly on the River Cam

Sunday it was up, pack and home before 10am.

On Wednesday the van is due to have it's MOT and cambelt change - ouch!

Nottingham 18 - 22 Apr 25

We've been trying to book the Nottingham Camping and Caravanning Club site for the Easter weekend as Nottingham were playing Cambridge on Easter Sunday (stupid day for a game of Rugby). Anyway, the site was permanently booked and we had resigned ourselves to having to drive up and back for the day. Suddenly Debs noticed that South Yorkshire DA had a meet on over that weekend at Nottingham Racecourse, which is nearer to the rugby ground and, at 11 pounds per night, significantly cheaper. We asked if they had space and, as they had a few cancellations, they said that they could squeeze us in. As we had the care home Easter party on Maundy Thursday, we set off on Good Friday and we were parked up at the back of the car park at the racecourse in no time.

We haven't been to Nottingham for quite some while and I wanted to go back to the Olde Trip to Jerusalem, a very interesting old (but not the oldest) pub carved into the rock under Nottingham castle. We walked the 2 miles or so into the city centre. An area of great contrast - some parts dirty, with rubbish and graffiti everywhere, yet other parts featuring some lovely and interesting architecture. We wandered around the somewhat boring castle and settled into the pub where we enjoyed a few pints of excellent ale whilst watching the hundreds of tourists troop through the pub. Finally, we headed back to the racecourse, achieving 8 miles of walking.

Market SquareReady for St George's Day

 

One of the famous Nottingham Lions. It is said that they will roar if a virgin or a honest politician walks past and they ain't made a sound for years. 

Nottingham Castle

The cursed galleon - touch it and die!

The Trip - great pub

On Saturday we decided to do a bit of shopping, popping into Hobbycraft then walking miles along the canal to find Cotswold Outdoor because she needed a new pair of shoes! Knackered we walked back into the City centre, stopping once again at the Trip to Jerusalem for a reviving pint or two. We then set out to find Mowgli's and enjoy a lovely Indian meal before hiking back and collapsing after nearly 10 miles of walking.

The Racecourse

On Sunday it was up early to meet Laura and Steve for breakfast in Cote in West Bridgford, a pint in the Trent Bridge Inn (funnily enough, right next to Trent Bridge Cricket Ground), then across the River to the brewhouse for another pint before heading to the Rugby Ground for several more pints and to watch a great 1st half of rugby and an abysmal second half. After a few more post match drinks we walked home, the beer making us stop at KFC, the first time we've been there for many, many years. It's very strange what beer will do to you. We walked nearly 8 miles on Sunday.

Nottingham Rugby Ground

On Monday we were due to leave but decided that we needed a bit of a rest so we asked to stay another night. It rained all day. We caught the bus into the city, walked around the shopping area, but it was so cold and wet that we retired to Turtle Bay for a delicious lunch, then caught the bus back to the racecourse, where we moved the van to a more scenic (and level) pitch as most people (and the hordes of kids) had all gone home. We relaxed for the remainder of the day after walking a very measly 3 miles in total (but, boy, do my poor old knees need a rest).

Ol' Big Head

On Tuesday, with the sun shining and a bright blue sky, we set off for home with just a short hold up on the A1 near Wittering, where they have reduced the carriageway to one lane whilst they do bugger all to repair it.