Wednesday 18th May 2022
This trip was to go and visit my brother as we haven't seen each other since November 2018. We travelled up in the afternoon after a half day working for me. It was a good run, relatively quiet, including stopping at the services. Maybe we should travel mid week more often!
We had to phone ahead so the gate was unlocked when we got there. There wasn't anyone else on the field so we had the choice of pitches so we chose the one with the best view, naturally. It was also the one with the shortest trip to get water etc.
The site is on a hill which is partially given over to meadow. There is a gravel driveway into the field then grass going down to the mown areas for the pitches.
Undertaking the ablutions, as we call them (emptying waste and getting water) is a trek up the hill then raising the loo cassette up to about waist height to empty it! Grey waste is the same but as all the pitches back onto rough ground with a ditch we diverted our grey waste pipe there so didn't have the safety issue of lifting the 50 litre heavy waste thing.
Thursday
Went into Cheadle for a look around and to see the St. Giles Catholic Church there. Augustus Pugin designed it over 175 years ago and it didn't disappoint. The only trouble was that it was very dark inside - maybe to protect the art and paintwork.
Cheadle has a number of independent shops with very friendly people. One café that we'd certainly recommend is the Victorian Tearooms as the staff are very friendly and the food was fresh and of good quality. You felt instantly at home as everyone was talking to each other and generally enjoying themselves.
We then went to Uttoxeter. We thought we'd been there before and although we recognised some of the roundabouts (one with a wire worked bull and another with a sentor) we didn't recognise any of the town. There some independent shops but very expensive. (on browsing the Clog, we found that we were here back in 2013!)
Back to the caravan and a relaxing afternoon in the unexpected sunshine 🌞.
We were wondering whether we can walk around the wooded area that the owner Jez takes his dog for a walk but as it's his land and he hasn't said we could, we haven't ventured there yet.
After dinner, I set off to throw the rubbish away. As I was trekking up the hill, a large dog came bounding over to me. I thought he was going to knock me over! Gez had said that he had a dog and that he likes a pat but only the once. Well, the way his big jaw was opening and showing all his canine teeth, that was all that he was going to get!
The rest of the evening was spent chilling then towards the end making out shapes out of the darkening trees. Then we saw lights playing around among the trees. It was magical!
Of course there was an explanation. Behind where we were sitting, there was an orange light up at the house and as all our blinds were still open, it was shining down and reflected on the opposite window. With us moving our heads to obscure or let in more light they looked to be dancing. Brilliant to watch and our entertainment for the rest of the evening.
Friday
Met up with Claire, my brothers partner, for coffee. Mike and I hadn't had any breakfast so also had something to eat, a Staffordshire Oatcake. I had cheese and tomato and Mike had cheese, bacon and sausage. Very tasty!
When we left, we headed over to Froghall Wharf and walked along the canal for a distance. We heard so many birds and identified a chiff-chaff, nut hatch, thrush. We even saw the nuthatch up close pecking at the bark to release the bugs.
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| Newly hatched goslings |
We were going to have a cuppa in the wharf café there but it was so busy so we went back to the caravan and had a lovely cuppa there.
In the evening, we met up with Paul and Claire and went for dinner at the Raddle Inn, a pub out in the sticks and down single track roads. It looked lovely and was very well attended. There were pods outside for people to be outside without being outside. We'd booked beforehand and had a table inside in a corner which unfortunately made us feel quite hemmed in. What we did find unusual, because we hadn't come across it before, was a call button for when we had decided what we wanted from the menu.
There was normal pub fayre and a few other things like risotto or cannellini. Mike had the mixed grill, I had risotto, Claire had fish and chips and Paul had steak and ale pie. None of us particularly enjoyed our meals although I think Mike and Paul had the better deal. My risotto seemed to be just rice cooked in a separate sauce and wasn't very tasty but was served with chips and cooked veg - cabbage and carrots. I did also have a prawn cocktail for starters but that was very insipid too. Altogether not a very good meal but company was brilliant.
Saturday
Met up with Paul and Claire again. With very little to do around the area that doesn't include too much walking, we went to Wetherspoons for a late breakfast but we were too late so we left and went to the Victorian Café that we went to the other day. They served all day breakfast so much better. Claire and I had Oatcakes with cheese and other filling like bacon, egg, baked beans. We had a very pleasant time.
We dropped Paul and Claire back at their house. They live in a lovely place with fields to the back of them.
After we filled the car up and shopped for dinner, we went to Croxden Abbey which is just down the road from the campsite. The Abbey dates back to the 13th century and it was good being able to walk around the ruins and get up close to the stones.
Sunday
Leaving day. A motorhome left before us but got stuck on the gravel track. Mike had thought that we may have had trouble getting out if the grass was wet but never thought about the gravel. The motorhome people tried a few different things but eventually had to rely on a tractor to haul them out.
An hour later and it was our turn next. No, we failed on the gravel too. It seems like it was very deep and the weight of the car along with having to go around the bend, the wheels just dug into the gravel. The owner Gez, was there too and mentioned that a motorhome had had difficulty last year but thought that the winter would have bedded down the gravel. Maybe the previous motorhome loosened the gravel too much first and didn't allow our tyres to get a purchase. Mike uncoupled the caravan and took the car to the top of the hill and got the winch out but even that didn't work as there was a bend that had to be negotiated. Eventually after trying everything that we could think of and also some fellow campers, we decided to await the tractor. He couldn't make it for a few hours so we settled into our wait looking at the scenery and catching up with reading.
The tractor came at 2 o'clock. Mike brought the car back down so the tractor could pull the whole unit up, which it did without any effort. What did require effort was getting the D shackle off. A few tools and a hammer later and it was removed and we were eventually on our way.
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| The tractor dwarfs our outfit! |
All in all, an enjoyable & peaceful stay. We'll come back once the track is sorted. Something the owner is tackling now.
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