Railway Inn CL, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln & Torchlight Festival, Nottingham

Wednesday 16th August 2023

    All ready to set off just after 10 and then we found a problem with the caravan lights, so we had to sort that out first.  Couldn't find anything wrong but it ended up working.  Probably a loose connection to the fuse box as Mike checked those.

    Left an hour later.  Going well until M1 and then stuck in 9 mile traffic jam due to an  accident just above junction 21a which was where we needed to leave the motorway.  it was a really hot day too, so we were all feeling boiling sitting in the car.  Eventually got through the jam and continued on our way.  Eventually, we got there and the journey took 5 hours for 150 miles! 

    The site field was through the carpark but you had to wait at the gate and go into pub to pay.  The field was rough and uneven but level.  Collecting the water, we had to walk across a mud patch obviously waiting to be grassed over but if it rains, I can see it being messy.

    All set up and immediately went shopping.  We were going to have a meal in but with how the day went, we went to the pub instead.  Drinks and food are paid for seperately.  the food was OK and the kids loved theirs, me not so much.

    Trains are fairly frequent and we are right beside the track.  Luckily the local two-coach trains stop at night but there was one really long one that travelled overnight. Must have been a freight train.

    Back at the caravan during the night I heard deer in woods. I wondered what it was at the time!

Thursday

Interrupted night sleep and Mike had not slept very well at all. 

    After breakfast, we then set off for Lincoln Castle.  We found a car park right next to the West Gate so found that really easily and not too much walking.  We then  had to make our way to the East gate for the ticket office.  What a surprise to see 2 dragons adorning the castle grounds!  Sophia was really taken by them.  They were grumbling to each other and every now and again one of them, Lucy, breathed smoke.  It was a real draw for the kids.  We walked around the battlements and you could see for miles!  Many steps later we were round.  Lunch time and a sit down.

    Following lunch, we took a look around the prison museum which also held the Magna Carta from Lincoln.  There was a film about how it came about and how it still impacts our lives now.  Very interesting.

Looking through the spy hole in the cell door

    A bit of shopping for the next few days then back to the caravan for a well earned sit down - and more trains, noise from the distribution park and wood shredding going on.  I thought this site was supposed to be quiet!

Friday

    Packed up and a short journey to Walesby Forest for the Torchlight Festival.  As it's all off grid, we could more or less choose our spot.

    On reading the blurb pamphlet, we saw that there's - climbing, air rifles, obstacle course for Josh and helter-skelter, swings & carousel for Sophia..... and the music of course!

    In the evening, we saw Toyah then Mike and Sophia went back to the caravan.  

Sophia trying to make herself spooky with a torch

    Josh and I had an amazing time dancing while we watched the illuminated circus on stage & walking through the audience.

Josh's first music festival

The Illuminated Light Trail

Saturday 

    After breakfast, we popped down to the arena to get a time slot for face painting for Sophia.   Josh had a go at indoor climbing, laser tag, a cave maze where he got a grazed knee while crawling.  He really is enjoying himself.

    Whilst Josh was doing all this, Mike, Sophia and me walked around the arena.  Sophia went on the swings and carousel, time after time.  

The first of many rides

Sophia being a hippy

    Mike went to look for Josh, he couldn't so walked back to the caravan thinking Josh would go back there but in doing so got himself lost.  Eventually, he found his way back to the caravan and Josh arrived soon after.  By that time, Sophia was tucking into cheesy chips (not the little cheesy bundles of joy that she'd had in Watchet!)  Chips all round when Josh & Mike got back.  Afterwards, a slow amble back to the caravan.  It's tiring enjoying yourselves!

    After dinner, we went back down and stopped at the Campfire stage for a while before heading into the main arena which was heaving!  Eventually, we found a spot but it was busy and had barking dogs just behind us.

    Mike went back but Josh , Sophia and I stayed to see Sophie Ellis Bexter. We took a walk while we waited to see her take the stage but couldn't see much.  We stayed for a few songs then made our way back.  We were all extremely tired.

It;s amazing what you find in the woods

Sunday

    Time for a slower day today.  Sophia and I went to a yoga/dance workshop but were a little disappointed as it was only yoga and as we hadn't taken any mats.  We only had one between us.  I sat it out while Sophia showed me her moves.

She makes it look so easy!

.... and time for a rest!

    In the evening, we went to the Campfire Stage early to get a place. Chairs set up, Mike held fort while we went to get some food.  Josh, Sophia and I had pizza.  We queued for quite a while but were back before the Old Time Sailors took the stage.

      Poor Mike went to get his gyro but the queues were so long he ended up going back to the caravan and getting some left-over sausages.  Sophia swopped her left over pizza for Mike's share of chocolates.

    The Old Time Sailors were excellent!  We couldn't stop clapping & joining in with the music!  Sophia was complaining her hands hurt as she was clapping so much.  They took a break and Mike went back with Sophia as she was tired.  Josh and I stayed and we had a wonderful time.  Both of us were dancing at one time but mostly Josh was on the dance floor on his own.  We were surprised when they eventually finished to see it was 11pm.

Monday

    Packed up and headed off home. Four and half hour trip as opposed to 5 hours coming up. Still a long trip and in the heat again!  Time for bed said Zeberdee! ☺

Shamwari CL, Axminster

 Friday 4th August 2023

    Site is lovely but a little difficult getting in the gate as you have to pull over to the opposite side of the road otherwise you run the risk of scraping the edge of the van on the gate post.  Once in we were welcomed by Carol who gave us an information pack and food waste bucket.

    The site is mown grass and level with views over the valley.  Electric meter, not that we used any as we were testing out a new battery.  Carol also mentioned that if we ever needed electricity, she pointed out the one that still had credit on it.  There's also a dog walking section for those with dogs and this made a nice little after-dinner walk through the newly planted orchard.

    It was a long journey down from Wiltshire due to traffic & road works so we for went a cuppa and then went straight to the cider and lager.  Then we started to relax…. trouble was Mike was suffering with his hip.  He thinks it is only muscular so hopefully will ease off soon.

Saturday 

    Sunny and overcast to start with.  We were expecting rain all day so we weren't disappointed.  We headed towards Forde Abbey but on the way realised the house wasn't open on Saturdays so ended up going to Chard.  It has a long main street with the usual shops but some of the buildings are very old. We found a café up a side street for a coffee.  It also so sold art, although this was very expensive. We were asked to pay by cash if we could as being a small business they are charged for card transactions. We managed to scrape enough together.  We're getting to the stage where we don't carry cash.  More's the pity.

    A quick look around then back to the car.  By this time, the sun had come out and I had to take my coat off.  We had been expecting rain and wind!

    On our way back, we stopped at the farm shop in Tytherleigh and bought some Passionfruit Curd and Marmalade with spiced Rum.  Both were very nice. Then we walked the short distance to the Trading Post which has a very eclectic mix of items.  It's very extensive with rooms off rooms and outside sheds &

garages.  We spent some time looking around and I ended up buying a record - Yessongs, which I had when I was younger (although I can't remember much of the music - just hope it's not a waste of money).

    Back at the caravan and a cuppa then get ready to go out.

    The taxi picked us up at 5.30 by which time the wind had picked up quite dramatically with Storm Antoni. I did look a sight waiting by the road side with my hood pulled up but it kept my hair from flying all over the place.

    Our meal at the Tytherleigh Arms was something else!  We were very well looked after and the staff couldn't do enough for you.  They bought out an amuse bouche too which we'd never had before but it was gorgeous.

    I had a mixed summer vegetable starter and Mike had pork belly.  Then for mains, I had stone-cooked Bass and Mike had steak.  Both were exceptional!  We both had the cheese board after along with a glass of port.  Five different but local cheeses. Again exceptional.  It was an expensive meal but worth every penny and it doesn't hurt to push the boat out now and again.

Sunday

    The wind had died down quite a bit which was a relief - and the sun was shining! So we decided to go the Forde Abbey as it was open. We took a roundabout way to get there but was saw parts of Somerset (or Devon) we hadn't seen before. 

The gardens at Forde Abbey are lovely, so colourful and plentiful and the lawns are very well kept. We were able to get around the whole grounds so they weren't extensive but they did include 3 ponds, bog area and manicured flower beds too and an arboretum. At 12.30 the fountain spray to life and grew to an impressive height, said to be higher than Nelsons Column in London.

We went to the café after that but must say we weren't impressed. We had a vegan sausage roll and a meat sausage roll.  Both were like warm but we couldn't tell which was which. They weren't very appetising. 

    We looked around the House and Chapel after that.  In the chapel, there is a poppy from the Tower of London collection from 2014 in memory of some family members who fell in WW1.

    The House was interesting in as far as old houses are interesting but it felt tired and in need of a little TLC.

    We were going to look around the grave yard at Chideock after that as Mike had found out that some of his ancestors came from around here but we were too tired so headed back to the caravan. 

    Cup o' tea sat outside in the sun - lovely.  I did some embroidery - my latest choice of something to do in the caravan this time - then dinner and a restful evening.

Monday

    We had to ensure we got up quite quickly as the owner offered to see us out of the site as the road and their gate is on a bend and could cause difficulty getting out. Carol times it so it's mid-morning when the rush hour's over.  A breakfast and a clean before hitching up then a thank you to Carol.  She is a lovely lady.  She saw us out with on problems. We took the coast road back (didn't fancy the problems on A303) and caught glimpses of the sea - we really must stay by the sea next time.