Back to the Lakes, first since the lockdown

3rd August to the 7th August.  

Nicole, Tim and the girls (and Dog) had booked a house in the Lakes for their birthdays. We decided we would like to go (even though Covid 19 was still very bad) and managed to book the place next door to the others.

Monday 3rd August

With the virus and the extra cleaning involved in getting the house ready, we could not be in until five. So we met up at Tarn Hows but we had no change for the parking machine and it would not accept my card for payment. We phoned the others (who were halfway around the lake) and Georgia payed for our parking from there, amazing. 

Anyway we walked the opposite way around the lake until we met up with the others, then walked back to the carpark. 

From there we drove to the pub where we had booked dinner, the Cuckoo Brow Inn, between Esthwaite Water and Lake Windermere. We had used it before but that was a few years back.  The meals were very good and about half price, with the £10 off each deal for the Coronavirus. I even had a beer, a Fell, Crag Classic Northern Bitter, not bad. I had fish and chips for lunch, not sure what the others had but mine was lovely. 

This was mine and Dot's first visit to any pub since the lockdown began and the set up in the pub was very different, with everyone separated.  

Next we drove on to Hawkshead and had ice creams, the weather was wonderful (unfortunately this was not for the whole holliday), it was very busy there but nowhere near as busy as the rest of the lake district.

 

From there we drove on to Ambleside but it was so busy we just kept going and even though it was still early, made for our booked apartments.

Above in the back of our place, which is a lot bigger than it looks from the front and this was the side that got the sun. So after we unpacked we all sat out of our back of ours and had a drink. Later we went for a walk towards Lowther Castle, about a mile from our place but it was getting late by the time we got there. So we decided to go back there tomorrow. 

Tuesday 4th August

Got a phone call from Nicole to say that they were walking to the pub with Syd for dinner and could we bring the girls in the car (it was a long way) later.

So later we picked the girls up and drove around to the pub, the George and Dragon in Clifton, quite a long way from our place. Again the meals had the £10 off each deal for the Coronavirus (this is why I was not doing all of the cooking this holiday), very cheap. I had the slow cooked beef, very nice and a couple of pints of Hawkshead Bitter.

Nicole, Tim and Syd, decided to walk back but we would drive back and then meet up with them at Lowther Castle. We waited for them to phone us, then set off to walk the way we went yesterday to the castle. We took a footpath through the trees and our first view of the castle was fantastic.

 

To walk around the outside was free, as was the use of toilets, cafe and shops. So after meeting up with the others Georgia and me took some more photos of the empty castle.  

After a walk around the outside of the castle, taking lots of photos, it was getting cold by now so we walked back to the rooms.

Back there we went into Nicole's and watched a couple of films before bed. 

Wednesday 5th August

Georgia and Emily's birthday today, it's hard to believe that they are seventeen. Anyway Emily and Tim got up early and drove to McDonalds to get breakfast for everyone. It was nice to get my breakfast made for me for a change. 

We were supposed to be going to lake Ullswater, so that the girls could go out in their canoe, but the weather was not good at all. There were quite big waves on the lake so we just went to one of the pubs in Pooley Bridge for the birthday dinner.  

Nicole had booked a table in the Pooley Bridge Inn, again there were restrictions for Covid 19 but less than the pub yesterday. The food was good but I did not feel really safe in there. Although I did have a pint of Robinsons, Wizard, not too bad at all.

 

On the way back from Pooley Bridge, we stopped of at Askham, took photos of the bridge and church but headed back without doing anything else.

 

We had to pass the Lowther Castle on the way back, so we parked up there and wandered into the courtyard. We got a seat outside in there and I had a cup of decaf tea, I think we all had something different. 

Then it was back to Nicole's for a birthday tea and a cake for the twins.

Syd even joined in

Thursday 6th August

We got to go out and do what the girls wanted to do today. So by half ten, we were parked up on the side of lake Ullswater and blowing up the inflatable Canoe. The main car park was full, so we had driven on a bit and found a layby just a bit further on. 

They soon got it all sorted and in the lake.

Then they were off, they promised not to go far, then paddled off to the other side of the lake. 

When they came back we had our picnic, a selection of tuna, ham and cheese sandwiches. Well a couple of ham or cheese sandwiches for Georgia. We also had plenty of birthday cake left from yesterday. 

After lunch the girls and Tim were back in the boat or just swimming about and trying to get Syd to join in. We had taken our pop up tent for the girls to get changed in and it worked very well.

Then it was back to our place for a BBQ.

So this was our last night away and we had arranged to have the BBQ out the back of our cottage. We had plenty of food some over cooked though and plenty of beers.

Friday 7th August

Nicole's birthday, but we had to be up and out of the place early, to give plenty of time for Covid 19 cleaning. 

So we drove off to lake Ullswater for a walk around and maybe get our dinner there.  We had a shortish walk down the lake and I got lots of flower photos. 

After our walk we popped into the Crown Inn, it was still early though about half ten, so we only had a drink and I had a decaf tea again. I took photos of the replacement bridge from there, to me it looked like there were four people working on it, no wonder it is taking so long. 

 

I did buy beer in the shop next door though and Nicole and Tim bought fancy glasses for gin. 

We then drove back to Askham and parked outside the pub, although it did not open for another twenty minutes. So we drove up to Askham Hall and popped in to the gardens there for a pizza and for those not driving, a wine.  

On the way back home we called into Lowther Castle again, Nicole and Dot bought a couple of throws that has been greatly reduced in the gift shop.

Then it was off home.

Our Rearranged Birthday Trip

4th March to the 13th March

Well, as last year our double birthday trip to York in the motorhome was canceled (the site was at least flooded this year), so we had to rebook it all.

We got two nights in Barnard Castle, staying at The Three Horseshoes, a very nice pub, restaurant and hotel for my birthday. Then moved on to the Lake District, to Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat, for Dot's birthday.

As we arrived home after this holiday the Coronavirus (COVID-19) virus, was getting worse and I do not think we will be going anywhere soon, so I will not be writing much more on here for a while.

Wednesday 4th March

My birthday, as we could not be in the hotel room until four, we went off to High Force for a walk on the way. We had to pay twice for the walk to the waterfall, first for the car park and then again for the walk down the path to the falls. There were a lot less people about than usual when we visit and I am sure that many of them did not pay at all.

 

We discussed whether to have something to eat in the pub but decided to move on to Barnard Castle, and just get a sandwich there.

We parked up on the main street and went into Morrisons to get sandwich deals and ate them in the park next to the castle. We found out later, that as we passed the hotel, old friends of ours spotted us from the bar and rushed out to call us, only we had gone before they got there. Actually we had only sat just off the main street but in a seat behind a wall, so it looked like we had vanished, shame.

After our food, we wandered around the market and had a look at the menu at the Italian restaurant, before heading back to look for the parking place for the hotel behind Morrisons. We wandered back for the car, parked up and checked into the Hotel. We have been in the The Three Horseshoes many times before, for drinks and meals but this was our first time staying there.

The room was quite good but is was a bit small although not too small and the bathroom was very nice. It was now I discovered we had no plug to charge the phones, I had put them in the wrong bag. So we went back out to get one then went back to the room to get ready.

After showers and getting ready we went down to the bar for a drink and our food. We had a beer in the bar but moved through into the restaurant for the food, I did not try anything new with the beers, I just had something I liked.

I had a Parmo (they do them this far out from Teesside) and dot had the lamb, they were both very good. After our food we went back into the bar and had a couple more beers each, before we gave up and went to bed.

Thursday 5th March

No nice sleep in, we had to be up early for a shower and to get ready to be down for breakfast. We had the full english each (minus the black pudding, why do they put that on) and a pot of decaf tea. All in all a very good breakfast, should set us for the day.

Later that morning we went out for a walk, one we have done many times before but a walk we enjoy doing. We left the hotel and walked over to the church and then down the hill to the right, on down to the river Tees. As we went I resisted taking all the photos that we already have but that didn't last for long. As we walked passed the weir, we stopped and I took photos, the weir had been altered and now has a fish ladder included.

 

From there we crossed over the footbridge to the other side of the river and wandered back towards town. We past the main road bridge and wandered on to the next footbridge to cross back over and headed back up into town. I didn't even take many photos along the way in the end, I already have most of them anyway.

 

Once back up in town (will never get used to that steep road), we made our way to Bowes Museum and popped into the cafe there. I had a scone with jam and cream and decaf tea, Dot had a carrot cake with a hot chocolate drink. We could have had more, the lunch menu looked good but with the big breakfast we had had, the cake and scone were just right.

 

After a wander around the shops we ended back up in the hotel bar and had a couple of beers before we went back to the room. I did try the new beer but it wasn't very good, Great North Eastern, Golden Tap, it was all hops. I decided to stick with the Hobgoblin for the rest of the night.

When we came back down we had a drink before moving into the bit next to the restaurant for a meal and had a talk with a couple in the bar. When they left, I had the nice burger and Dot had the Steak and Ale Pie, we also had another couple of beers before heading to bed.

Friday 6th March

Another great breakfast before I took a photo of the room and then we set off for the rest of our holliday in the Lakes.

As a couple of days ago, we would be too early to get into our room, so we made for Keswick for a walk around. I know we are going to Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat, but it is quite a long way out of Keswick. In fact it is at the other end of the next lake along from the lake that Keswick is on, it is in fact past lake Bassenthwaite.

Anyway we parked up and wandered into town, in fact we walked all the way through town and down to the lake, Derwentwater. We walked along the lakeside to Friars Crag and then walked back to the Theatre By The Lake.

 

Were we popped into the theatre cafe and had scones and decaf tea again as we did yesterday. As with yesterday, the scones would do for now, after the breakfast we had, until we got a meal later.

As we walked back through the town it started raining, we popped into Booths and got some new beers, Booths has a fantastic selection, we also got some meat and bread. It was still fairly early but we headed of to our next stopover. Keswick Reach Lodge is about 10 miles from Keswick and we were about half an hour early but there was already a que to beek in. We just went to the bar and got a beer each to wait relaxed. Eventually Dot went up and booked in and got a couple of complimentary glasses of wine, so I got another beer.

When we went to the cabin it was the closest to reception, so handy for the bar and it was better than we had expected. Anyway we just got settled in and I made the food for us and we stayed in watched TV and had a drink.

Saturday 7th March

Not a good day for weather so we did nothing at all, we just relaxed and watched TV the wind and the rain. We had food we had brought with us and plenty to drink.

Sunday 8th March

We had arranged to meet Nicole, Tim, Georgia, Emily and Syd to celebrate our birthdays in Keswick. So we had our breakfasts and set of into Keswick to meet them near the lake, luckily today the weather was fine. We parked were we did on Friday and walked to the lake, they were just pulling into the Theatre car park as we arrived there.

We walked the way we had gone on Friday but continued on inland from the lake and back round until we came back to the Theatre car park.

 

After our walk we made our way back into town and went to the The Royal Oak for our Sunday dinner. Nicole had booked us in there and dogs were allowed, we must have been in the bit for dogs as everyone in that bit had at least one. Syd was quiet when we were in there as was every other big dog but the very small dogs, about five or six of them, made an incredible noise barking the whole time we were in there.

Anyway the food was good and Nicole paid for everything for our birthdays, the only thing that went wrong was that I ordered a cider by mistake. The others drank it for me and I got a proper beer, although it was not a new one.

I also got some new bees from Nicole and Co as a birthday present, before we all set off back home, well back to the the cabin for us.

Monday 9th March

Today we went for a drive and we drove to the coast, something we had not done before over here. The first place we came to was Workington, it was far to busy there, so we drove on and headed north towards Maryport. We didn't even stop long enough to take any photos.

The next place Maryport was quite different, the roads were quieter and we got down the the sea front easily. It was very windy there so we didn't pay to park, we just had a quick look around and took some photos.

 

We then continued north along the coast until the road ended, we passed through Allonby and Silloth, before the end and we set off back to the cabin. The was another light in Silloth that I stopped to take a photo of before we left.

You can see from the photo that the weather was not getting any better so we just headed back to the site.

Tuesday 10th March

Dot's birthday.

After a Bucks Fizz for breakfast, we went out for a drive to Ambleside and parked up at Rydal Road Car Park. Again it was pretty cold and overcast but we had a walk around the shops. As it was dinner time we popped into one of the pubs for food but once in there we decided not to bother, we were going out later.

 

So we just popped into a sandwich shop and got bacon baguettes and they were absolutely massive. I ate all of mine but Dot only managed half and saved the rest for later. Anyway it started to rain so we made our way back to the car park, by the time we got there it was chucking it down. I did notice that the restaurant closest to the car park was closed and up for sale, shame as it was nice in there.

As it was now raining we drove to the large garden center in Ambleside and had a good look around but I do not think we bought anything.

Back at the room we just spent the rest of the day relaxing until it was time to go out for our meal. That's with Dot finishing her Champagne as Bucks Fizzes.

 

We went into the restaurant for our evening meal and there were two or three others out for their birthdays as well. For drinks in there we had a Carling Black Fruits Cider for Dot and I had Leffe, very nice.

I had Fish and Chips, that's what I fancied, Dot had Chicken Tikka, we also had another couple of beers before heading back to the cabin.

Wednesday 11th March

Another day when we did nothing, we just stayed in and watched tv. That night we watched a film supplied by the site, we would have to pay for it but there was only a few channels on the normal TV.

Thursday 12th March

Today we went back into Keswick again, only we went a different way, we took the small road at the top of lake Bassenthwaite, just a short road, to the A66, then down into town. The A66 is the road we can take all the way home, it runs cost to cost, from Workington in the west to Grangetown in Middlesbrough to the east.

In town after a walk around we went to Spoons for dinner only it was packed and I decided that I could do food just as good anyway, so we headed back. I did however pop into Booths for more new beers, we also got something for us to eat.

Friday 13th March

Well it was home today and we had decided to go straight home, the Coronavirus was by now starting to get bad.

We did take some photos of the place before we checked out though.

 

As I said before, I do not think we will be going anywhere soon, I will get back to writing more as soon as we can.

Trip to Wales, August/September 2019

28th August to the 8th September

This year we were off to Wales again as last year but in the car this year and staying in a cottage in Tenby. First though, we would stay in a hotel near Tewkesbury for two days, move on to Wales for seven days and then a hotel in Ironbridge for a further two days on the way back.

In Wales we were meeting up with Nicole, Tim, Georgia and Emily again as last year and as last year, we should have been there with them for seven days but could only book the cottage from the day before they would get there.

Also as last year this was only three day after our trip to France, so it was a rush to get all of our stuff ready.

Wednesday 28th August

Day one was mainly the drive down from Teesside, A19, A1, M18, M1, A42, M42, M5 and M50, sounds complicated but it wasn't. The hotel was actually north of Tewkesbury in Puckrup, the Hilton Puckrup Hall. We checked in and got the worst room in the hotel, it was a long way (a long way) from reception and it was a bit tatty.

It was getting a bit late by the time we were settled in so we just went into the bar for something to eat. The food wasn't bad and it was a lot smarter down there, the beer was also not bad at all. After a couple of beers we just went up to the room and watched TV.

Thursday 29th August

The breakfast was very good and we had plenty, we even got decaf tea and coffee.

The first thing we did was drive off to see our Andrews grave as we were down that way. So we drove of towards Evesham and then onto Bretforton, and parked near the Church of St Leonard, where his funeral was. We then walked over to the grave and as usual cried.

We then had a walk around the village and ended up at the Bretforton Community Shop and bought a few beers in there.

We then drove on to Gloucester, somewhere we had never been in the past. We got parked up in the multi story car park at Gloucester Quays and had a look around the shops there before wandering of onto the old town via the Quays.

 

In the old town center we wandered around the shops and ended up at the Cathedral, where there was something going on. There were big queues of people in suites and best dresses waiting to get in, we just wandered passed.

 

After our look around the center we made our way back to the Quays and walked along the opposite side to the way we came. Back where we started we had another wander around the shops and I bought some new flip flops and a present for my Mams birthday.

 

We then set off back towards the hotel but stopped off in Tewkesbury for a look around there first. Last time we were there it had rained and we didn't see much, this time was much better. We parked up in a car park in a back street and wandered into town. Although the shops were still open we didn't really look much and headed towards the river.

 

At the river we walked along the town side but discovered the path headed away from the river. A local though, said that if we crosses the river we could walk along the other side to the next footbridge. This sounded like a great idea so we did just that and walked back a hundred yards or so, to cross over the footbridge to the opposite side.

 

The walk was less than half a mile but it did give us very good views of Tewkesbury. Eventually we came to the footbridge back over at Tewkesbury Mill, were we crossed back to the towne side.

On that side we walked back along the river to Wetherspoon, for a well deserved drink, before we headed back to the hotel. We sat by the river for our well deserved drinks only to discover that I had bought myself a cider and I hate cider. So after trying to drink it I gave up and gave it to Dot and went for another pint. Dot liked the Black Dragon Cider at 7.2% and I enjoyed a Goffs, Black Knight, which was very good.

It did start to rain though and we moved inside, once in there we decided to have some food before we went back to the hotel. As we got free beers with the food I had a Pershore, Summertime Ale, another good beer.

Back at the hotel we popped into the bar for a night cap and Dot got a couple of photos of the place before it was too dark.

Friday 30th August

Moving on to Tenby in Wales today, the breakfast was good again and then we were soon packed up and on our way. Back on the M50, A40, A449, M4, A48, A477, A478 to Tenby also not as bad as it sounds.

We arrived early, parked up near the railway station and had a walk into town. Eventually we headed back for the car and drove round to the house and it was better than I expected. We got settled in and had a drink.

There was a pub just down the road from the house so we popped in there for a beer, there were only a couple of people in there and the beer tasted off, so we didn't do that again.

Saturday 31st August

Had a nice relaxing morning, Nicole, Tim, Georgia, Emily and Syd were due to arrive at anytime today, so we got food ready for their arrival. Well Dot went down to the local Co-oP and got things for sandwiches. When they did arrive, they parked up next to the apartment and came round to our place. Were we had sandwiches and crisps and a drink before heading back to their place.

At tea time we went to the restaurant connected to their place, had a couple of beers and a meal when they started serving. I think that I had fish and chips, not too sure though but Syd definitely had and ice cream treat they did especially for dogs. Then is was back to theirs for more drinks.

Took the same photo as earlier on the way back to our place.

Sunday 1st September

Today we all went for a walk, we headed along the path we used last year to get to and from the campsite. Then straight on to Penally but further than last year all the way until the path ended.

We then turned left passed under the the railway through a tunnel, then up the long bank to the top. Me and Dot struggled on the climb, so we took our time getting to the top.

Once at the top we could see what we had come to see, trenches from the time of World War One. Our soldiers had practised there before going to France, we had seen trenches like these before in Sherwood Forest last year.

From there we set off back towards Tenby, up there on the cliffs there were some good views of the islands out to sea. Also the view back towards Tenby is fantastic.

 

It was still a long walk back from up here though, but soon we were back down on the beach and Syd could play in the water. It is a bit difficult getting back down to the beach though but if you are careful, it is not too bad.

 

Back at the chalet we just relaxed and did nothing.

Monday 2nd September

On the morning I walked down to the local Co-oP and got a few things we needed, beer etc. The shop is at the bottom of the street just through the viaduct, were I just had to get a photo and with a train as well.

Latter we met up with the others up in town and went for a walk around the seafront.

 

After our walk around the front and the shops we headed back to their place for a rest.

Back there, we gave the girls a bottle of Champagne we had bought for them in France for passing their exams, with good grades as well.

Tuesday 3rd September

Well today was a very quiet day were we did nothing at all.

Wednesday 4th September

Today we were set for a long walk, we were going to walk from Tenby to Saundersfoot the next town the other way to the way we went last time.

We met up at the top of our street and set off along the front. Although we did not get too far, it was all uphill at the beginning and Dot did not feel too good. So Dot and I just headed back into town and let the others walk. Our plan was to get a taxi into Saundersfoot to meet up with the others. We did get some good photos from up there though.

 

Back in town we waved at a taxi but it didn't stop, so we were deciding were to go to find one, as we had not needed one until now. Anyway the one we had waved to came back and he was from Sunderland. I cost about a tener for the trip there and we arrived ages before the others.

 

So after a walk along the pier and a look at the shops we had a walk along the beach to Coppet Hall Beach. We were having a look around there but got a phone call to say the others were almost there, so we headed back to the harbour.

We met the girls first, they had taken shortcut, down by the harbour, then wandered round to the road to meet the others. It was decided to go straight to a pub for our Fish & Chip lunch and a beer. The pub we were stood next to looked good, so we all got sat outside but under cover, it did look like rain.

 

After our lunch and a walk around the shops, it was decided a bus back would be a good option. Only it looked like we had just missed one but as we looked about for another option, another bus showed up. It was a lot cheaper than the taxi had been coming and it was just as quick.

Thursday 5th September

That morning, as it was our last day in Wales we took some photos of the apartment before we forgot all about it.

 

Then as yesterday we met up with the others at the top of our street and set off back into town for our lunch. We went into The Buccaneer, the place we had used last year and all had very good food. For beer I had a Tenby Harbour, Trawler's Dread, from the brewery below the pub and it was very good.

After lunch we had a walk along the seafront and even walked places we had not been before. We did spit up though, me and Dot had a sit in the sun and the others went off shopping.

 

While they were shopping, I had a go at getting some fancy shots with the camera.

 

When we met up again, it was back to their place for a last night together, we are moving on tomorrow.

Friday 6th September

As soon as we were ready we set off for Ironbridge, pretty soon we were on local back roads, I am sure we did not go the fast way but we got there anyway.

We were staying at The Meadow Inn, about 0.8 of a mile from the Iron Bridge. We checked in and went for a pint in there, well it wasn't very good at all so we moved on to Ironbridge and gave the hotel bar a miss from then on.

We had our sandwitches on the way in by the river, next to the Museum of the Gorge. After that we passed a pub that had a sign outside that said you could use the toilets without buying anything in there. I used the toilets but we would be back at Number Ten at White Hart, later.

 

When we got to the bridge it was fantastic, it is now only a footbridge but it is the oldest iron bridge in the world.

 

Of course we had to walk over and had a look in the small museum of the bridge that was over there.

 

Back on the right side of the river and after all of our traveling today, we popped into the closest pub. We sat outside The Tontine Hotel in the sun, with a great view of the bridge, I had a Wye Valley, Butty Bach, not bad at all.

We also popped into The Number Ten, I said we would be back, I had a Woods, Shropshire Lad but then we moved on.

Then we popped into The Malthouse, had a pint in there and then ordered some food. The second pint was a new one, a Marston's, Ironbridge Gold and it was not bad at all. We then walked back to the hotel but along the river side under the Albert Edward Bridge and went straight to our room.

Saturday 7th September

Although the beer in the hotel was rubbish, the breakfast was wonderful and we had plenty to last us well into the day.

As there was an England football match tonight, I called in every pub on the way into Ironbridge, including the one we were staying in and not one was showing it. Eventually one pub set us in the right direction to find the one pub showing it.

We walked on passes Ironbridge until we came to the next bridge across the Seven and then as there was a pub there we popped in. Ye Olde Robin Hood Inn, was in the middle of nowhere but there were plenty of people in there and the Holden's beers were very good.

 

Back in Ironbridge we were a bit peckish by now so we popped into a very popular food shop and got a pasty each and very good it was. From there we found the pub with the football on and popped in there then had a beer sat out the back in the sun.

We moved inside for the match, it wasn't the best place to watch but I did see England beat Bulgaria 4-0. It was about seven when we left there to walk back.

As we walked back we called into the Co-oP to get something to eat, just a sandwich and crisps we had had plenty of food today and did not fancy a meal. I also got a lot of new beers, local beers that I had not seen before. As last night we walked by the river and when back had our sandwiches in the room.

Sunday 8th September

Another really good breakfast, well surprised, then we got packed up and set off for home.

On the way back we had decided to do something different and travel up the M6, after all we did have all day for the trip. Although the satnav did not like it and kept trying to send us another way.

We did have to get petrol before we got on the M6 and found some just before the motorway. Although we did intend to stop at a few places along the way, in the end we just went straight home.