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.
