Tag: bikes

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Bruges 2018

Decided to pop over the channel for a little tour of places bookmarked over the last few weeks. The plan was to goto Bruges and then maybe Amsterdam.

Booked the tunnel in Tuesday, for travel on the Thursday 11:40 slot gave us time to get to Bruges and then get settled. Jacqui had a book club and I had mower pickup and some minor work issues, so Thursday was easiest, decided to co e back in the following Wednesday as we have the MHF Maypole meet the following weekend.

Journey to tunnel was very easy although a bit tedious, will interesting when a one way ticket is our option and may choose return by another means.

There was minor delay loading but we were underway about 15 minutes late, as we left train pulled over at services and turned gas on. Set off to Bruges.

Again journey was easy roads relatively clear, till Bruges it self. Road surface quality also changes in Belgium they seem to favour concrete slabs for a lot of the roads as opposed to tarmac, very noisy, bit like M6 Birmingham.

Found the kamper stop, glorified car park between a ring road, boat moorings and bus/coach park. Get a ticket on entry and then drive through and park up, picked a corner spot door opening on hedge and boat moorings other side.

Electric provided but only 6amp, each socket is numbered so plugged into 16 which was empty but no power, initially thought it was only certain time but basically socket 16 did not work, so used a spare socket, this seems a common thing.

Power sorted we decided to walk into Bruges, it is less than 10 minutes, very easy lots of people about. Mainly tourists, seems a popular place. We had a good wander around a beer, Stew and beer, half man brewery had Beers and Flemish Stew and Chips, very good.

Next day decided to do some culture so Churches Sint Salvatore, fantastic stained glass and Museum Historium tour life in Bruges, interesting but the VR tour waste of money and a free Beer in the Duuvelorium bar. Sunny in the pm so got bikes out and had a trip round the canals.

Chilli and tacos in the van and started Gotham.

Decided to move on the next day to the tulip fields and Dutch coast South of Amsterdam, if rubbish then could head for the city.

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MHF Millport 2017

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Got ferry from Largs to Millport very quick easy and efficient.

Set up in the field behind the Garrison House Cafe, ground a bit soft and also a public footpath running across the top with a fenced off football pitch 5 aside. Ground was very soft.

Very nice place plenty of pubs and some shops, small Spar type shop and a bank which only open 2 days a week though.

Great bay for launching kayaks and with a flat round round the island Cumbrae 10 miles long great for cycling.

After much debate we all moved Tuesday AM to firmer ground round by the car park, joining AllanAndLoren.

Cycled round the island very easy and pleasant, girls went for a swim in the bay whilst we went to the pub across the road.

Weds Kayaking which although a bit chaotic was good fun.

Thursday left to head down to Misterton.

 

 

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Clumber Park, April 2017

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Set off on the Sunday midday for Clumber Park, Heather and Steve had stayed the previous cheese night and left around mid morning 11ish. Â Actually we had a false start as got to Bicester and Jacqui realised she had forgotten her new walking boots, so turnaround and picked them up, this delayed us a bit still traffic was light.

Uneventful journey and this time we decided to follow the CMC directions rather than the Sat Nav’s. Â Parked up at pitch 156, quite busy but plenty of available pitches.

Basically sat in the sun and had a G&T, then dog walk, dinner, watched Sully and OK film  and bed.

Next day, breakfast coffee, dog walk longish trying though to keep them to 2 miles for Geza’s sake although he seems to be getting stronger and we had to help get in the van  initially he can manage by himself.  Nicely tired dog so bikes unloaded and off for a ride round Clumber Park estate, very easy 7/8 miles.  Clumber Park wardens make a great thing about theft and bikes especially providing a bike lock up, we decided to just put them away each night covered up.

That evening I managed to format our movies drive a simple thing to do when attached to the TV and just shows why you cannot be too careful (dickhead)! Â Also with the internet there being truly awful we were forced to rely on TV this was for the first time sporadic so we invested in a TV cable 15.00 for 25m aerial lead.

So far have really enjoyed the site so we decided to stay on for a 3rd night, it was very pleasant sitting outside watching world events unfold with a refreshing drink to hand.

The big event for me was meeting Eric of Eric and Shazza fame, whose blogs I have read avidly for the last 2 years. Â Really nice to speak to him and see that they are still hankering after touring again in a couple of years.

We left the site with nothing booked but a plan to head on to Bourne and then Sandringham.

 

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Grafham Water, CMC Club site

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16.03.2017, Thursday evening – mostly ready to set off tomorrow pm for a weekend break at Grafham. Â Van is prepped just food and some clothes to load up.

New things this trip:

  • Diabolo sandwich maker, expecting great things
  • Revise screen cover attachment method
  • Shower head though doubt we will use it.

Arrived at site shortly after Ali and Julie, typical, one day we shall beat them!.

Wardens very chatty and helpful, currently in a large Concorde Motorhome, that they are changing to a Carthago Malibu PVC, they claim has as much room and easier to drive. Â Think they are nuts!

Took evening stroll to water edge all very pleasant mainly down to a almost neat Gin and Tonic Jacqui prepared for me.

Saturday morning  walk around the back of the site for Geza should have been about 1.5 miles ended up 2.5 miles and over rough terrain he was a bit tired and glad to see us bugger off on our bikes.

We set off the four of us to the Wheatsheaf pub about 5 miles round the 10 mile track round the lake.  Lots of runner and some cyclists, really appreciated the electric assistance.  Julie got a puncture in her rear tyre after about 3.5 miles, thankfully nothing to do with me this time.  Agreed that Ali should go back for the van Jacqui and Julie would walk together and I would ride ahead to check on a good spot to meet up and load the van.

Found the fishing lodge with a massive carpark virtually empty so all met up there the pub was packed with little parking available.  Jacqui and I carried o round the lake buying some eggs on the way.  About a 1.5 miles from the site we came across a Bike shop dealing with electric bikes, phone Ali and told him as oopen till 5pm and could fix her tyre.

After getting back to the van Ali and I walked back to the bike shop and got the tyre repaired along with puncture slime.

Overall a good site could go with a pub or something being within 0.5 mile or so. but otherwise good location. Â Very small site though.

 

 

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Devizes, 20th Jan

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Booked up in the Morning to take a trip to Devizes, arrived as dusk found a nice spot near the dog walk.

In the morning Geza for a walk along the canal away from Devizes up to a Pub but a little early for us, so just headed back to the van.  Got the bikes out and took off to Devizes, many locks to pass and a nice cafe stop (cash only).

That evening we had a meal at the local pub, good enough but nothing special would eat again but not special.

Clear dry day, would go back

 

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Longleat New Year 2017

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Journeyed to Longleat on the 3th Friday, traffic flowed although avoided the A303 and came by the A350.

Typical CC Club site, so hardstanding with EHU, facility blocks scattered around and one way tarmac everywhere. Â The site was fully booked, we arrived about 3:50 about an hour after Alistair and Julie who had parked up and reserved the pitch next to them. Â Drove on and levelled up easily.

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