Week 4

19 September 2016
We were breakfasted, showered and packed up and on our way by mid morning. The first stop was to collect my bike which had been fitted with a new Kevlar tyre and inner tube.

We were on the road again in no time at all and heading for Harwich to a wild camping spot I found the all knowing Tom Tom. We ended up in a great spot just a short walk into town at coordinates 51°56'6"N - 1°16'49"E. There were clean toilets within about two hundred meters.

We had a good look round Old Harwich and visited Ha'penny Pier, the Tall Lighthouse and the Old Napoleonic Battlements to name a few of the sights.

We stocked up with groceries on the way back at a large Tesco that we had called at in the morning for fuel.

Back to the van and for the second time in two days, yours truly cooked Sainsbury's Finest burgers on the Cadac. We washed them down with a glass of vino and by the time we had done the washing up it was dark. So it was back to my Lee Child novel until nine bells and then an hours TV. Happy campers.

    

 

     

20 September 2016

We were up in good time. Breakfasted, showered, washed up, packed up and loaded up with full rucksacks and on the bikes just after 11:00 heading for Clacton Station. 

We caught our train on time and arrived at Liverpool Street an hour and a half later and was outside school to pick up the kids in good time.

Play time, bath time food time story time and bed time went by in the blink of an eye and then it was our dinner time. Our daughter-in-law had done a lovely meal and there was a bottle of red and some Clapton Craft Ale to wash it down.



Early bed for the happy campers ready for three energetic grandchildren in the morning. Nighty night.

  

21 September 2016

We were up with the alarm at 7:15 and by either luck or good judgement we arrived at school with minutes to spare. Phew....

A bit of shopping and then got Val on the bus heading to Euston for her train to Lancaster and her minor opp before she gets back hopefully by about half seven this evening as yours truly is in charge of three children, oh dear.

The morning was productive as I got the outward ferry to Calais booked and the first of our long stay sites booked which is at Benicassim.  Hooray.

A good afternoon with the grandchildren. Picked Theodore up at one and played for while, picked up Madeleine up at half two, drove home quickly and ditched the car and then picked Louis up at ten past three. Play, feed, shower, bath, stories and bed, a whirlwind.

Val got back with her shoulder stitched up but feeling well with no pain. Another biopsy but the doctors and nurses are almost sure no more treatment will be required. Fingers crossed.

Time for bo bo's for two tired happy campers.

22 September 2016 

We were up before the alarm ready for the morning school run. Val took the boys whilst I too Madeleine and all went well. Everybody got breakfast and teeth brushed before we set off.

We spent the rest of the morning catching our breath and doing some admin. It was time to set off for school before we could blink and then off to tennis practise with the boys. Whilst they were playing tennis I went to pick up Madeleine and by the time the boys got back the evening rituals had already started with Madelein's dinner.


Bath time, story time and finally bedtime for the kids left us free to enjoy dinner and draw breath and enjoy another bottle of craft beer. An early night so that we were ready for it all to begin again tomorrow. There's a reason we have kids at a young age, all the energy that's needed. Happy trails.

23 September 2016
Up with the larks to a beautiful red sky. Looking out of our top floor window we have a wonderful view across London and it looked magnificent in the morning sunshine.

I changed our address details with the Caravan & Camping Club's Club Care Insurance which took about a minute. Charge £20. By my reckoning that works out at £1200 per hour. After much ranting and gnashing of teeth the price came down to £10. Only £600 per hour for a few stokes of a key pad and a few clicks of a mouse, good work if you can get it.

We sadly said goodbye to our London side of the family (awe) and headed back to Clacton and back to the van.

24 September 2016
After cycling into Clacton to recover the £50 deposit we had paid to lock our bikes up securely at the Railway Station we went a did a bit of Shopping. Champagne was on offer at Lidl so we took advantage. Who can resist a good offer.

We got back to the site just in time to listen to the second half of United vs Leicester on the radio. The game was already over as United had scored four in the first half.

We sat in the sunshine, me with my Lee Child novel and Val with a book called Around Ireland with a Fridge. She was obviously enjoying it as every minute or so she would burst out laughing.

Dinner consisted of the Champagne for starters, followed by a lovely piece of white fish, some stinky French cheese, all washed down with a bottle of Adnam's Lighthouse. Happy campers.

 

25 September 2016
Yesterday was the last day of the rally so we woke this morning to a mass exodus of our fellow MCC campers. After breakfast I headed down to reception to see if we could stay another day as we want to head to Colchester tomorrow. We were charged the same £5 per night rate we had paid and were happy to stay and had two massive fields to ourselves.

We had a lazy morning watching the political shows on TV and then after lunch we had a good walk along the prom in the opposite direction to Clacton. We went past a couple of campsites and a Sunday Market and then came to the end of the path.

We walked back along to the site and invested in a pitcher of beer and Val spent some time researching things to do on her trip to London next weekend and also looking for sites and places to eat for the coming week. Job done we headed back to the van for some dinner.

We has a relaxing evening with a couple of hours With the box and an early night. Happy trails.

Week 3

12 September 2016
After breakfast we had the van packed up and were on the road by about 10:30. Our first stop was a pretty little seaside resort called Brightlingsea about 12 miles from our site. We arrived about 11:00 and parked up in good order just back from the beach.

It was a glorious morning and the two cafe's near the beach were busy even though it was out of season. There were lots of coloured beach huts with names like "Done Roaming" and "Rest Awhile". We spent a good hour walking round and taking photo's and for the second time in as many days we spotted a Wherry Boat moored close by.

The next stop was Colchester. We intended to park up and look around but couldn't find a suitable spot to leave the van. We took advantage of the local Asda and stocked up on some Ale and a few other essentials before heading back to Martello Beach Resort.

In late afternoon we went for a walk across the fields and past One of the Martello Towers. The Towers are battlements built to repel invaders.

Pie, peas and gravy was thoroughly enjoyed for diner. We had bought the pie and peas at Morrison's the other day and the thought of them had me salivating all day. The rest of the day passed as normal, sitting out till after dark with a glass of vino and a bottle of ale. Tickety Boo.

13 September 2016

I've decided that calling the tent "conservatory " is too posh so this morning I had breakfast in the renamed outhouse before getting down to the job of cleaning the van. 

The plan was for me to clean the outside whilst Val did the inside and for me to do half today and half tomorrow. I used the clean water from our tanks and caught it in two buckets underneath the drain tap, which worked quite well. It was half one by the time we sat down to lunch. Van cleaned, hovered and tent moved. A good mornings work in 30° heat. Half the van looking resplendent. 

The rally we were on had a wine and nibbles event which was well attended, so much so that two small glasses of red and a glass of cider were all that was managed before the wine turned into water. It was a good afternoon though with a chance to chat to other Motor-homers and the odd Caravaners. 

I got chatting to a guy called John who spent his winters in Benicasim at somewhere called Havierre. I'll have to do some research when we get some wifi. 

In the evening we retired to the outhouse and enjoyed a glorious sunset which our photographs didn't do credit. We stayed out till after dark and then had an hour watching TV before hitting the hay. Apart from ending the day with a painful lower back it was a great day. 

14 September 2016

I woke with a sore back so Van Cleaning Part II would have to wait. We had a text from our daughter-in-law that our childminding services may me needed next week in London and our house which we haven't managed to let yet insurance is only valid for two more days. 

The childminding is no problem, we can easily get a train to London. The letting agent has been disappointing. They talked the talk about getting some tenants in but so far haven't walked the walk. It will be very soon time for a change. The Landlord's house insurance would be no problem if the place was occupied but it's more expensive unoccupied and comes with lots of regulations about inspections and other things. Having very limited wifi doesn't help but these are the things you have to embrace when your a Zendog Traveller. I'm sure we'll get them sorted. I spent the afternoon on the phone and Val cycled into Clacton to use the libraries Internet and get our train tickets booked for next week. 

The evening was spent enjoying a Thai Green Curry washed down with a couple of bottles of ale. By the time we had done the washing up and had a chat with one of out fellow campers about modern Diesel engines there was just time for a couple of hours to stretch out and relax and another day was done. Happy trails. 

15 September 2016

I woke early, made a cup of tea and located to the outhouse whilst Val enjoyed a little more slumber. My back felt much better so the van cleaning process continued after breakfast. It was finished by noon and looking resplendent in the sunshine. 

Just as I walked down to the pot wash after lunch the phone rang. It was the dermatology department at Lancaster Hospital with good news of Val,s biopsy. She has to go up to Lancaster next week to have a displastic melanoma removed, but that is the only treatment that is needed. It means we can now book our ferries and rally sites for later in the year. 

We then set off into Clacton on the bikes. After the first few metres I realised I had a puncture so Val had to go on her own. She got back just in time for the final swimming session of the day which we both enjoyed. 

We retired to the bar for a celebratory beer and quickly realised the Man United game was on the TV, so there was no choice but to stop and watch. Not a great game with a terrible offside decision costing United the game. Life has its ups and downs. 

Val had gone back to the van at half time and when I got back one of the rally wardens was having a chat with her. The news was that coastguard had been in touch with the site and there was a chance of torrential storms and flash floods. So the rest of the evenings entertainment involved taking the tent down and the outdoor carpets up. All in all an eventful day. 

16 September 2016

We woke to grey cloudy skies but fortunately the overnight storms had missed us completely. Not so for some of the other surrounding districts according to the news on the radio.

Breakfast had to be served inside the van for the first time since we arrived at Martello Beach. I had to look through the windows to admire all the silver birch trees surrounding the touring sites. They look fantastic blowing in the wind.

We spent most of the afternoon in Clacton Library doing admin work and then over at the Railway Station booking a secure spot for our bikes for when we travel to London.
We called at Tesco on the way back to the site to stock up on some essentials, namely red wine.

The weather had all of a sudden changed from summer to winter and we didn't feel like putting up the tent. We spent the night in the van and enjoyed a tender sirloin steak and some stinky cheese and crackers.

We watched a Ryan Gosling movie called Half Nelson which went right over my head. I couldn't understand the plot and neither could Val. Perhaps it's coz we're old ruddy duddy's. It was a windy night but it didn't stop plenty of people arriving and erecting tents. It made the van feel warm and cozy. Happy travels. 

17 Sepember 2016

Where did the morning go. We woke at 9:00 and by the time we had breakfast made one or two phone calls and packed up the van it was lunch time. 

After lunch we found the coordinates for a local bike shop and headed of into Clacton once again. We found a spot to park the van close to the shop and where lucky enough to have a wifi signal. I left the bike to have a new inner tube and Kevlar tyre fitted and then we sat in the van using the Internet to find some Landlord Insurance for our property in Morecambe. It took a while but we finally accepted a quote that suited our needs. 

It was back to the site for high tea with the happy campers. Scones with strawberry jam and whipped cream were the fare on offer and very nice they were too. 

We then spent a while in the entertainment complex and Val went for a swim whilst I caught up on the footy results. 

We had some delicious smoked fish for diner washed down with a bottle of ale and a couple of measures of sake. The evening entertainment was Noah, the Russell Crowe movie and that was the end of another day on the trail. Happy camping. 

18 September 2016

We were up just in time for the Andrew Marr show and the a quick shower before the Sunday Politics. Nigel Farage was good entertainment as usual. 

I did my good deed for the day and pumped up the Rally Stewards tyre so that she could have a ride into Clacton on her electric bike and the it was almost time for the footie. 

It was hard work watching United. They seemed lacklustre and Watford looked up for the challenge. A disappointing two hours spent watching the football. 

I got the Cadac going in the afternoon and cooked two of the best burgers I've ever tasted. They we from Sainsbury's and well worth the extra bit they cost as they were delicious. 

We sat out in the sunshine for the rest of the afternoon and I got stuck in to the latest Lee Child novel. We retired to the van as it got cold and kept the reading going till just before 9:00 when we switched on the box for a bit of "Have I Got News For You". 

Another day over on our European tour. Happy travels. 

Week 2

5 September 2016
Rally

We woke early to a beautiful sunrise. The trouble was it was not far past 6:00 so after taking a snap from our bedroom window it was time for a snooze. We woke again at about 8:00 and realised we had parked outside a beautiful park. So it was a quick walk round to take a couple of snaps before we headed off for a look round Naze Tower at Walton on the Naze. Apparently it's the last remaining tower of its kind left in the country and was the predecessor of the Lighthouse.

We headed off towards our destination which was Martello Beach Resort (51°46'35"N - 1°5'52"E) to a Rally with the Motor Caravaners Club, which will be our home for the next three weeks. The site which is a Park Resort is in the village of Jayswick, about 3 miles from Clacton on Sea.

I had the outside of the van set up by mid afternoon but Val was still sorting out the inside well after 5:00. I suppose when you bring so much stuff with you to cope with being almost permanently on the road it takes time to pack everything into the perfect nook and cranny.

Chicken & Cous Cous for diner was washed down with a couple of glasses of Chilean vino and a tot of Spanish Brandy, after all we're still on the continent.

The rest of the evening was warm enough to sit out in our pop up tent to update the blog and send of a few text messages.  Livin' the dream.

6 September 2016

Coffee Morning

We attended the coffee morning and had a chat with a couple who were on one of the sites we were on in Portugal earlier in the year. We were told we are not attending a rally we are at a special event, yeah. 

After lunch we set off on our bikes to Clacton for a look around the town. After a couple of miles we asked someone directions and found we were going in the opposite direction. So a quick about turn and 40 minutes later we were in Clackton. We had a walk along the front and then to the shops to stock up on Loo Rolls and Hair Conditioner for Val. Then back to our site for a quick shower and 

some diner. 

The evenings entertainment was spent in out pop up tent enjoying Chicken salad and some blue Stilton. That was washed down with a drop of Merlot, followed by a bottle of Lancaster Blonde Ale whilst enjoying some tunes from the iPod. La vida loca. 

7 September 2016

Our pop up tent has been named the conservatory and has been well used since we arrived. It's the second morning I've enjoyed  breakfast in there and we have been in there at night till way after dark. 

I had a walk round Jaywick this morning. Apparently the village had appeared as a TV documentary called Benefit Street. It is a little bit run down and the houses are tiny. There's a row that run alongside the sea wall and a lot of the residents have used a theme to decorate the outsides. There's an Irish themed house painted white and covered in large painted shamrocks with Irish music playing as you walk by. 

After lunch we cycled into Clacton and had a walk round the town. We paid a visit to the local 

Spoon's but then remembered we had booked a swimming session and headed back to the site. 

After the swimming we chilled out in the sun. Val cooked fish for diner which we washed down with another bottle of the same Chilean Merlot we enjoyed last night. The sweet life. 

8 September 2016

We woke to the hottest day so far and after anther breakfast in the conservatory I got down to some serious reading of the Economist and The Week magazines. Val did the same with her Pro Cycling mags.

After lunch we headed out on the bikes looking for Tesco. We must have took a wrong turn as we ended up on the outskirts of St Osyth. We settled for Plan B and ended up heading into Clacton. We got the groceries we needed but had done about 10 miles by the the time we go back to the site. An ice cool brandy and coke was called for to refresh the parts. Cycle ride, plus brandy and coke equals forty winks in anyone's book.

In the evening we went down to the sites two bars. The quiet one closed at 9:00 and the entertainment bar carried on till I don't know what time as we didn't stay that long as the entertainment was bingo. So back to the van to watch an old episode of New Tricks and another day was over.

9 September 2016

The wind had dropped somewhat from the previous night but for the first time sines we arrived I had breakfast in the van. 

I got through some more magazines up till lunchtime and then off we went into Clacton on the bikes. We spent most of the afternoon in the library, online doing admin. I think we have now let everyone know of our change of address. 

By the time we got back to the site the coffee and cake event had almost finished, but I just managed to nip down for a piece of sponge cake and a jam tart whilst Val was putting the shopping away. I also got some good advice of where we can leave the van at Alicante when we fly home for Christmas. 

Stuffed peppers where this evenings meal and a sit out in the conservatory (pull up tent) till after dark. 

10 September 2016

Another breakfast in the conservatory whilst the weather is warm. We had to have a late shower as the gas bottles were being changed when Val went down for the first time. So we got stuck into the magazines we are trying to catch up on. There was a great obituary to Merle Haggard in the week in which it said that it wasn't until he was serving time in San Quentin and he saw Johnny Cash perform live that he took his music seriously. 

The afternoon's viewing was dismal. City looked to be playing at a different level than United which doesn't bode well for the season. Let's hope Jose proves me wrong and United move up a gear or two. 

The afternoon and evening were cloudy with the odd shower but we took refuge in the conservatory until it got too cold and dark and then retired to the van. 

Val cooked us some smoked fish washed down with a couple of glasses of brandy and coke and a quiet evening with a good movie. 

11 September 2016

We woke to glorious sunshine and had a lazy morning reading magazines. I've got through all The Week's and Economists, now it's the camping mags. 

This afternoon we cycled into Clacton and paid Morrison's a visit. The we cycled back and I went down to the entertainment complex to try and get on the Internet with very little joy. 

The late afternoon and early evening we went for a swim and a jacuzzi and then later I got involved with the cooking for the first time as we had kebabs on the Cadac. By the time we had done the washing up darkness had decended but it was still warm enough to sit in the conservatory with a glass of wheat beer. 

Week 1

1 September 2016

The Adventure Begins

We hoped to be on out travels by 11:00 but it never happens. We had been clearing the house ever since the grand kids left on Monday 29th August. We had been working flat out for two and a half days and today was no exception. 

The van was finally packed (to the rafters) and the furniture was stored so that the house could be let and at about 2:00 in the afternoon we said goodbye to our home of twenty five years and finally got under way. 

On the drive over our letting agent rang us up with the news that someone was interested in letting our house. A couple with two old dogs were moving back to the UK from Australia and were willing to pay six months rent up front. We had stipulated no pets to the letting agent so we said no. Then driving along we thought about it and decided it might be ok, so we rang Jamie back and asked him to get more info on the couple. He said he would get back to us with more details. 

Last year we spent about six months in the van to see how we would cope with living in a confined environment. It was a test to see if we could adapt to full timing and at the end of it we thought, let's give it a go. 

Our first stop on this new adventure was our daughters home in Sheffield which we intend to use as our new home address. She has kindly let us register as tenants and will look after our mail and admin whilst we are away and we will live there when we are not on the road. 

We arrived late afternoon and after unpacking the things she had somehow left behind when she moved away years ago we celebrated with a few glasses of fizz and a nice meal. 

Time for bed we were well and truly knackered. 

2 September 2016

We hoped to get so much done. We wanted to contact the council to let them know we had moved. There was the Bank, the Building Society, DVLA, the list goes on and on. So we spent most of the day on the phone or online notifying people of our change of address, but not getting anywhere near as much achieved as I'd planned. 

I had pencilled in time for an haircut but that will have to wait till tomorrow. At about six in the evening we decided it was time to relax. The two women who I call Angel set about pouring yet more fizz and rustling up a curry. It took a while but it was delicious when it arrived. You can't have a curry without a beer so we were forced (hands tied) to drink some German wheat beer. Closely followed by some English lager to go with it. Life can have its hardships. 

I made the mistake of playing some music so we were up till turned midnight chewing the fat and enjoying some tunes. Day 2 went by in a flash.

3 September 2016

Painting Day

Today's job is to help our daughter paint one of the bedrooms in her and our house. Every time we come and stay we seem to do some painting. We even have old clothes and dust-sheets ready for the job.  

Bacon and egg for the willing workers started the day.  Then it was down to a hard days graft with a short break for sausage sandwiches at about 2:00 in the afternoon. One bedroom, walls, ceiling and one staircase. Sugar soaped, rinsed and painted. Job done. 

The evening was spent enjoying a pad Thai made by our lovely daughter Lisa Loo and in the company of her boyfriend Matt. Some good chat, good beer, and good wine. Another day gone by in a flash. Happy days. 

4 September 2016

Southward Bound

We woke early at about 7:30, then dozed till about 8:30 and then dozed again. By the time we got out of bed it was almost 10:00. Still we don't have to be anywhere at a definitive time so we'll set of when we're ready. 

We left Sheffield just before 2:00 in the afternoon heading for London. An easy drive through Chesterfield, past the crooked tower and  on to the motorway. Straight down the M1 with only occasional congestion. Off at J2, through Archway and to our sons house in Crouch End. 

We unloaded five cardboard boxes of his books that had been with us since he left home to go to university. There were photographs and pictures that had hung on his bedroom wall for many years. There were toys that we had accumulated for when the grand kids visited and Van Rowan must have breathed a sigh of relief when we had finally unloaded it. 

After a sandwich it was back on the road to get anywhere in the vicinity of Clacton on Sea. Not so trusty Tom who must be followed directed us to Frinton on Sea which is about 6 miles from Clacton. When we arrived at the Esplanade we found road signs down on side of the road not allowing overnight parking. So we swung Van Rowan round and parked in good order on the other side at N51°50'4" E1°15'5" and called it a day. It was almost 10:00 in the evening and we had been on the road since 2:00pm. 

We couldn't be bothered with the iBoost as we were both well and truly knackered, so it was a quick cuppa for me (what a lightweight) and a glass of vino for Val closely followed by bed. 

Martello Beach Resort here we come