On the Move
We were up and breakfasted early. Whilst Val was having her shower a guy who had camped in a tent came walking past the van. He was carrying a metal detector, with earphones and shovel. He seemed a real enthusiast and had combed a a large section of the beach towards Clacton on previous visits. His best find was a Roman coin which he claimed was worth £600 and was on loan at the British Museum. He was happy to keep chatting but we were in the process of packing up the van so I reluctantly had to say goodbye.
Out first stop was at a garden centre to buy more gas and then on to Tesco to stock up with the heavier groceries we didn't pick up on Saturday when we were out on the bike.
On route towards Colchester we stopped at a wild camping spot in Alresford (51°50'15"N - 0°59'38"E). It was about a mile down a single track road by a river. A lovely spot where we could have happily spent the night.
Next stop was Lorry & Coach Park about10 minutes walk form Colchester Town Centre (51°53'35"N - 0°53'37"E). It was £5.50 for 6 hours and you could park overnight from 18:00 to 06:00 for £6.50. A great location but no facilities.
We had a good look round Colchester. We visited the sight of the Old Workhouse, we saw some of the ruins of the walls, the Water Tower and the Castle although it was £8.50 entrance fee. We also did some shopping and signed up for a mifi deal with Three. £14 per month for 20 gig of data in 32 countries, with a Huawei thrown in.
After a brew back at the van we set off for a wild camping spot at Flatford (51°57'44"N - 1°1'13"E) in a National Trust Car Park which is about 10 minutes walk from Flatford Mill which was owned by John Constable's father and About a 100 metres further is Willy Lott's Cottage which features in some of Constable's paintings. The car park was quiet apart for some aircraft noise, I got the impression we were on a flight path into or out of London.
Willy Lott's Cottage
27 September 2016
Dedham Bound
We almost caught the worm we were up that early in Flatford. Away in good order we headed to Dedham and parked up on Mill Pond Car Park just outside the village at 51°57'45"N - 0°59'38"E. The first hour was free and then prices ranged from £1 to £4 for over four hours. There was a 50 pence overnight rate up to 08:00.
It was a five minute walk into the village which was steeped in history. The main reason for our visit was to take a look at Constable's The Ascension. Unfortunately we only got to see a photograph of the painting as the real thing had been removed whilst the church was being renovated. We got chatting to one of the volunteers looking after the church who was a font of information. He was telling us about Mary Millington, the 60's porn star who lived in the village at the same time as Mary Whitehouse, the famous anti porn campaigner and is buried in the graveyard. It was a beautiful village and we could have stayed longer if only to look round the graveyard.
Our next destination was Mersea Island. We drove round searching for somewhere to park but all the car parks except one had height barriers and the whole Island was covered in yellow lines. The car park without any hight barrier was on Victoria Esplanade at 51°46'27"N - 0°55'45"E and cost £2 for up to three hours and £3 for over three hours. It looked an ideal spot to stay overnight so we phoned up the number on the information board and was told we could stay as long as we didn't mind being locked in till 08:00 the following morning, which was no problem with us.
We took the bikes off the bike-rack and cycled to both of the Oyster Restaurants and chose to eat at the West Mersea Oyster Bar which was recommended by the barber who cut my hair yesterday. We weren't disappointed, the oysters were absolutely delicious. We had a cycle round and stopped in the village whilst Val had a look round the shops. I sat outside the library and took advantage of the wifi signal.
We took our time cycling back to the van and spent the rest of the evening relaxing with a walk along the Esplanade and then a group of vino and a bottle of ale. Happy campers.
28 September 2016
St Lawrence Bay
We were up early on our West Mersea Car Park, but not early enough to see the gates unlocked. The first stop was Tesco to return some cans of Lager that were frozen ice when Val opened one the previous evening and when it had thawed out it was flat.
We headed for Tiptree where we planned to have lunch. After a good walk round the town centre and a visit to the Jam Factory we made for the Ship Inn which had been recommended by a couple we met in Clacton. We arrived just after mid day and the place was already heaving. The waiter had to open a section called the decking as everywhere else was either taken or reserved. The meals when they arrived were fabulous and the old codgers rate (over 55's) was £3.95. £5.95 for youngsters.
The Ship in 51°48'16" N - 0°44'7"E
We had phoned ahead from Tiptree and booked a couple of nights at Park Resorts in St Lawrence. The afternoon forecast was 22° and we needed a couple of days with electricity and at £6 a night with all facilities including a swing pool it was a no brainier.
Park Resort, St Lawrence 51°42'46"N - 0°50'1"E
Val couldn't go in the pool with her shoulder wound but I had half an hour before we went for a walk along the sea wall and mud flats. We could see had a great view across the bay of Sheerness. We were out a good hour and a half and then enjoyed a bit of sunbathing before the temperature started to drop and we retired to the van for the rest of the evening. The sweet life.
29 September 2016
Cleaning day
We had a day charging devices including the battery operated hover, cleaning the vans interior and cooking some food to see me over the days Val's away. Not that I can't cook for myself mind you. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
In the afternoon, cleaning done, we got out for a walk and managed to get a bit further afield. We found the local Yacht Club, a local pub and discovered what we thought were the Sheerness Power Stations were in fact Bradwell
We got back about five and I had an hour sat out with a book whilst Val got stuck in to making us a Curry. It's a hard life for us men at times.
The evenings entertainment was the Man United match which they won 1-0. It wasn't exhilarating viewing but they got the three points. Happy days.
30 September 2016
Our first stop after packing up and getting mobile was Burnham on Crouch. We had a walk round the town looking for a chemist to buy Val a new dressing for her shoulder. Only a few more days and the stitches come out and she can then shower without a polythene bag covering her wound.
After sorting out the Chemist we followed the sign to the beach, not that there was any sand. The town is on the River Crouch, hence its name. There was a Marina and some house boats. One names Anne Marie was for sale at £500,000 which seemed a bit steep to my untrained eye.
After a walk round and a few pictures we made out way back to the van and headed to Longfield to find the station for Val's train to London. That done the next stop was Speedgate Farm, a CC&C CS. It was classed as a Hideaway in the book and that's what it was. It was about half a mile up a steep hill and 3 miles from Longfield. A nice spot if you are towing a car but not ideal if you only have push bikes. Still it was good for us as we just wanted a quiet spot for me reasonably near a train station till Val got back.
Speedgate Farm 51°22'10"N - 0°15'54"E £8 PN without electricity. Showers, toilets.
After dropping Val at the station I made my way back to the site along the very narrow country lanes in the after school traffic. After enjoying the sunshine it was time for dinner. Val had made enough to feed the five thousand including curry and chilli-con-carne which I choose. I washed it down with some Sake and bottle of ale whilst enjoying a couple of hours of Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights. Next instalment tomorrow night.
1 October 2016
After a rainy morning the sun finally came out. The site I'm staying on if a working farm with lots of horses and riding lessons going on. There was some dressage practise morning with the riders dressed appropriately.
I spent the afternoon listening to Talk Sport keeping up with all the games on the radio and watched Peter Kay most of the evening whilst trying to follow Val and Lisa's weekend away on Facebook. They certainly sounded like they were having a great time. After lunch at the Oxo Tower they gave the cocktails a go at Cubana Bar ending up at the O2 in the evening to see Andrea Bocelli. La Vida Loca.
2 October 2016
Woke just in time to watch Andrew Marr and then managed breakfast and a shower before Andrew Neil. The prime minister was interviewed and painted a reasonably good picture of what Brexit will be and the journalists did the opposite.
The United game kicked off at midday so Andrew Neil had to go so that I could listen to the commentary. United missed a bagful of chances and the final score was 1-1. Enough said.
Val and Lisa seemed to be having a ball, shopping for shoes and then breakfast at the Cornerstone Cafe, followed by a tour of Woolwich Arsenal. I'm sure they managed a beer or two along the way.
Val caught the 6:00 pm trains arriving back at Longfield at 6:45. Unbeknown to us the journey back to the site coincided with hundreds of drivers coming the opposite way from Brands Hatch along a country lane barely wide enough for two cars. It was a nightmare journey squeezing through tiny gaps with the mirrors pulled in and centimetres to spare. It probably took an hour to cover the 3.1 miles from the station.
The evenings entertainment was an Afghan war movie called Lone Survivor which was a bit gory. We finished of a bottle of Chilean Cab Sauv and another day living the dream was over.
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