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.
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.
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.
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