Friday 19th September – Southport

We awoke to blue, sunny skies which was fantastic as the promised Indian Summer hadn’t reached us at home and we had spent the last few days waking up to fog that refused to shift throughout the day. Here it was hot, hot, hot! Time to dig out sun cream, hats and sunglasses again – Hooray! We breakfasted then set off for a walk.Lots of units were departing making room for the 98 that were expected to arrive today. We crossed the sand dunes and the road and walked along the esplanade towards the pier.

 

Although it was quiet, preparations were in evidence ready for the air show. Barricades and security were closing roads and only letting vehicles through that were setting up. Fast food vans were in a row on the beach and a large area of the beach was barricaded off. in the distance it looked as if a tractor was preparing a landing strip on the beach.

There is a Pleasure Land with some rides for children and Ocean Plaza which is a shopping centre with restaurants, fast food and a cinema nearby. We headed up the stairs from the Esplanade. The pier was closed in preparation for the Air show (tickets to view from there are £60 a head) but we could still walk the opposite way towards town. It appears that usually there is a tram that runs back and forth along here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a nice area with a couple of cafes, a large children’s play area and a boating lake with swan paddle boats alongside real swans and ducks. Heading into town there are amusements, gift shops and typical seaside shops and then the main shops seem to be down a long straight road. The weather was too nice to be wasted looking at the shops so we did a quick food shop and then headed back to the site. A queue had formed along the road of caravans and campers waiting to check in at 12 o’clock.

Taking advantage of the good weather, out came the Cadac and we used the Skottle to make a delicious chicken and noodle stir fry. Whilst we were eating we could hear an airplane practising manoeuvres along the beach. We got chatting to a couple who are regular visitors to the area and the show and they directed us to a board in the dunes with information on Southport beach airfield history. The dunes that we were standing in had previously been an airstrip! In 1910 aviator Claude Grahame-White arrived unexpectedly at Southport, landing his biplane on the beach. This led to an airstrip being made and by 1919 pleasure and scheduled flights flew from a sand strip near the Birkdale Palace Hotel. In the 30’s there was also a flying school. In the 70’s the  airstrip was moved seaward to allow the building of the coastal road but mud patches plagued subsequent pleasure flight operators until in 2001 the Civil Aviation Authority declassified it.

The couple also told us that the crater in the sand dunes that had a small puddle in, was usually a large pond full of local wildlife and newts. Obviously the weather here had been good all summer. Fingers crossed it lasts for a few more days for the show as we were told that last year’s poor weather had resulted in Sunday being cancelled.

At about 4.30 we could hear a helicopter so we climbed onto the sand dune and watched 2 helicopters practising. They were amazing! If this was just a taster then tomorrow was going to be fabulous. 

 

   

Thursday 18th September – off to Southport

 

With our wedding anniversary approaching and having half empty nest feelings (one daughter headed off to university) we were really looking forward to our Southport Airshow weekend. We had decided to make it a long weekend so having finished work early, we set off in Monty at 2.30. After a 2 hour drive on the A59 we arrived. First impressions driving through were very favourable. Lots of shops and eating places to choose from. We were staying at the Caravan Club Southport Site and were warmly welcomed by friendly wardens. There were only 3 pitches left to choose from which made life easier. Are we the only ones that find choosing a pitch difficult when given too many to choose from? We sometimes drive round twice to decide! If the weather is poor we site closer to the toilet block so it’s only a short dash in the rain. If the weather is sunny we find ourselves wondering which pitch is the best to catch the evening sun… Anyway pitch easily chosen, we quickly set up. It is quite a large site 190 + pitches. As with all Caravan Club sites the facilities are modern and clean with 2 toilet blocks. There are lots of cute rabbits here. The site is situated on the Esplanade. You cross the road, climb through the sand dunes and then you can see the sea although the tide is very far out. It was really warm and sunny so we sat out for a while, had tea, watched a film and then had a good nights sleep.

Thirsk Race Day– 29th/31st August

 

We finished work early and headed off to Thirsk at lunchtime. It was race day and when the races are on the Caravan Club site is used for race goers parking.

Whilst this is happening caravans and motorhomes move up the lane on to a rally field.

 

This has a superb view across the race course and is only 10-15 feet away from the track. After parking up we walked to Tesco and bought a picnic lunch to enjoy in the motorhome. (Both Tesco and Lidl are very close to the site).

 

The races started at 2 pm and although most of them were on the other side, 2 of them started from right in front of us! For horse lovers there was also an opportunity to see the horses being walked to and from the races. The last race was at 6pm and at 7pm Graham the warden cycled up to tell us that we could all now move back onto the site. In organised single file we headed down the lane and onto our pitches. It is amazing how quickly the wardens transform the site back from car park to spick and span pitches again. This site is always very clean and tidy thanks to the hardworking wardens who are also very helpful and friendly.

After setting up we headed into Thirsk (10 minutes walk) and ate at Weatherspoons. We were lucky to get a table as it was still quite busy with the folks who had enjoyed an afternoon at the races. We had a nice meal and it was quite dark as we walked back. The nights are really starting to draw in! There are lots of pubs to choose from in Thirsk and plenty of takeaways – we counted 3 Chinese, 2 Indian and 2 fish & chip shops which is very impressive for a small market town.

It rained in the night but we woke up to a sunny day although it was quite blustery. After breakfast we walked back into town. There is a small market on Saturdays. Near the clock tower there is a really good fruit & veg shop. After making our purchases in town we went back to the site.

We unhooked from the electric and set off on a little trip up the A19 to Mount Grace Priory which was a 20 minute drive away. After leaving the dual carriageway the approach road was just a single track with a few passing places so we were relieved that we didn’t meet anything.

  

This is an English Heritage/ National Trust property so we got in free on our card otherwise the entrance fee is £5.60 per person. It is a 14th century Carthusian priory ruin and manor house. The Carthusians were a vegetarian and silent order of monks. Each monk lived in a “cell” and received their meals through a hole in the wall. The ruins of the priory still clearly show the layout.One of the “cells” has been reconstructed and furnished to show what life was like for them.

 

Their cells were actually a very spacious 2 up 2 down arrangement complete with their own garden to work in. I could comfortably live there but would struggle with the vow of silence! The priory had a very clever water system and you can still see the drainage and latrine channels. It was very peaceful here. There are picnic tables if you wish to bring a picnic. The priory is home to stoats but we didn’t see them.

 

The manor house has an exhibition and lots of information about the priory and also 2 rooms are decorated in the arts and crafts style. To the front of the manor house is a nice garden to wander through with a pond.

After an enjoyable and interesting afternoon we drove back to Thirsk and had a relaxing evening.

The next morning, the wind had dropped and it was a warm, sunny day (why is the best weather always when you have to go home?) and after a pleasant morning we set off for home.

Thirsk Caravan Club Site link

Day 12 – Back in Blighty – 31st July 2014

 

We left Montreil–Sur–Mer and headed back to the Chunnel. We checked in and cleared passport control, followed our assigned lane and went to the parking area. The board advised us that there “had been an incident and trains were delayed”. Had a quick mooch round the terminal which had a Burger King, shops and Duty Free. The “incident” was quickly resolved and we were called to embark and departed on time. The journey back under the Channel seemed quicker than ever. Soon we were back on home ground.

We had decided to break our journey (extend our holiday) with a trip to Duxford Imperial War Museum. We arrived at lunchtime and parked easily (didn’t see any allocated motorhome spaces but as the car park was not too busy we took 2 spaces).

This museum is definitely worth a visit and has something for everyone. It is a former RAF station. The historic buildings on the site have been preserved  and new modern buildings added to house this extensive collection.

The first building you enter is vast and has a huge collection of aircraft including a Lancaster, Spitfire and Vulcan Bomber – many cleverly suspended from the ceiling. It also has an interactive gallery which the kids love. Concorde is here and you can go inside this and other aircraft throughout the museum. There is also an Airborne Assault exhibition in this building.

		Duxford IWM 1 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

We then went outside. We were lucky it was another sunny day. (If visiting on a rainy day, pack your poncho as the buildings have quite a walk in between). We were able to watch as airplanes took off and landed on this runway. You can also take pleasure flights in vintage aircraft. There are also more aeroplanes outside that you can go into and have a look at the cockpit and interiors.

We enjoyed looking around the other 6 buildings which housed aircraft and exhibitions featuring Air & Sea, Battle of Britain, Land Warfare & American Air Museum. In the Land Warfare museum we saw the original Montys!

 

 

The orignal Monty the Motorhome, uses by Field Marshal Montgomery.

These were the “Montgomery Caravans” used by Field Marshal Montgomery, 3 vehicles which were used for his office, map room and bedroom. His bedroom vehicle even had a little bath! There was also a tank called Monty.

Ideally you would spend a whole day here as there is so much to see. Having had a wonderful afternoon we made our purchases from the extensive gift shop and headed off towards Grafham Water Caravan Club Site.

A little while into the journey the sky darkened and as we arrived at the site the rain was torrential! We made a dash for the site office and booked in. It is a pretty little site with a separate  tent field. It also has an outside heated swimming pool! By now we were very hungry and sadly the mobile fish and chip van wasn’t due until the following evening. We had passed an Indian restaurant on the way to the site and as the thunderstorm had now passed we decided to set off on foot. It was about a 3/4 mile walk to the Cinnamon restaurant  - Website - which was in the nearby village (it looked as if it used be the village pub). The staff were really welcoming and we had arrived  on “Special Banquet Night”. This is every Thursday - 1 Starter, 1 Main Dish, 1 Side Dish, Any Rice or Any Nan all for £12.50 per person. The food was fabulous and really good sized portions. Totally stuffed we walked back to the site and despite the odd rumble of distant thunder, the rain held off and we settled down for the night.

It had been a wonderful holiday and despite stretching it with an extra night down south, it had now come to an end.