Life on the Open Road in a Motorhome - Chester - Anderton Boat Lift - Jodrell Bank - Cheshire - Week 28

 TUESDAY, 3 MARCH 2015 Week 28

This week we have been in Cheshire. We stayed close to Knutsford and used this as our base for sightseeing.
We found a pub - The Whipping Stick (or something like that) which was the meeting place for Knutsford Lions and as we knew a member there we attended their meeting, which was lovely to meet other fellow Lions. We also sold quite a few of our Guess the Mileage Competition Tickets!

So as for the sights of Cheshire - Well, we found the Anderton Boat Lift. Doesn't sound that exciting, but if you're a seasoned Barge traveller like myself and have negotiated a fair few locks in my time, it was amazing to see this piece of Victorian engineering that has been lovingly restored to its former working glory. (I think Fred Dibner has been here on one of his steam engine programmes!) My only gripe was that because it was winter we couldn't actually ride on the thing.

As a very young child, I remember being taken to Jodrell Bank. I was only about four or five at the time so my memory of it is a bit fuzzy so I wanted to go back and explore the place where the world’s first enormous telescope satellite dish was built.

The Mark One or as it's now called The Lovell Telescope (after its inventor) uses Radio Waves to track the stars and planets in our solar system as well as other far-off Galaxies. 

I got to hear what the Big Bang sounded like and learned when the day comes that the sun dies and becomes a pulsar star or worse a black hole - Planet Earth will not be burned up or get sucked into it - It will just become so cold that nothing will be able to live here.... So that's a relief!

We also saw the great dish move position too, which was amazing, but also a bit creepy. Probably because you couldn't see the operators or something.

I was also relieved to read that they don't send out messages inviting Aliens to come to our planet. I've watched films like Battleship and trust me - If a humanoid race has the technology to travel light years to this planet then they have the technology to overpower humans and destroy us.... Just Sayin'!

We then spent a day in Chester. What a lovely city. Again, I have been here before, but it's been so long that I had completely forgotten what it was like. I just knew it was an old Roman City that became very popular with the Tudors and has some of the best examples of Tudor buildings still standing today.

Derek wanted to go on a bus tour of the city, which I was very happy to agree to until I realised that we were sitting on the top deck of an old charabanc!!! God, it was cold. Although we did get to see some lovely views of the city.

Me on the old bus. Good fun, but VERY cold! (Below)

Ever heard of the saying 'I wouldn't give him the time of day'? Well, it comes from Chester. Apparently, there was a war between England and Wales over who owned Chester. The English won, but the Welsh used the clocks of Chester to work out the time. So, the spiteful English took ALL the clock faces off their church towers that faced West (Wales) so we wouldn't give them the time of day! Strange where figures of speech come from, but what I find amazing is that after hundreds of years Chester still has no west-facing clocks! Strange.

The famous river - I forget its name! Hahaha... Another anecdote for you. As the Industrialists settled here they created damns and ways to harness the power of the fast-flowing river. By doing so though the Port (yes Chester was once a busy port!) dried up and so they had to move further North to what is now the condemned city of Liverpool!!! The guide tried to make us imagine what it would've been like if Chester was still and Liverpool didn't exist - personally, I would call that a Eutopia! 

A Graveyard. It's just a personal thing. I like graveyards.

This is the weir built in the Industrial Revolution. I actually thought this scene looked uncannily like Durham. Well, that's it for another fun-filled blog. We have been to Centre Parcs in Whinfell for a family birthday party, so we're heading slowly back down Cumbria. Lots of Landscape photos me thinks! TTFN xxx

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A Year in a Motorhome - Week 26 & 27 - Lancashire - Morecombe - Lytham St Annes - Bury - Salford & Media City

 

SUNDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2015 Week 26 and 27

We spent the Halfway Point on our adventure by the Lancashire seaside. First, we went to Morecambe and apart from the Eric Morecambe Statue (which locals Like to hack his legs off from time to time) There isn't really much else here, which is a real shame because this could be a lovely little resort again one day - with a lot of TLC!

We stayed close to Lytham St Anne’s as we wanted to have a look around somewhere we potentially fancied living after we finished our travelling, so we booked three nights at the Birchwood Country Park  Hmm, where do I begin! Oh yes, with the photos from the "official website"

Okay, this looks bright and clean and lovely - Agreed? It was meant to be styled on some American Ho-down style ranch. Everything was shut (as usual) the clubhouse inside looked great, ready for a country western knees up, but it didn't open until Easter. The place smelt like a chicken farm because there was a chicken farm right next door and there were lots of gypsy style caravans parked up and looked as though they were permanent residents there.

The toilet block was the mankiest and I insisted n going to a leisure centre for a shower! There was also a motel-style block of rooms, each with a front door straight onto a courtyard, but even this was so run down I dread to think who would pay to stay there. Basically, all this place needed was Norman Bates walking around and a load of tumbleweed, then the horror would've been complete!

As for the house hunting, we've decided to knock Lytham St Anne’s on the head.... too little for too much money.

Week 27 - We spent in my home town Bury as it was half term and I wanted to spend some quality time with friends and family.

We took our nieces to Salford Quays. The Lowry had activities on for kids as it was half term and then we went to Media City where they were thrilled to find The Voice Chairs to sit and play in. We wanted to do the full tour but discovered you had to book in advance. (something to remember next time we are around Bury! Del, however, was very happy to have his photo taken by Coronation Streets Rovers and Dr Who’s Tardis!

We then met up with my cousin, her three daughters and my Aunt and Uncle for an afternoon at The Imperial War Museum. It was big, factual, historical and above all - FREE!

Trying to find things to do for kids during half term that's interesting, educational and cheap is very difficult, but I felt quite proud that we managed it and had a great time seeing our family in the process. We are moving on to Cheshire for a few days before heading back up north for Centre Parcs.

Don't forget to go to my YouTube Channel for more Travel VLOGS 

And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

Twelve Months Trvelling the UK Coastline - Week 25 - Cumbria - St Bees - Keswick - Castlerigg Stone Circle

 

THURSDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2015 Week 25

This week, the blog will be mainly in photo format because the weather and scenery were just stunning. We are in the Cumbrian area for the next month or so, and I've been looking forward to this. I am a little biased, having lived in Cumbria for five years. It has to be one of the most gorgeous areas of the English countryside!

Coniston is lovely because it reminds me of Windermere and Ambleside, but a little more off the beaten track. However, I'm sure it still gets its fair share of tourists in the summer, which would put me off living there. However, as you can see from the photos, on a sunny day, the scenery is just breathtaking—it's a good job we love walking.

I recommend going to Old Coniston Hall, where there is a great campsite with amazing views.

We headed further north and were joined by some company. Friends Nina, Richard, Karen, and Scott were on holiday in Keswick, and we stopped off for a night to say hello and have a tipple.

After over a month of abstaining from alcohol, this was a brilliant day and night to let our hair down. Going to the pub was like going out for the first time when I was 16!! Haha. 

We went for a lovely long walk through Keswick countryside and found Castlerigg stone circle. Like Stonehenge, no one knows precisely what it was for, but we all decided we could "feel the mystic power!" I was sure we were standing at a line junction.

The day after, our friends Nina and Richard stayed on with us, and we headed out to Eskdale and the surrounding area. The weather was exceptionally kind to us, and the natural beauty was just out of this world. I'd love to live in a little village or hamlet around here. I just need a job where I can work from home! I could try getting my writing career off the ground! If only it was that simple.

We went for a lovely "little" walk up Hardknott Pass, close to Eskdale and Boot, and I now know why it's called Hardknott! Even cars struggled to get up the steep hill!

But it was all worth it when we reached the fort and looked out over the stunning countryside.

We then headed back into Boot for a well-earned lunch at the pub and a steaming pot of tea. Oh yes, and we all felt very good about our morning exercise until two incredibly fit, but personally, I think crazy couples were running past us towards Boot (we drove!), which was still five miles away!!! Well, whatever floats your boat.

Very tired, but with a sense of achievement!

We then headed to a campsite in St Bees, where we watched a gorgeous sunset on the coast. I love this place and intend to return to this little caravan park (Seacote), which has amazing views. It is also a grand central point to get around the west side of Cumbria. 

Me cooking spag bol for everyone in our motorhome!! Yes, cooking is also one of my brilliant talents!

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And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

A Year in a Motorhome - Travelling UK coastline - National Book town of Scotland Wigtown - Ulverston - Buddhist Temple - Week 24

 TUESDAY 03 FEBRUARY 2015 Week 24

There is not much to report or photos this week as we had a little health scare, and so some emergency travelling south of the border was in order just after arriving in Stranraer.

Del was struggling with his diabetes, so his doctor called him back to Essex for some blood tests. Rather than us both heading down there late at night and having nowhere to park the van, Del decided to go down on the train, and I could meet him back in Bury (his hometown and base camp) when he knew what was happening.

Thankfully, health-wise, Del has had some tests, and sugars are slowly returning to normal. However, I had to drop him off at Carlisle station, by which time it was already dark, Burrs Country Park wouldn’t accept my arrival after 8pm, so I remembered the Grange Over Sands site we had recently visited back on the way up to Scotland.

Now, I’ve never driven the van alone before and certainly not alone in the dark through a snowstorm! It was pretty scary, and I lost half the treads on the tyres trying to get up the hill to the campsite.

Anyhoo, we missed out on visiting Wigtown – Scotland’s National Book Town. I was gutted because this place is fantastic for anyone who loves books and fancies their dream job as a librarian… There is one bookshop there that actually looks like something out of Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films. It’s brilliant, and I really wanted to show Del. I also missed out on a surprise romantic weekend in a country estate manor house in Castle Douglas, which was meant to be a surprise. Still, I found out because Mr Romantic had to cancel it when we travelled back to England.

Despite all this, it was great to get back to Bury for a few days again to visit family and friends, and we are now heading off to the Lake District. We stopped off just outside Ulverston and went for a lovely walk along the estuary coast and found a Buddhist centre. It was all chanting and meditation, but it was actually fascinating and calming. The Temple was stunning, and the Vegan food was excellent. Everything seemed so wholesome and pure. 

We were so impressed that we decided to look at one of the weekend retreats they offer throughout the year. This doesn’t mean we’re about to shave our heads and become Buddhist monks, but having spent an entire month detoxing and no booze, we both feel so much better for it, and I would like to do these detoxes more often. This retreat would be the perfect opportunity to begin a month's detox. The Temple is at the back of the Centre.

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And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

Adventures around the UK in a Motorhome - Largs - Cumbrae - Scotland - Robert Burns - Week 23

 TUESDAY, 27 JANUARY 2015 Week 23

We have gone back to Largs and the West coast of Scotland to finish off the Scottish leg of the tour, and it doesn't disappoint. I love this side of Scotland because of all the Islands to explore so here we begin in Largs...

MacBayne Ferry to a teeny tiny island, Cumbrae, just off the coast of Largs Renfrewshire, with a population of just 1000!! I have been here before, but if I were to move to Scotland, it would be to this island. It has just one cluster town, but it's so lovely, cute, and relatively cheap.

This is the view of the High Street looking straight out to sea. We went into a pub for a brew and the landlord just gave us a tea each for nothing and chatted to us at length about Cumbrae. A real sense of community here, which I would love.

The Wedge is apparently the narrowest house front in Britain, and it's yours for a snip at £85 Grand!!! (Obviously, ten years on, that seems quite cheap now, but in 2015 that seemed rather a lot of money.)

You own a one-bed record-breaking broom cupboard! I even managed to capture a rainbow on film as we were waiting for the ferry back to Largs.

We had lunch at the famous Nardini's in Largs, which is the best Italian ice cream parlour in Scotland. It was really lovely. We had afternoon tea and then gorgeous ice cream sundaes while someone played the grand piano. I also loved the 1930s art deco interior, and it felt like this tea room hadn't changed at all since before the Second World War. It felt like I was in an Agartha Christie novel! (You can just see the pianist in the background).

We also went this week to Robert Burns's birthplace, Alloway, on his birthday. It was fantastic! We only popped in to see if anything was happening, and it was!

Across: Del by a big mouse!! (One of Burn's best-loved poems) Below: Inside Robert Burns's house. It was very basic even by 1700s standards, yet he was so well educated for a farmer’s son. . We weren't disappointed. Robert Burn's cottage where he was born.

A Pipe band from Maybole (the town we were staying in) Came out to play, and it was great to hear. It gave me goosebumps all over.

We have welly-wanging and black pudding-throwing competitions in Lancashire. Well, up in Ayrshire, they throw haggis. 

Come on, I had to get a graveyard in somewhere!!  This was actually the Auld Kirk (Scottish for Church). They had some musicians dressed up as witches to recite Tam o' Shanter - In a graveyard, which was really cool and atmospheric.

This is the Robert Burns memorial. They were singing a love song—I think—but I couldn't understand what they were singing, so I guessed by their actions. Oh, and the woman in green was called 'The Goddess', so I guess she was a goddess of love. I suppose I really should read the complete works of Robert Burns. I bought it about seven years ago and only read Tam o' Shanter and My Love is a Red Rose!!

Del on Brig O'Doon: There are so many lovely views I could put on the blog, but if you're reading this, then I thoroughly recommend a holiday up here. Beautiful scenery with plenty to do.

We also caught a ferry to the Isle of Arran, which is another Island I love, but Del wasn't as keen. We didn't set off until lunchtime, so we only had time to drive all the way around the island. We couldn't stop off to wander around Lamlash, Whiting Bay, or Brodick Castle.

I think I need to go back there again for a proper island-hopping holiday. Some lovely views.

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And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

Travelling the UK for a Year - The Peak District in snow - Castleton - Week 22

 

FRIDAY, 23 JANUARY 2015 Week 22

We have finished travelling the whole of the East Coast now, so we are beginning to travel back up North to Pick up the West Coast Scottish trail from Largs Renfrewshire and begin the long West Coastline and Ireland. For me, this signifies the halfway point of the adventure. Because the journey is quite a lengthy one, we decided to split it up a little, so we stopped off in Castleton in The Peak District first. Del making snow angels!

We got up really early and were feeling particularly energetic, so we created a new lifeform and named him Boris Penneystein. I thought he looked very lifelike, but then I attempted some sculpting skills and gave him a real snow nose and snow ears!

I have put in a lot of photos for this blog because although I've visited Buxton before, Castleton was just such a cute gem of a village. I'm guessing that with the amount of gift and coffee shops, pubs, and bed and breakfasts in such a small place, it gets overrun with tourists in the summer. This is a real shame because this is the sort of cute little stone village nestled deep in a secluded valley where I would choose to live.

Cemeteries do have an atmospheric feel at night, and in the snow, I think.

 Castleton Village Square.

Del is attempting to hit me with a snowball. We did have a snowball fight eventually, but it was impossible to take photos of. There are little shops that are really dinky and so cute. I'd love a teeny tiny shop like this of my own if it actually made money and paid its way! A book and tea shop I think would be lovely.

A stream runs right through the village - Perfect.

It even has its own set of caves to explore - one is called The Devil's Arse.  Just like the village - EVERYTHING is dinky here...  Even the ponies! If you look carefully, you can see a sheep that is bigger than some of them. Aww.

So, to sum up, they have their own micro-economy. They even mine their own Blue John stones from the caves. and make them into all kinds of gifts, and they cater to every type of tourist. Walkers, sightseeing, shoppers, spooky inspiration for setting scenes in books... he hee.

Yes, Castleton has it all; it's a real hidden gem!

We stopped off overnight in Grange Over Sands, but we are covering Cumbria in February, so we are off to West Scotland.

Don't forget to go to my YouTube Channel for more Travel VLOGS 

And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales