Second May bank holiday of the year, what to do? I had an idea....
Every week at school we do our Weekend News, the children write about all of the exciting things they have done. Every week the children tell me about going to the beach, and one place kept being mentioned; Swanage!
I checked it out and it looked worth a visit. So I planned our visit, we would camp in a campsite just by Corfe castle,each pitch was in the woods and had a fire pit. It sounded idyllic, and to make matters even better you didn't need to book.
All sorted, GO booked the time of work. Astrid (our lovely little car) was given her annual check up. We packed our things and headed off to Swanage.
I just gave the campsite's website a quick shufty. I had been chatting to a parent the day before about our break and she had told me she was going to a similar place at the same time, but that she had had to book as it was a bank holiday. The website had a new red box in the corner, that hadn't been there the last time I had looked. BANK HOLIDAY - BOOKING REQUIRED -LIMITED SPACES! Ahh! I sent an email, it'd be fine... I even managed to joke with GO about how, when I book a holiday it
never quite goes to plan, if only he knew.
A34 was jammed, all the way from Winchester to Bournemouth was moving at a snails pace. Thank goodness for the new sat nav. Avoid all motorways I commanded and she did. Taking us through the lovely Hampshire countryside. Eventually two hours after we should have arrived we got to the Swange Ferry. It about three minute journey, not long enough to do anything (that didn't stop our neighbour from smashing her car door into the car) except read the adverts. I noticed one for a campsite, not the one I wanted but I made a mental note, maybe next time if this one is rubbish, I thought to myself.
As we made our way to the campsite in the woods, I realised we had no fuel. Making a quick decision I followed the signs for Swanage, surely we'd find some diesel there. I pressed the button I the sat nav and off she went.
It was a bit hairy navigating the windy roads, not to mention all of the cyclists you had to serve around. I was very relieved when the road became quite suburban. Welcome to Swanage said the sign on the left. On the right was a sign for the campsite I had noticed on the ferry. As GO filled us up, I made an executive decision. "There's a campsite round the corner. I'm so tired after all those traffic jams. Shall we just go there?" GO agreed it had been a long drive. So we followed the signs for te campsite, found a spot and set up the tent.
It wasn't in the woods, it was on a hill overlooking the fields of Purbeck. It did have fire pits, and at night the stars were so bright GO and I lay and gazed for hours. It was one of the most romantic and relaxing experiences of my life.
On the other hand the nearest toilet was half a mile away, I even added it to my route on my map.
Camping always makes you appreciate what you have at home. It was lovely to get away, but it was great to get back.
Making Friends
Look we're twins
Gorgeous views
Four years one, we can still strike the same 'beach pose'
When GO said we were going to the Brecon Beacons. The thing I was most looking forward to was hiking around the hills, and dales with spectacular views all around. Unfortunately my trek around the waterfalls didn't happen this time. I did however manage to get some time walking around the keeper's pond.
As we arrived at the car park we were all alone except for the sheep, they are everywhere in the Beacons, rightly so. I got out geared myself up for a wet and windy walk.
"I'll just set off, so I can take some photo's". I yelled.
"Hey, what are you doing? Hey go away will you! Stop it!"
I turned around thinking GO was shorting to me, only to discover a local getting very friendly with my husband.
Unfortunately I was no help, I couldn't help but laugh. I just stood and watched as he somehow managed to escape his little stalker.
He doesn't look too traumatised.
The pond at the top of the mountain.
Still chuckling about the sheep.... What's that I see?
After the excitement of the Big Pit G.O decided to start the journey up North! As we drove out of the compound, we saw a brewery and decided that we would pop in a have a look around. Our trip to the ST Austell Brewery visitor centre was so much fun. We wandered around, still damp and unkempt from the rain, but as G.O kept saying "who cares we don't know anyone, no one will ever see us!", famous last words.
So off we went, it was a lovely little brewery, The Rhmney Brewery, or as we found out micro brewery.
We had lots of fun riding a beer barrel, pulling the 'perfect pint' virtually, and finding out about the history of the brewery.
When we got to the end of the tour, before you could go into the brewing centre, I found the ladies and I made a dash for it. Just as I thought, my worst fears were confirmed I looked awful. My nice clothes were in the bottom of my bag and I was wearing my grubbies. Well you don't dress up to go down a mine do you? or visit a brewery? I just hoped we wouldn't be going any where fancy.
When I emerged after trying to fluff up my hair a little bit, it was still so wet it was drying stuck to my scalp, and saw G.O talking to a man with a camera. All I could hear was him telling him that he worked in a pub in Oxford. Shortly after we made our way to the bar at the end of the tour where we were offered a taster of the ale. I'm not a big ale drinker and I can't help but show my feelings on my face, but what the hey?
Not long after the man with the camera, came over to chat to G.O again, I smiled politely and looked out of the window at the stunning views. "I'm filming a piece for the local council tourist board, and need a couple of shots of people just chatting and enjoying the ale. Would you mind if I filmed you?" "No, go ahead!" said G.O, and before I could say anything, G.O launched into his speech.
"What a lovely ale, I haven't ever drunk anything this nice before, mmh, mmh, mmh it is delicious, what do you think wife?" I tried hard not to laugh, so i just nodded along. The camera man leaned over and said, "I don't need any voices, they'll just put some music over the top afterwards anyway."
I recently found the video on you tube and for your viewing pleasure here it the very professional and interesting video. At about 1.47 mins, when the very nice gentleman talks about the beautiful views, you get a shot of a something that looks more like a drowned rat.
