a BIG BIG bus

After 2 years a history project I have been working on has finally come to an end. It has been great and I have enjoyed every minute of it and met some lovely people. I've become the co-author of a book and written and helped to design an exhibition that will be on until July 3rd, then loaned out around Tameside and to Manchester Central Library. We've had lots of media coverage including a piece on the local news. Have a look on at the Fresh Hope Fresh Air project website and watch the film to find out more about our subject matter. I'll post a few pictures from the exhibition launch on 11th June (click on them to enlarge and you can read some of the text) and of the 1960s Manchester bus that came to the launch from the Greater Manchester Transport Museum. The last 2 pictures show Gordon behind the driving wheel. Click to enlarge.

Beefed up

Here's the latest edition to our security arsenal. The van has been for a service this week and also had an oil leak fixed and a new fanbelt. Now we are all set for Cornwall :-)

Marton Mere / Windermere June 5th 2008

The sun was shining and we were off to spend a night near Blackpool followed by 2 more at Bowness on Windermere. Our first stop was the glamorous location of Haven Marton Mere holiday park (!). Only £8 for the night and not a bad spot. Nice pitch and pleasant walk round the Mere that took just under an hour. We didn't even bother to go into Blackpool, just had some tea then went to the clubhouse. My god the kids entertainment went on for hours and hours. After a few drinks it became mildly amusing. Here's Gordon coming back with the happy juice.

At about 11.30am on Friday we set off for The Lakes, it only took just over an hour to get to Fallbarrow next to the Lake. It was our second visit and we were meeting our friends Sarah and Jon. The park kindly booked us on pitches as far apart as possible with ours being right next to the clubhouse. It is such a nice spot that we didn't mind too much as it isn't a rowdy place and our pitch was surrounded by hedges.

Lovely sunshine --- Gordon dressed as a VW owner!

The bluebird ---- Rachel and a friendly duck

Bluebird BBQ Night

On Saturday we took the boat from Bowness to Ambleside where the All England stone skimming championships were taking place. The day started off cloudy but cleared up in the afternoon. By this time the batteries on my camera had died.

Fallbarrow jetties from Windermere --- Sam strikes a pose

View of the Lake from Ambleside

Hayfield May 9th 2008

Soaking up the sun..........Yes he can read!!

After looking at the weather report we thought it would be wrong not to try and get away on Friday night. So Gordon picked me up from work in the van and we headed off to the Camping and Caravanning Club site at Hayfield.

It is a really nice little site which only allows tents and campers about 3/4 mile out of Hayfield village in the Peak District. We arrived at 4.30pm and picked a spot in the sunshine. It was lovely. After sitting out for a couple of hours and having some homemade veggie chilli and rice, and a glass of cider we walked up the path for 5 minutes, over a footbridge and up to The Sportsman pub for the rest of the evening.

When we drove through the village it was all decked out for the May Queen festivities that were happening the next day. We were sorry we had to leave on Saturday morning as it looked great and the whole village had made an effort. Decorating their houses and businesses. We've never seen so much bunting.

On Saturday morning we walked along the path trought the woods to the village and had a closer look. One row of terraces had a countries of the world theme and there was a competition to guess what they all were. See if you can guess these two.

All the tea in...? ...........The best country in Britain?

SHOCKS OF THE WEEKEND...
No.1 - Old men wearing crocs. It is just plain WRONG.
No.2 - Women washing their fangitas in the sink. Ladies if you want to freshen up, have a shower. NOT a strip wash in a public place, at sinks where people clean their teeth. YUCK.

Anglesey May 1st 2008

We spent 4 days in Anglesey at the start of May. The weather was great and the view from John Hewitts campsite at Benllech was lovely. We had the whole field to ourselves on the first night, with just the rabbits and a robin for company.

Looking out over Benllech beach - what a view!

Snowdonia in the distance - the view from our pitch

Heading down through the campsite towards the beach

We decided to forego electric to have that wonderful view, I wasn't sure we would cope but we were fine. We used all the facilities in the van and got much more use out of it than we usually do. The fridge ran on gas and we were happy with the radio each night. We have discovered this fantastic DJ on Radio Wales. I wish we could get him at home. He is FAB - If you are ever in Wales listen to his show and you will be guaranteed to split your sides - Chris Needs.


On the Friday we spent the day in Beaumaris. It is a nice little place and we had some lovely fish & chips on the pier.

Over the Menai Straights to Snowdonia - from Beaumaris Pier

We also bought a new picture for our sitting room from a little gallery owned by Janet Bell. We really liked all her work. They are happy little pictures that make you think of Summer. The one we cought is called Beaumaris Boats and features the pier that I was on when I took the above picture of the Menai Straights.

The following day we went to the little village up the coast called Moelfre. It has a small pebble beach, a post office and a pub. Even though it is small it was pretty and the coastal path was a pleasant walk before we had a glass of wine at the pub!

Gordon on the coastal path at Moelfre

NON-CAMPER day trip Wrexham April 08

A lovely warm Spring day in April where we met Dad at Erddig near Wrexham for a picnic and a look round the house. Well worth the visit and a nice part of the country. We will be back!

Note: Gordon's Daddio style outfit!

Harrogate March 28th 2008

This was our first proper trip of 2008. We stayed at Rudding Park with Sarah, Jon and Sam. It was their first trip since buying their van. The site owner asked if we were part of a rally! Great weather when we got there but it tipped down most of Saturday and the cold weather meant we couldn't even sit in the awning on Saturday night. And my camera packed up so I couldn't take any pics. We did go into Knaresborough for the day and I think if we went back we would try and stay there. It is a really nice little place.

Knaresborough - taken from the castle

NON - CAMPER TRIP: Devon Jan 08

On Gordon's long weekend we headed down to Matt and Pip's new house in Moretonhampstead for 4 days. We called in to Budleigh Salterton and walked along the front, then made the mistake of going to Dawlish Warren!

Bolton-le-Sands October 5th 2007

This was the last trip of 2007. It was a great little spot. We stayed at Bolton Holmes Farm at Bolton-le-Sands near Carnforth in Lancs for 1 night. We were there near the end of the camping season and the old lady that ran the site had forgotten we had booked an electric pitch, in fact she had no record of our booking at all. We had to do with out electric but we got a better spot because of it. We found out later that the park had been sold so if we go again we hope it is the same.

The main thing about that weekend was how warm it was. It was also very windy so we couldn't put the awning up. Someone on the site told us it wasn't usually windy but somehow I don't believe them - see what you think when you see the picture I took of the trees at the bottom of the site.

Bolton-le Sands is on Morecombe Bay, and the site seemed really remote as if you were going to meet Magwitch on the marshes (Great Expectations). It was just so relaxing. It was about 20 mins walk into the village and we sampled the 3 local pubs then got a Chinese from the takeaway and ate it back at the van. It was horrible! The following morning we took a walk around to Red Bank Farm and back again (about an hour and a half) to make the most of the bracing fresh air!

Gordon out for a walk - The private road to Bolton Holmes Farm campsite - Rachel and a ladybird on the Saturday night