The Autumn Season

After a quiet couple of months at home, working and avoiding the school holidays, we set off for a dance weekend in Norfolk. (108 miles) We had 5 excellent days over the August Bank Holiday at the Rubber Duck Festival, even with the rain, dancing and listening to bands (20 of them in all!) and meeting up with old friends from across the country.

We then headed 57 miles to Oaklands Farm, which is a small 5 van site at Stilton (where the cheese comes from) and spent 8 days there  Mike and Lorna joined us later in the week and together we visited Peteborough, Ferry Meadows Park as well as doing a few country walks and sitting in the sun.

After that we all journeyed over to Abingdon in Oxfordshire to West Farm,  another 5 van site, but very different to the one at Stilton.(94 miles)  Not so well cared for, but in a good location for trips in to Abingdon itself with a walk along the river and Farmer's Market. We spent a whole day at Blenheim Palace which is beautiful both inside and out; also a couple of days in Oxford mooching around the museums and shops (the Park and Ride with our bus passes came in very handy). Luckily there was a very nice pub within walking distance of the site, so we partook of 2 good evening meals and did not have to worry about driving back.

From there we all drove another 94 miles down to West Farm  in Verwood....this is our favourite site and has to be seen to be appreciated. The pitches are immaculate, shower and 2 toilets excellent, laundry and a kitchen, what more could you want! Apart from the fresh chicken and duck eggss of course, all the animals to watch, the lovely walk across the golf course and up in to the woods, and only 5 minutes in to the town of Verwood when you need to replenish your supplies. Whilst there we visited Wimborne and it's market, Avon Beach, Beaulieu Motor Museum, Kingston Lacey (twice), Poole and a couple of local pubs for evening meals. We had a vist from our friends who live in Dorset, as well as spending a weekend with another couple from work who store their caravan there. All 6 of us enjoyed a fish and chip supper in our camper in the rain, as we were awash with mud in the awning by then......very cosy!

At the end of the 2 weeks there it was time to say farewell, another enjoyable year over. We had planned to leave the camper there in storage for the winter, but as it was so wet and filthy we decided to take it home and have a good clean up on a dry day. We also had a few cosmetic repairs to deal with, which we managed over the next 2 or 3 weeks. Then it was back to Verwood and West Farm to put Big Bertha to bed for the winter.