Author: beltosfun

Retired and older than most. like gardening, Caravanning and Photography. Thought I would like to get my thoughts and adventures displayed. Boring to most. My Gravatar is what my Laptop see's early in the morning after a sleepless night

Bude RFC — THS Site

open-field-sunset 2

Nothing to do with Bude RFC but it is a nice picture

We leaving tomorrow morning Friday, early so we do not get caught in the heavy traffic.

Arriving at a site near to Bude a short distance away from Bude RFC.

Left at 10.20, plenty traffic on M5 but gradually thinned out the father south. Good journey except around  Okhampton when Sat Nav takes us down  a lane that started off O’K  but rapidly narrowed to a single track just wide enough for the caravan and grass growing in the centre of the road/lane.

Came to some cross roads, road widths all the same, while I about to consult the map an ‘Open Reach’ van arrived and was waiting behind me.

He suggested my best option was to carry on along the lanes until I reached the main road. He did not mention the 16% hill, it was long and steep and just wide enough for my van, I have not checked for any damage at the moment.

Onto the A3072 and away again. But what a crap journey, long narrow  bendy road, I shall be returning home via the A39.

Arrived at our 5 van site on the spot, 2 miles from Bude RFC (Owner provided GPS readings)typically drizzling with rain.

Yew Tree 5 van site, nice natural surroundings, surrounded by trees and the owners are keen environmentalist, moved here from the Madness of Guildford area..

Her stress levels have reduced beyond all expectations, her husband can now concentrate on his Composting Toilet.

Normal toilet, but below the seat was metal tray deviding the Urine from the Stool. Quite funny really, instead of pulling the flush you would put a handful of sawdust down the hole. No smell and all clean and acceptable.

He would clean it out and put onto his compost heapIMG_7171

His parents have also moved here from the South East somewhere and are loving it here                                  Settled in, set up around 1.30PM, had a snooze.

Telephone call revealed Ian & Julie were approx. 10 mins away.

I decided to go down the lane and meet them on the Main road and wave them in.This proved to be a little impractical car crash bude lane 2car crash bude Lane

The van with a driver and 5 youngsters was travelling too fast slammed on his brakes and skidded into the position you see him.

The other car a Ford 2 years old had the driver, his wife and  two teenagers.This could have been a lot worse, only shocks and bumps were the injuries involved.

I contacted Ian and explained the situation telling him to pull over and await further instruction.                                                                 The site owner eventually led him into site via another direction.

All settled in we decided to have a look around the area including our Site for tomorrow.IMG_7167Called in to see the stewards at the Rugby club. Typical rugby field, unfortunately the Club would not be open due to renovations, just toilets and showers would be available.             Oft then to a small village to get some recommended fish and chips.                                                               The fish was cooked to order and choice of size was available. We all opted for the large cod and chips.

Back to our vans to consume our meal large fish budewhat a huge piece of fish. I fought my way through it leaving half the chips. It was too much I over ate.

Into Ian’s van for a good night drink and so to bed.

Ian had done a days work before he towed the van, up at 2 am and understandable tired.            While the fish was nice to eat it came back during the night, kept me awake with indigestion.

Sandra and I agreed a fish and chip lot now is too much for both of us we will share in future.                                                                                                                                                          And so to sleep after a full day

RFU 6 Nation Trophy’s

Following on from my Last post “RFU Calcutta Cup”
The venue for this match is always the Murreyfield Stadium in Scotland during even years and the Twickenham Stadium in England during odd years.
I wondered if you were aware that there  are other Trophy’s awarded during the 6 Nations Championship.

The Centenary Quaich

quaich_wiki

 

 

 

 

A trophy contested by Scotland and Ireland Annually during the 6 Nations Championship, introduced in 1989

This traditional Scottish drinking vessel was used to offer a guest a cup of welcome and also as a farewell drink, usually a dram of whisky.

Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy

Garibaldi_Trophy.svg

Awarded first time on 3 February 2007 to France as part of the                 celebrations of the  bicentenary of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s birth.                   He was an Italian revolutionary born in 1807.

Millennium Trophy
millenniumtrophy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contested annually by Ireland and England  It was initiated in 1988 as part of Dublin’s millennial celebrations.                                                                The trophy has the shape of a horned Viking helmet.

Unfortunately I could not find any Trophy that is contested by Ireland and Wales.

Please Note:                                                                                                       All Trophy’s shown are for illustration only and are not to scale

RFU Calcutta Cup

The Calcutta Cup is the trophy presented to the winner of the England versus Scotland rugby union match which takes place during the annual Six Nations Championship – also currently known as the RBS 6 Nations – between England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy.

Calcutta Cup 1901 England Vs Scotland
Calcutta Cup 1901 England Vs Scotland

 

                                                                                                                                                                              Following the popular introduction of rugby to India in 1872, the Calcutta (Rugby) Football Club was established by former students of Rugby School in January 1873, joining the Rugby Football Union in 1874. However, with the departure of a local British army regiment (and perhaps more crucially the cancellation of the free bar at the club!), interest in rugby diminished in the area and sports such as tennis and polo began to thrive as they were better suited to the Indian climate.
Whilst the Calcutta (Rugby) Football Club was disbanded in 1878, members decided to keep the memory of the club alive by having the remaining 270 silver rupees in their bank account melted down to be made into a trophy. The trophy was then presented to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to be used as “the best means of doing some lasting good for the cause of Rugby Football.”

The Calcutta Cup on display at Twickenham, 2007

The trophy, which stands at approximately 18 inches (45 cm) high, sits on a wooden base whose plates hold the date of each match played; the winning country and the names of both team captains. The silver cup is delicately etched and decorated with three king cobras who form the handles of the cup and sitting atop the circular lid is an Indian elephant.

The original trophy is still in existence but years of mistreatment (including a drunken kick about in 1988 on Princes Street in Edinburgh by the England player Dean Richards and the Scottish player John Jeffry in which the trophy was used as the ball) have left it too fragile to be moved from it’s permanent home in the museum of Rugby at Twickenham.

Instead both England and Scotland have full size models of the cup to be displayed by the winning team and when England are victors the original Trophy is displayed by the museum of Rugby in purpose built trophy cabinet with a revolving stand.

 

With Thanks To:  http://www.Historic-uk.com

Sleepless Nights

I came across this topic somewhere on Word Press and wanted to respond with my own thoughts, so here goes.

Also suffering from sleepless nights I tried to analyse why, sleep is required to refresh the body and mind from the previous days living both physically and mentally.

What drives us as we wake.

Our Mind or Brain, it tells us what to do, our commitments from the previous day.

In order to perform our commitments we need our physical self.

Together we enter the day.

Parking Fine

You may remember in my last Blog we were at Hendra Park, Newquay spending a few days with friends.

This particular day Sandra and I decided to go into Newquay, she wanted some retail therapy as they say.

Not Familiar with Newquay I decided to park in a small car park on a hill sloping towards the sea logically thinking that we would come across the main road running parallel to the beach and shopping area. Wrong! we walked down the hill across the road and viewed the docks from  on top of the hill.

Nothing else of interest except a nice view we decided to return to the car and move off along the coast in a Northerly direction.

Success, travelling around the shopping area found a temporary parking lot on a building plot.

Paid our dues and went off along the beach and shops.

Completed our day and returned to Hendra Park.

That was it for the day except a visit to the club with the others.

Embarkation day

We arrived at the port on the evening before, simply to make the journey easierand not risk getting to port late for the embarcation.Weather is fine and I am glad we travelled the night before taking the pressure off of the start.Cars and Vans around are like myself full of anticipation and eager to get going . The weather is promised to be fine for the crossing. At the other side I hope to get in behind an English Registration plate to give me an easier srart to driving on the right hand side of the road

MV Cruceros
Brittany Ferries to Cherboroug

Bit concerned crossing due to sea swell, was not sure if this first sea voyage will upset “Marley” and make him ill in the car.
There was no need to be concerned, he proved to be the Dog I know he is, (a good Fiesty Dog and a fighter in the best sense)

Lillie's
Lillie’s

A Fine bunch of Lillies from my Garden

Sharpness with the Gloster’s

Arrived on site, only  3 other units were there, not surprising since we we arrived 30 mins after site open by Pam & Russ.

Settled in, as always I tried to find a local internet signal

As always I never can and have to revert to my EE provider on my I Pad.

As always a very poor signal.

Suppose I must accept that considering we  are normally camped in the middle of a field somewhere Internet providers only direct their signal transmissions to highly populated areas.

Chatting to Mark Griffiths we commented on a trio of people walking across the field.

They were unusual due  to the Fact the male was dressed in a pale blue boiler suit a woolly hat and a huge haversack on his back.They were all carrying bottles of water in their hand and marching in the direction I was intending to go.

Leaving Mark I trudged off across the field with Marley (my dog)on a lead.

I came to the Maritime Memorial where there was a new road surface laid leading to the Severn Area Rescue  Association(SARA)Lifeboat rescue service for the The River Severn.

It previously had been a footpath but now quite a large path made up of compressed stone and dust etc.

I was quite surprised, it had been built-in the last few months to provide a suitable surface for the heavy equipment needed to erect the wind turbine to provide electricity to the grid, or so I was told by the man in the pale blue boiler suit.

Our paths had crossed earlier and we discussed this huge Wind Turbine that stretched into the sky above our heads.

Wind Turbine

He  had an American accent,  a strange thin pointed head sporting a wizard style beard and rather tatty.

Living locally spoke with authority but not very convincingly, his two female colleagues nodding in agreement.Enquiring on his quest this evening he stated he was out looking for apples but his normal paths had been cut off due to the recent changes in the erection of the Wind Turbine and fences being  erected etc.

We went our own ways only to cross again shortly after, him stating the lack of apples and consequently the large empty haversack on his back.

By now evening was drawing in, it was getting grey and the wind had risen putting a chill on the air across the lake.

As I approached the Sara lifeboat slipway a dog walker with two large German Shepherd dogs running free appeared. Concerned I approached with caution but Marley was already in amongst them sniffing and causing some excitement. All seemed to be well, confirmed by their owner.

We discussed the looming Wind Turbine, being a local he had seen it being erected and the changes to the area. He confirmed that during erection mishandling between the crane operator and the rope team had caused the Turbine blades to fall, if the current blades were the original or not he was not sure, but felt the Turbine should be working after being in place for over a month. We bade farewell and continued our journeys after complimenting the area on the beauty of the Severn with the fantastic volumes of water that pass by twice a day and the varied walks locally available.

Moving on around the lake, two young lads had been lucky in catching a large Bream each, but would be packing up an hour after darkness.

They had three rods each, compliment by all the bells and whistles that would indicate if they had a bite or not. Advancement in fishing. Not in my mind, but I do not sit at the water’s edge in all weathers.

Passing through the Marina and up the hill towards Home, Marly suddenly disappeared through a gap in the hedge, I espied an “anorak dressed” young man who rapidly disappeared from view when he saw me.                               Concerned about Marley I approached the gap in the hedge. His dog and Marley were sniffing each other as normal but the dog was an angry-looking Staffy.        All was ok, but I called Marley, he came and we proceeded on our way home without further incident.

Saturday

A fine day, and to my surprise, there was little wind but the Wind Turbine had began to rotate.

After breakfast I decided to visit the Wind Turbine as I had never had the opportunity for a close up view.

Passing the Memorial to the Vidicatrix, a ship that was previously berthed nearby on the canal and provided training for 15 -17 years old for service in the Merchant Navy. Many gave  their lives in the service to their country. Approximately 70,000 boys were trained between 1943 and 1966.

Vindicatrix Memorial

Standing underneath the rotate blades there was a soft sound as the blades rotated, not the locally disturbing sounds I had been expecting.                               Sounds of the Generator starting and stopping could be heard, operated automatically or by some far control room.                                                                 I was surprised by the openness and lack of security, maybe a future development!

Speaking with Penny the Land lady of the Dockers Club in the evening, she gave me a recent edition of “The Vindi”  a Publication issued by The Vindicatrix Association, in it was an article as follows:

   Plans unveiled for tourism-based development of                                                                  Sharpness by the Canal and River Trust

Sharpness development plan.jpg-pwrt3

An artist’s impression of the development of Sharpness Docks

A major development and plans have been discussed to include

“The camping function at the site of the former Vindicatrix Camp is to be restored, with eco-lodges installed and the adjacent deep basin to be utilised for water-based recreation and sports.etc,etc”.

If you are interested… more information can be found at

http://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/10610829.Plans_unveiled_for_tourism_based_development_of_Sharpness/

On Another Subject

Bridge at Sharpness

Is this the Bridge pictured in 1894 ….that we still use today to get Site

Didmarton to Newquay

Didmarton to Newquay

 Saturday morning, just had a shower and the sun is trying to break through.

I am sat in my caravan, my thoughts are idling around.

Yes, I will write a Blog over the next few days to entertain or otherwise.

 Sandra and I arrived in bright sunshine yesterday afternoon to join Tony and Elaine who are Stewarding  the FOL Meet.

We were the first to arrive. Set up our caravan and enjoyed a sandwich in the sun.

Other Caravans arrived sporadically throughout the rest of the day until there was grand total of 13 units on site.

 Not a great number but enough to enjoy the company.

Looks like the Caravan Club parking at Didmarton
Looks like the Caravan Club parking at Didmarton

We were able get together in the Village Hall, background music, soup and a roll were provided and of course alcoholic beverages to one’s own personal choice.

An enjoyable evening of conversation and laughter and so to bed.

 Unfortunately my Bladder is not what it was probably through over use, I arose during the night about 4-5 times in various states of emergency fumbling in the darkness and quietly as I could to visit the Loo.

 Despite being disturbed during the night I had enough sleep,  to my surprise I was told so Orally by a new App that I had downloaded recently on my Mobile Phone, that I had had 9Hrs 24 mins sleep, surprising!

 So here I am writing this Blog.

Undecided what to do today, probably just hang around site.

 Sunday Kevin and I are oft to Newquay to join two others at a Temporary Holiday site at Hendra Park, Cornwall.

 Apparently it is a very popular Commercial Holiday Camp, unfortunately the weather forecast is Rain all the way.

 Anyway back to today.

Had a great day just relaxed and reading, then out for a long walk with the dog across local fields, probably Duke Beaufort’s estate.

Me and my faithful mate
Me and my faithful mate

Back to the van, early barbecue, and a beer, food tonight in the Hall after the sighting for the FOL.

 Food served in the Hall after the FOL Viewings,  a good selection of food was on offer and enjoyed by all and into the entertainment for the night.Our popular Karaoke, and some good renditions were made and lots of fun.

 Guests started drifting off and the usual late people stayed to continue the fun.

 Woke to a fine day with sun shining,

Coffee morning, prizes presented to the FOL display winners.

 Speeches made and the general consensus was a good fun filled weekend

 Time for us depart from the first part of our 3 part holiday.

First Few Day’s Stewarding at Balloon Festival

Wednesday, 5 August 2015 11:03

We are sat here waiting for the first arrival.
Set up last night, field already pegged out.
Waiting with some anticipation of response from visitors.
Weather is warm but overcast, forecast is somewhat dubious due to low cloud but little rain expected.

We have people from all over coming in fact one person is coming from Scotland.

The grass has been cut and left, it is dry and long, I suppose there is never a perfect farmers field..

We were not expecting to steward again this year, but situations changed the arranged stewards were not able to fit it in and there are so few active members left in the club in order to not let all visitors to the “Balloon Fiesta” Sandra and I stepped in.
Chairman Keith and his wife are also involved and will take over completely from Friday midday.

5 disabled have booked, one tent, one caravan and 3 mobile homes, so I have allotted pitches together near the water tap.
1300 hrs and 10 units parked mostly ok.

One caravan nearly hit the post in a large gateway. I shouted, he was an inch away. Did not know how and which way to reverse, but after some coaxing reversed back on to road holding up traffic up and managed to sign in. He was not a very good driver
I indicated where he should park his van, alongside of the yellow stick marker. Made sure he was happy using his motor mover to make final adjustments then I and attended to another motor an towing a caravan, somewhat difficult discussions trying to convey the parking requirements.

He was a bit of an Anorak with sharp responses. How ever I left them both reversing into their pitches.
Returning to the van Sandra agreed we had the same sharp relationship with the Anorak.

A while later I viewed the not very confident driver had unhitched his van and parked his car on his neighbours pitch, the Anorak was beginning to raise his hackles , I intervened at the right time.
We tried to accommodate campers wishes,with their friend and to date all has been well.

The chap whose mother died on site a few years ago in their caravan
arrived and with his normal chatty self had to be urged on to his pitch, chatting about the nearest source of blackberries.
Anyway he continued his conversation about two self-addressed envelopes he sent to Annette our booking officer and e-mailed her requesting the return.
He mentioned this at the Harbour Festival we were  Stewards at couple of weeks ago I apologised and offered him £1.50, he refused and said £1.00 will be fine.

Quite interesting Stewarding, all different characters, a small motor home arrived. The drivers window remained shut, the woman alighted and performed all the negotiations, I marched off to park them, she negotiated a prefered spot that was ok by me, I gained another pitch. They were very happy facing into the trees, I acknowledge him behind the glass he replied with a restricted nod. I thought it was a rather limited communication, personality trait maybe, but speaking with him later he communicated a on a perfectly normal level if somewhat stiff lipped.

The day continued visitors were sited and to the best of our knowledge all happy with about half of the Booked pitches full.

Friday midday Sandra and I moved on to our previously arranged other “Meet” and left Keith in control with his lovely wife Rita.

 

 

Onwards to Los Llanos

After leaving Zaragoza another boring journey across open landscape, rocky hilly and sandy terrain

Little traffic most of the way on this new motorway.

As we approached the south coast the population and traffic became denser.

I began to have a feeling we were not going in the right direction, but I had no cause to doubt the Sat Nav that had not previously taken us to the door of our destinations.

Until that is, we were at our destination( Ref Sat Nav)in the middle of an unmade road in the middle of a wine field.

Absolutely no one around, absolutely barren.

Lost In A strange country.

IMG_6717 IMG_6716 IMG_6715

Decision time, I had already spent more time driving that anticipated.

Retracing our steps back onto the motorway in the direction we had already come I came off at a service station to refill and also ask directions to the address I had.

Several points of reference was made, it was approximately 50 miles back in the direction I had already came.

Oh! Blow and Frustration.

Following the directions we eventually came within the region that was listed on our destination address.

Stopped reset the Sat Nav and continued.

This is where our holiday becomes interesting.

A strong smell began to permeate the car, burning,

The meters were all as normal; suddenly the ABS light came on.

Decision time, the hard shoulder was very narrow, as was the motorway.

If I pulled over there was a good chance the caravan or myself would be involved in an accident with the heavy lorries that were rushing by.

The running gear seemed to ok, so I proceeded with caution.

As we neared our destination the Sat Nav us took off the now ‘A” type road and along some lanes.

Time was progressing dusk was appearing in the sky and I felt a need for urgency.

More lanes and getting more narrow, I turned a bend to see an elderly couple walking leisurely in the middle of the road and were startled when I came into view.

He frantically waved his hands, and I stopped.

He spoke no English but indicated I could go no farther there was no exit.

Typically a car squeezed by after I had moved over as far as I could.

Some more hand waving and sign language, I tried to reverse my Caravan.

Impossible, so I unhitched and with some struggling and help from the Spaniard I turn the caravan around on the slope re-hooked, bade our farewells and retraced my steps.

Reset the Sat Nav and continued my journey bearing in mind I did not know where I was in this foreign land and could not speak a word of their language.

More narrow lanes and traffic that was amazed to see a caravan as they squeezed by with furtive glances.

Came to a junction of a wider road, waited for traffic to clear and progressed from this narrow Lane.

BANG! Oh no what have I hit; I opened the door thinking I had hit a post, or something, NO, and then I saw the reason.

The Drivers side wheel of the caravan had ridden over a cover on the gully and collapsed, the wheel was in the gully.

My car was projecting into the road and stopping what little traffic there was.

Don’t panic, I put the car into 4-wheel drive, success I pulled the caravan out and proceeded on my journey.

Back onto the main road, turn Right it said, down to the end of the road and out onto the beach, it was now really dusk, I was tired and wanted to park up but Sandra wanted to carry on.

Turn right again on next turning, I then decided to Phone the site owner.

He spoke some English gave me Sat Nave details and also a description of where the site was.

After several stops showing the address to pedestrians (They all stank of Garlic)

I eventually got to site, It was now dark I nearly cried with relief, I had been on the road since 10.30am it was now 18.30pm.

As I was in reception cars started blowing their horns.

Locals wanted a drink in the Taverna.

He said go and park your caravan and come back to register.

Remember it was dark; it was also a wooded site with little light penetrating the trees.

I continued in a straight line and came to a halt, could not go and farther, it was dark and very difficult to reverse.

Stood outside my car considering the alternatives when suddenly two guys appeared offing to help.

Great, caravan unhooked and moving into a tight spot.

Where had these guys come from? Were they genuine or would they be in my Car or Caravan.

It resolved that they were genuine.

Wow, what a day, all I wanted was to relax and have an English Beer, fortunately I had brought some for occasions like this.

Sandra was not happy about the car, the ABS had gone off when we were in the Lane with the Spaniard but she was not confident it would last for the rest of our Holiday so I approached the site owner and he suggested a garage 2 miles away.

He was expecting us when we arrived; the following day,I was to take it back the following day for inspection and comments.

On arriving back at site Dave Seaward had arrived.
I must admit it was nice seeing their smiling faces and warm words of comfort after I explained our predicaments of the last 24 Hours.

We decide for a walk along the beach and then into a Taverna for some refreshment

IMG_6723 IMG_6722 IMG_6721 A long walk back exploring other parts.

In the evening we had a meal in the local restaurant that was quite nice, relaxing and also very inexpensive.

A Nightcap in Dave’s Motorhome and so to bed.

David decided to come with me to the garage.

It was decide the garage would inspect the damage, order the spares.

We walked into La Verger, very lonely; David considered everyone was at work.

Couple cups of coffee catch up on Wi Fi; walk around town and back to the garage.

He would order spares, we would move onto our next site (85 Miles away) and return the car when the spares arrived. Simple enough (Oh no)!

In the evening we decided to walk to the local currently fashionable Japanese Sushi restaurant, all you can eat for 12 Euros.

The young waitress was efficient in her knowledge of the food but got little irritated with me when I did not understand her Japanese / Spanish / English explanations of the various dishes.

Anyway we proceeded. Somewhat unusual to what I normally eat, but we were on Holiday.

Various types of fish, lots wrapped in paper type of Seaweed, some rice, sauce etc. all eaten with my fingers.

Did not want to use chopsticks, I think I would have made more of a mess than I did.

Dave and Maggs were moving on to their next destination and so left site late morning and we were to follow later moving onto our site for the next two weeks.