Back at Briarfields once more!

Well that was an interesting trip, Sunday morning we hitched up the toad and hit the road out of Burnham at about 09.30, the traffic was not too heavy on the M5 which considering it was the holiday season was a blessing. One of the good things about leaving Home Farm at this time of year is that the site has now become overrun with kids as the school holidays are in full swing, not that I don’t like kids but a whole one gets a bit much to chew on in one session.

Anyway the trip up the M5 was fine until some old biddy decided she wanted to join the motorway, on she came oblivious to the traffic around her and indicating to turn right to join the motorway, she didn’t realize she’d entered a four lane section and didn’t need to pull over as her run on lane was now the forth lane of the motorway. I flashed and waved to indicate that I was slowing down to let her move over if she wished too but no she kept her indicator flashing away and drove with her head stuck firmly between the spokes of her steering wheel while keeping pace alongside.

So I had to put my foot down to pass as cars were now backing up behind me, until that point the RV had been running fine on gas when ping ! Over it went to petrol. I was tamping as this old biddy had caused me to lose the gas flow I’d been nurturing all morning. Anyway out of hope more than anything else, I hit the button in hopes that it would switch back when... whooo it switched back to Gas without a hiccup.

For the remainder of our journey the RV stayed on gas and it felt quite smooth, the extra air I’d had put in the front air assist bags (they were on 50psi now on 65psi) made the steering more positive and it was a pleasure to drive.
We arrived at Briarfields nice and early just before lunch and by one o’clock had the RV on its Jacks, the slide outs out, and the water tank full. Now it was time to sit back and watch the F1 racing and too make a good day great Jenson Button won.

Tuesday morning the sun was glorious so decked in our shorts & t-shirts we headed out in the toad for a nice day’s wandering around Alcester & Stratford.

The small town of Alcester is an old Roman town situated on the river Alne not too far from Stratford. We parked the toad in a free car park in Bleachfield Street off the Stratford Road and walked up High Street towards the 14^th Century church of St Nicholas. In the church we found that only the tower dated back to the 14^th century,  the nave being built in 1729 (Georgian) and the Chancel in 1871 (Victorian). There was an interesting looking tomb of Sir Fulke Grenville and his wife that dated from 1665.

St Nicholas Alcester

The Greville tomb

For a Roman town there was very little evidence of any Roman ruins but the old buildings still gave it a quaint air of old England. 

High Street

A small mews

We walked in and around the church of St Nicholas and then down onto Henly Street.

There didn’t appear to be anything more to view and as it was getting near lunch time we returned the other side of the church down Buttery Lane to a small bistro called Lakes Café / Bistro where we indulged in a Scrummie or two.
If you’ve never tried a Scrummie I suggest you have a go they’re fantastic, large and a cross between a scone a rock cake and a tea cake served hot with lashings of butter.

Yummie Scrummies

We then departed for Stratford on Avon where after catching the Park & Ride we did the usual tourist highlights like the birthplace of William Shakespeare and the river where we took a boat ride on a narrow boat. It was baking hot and the river was a mass of little boats full of kids and families enjoying themselves.

Kay at the birthplace of
William Shakespeare 

Once a Knight's enough Kay!

Lords & Ladies?

The Canal Basin

On the River Avon

500 year old bridge

Holy Trinity Church

We then took a walk to the grave of the bard at the Holy Trinity Church. Kay wanted to do more tomb stoning and where better than here. The oldest part of the church is the tower and the crossed transepts that date 1210 but people have been worshiping on that site from 713. At the high alter are the graves of William Shakespeare and his wife Ann Hathaway.

Monument

Shakespeare's
Grave

We then walked past the Refurbished Shakespeare theatre and strolled around the town taking in the sites before heading back to our site at Briarfields.

One fools enough!

Too True!!

That’s was enough trekking for the week as both of us had healthy tans by then so it was feet up and enjoy a relaxing stay in the RV

More Anon