Wind?.... What wind?

I’m sure someone upstairs is out to test our resolve, the wind started to blow and then it became stronger and stronger. We're situated just off the crest of a small hill on the site so there was nothing to block the force of the gusts. Last night Kay and I lay in our warm bed as the RV was buffeted and rocked by gusts of winds of 40mph and more. I had the same question every few minutes in my ear ‘we are safe in this aren’t we?’ Note to self! Check on the Internet, what is the strength of the mistral in Spain?

I loved it, as it took me back to the days when I used to camp in an old canvas tent as the wind rattled the fabric and I would hudle for warmth in on old army blanket (Those were the days (NOT).

It took me some time to convince Kay that it was a big machine and even though it had a huge flat area that it would take one hell of a gust of wind to even move us let alone tip us over.  I slept like a log but I think Kay’s sleep was more fitful

So this morning we just sat back and relaxed, well that’s what this lifestyle is all about. We eventually ventured out but only to visit Tesco’s to fill the toad with fuel and to top up our shopping list. On returning we had the good news that our tyres for the RV had arrived and we have made plans to go and have them fitted. We also used Skype video conferencing with our youngest daughter Kristina for the first time and that went really well, so hopefully we will set this up with our other daughter and our grandson, well it all helps to shrink the world.

The wind has started to abate so tonight Kay should at least get a good night’s sleep (fingers crossed).

More Anon 

Shrewsbury

Today was an interesting but strenuous day. It was only a short hop down the A5 to the Oxon Park and Ride (Which happens to be right next to the Oxon Hall Caravan Park) then it was a short ride by bus into Shrewsbury’s town centre. 

This is a fabulous shopping town with loads of history, everywhere you looked there were old buildings and narrow lanes or Shuts as they are known. Be warned the town sits on a hill in a loop of the river Severn so your either walking up or down a hill whichever way you go.

Market Square

Old Market

Some of the Shuts have quaint names like Grope lane with fascinating Tudor Black and white buildings that lean over the narrow passage above your head and you half expect to see a pee pot being emptied out of the bedroom windows. At the bottom of Mardol street just before it emerges out onto the riverside, is the Kings Head public house, this old Tudor style house was dated to 1404 and appears as if it’s about to topple over it leans forward so much.

Kings Head

We visited Shrewsbury’s red Sandstone Castle that was founded by Roger De Montgomery in 1070 which holds the regimental museum of the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry where Kay found some valuable information on a relative who died in the First World War with this regiment in 1915. Unfortunately the weather was changeable with sun followed by sudden showers that had us both scuttling for cover.

Overlooking the castle is Laura’s tower that was built on the original Motte where the very first Norman castle stood. The whole area has loads of interesting history but I leave that to you to investigate as it really is a nice town to visit.

The Castle

Laura's Tower

Castle grounds

Castle entrance

We stayed in the town for lunch then took a bus ride back to the car and then it was off to get some fuel and a visit to an industrial site at Wem where I wanted to get a tow plate to extend the rear drop on my tow bar.

On the way to and from Wem we travelled through some more charming villages like Loppington, Nonely and Ruyton-XI-Town before heading back to our base at the Oswestry C&CC Site.

Tudor Arch

Riverside Sculpture

More Anon

Oswestry

We awoke this morning to a beautiful sunrise after a bitterly cold night with temperatures dropping to -5. The ground was white with frost but the promise of a bright sunny day got us up and going with an urge to do a bit of work on the RV. 

Later we headed off south down the A5 turning off onto a small country road visiting two caravan sites at Montford Bridge. Then on past the pretty little villages of Shrawardine and Pentra to a small village hidden away on the Welsh borders called Melverly. Here tucked away in the countryside was one of the prettiest little timber churches we have ever seen.

Founded in 1406 St Peters church is the oldest church in Shropshire and is possibly the oldest timber framed church in England. It sits high on the bank of the river Severn and is so close that it looks as if it could possibly tumble down the river bank and fall into the river.

St Peters Church Melverly

St Peters

Graves and Guest House

Kay tomb stoning

We then drove through the narrow country lanes to emerge at Llanymynech on Offa’s Dyke to join the A483 and here we headed north back towards the A5 and into Oswestry. By now we were getting hungry and after struggling to find the main car park we stopped for lunch in the Wilfred Owen.

Oswestry unfortunately seems to be going the way of many market towns, boarded and empty shops are everywhere.

The Parish Church of St Oswald’s and its Celtic cross look impressive and there is a quaint information come coffee shop nestled in the grounds.   For our American friends there is a 17^th century memorial to Hugh Yale and his wife, whose family founded Yale University in the States.

St Oswald's & Cross

Llywd Mansion

Guild Hall

On the Broad Walk that runs down one side of the church is a black granite seat and above it is a poignant plaque to the WWI poet Wilfred Owen who killed in action at Ors in France in 1918 and fought with the Artist Rifles that attracted recruits from public schools and universities.

Wilfred Owen

Well we're back safe and sound in our RV and we are expecting temperatures to fall to -4 again tonight so the furnace will be working overtime to keep us warm.

More  Anon.

What a difference a day makes!

No not the title of a song, but today we started to feel that spring was in the air at last. We said our farewells to the Red Lion Farm and our neighbours this morning then headed off out onto the A518 and the A41 traveling down to join the M54. Then it was off around Telford and Shrewsbury onto the A5 to our new abode for the next two weeks, the Camping and Caravan Club site just south of Oswestry at Knockin.

The sun was shining and the drive (being Sunday) was nice and uneventful, apart from that damn LPG changeover switch which, (just as we thought we had found the culprit) still managed to switch over to petrol and refused point blank to switch back again, even though as we had arranged with Chris it dangled from the dash like a man with his eye hanging out.

Culprit Number one

Thankfully we had prepared for this eventuality by filling up with petrol the day before (Ah forward thinking see).

So now it could also be a temperature sensor that is malfunctioning as well as the dodgy switch something else Chris had picked up on, so tomorrow a call to Chris at LPG Autos to see what he can do.

Oswestry C&CC Site

The site looks nice, it’s clean, well kept and the wardens are very helpful, but I had the distinct impression he was thinking ‘where the hell am I going to stick that big thing’. We started off at one pitch, which was the biggest on the site, then I realised I needed to top up with fresh water so blaming Kay that she’d forgot to remind me (she’s got broad shoulders) I told the warden I had to fill up the fresh tank and moved to the motor home fill up point. 

With Toad and Trailer

There I noticed a nice pitch just opposite that I realised would mean less manoeuvring to fill up and empty waste tanks each time, so sent Kay to ask him if we could move to this new pitch, while I filled up (I know, I sent her off to do the dirty work).

Fair do he helped us set up in the space you see in the photos, you see a woman will always get her way cause if I’d asked him he’d have probably refused.

So now its feet up time, a piece of cake and a cup of tea, tune in the TV and see what delights Kay will rustle up for tea.

Finally set up

Hooked up

With New Bike Rack

More Anon

PS. No Vauxhall drivers today, Sunday must be their day off!

Preperations

Today we took off in the Toyota IQ and traveled through Telford to visit the TravelWorld RV Centre, as they were having an open day and were offering free pancakes, well you know me I'll go anywhere for a free lunch.

We perused a few of the big American RV's on show but noticed that most were over 7.5 ton and those that weren't didn't leave you much in the way of storage weight. So we hit the accessories department and picked up a few items that were on our needed list. There was a flexible waste tank wand (for helping flush the horrible nasties out of the black tank). A pack of Biodegradable tank cleaning solution (For breaking down and obliterating said nasties). Things you would never have thought off getting if you lived in a house!
An automatic extractor vent for the roof's waste vent to extract aforementioned nasty smells from the waste tank. OK your probably thinking I have a thing about Poo! well until you have it splashed all over your nice corduroy trousers you learn to respect and avoid the bl**dy stuff like the plague.

Waste Wand

Waste Vent

Valve extenders for the front wheels ( I had a pigs ear of a job trying to connect an air pressure line due to the stainless steel covers.) Two External step mats for wiping the mud off our shoes on entering the RV and finally fridge extender bars for securing the fridge contents when on the move.

Step carpet

Then it was back to the village of Haughton, well to the Bell Inn to be precise for a really nice lunch of Lasagna and chips and toffee cream cake with  lashings of ice cream (oh... the diets gone to the wall again).
For those who live in the area and rant on about the Soup Kitchen in Stafford, until you've sampled the delights on offer at the Bell Inn you are really missing out, the food is not only freshly home cooked (not microwaved like the Soup Kitchen) but you get big helpings as well.

The Bell Inn

So now we're letting all this delightful fare settle down before we even attempt to get active. Anyway its cold and drizzling outside and its nice and warm in here







Ohh! before I forget...we topped up the LPG domestic supply while we were at Signature yesterday and we were really pleased to see that we'd only used 10Ltrs of LPG in three weeks. We worked it out that our 70 Ltr's of LPG left in the tank would keep us going for at least the next five months. Needless to say we have upped the furnace temperature, we may use the LPG a lot quicker but now now it's really cozy in here.

Staffordshire drivers.....One thing I've noticed while we've been driving around this part of the world is the deplorable road manners of certain (female) drivers. One lady tried to enter a major roadway from the slip road without even attempting to look at who was already on the road and nearly caused a major accident and then carried on without a care in the world as if everyone else was in the way.

Road Rage

Needless to say I offered a few new road signs with my fingers that described my feelings about her attitude. Also Vauxhall drivers seem to be a certain breed that think that the road only belongs to them, when I know full well it belongs to me so they should s*d off out of my way. My car may be little and they think they can push it about, maybe I should have a sticker in the back window "Don't pick on me you should see my big brother" they wont want to argue with a 7.5 ton bus.

Kay's getting to grips with MY Christmas present the Kindle and is already on her second JD Robb novel, one of these days I will get a chance to finish off my book!!!

Well its our last night at the Red Lion Farm site, so tonight we are having a drink with the neighbors before we depart tomorrow for Oswestry.

More Anon

More Trials & Tribulations

Yesterday we took the RV down to Signature for the fitting of a new bike rack and for the slide-outs to be checked and adjusted.

Thankfully Signature is only twenty minutes down the road from the Red Lion site and as we were not towing the trailer the journey was fairly straight forward.
As soon as we arrived, Ross the mechanic was straight on the job fitting the bike rack, so Kay and I took advantage of the courtesy car and went to Telford shopping centre (a) to keep out of the mechanics way and (b) to get some things posted off at the main post office.

On arriving back at Signature three hours later, fate decided that, that’s when things should start to go wrong.

Fair do to Signature, they were under pressure with a huge shed load of work, clearing out new machines for collection and repairing emergency work. But we felt as if excuses were being made as to why things weren’t being put right and after a bit of cajoling, they did eventually rectify all that we were unhappy about.

Several hours later apart from the slide outs which now fit a lot better, they had also fitted two new headlights which we hadn’t realized they were planning to do that day. They must have had the parts in for that job and by doing the work now it brought the RV up to scratch for the forthcoming MOT and thankfully as it turned out, we needed them.

One of the major problems we were having, was with a gas change over switch in the cab, which is there to allow me to select between Petrol and LPG. This had broken, Signature had attempted a fix to this previously but it still wasn’t working. Now the bad news, they informed me that they could repair a Prinz LPG system but not the Zavoli LPG system that was on my RV.

The manager Steve rang a chap who he thought may have the relevant diagnostics to check the system and arranged for us to visit him on the way back, as this garage was on the A5 and to too far away.

But as the hours passed while the headlights were being replaced and tested for alignment we realized it would be getting dark before we got back.

After the bill was settled, off we headed up to the A5 where at a small garage called ‘LPG Autos’ we met with Chris the owner. He immediately set up a computerized diagnostic and we took the RV for a spin, first one way down the A5 and then back again. It turned out that the switch was the culprit, but the switch was no longer a stock item and he needed to order a replacement. With the switch hanging loose on the dash (as this way it appeared to work) we were to leave it that way until we reached Oswestry and Chris would order in a replacement from Zavoli in the meantime.

So off we headed back to the Red lion site, but now day light was fading fast and thankfully the newly fitted headlights made the journey far safer as American headlights are extremely poor and on narrow roads we needed them.

We arrived back and were looking forward to getting into the warm RV and having a nice cup of tea, I hooked up the electrics and everything was looking fine, until I noticed that we had no TV or internal lighting down one side of the RV. Kay was getting very frustrated after the days tribulations and was wondering when things would 'just go right for once' and I was starting to pull my hair out. 

Being follicly challenged that was the last thing I wanted to do. I looked at this and looked at that, poked here and there but I couldn’t understand why we had this problem, was it something that had happened when they had redone the lights? So out came the old tool box and I decided to check all the internal fuses.

Yep, you guessed it, a simple 15amp fuse had blown 

but luckily I always carry spare fuses and the fault was rectified but too late for our favourite TV shows (Damn).

Today we enjoyed lunch in Stafford at the Soup Kitchen in the company of an old friend whose husband recently and sadly passed away, but it was very nice to see her and to spend a few hours chatting the time away and not having to worry about what else could go wrong.

I suppose that after all these trials and tribulations it can only make us stronger and more confident and I’m getting to know more about the workings of this monster of a machine.

After all it is a large learning curve and better to have these niggles now than in the wilds of France or Spain.

More Anon

Stafford Castle & the National Arboretum

Today we went out to visit some of the places we had listed on our itinerary for this week. 

Our first jaunt was to remnants of Stafford castle. This is a monument that I had often seen whilst travelling up and down the M6 over the years and had often thought of visiting but had never got round to actually doing it. So Kay and I took Animal and Blod (our mascots) with us so that we could take some photos of them and add them to our face book page.

From the castles Motte the views over the town of Stafford and the surrounding countryside is fantastic, even though the sun was out, the wind up there was bitterly cold and sadly the castle was also closed. Being on the top of the highest point for miles around and feeling the coldness get to our bones we soon beat a hasty retreat back to the car.

Stafford Castle

The Motte

Animal & Blod

We then drove through Stafford onto the A513 and headed out towards Rugeley passing Shugbourough hall and the Cannock Chase and on to our next stop, the National Arboretum. The National Arboretum is a newly built edifice that was constructed to commemorate the sacrifice given by the men and women from the armed forces for their country.

We both wanted to visit this centre so that we could pay our respects to members of both our old regiments who have died in service. Kay’s was the Woman’s Royal Army Corps and mine The 16^th/5^th The Queens Royal Lancers. Both my regiment and Kay’s Corps have now sadly gone due to the MOD’s restructuring over the past years, so it was nice to see that there are plaques dedicated to both of them. We had a nice warm meal in the Arboretum’s café and purchased a few items from the gift shop before heading back stopping only to do a bit of shopping on the way.

The Arboretum

Obelisk

WRAC

16th/ 5th Lancers

Army Bands

Even though the day was ending the light was still good enough for me to do a bit of DIY I had planned for the RV before we both settled down for it looks as if the temperature is destined to be around zero tonight.

More Anon