Bertie goes to Tewkesbury 30 July – 03 Aug

This trip was changed at short notice from the site at Hythe, Kent. We hadn’t ever visited the Cotswolds before, so we gave it a go, the advantage here being that the C&MHC site at Tewkesbury is within walking distance of the town and all it’s shops and pubs/restaurants.

Our first trip also after retirement, no need to work shifts or head back for standby etc..

Monday 30th July, didn’t really go anywhere – just stayed on-site and put the awning up and BBQ’ed some pulled pork and sausages.

Tuesday 31st July, set out to explore a cycle route to the town of Winchcombe, about a 25 mile round trip.

Elapsed Time	Moving Time	Distance	Average Speed	Max Speed	Elevation Gain
01:27:38 hours	01:23:45 hours	23.59 mi.	16.90 mph	34.22 mph	1,010.50 ft.

Went past the Bugatti owners club

After a schoolboy error, we got the awning erected in just a few minutes, using the Screwfix platform to reach the awning cassette and attach the driveaway part first. Then just about 5 minutes of pumping her up, she’s all good to go and start hammering in the pegs. We’re on grass for this site, not far from the shower block so it’s easier than a hard standing. You can see though that they rebuilt this site earlier this year because the turfs are still not yet disappeared.

This was on my first reccie ride, I bumped into the Bugatti Owners Club site where they must make some hill climbs.

In the middle of nowhere, a CL site nearby.

Arrived at the junction at Winchcombe, quite a few tourists milling about but nowhere to park the bike here.

View looking South from junction down high street,

Later on today, we decide to take a look around Tewkesbury, the Abbey here is right next to the site.

There is a service going on in the Abbey, but they let us take a look from the knave and I took this photo when the organ was playing and the light streaming in from the windows.

End of Tewkesbury high street near the Abbey.

View across the gardens next to the river.

An old fashioned ice-cream seller – his salted caramel was amazing!

Streets from the river walk to the high street.

Again, the Abbey looking impressive in the sun.

Wednesday 1st August, Denise feels brave enough to try the route to/from Winchcombe I’d found the day before. We cycle through the town of Winchcombe and lunch at the pub at the end of the street named the ‘corner cupboard’.

This was the pub where we took lunch, they served Cheltenham Gold on tap, I had fish and chips and we sat in the garden at the rear where we could park our bikes.

About half way along the route back to the site from Winchcombe and you can see the Malvern hills appearing in the distance.

Another view of the abbey from across the park adjoining the site.

Thursday 2nd August, our last full day so I get another cycle ride to Winchcombe and back first thing …

Elapsed Time	Moving Time	Distance	Average Speed	Max Speed	Elevation Gain
01:24:19 hours	01:24:19 hours	24.55 mi.	17.47 mph	32.88 mph	1,017.06 ft.

I have an idea for Denise and I to cycle across town and the other side of the river to find a riverside inn called ‘lower lode inn’, a bit of a punt but might be worth it.

Elapsed Time	Moving Time	Distance	Average Speed	Max Speed	Elevation Gain
02:23:34 hours	01:08:09 hours	10.91 mi.	9.61 mph	24.61 mph	401.90 ft.

Sheepshaggers Gold on draught - fill your wellies!!!!

Yes, it was worth it, what a glorious find this pub is, it has it’s own camping site and a ferry across the river to get back into Tewkesbury the quicker route.

Just to show you how close we are to town and to the Abbey from our site.

On tap at the Lower Lode Inn, sheepshaggers gold.

The view of the pub from our bench seat on the grass bank of the river.

From the river bank. You can see Denise sat there with our bikes.

Looking to the river from our bench seat.

People pitch their tents on the river next to picninc benches!!!

I found an Iphone on the way home by the side of the road and gave it to the police station. I got a phone call three days later that the owner was pleased I handed it in.

I got back home on Friday, on Saturday 4th August I went for a quick bike ride with Russ, intending to go through Maldon and on to Tollesbury or thereabouts.
However, I hit a large (unlucky) black cat near the Bunsay Downs Golf Club and came off the bike losing consciousness. Russ and a passer by called the ambulance, I got back from A&E later with a broken left hand/wrist, a broken elbow and several road rash scars and bruised ribs – ouch!