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.
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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,
View looking north along 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.
Another entrance to the Abbey.
View across the gardens next to the river.
An old fashioned ice-cream seller – his salted caramel was amazing!
Nice houses along the rivder bank …
Another view from the river walk.
Beatiful houses along the rivder walk.
Here is a weir and mill.
Streets from the river walk to the high street.
The Abbey from the site entrance road.
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 …
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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.
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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!!!
Ploughmans twice – plus cheesy chips 🙂
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!
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All going well, a few miles into the ride and Russ stops to adjust his saddle, just where we turn off Hammonds into Colam climb.
Then a short while later I recall a big fat black cat in the road and I try to swerve around it, but it just runs into my front wheel anyway – so over I go again. Here the ambulance treat me, this guy has a weekday membership at Bunsay Downs and they just came from Burnham.
Ev and Russ manage to get my bike into the back of the BMW as soon as Denise arrives, here we are at A&E
This is my face after a lot of cleaning up done by Triage. My helmet saved the day.
Here’s the helmet with a large crack and damage to the left side – must destroy it now!
Lots of road rash on left side of arms and legs.
Back home and Ev takes a picture of me in my sling.
