Regular. Trip

October 2nd. 2016.

Loaded Eevie and set off for Plymouth, left 1000hrs. The journey has become boring, due to how many times we've done it. Stopped at Solstice services for fuel and loos. Had a snack and a drink, then onward. Arrived Riverside 1600hrs, checked in for 2 nights and set up.

Had a cuppa, and I think I dozed. Hazel continued making her miniatures

for Teeny Weeny World. After dinner watched tv, had heater on too, summer has definately departed.

October 3rd. 2016.

Woke a bright but chilly morning.

After breakfast, 1000hrs set off to "Streets Ahead" our wholesaler. Spent 5 hours in there, and over £1000. Our biggest spend so far, although some of it was due to increases caused by the drop in sterlings value. On way back to site we called in Sainsburys for fuel and supplies. Back on site began pricing some of the bits we'd bought. Heater on again.

October 4th. 2016.

Packed up and left site 1015hrs. Headed for Sandy Balls. Weather still nice. Pleasant run and arrived 1500hrs.

After setting up went to the bar for a couple of beers. Then back to Eevie and more pricing. Quiet evening, tv and drinks.

October 5th. 2016.

Another lovely day, finished pricing in the morning. Then off to "The Fighting Cocks" for lunch.

Had a lovely meal as usual for this pub. Hazel got to say hello to her favourites,

she just loves donkeys.

Leisurely stroll back, and lazed the rest of the day away.

October 6th. 2016.

Lovely day again, and homeward bound. Left 0930hrs, used the coast road and arrived storage 1430hrs. Home 1500hrs.

Plymouth and Weymouth, August 2016.

July 31st.

Off to Plymouth again. Left storage 0945hrs. Journey has become routine. M20, M26, M25, M3, A303, A30, M5, A38. Usual delays on M25 at Jctn 11 and A303 at Stonehenge. Otherwise uneventful, arrived "Dolbeare Park" 1645hrs.

Was a nice evening, so we ate outside, cooking on the "Cobb".

Nice to unwind after the monotonous journey. Then a bit of TV and bed.

August 1st.

Up bright and early, dull day, didn't matter as we were off to the wholesaler, "Streets Ahead" to pick up stock for Teeny Weeny World. Spent the usual 4hrs in the warehouse, then to Sainsburys for fuel and provisions before returning to "Dolbeare Park" Dullness had turned to rain so evening inside Eevie.

August 2nd.

It had rained all night, but brighter this morning. Packed up and left site 1000hrs. Usual route to Honiton then more rural and interesting to "Crossways CC Site". Arrived at 1500hrs.

Took a walk to the station to check the timetable, crossed the road to the pub only to find it didn't open til 6. What a bummer, back to Eevie and had our refreshments from our own stock. Then we had our showers, meal and relaxed. I would point out that this site has water free composting WCs. Don't be put off, they are clean and odourless.

August 3rd.

Nice bright sunny day, caught the 1040hrs train to Weymouth.

Takes about 30 minutes. Took a walk to the "Brewers Quay" antique centre. Didn't find anything for us this time, well worth a look though. Then back into the High Street,

and the charity shops. Still didn't find anything for us. Then back to the harbour area for a pub lunch.

Finally we settled on the "Swan Inn", where we had an excellent lunch. Did the shops on the way back to the station, had a coffee in a little cafe opposite, then the train back. Arrived on site 1640hrs. Didn't need a meal so just relaxed, a few drinks and nibbles sufficed.

August 4th.

Up, packed and on our way by 0900hrs, arrived back at storage 1300hrs. Another pleasant trip.

Plymouth and Devizes. February 2016.

February 21st.

Set off for Plymouth, left storage at 1000hrs. Same old route, M20, M26, M3, A303, A30, M5 & A38. Almost a litany for us. Gave "Riverside Park" a miss this time and went to "Dolbeare Park" just across the county border into Cornwall. Arrived 1600hrs, checked in for 2 nights and set up.

It had been a long monotonous day, trouble free but tiring nevertheless. Had dinner and a few drinks then bed.

February 22nd.

Left site 0930hrs, to visit "Streets Ahead" warehouse. Had a good look round and bought some stock for "Teeny Weeny World". Back on site we looked at what we'd bought and priced some. We then cooked dinner, we had pork and Stilton sausages from "Rooks" in Hythe. We'd never had them before, and I say now we won't be having them again, I just hope the wildlife enjoyed them. Strange as we both like Pork, and Stilton, but these just did not work. Quiet evening before leaving for Devizes tomorrow. 

February 23rd.

Awoke to a crisp frosty morning. Left site 1030hrs. At Exeter I ignored Sat Nav to cut across country and avoid M5. I totally cocked it up, we rejoined M5 about 30 miles further up. Gave up then and stayed with it, then M4. Arrived C&CC Devizes site 1330. There is an attractive alternative if you get it righ, but never mind, maybe next time. Checked in for 2 nights and set up.

As you can see it was a lovely day, but bitterly cold. After a cuppa, we took a walk along the "Kennet and Avon Canal" which is next to the site. Had a good brisk 45 minute round trip walk. Back at the site decide to pay the "Three Magpies", (also next to the site), a visit for liquid refreshments.

Very nice nice too. Friendly landlady and local to chat with. Checked the menu and decided we would eat there tomorrow. Then back to Eevie. Dinner and tv passed the evening before bed.

February 24th.

Another crisp bright morning. Breakfast then I set up our E-bikes for a ride into Devizes. Followed the canal towpath, which was quite muddy in places. It takes you past the spectacular "Caen Hill Locks".

Arrived in the town centre, found somewhere to secure the bikes.

I take these photos as evidence for the insurance, should the worst happen. I had problems with the locks as my fingers were numb. As a result, first priority was gloves. Got some thinsulate ones in a charity shop. Hazel got some bits for her crafting. Coffee and cake in "Cafe Nero", (didn't see a nice local coffee shop). Spent about 2 hours altogether before getting bikes and heading back. When we got there I cleaned the mud off the bikes. Forty winks or so before shower, change, and to the pub for dinner. 

We were not dissapointed, the food and wine were of very good quality, staff corteous and efficient, friendly too. Back to Eevie having had a lovely evening.

February 25th.

Awoke to the same weather. Packed up and left site 0945hrs. Route took us across country until A303 near Andover. Then retraced our outward route. Home 1300hrs. We will definately go to Devizes again. Lovely site and as well as good cycling routes there are buses to Bath.

Plymouth, New Forest. November 2015

November 15th.

Trip to Plymouth yet again. Needed to collect more stock from Streets Ahead our wholesaler. Drive so familiar now it's just a chore. Nevertheless we completed it in good time without problems. Arrived Riverside Park 1530hrs. 

Topped up with water then to our pitch and relax for the evening.

November 16th.

Breakfast then to the wholesaler for stock. Spent the usual 4 hours in the warehouse, then to Sainsburys for fuel and provisions. Back to Riverside and started pricing the stock, before settling down for the night.

November 17th.

Left site 1000hrs headed for the New Forest and "Sandy Balls". Took our usual rural route arriving on site 1300hrs. After pitching up we took a walk to the "Woodside Inn" for a drink.

Very nice beer but a bit overpriced. Then back to Eevie and more pricing of the stock. Dinner, tv then bed.

November 18th.

After our breakfast I prepared our new bikes for a run.

We'd used them at Gatwick as previously written, but that was mainly flat. Now we were going into Fordingbridge, only 2.5 miles but in the valley, so the return would be uphill all the way. Off we set, of course downhill all the way so no test of the bikes. Had a look around,

bought some bits and pieces. Had a coffee and cake, then back to the site. Brilliant, the bikes made the hill non existant. So now we had mobility when touring without the need to move Eevie. Lazed the late afternoon, Hazel watching Tipping Point, she likes it, I can't stand it, but each to their own, I watch things she doesn't like as well. Quiet evening before turning in.

November 19th.

Up and away, followed the coastal route, home and settled by 1500hrs.

Birmingham, Plymouth and New Forest, Autumn 2015.

October 2nd.

Left home 0900hrs bound for "Somerswood Caravan Park". A trip to combine our love of travelling in Eevie, and to source suppliers for our small business. "Teeny Weeny World". The site is only a 20 minute bus ride to the "NEC", perfect for us to visit "Miniatura". Took the southabout route of the M25 to avoid the Dartford Crossing, then M40 to Birmingham. The site is in Meridan (the geographical centre of England) and we arrived at 1300hrs. Checked in for 3 nights and set up.

Then took a walk to the village a mile up the road. Found the bus stop, checked the timetable ready for tomorrow. A nice looking hostelry, the "The Strawberry Bank Hotel" caught my eye, without further ado we entered. Much to my delight they had Sharps Doombar on tap.

A couple of these later and we headed back to the site. A quiet evening, and early night as it had been a long day.

October 3rd.

Up bright and early, breakfast then to the bus stop for the 0950hrs bus. Got off at the NEC, and walked via travellators what seemed a long way. Bought our tickets and entered the exhibition. I can only say we were disappointed, not nearly as big as we expected and a lot of little interest to us. However we did make contact with 3 small producers for supplies in the future. One made miniature metal products, 

We bought this one and arranged a trade account, for 12th scale the detail is amazing. 

We then found a fellow from near Edinburgh, he made 12th scale lighthouses and windmill Dollshouses. Couldn't give us trade but his prices were so good it didn't matter. We bought the Lighthouse kit.

As we're on the coast we thought it would be a winner once done up. Then retraced our steps to Meridan. Once off the bus decided to give the "Bulls Head" a visit.

Looked a nice place to dine, but we had dinner in the slow cooker. Just had to make do with liquid refreshments.

A couple of these later we returned to Eevie. After our meal we decided to leave tomorrow. No point going back to the NEC, so decided we'd go to Plymouth and the wholesalers.

October 4th.

Left site at 1000hrs, a boring drive M5 and A38 to Riverside Caravan Park. Arrived 1400hrs. Booked 2 nights and set up.

Not our favourite site, but ideal for the wholesalers. Did very little, dozing, tv, food and drink etc before bed.

October 5th. 

After breakfast, to Streets Ahead (our Wholesaler) arriving 1000hrs. Spent the usual 4 hours stocking our trolley. Then to Sainsburys for fuel and provisions. Back on site 1530hrs. Started pricing the stock before dinner. 

A nice "Toad in the Hole" done in the Remoska. Cleared up, an hours tv then bed.

October 6th.

Left "Riverside" 1000hrs. Headed for "Sandy Balls" in the New Forest. Arrived 1300hrs, and booked in for 2 nights. Did some more pricing then to the "Woodside Inn" for a beer. 

Back to Eevie and some more pricing. Usual relaxed evening.

October 7th.

After breakfast went to the pool for a dip. Then checked on the Lodge we'd booked for the family Christmas.

Looked ideal. Had a walk then to Eevie, spent the rest of the day relaxing.

October 8th.

Left at 1000hrs. Took the coast route, A27/A259 and after unloading and bedding Eevie down, home at 1500hrs. We'd done more than planned when we left, but we did enjoy it, and it was productive.