Well, it’s been an eventful couple of weeks although the time has whizzed by for us!
We finished at Inverewe on the 13th September and on the morning of our departure we were treated to a thunderstorm, including hail. As one of the campers kindly put it, “…the skies are crying because you’re leaving.” No hint of irony either, honest! The forecast had been for heavy rain and strong winds but luckily the wind died down as we set off.
As we left we wished the managers, Philip & Julia, all the best for the future and by now they should know where they’re going to be next season. Hopefully they’ve not sold all of the Avon Skin So Soft as we think they might need it…
On our journey down we popped in for a coffee at Glencoe to see friends of ours (Barbara & Geoff) who do the same job as us. We met on the Induction Course at Windermere and it was great to see them again. They’ve enjoyed the job just as much as we have so it was great to share our experiences and have a giggle. We thought we were remote but they have no communications there. TV reception is practically non-existent and to get internet access they have to drive to Fort William and sit in one of the car parks!
Our route down to England took us along the west coast of Scotland where we were able to get some more pictures of the beautiful scenery, arriving at a little CS called Prospect Farm just outside Grimsby last Monday. We were booked in at Auto-trail to have our annual habitation check.
Everything had been running smoothly up until then…
We met a fellow motorhomer friend Adrian, on site as we were buying his awning from him and by sheer coincidence he was visiting the company around the same time. It was lovely to see him again as we met for the first time at Inverewe having conversed on Motorhomefacts.com many a time.
After saying goodbye to Adrian we amused ourselves in Cleethorpes and Grimsby, then made our way back to collect the ‘van. When we got back to the campsite we packed everything up for an early getaway the next morning as we had a four hour drive down to Hereford. That’s where it all went wrong!
That evening we noticed a cable had come out of the back of the satellite system so Dean shoved it back in, only for the entire system to pack up. We now have no TV or internet connection.
All ready to set off about 9am only to find out we weren’t going anywhere as we were stuck. It had rained heavily in the night and although we’d parked on chocks and planks of wood, as soon as we drove off them we sunk. The owner of the site eventually rescued us about 12 noon due to the fact he was off site all morning, but as soon as he came back he saved our blushes and towed us off with his tractor.
Marital harmony slowly being restored on the journey, we continued the journey stopping off for a KFC en route. That made us both feel sick later on as we’re not used to processed food anymore but that was the least of our worries!
We were doing so well and looking at the clock we deduced we would made it to Hereford by 5pm as we had half an hour (22 miles) to go. Coming round the roundabout off the M50 onto the M5 there was a real grating noise coming from the rear of the vehicle so Dean pulled onto the hard shoulder as soon as we could to check everything.
Thank heavens he did as he found the wheel of the trailer was hanging off! If we’d have gone any further and the wheel had fallen off, well….
To cut a long story short, our wonderful friends Richard and Paul came and retrieved the trailer for us, Dean had to don his leathers and ride the motorbike (stopping off to fill up along the way as we’d drained the fuel tank to reduce the weight) and I (Angela) had to drive the motorhome…having never driven it on my own before! What a palava!’
We made it to the campsite about 7pm, said hello to everyone and were given tea and cake which was lovely! Then we cracked open a bottle of red wine before falling into bed!
