Oldies On Tour

Monday 14th August.

We were woken at 0600hrs by the dogs needing to go out but returned rather briskly after doing their business as it was raining.   At this point we received the report on the made up bed!!!  The verdict; “sort of reasonable” but not for too many nights and sharing with Mia, a wriggle-bottom, didn’t help so morning was a relief!!!

With a grey sky and intermittent rain, the beach wasn’t really an option so after sorting out the bed, clearing up and breakfast etc., headed into St. David’s, the U.K’s smallest city.

Around mid morning we, along with what seemed every holiday maker in Wales descended on St. David’s, the tiny “City” was heaving and parking was a nightmare.  We drove around but to no avail and settled in the big car park outside St. David’s by thevisitor centre, all other car parks were full. We came in Jane’s car; 3-adults, an 8-year old and 3-dogs with all the paraphernalia one needs on holiday “just in case” including my scooter, we needed the space!!!    After finding a space, unloaded and assembled  the scooter, I realised I had forgotten to also transfer the all important “key”, so that was that, I had no choice, I had to walk!!!!

When we started out this morning our plan was to arrive at coffee time but what with traffic, parking, people etc., etc., by the time we walked down the hill and into the main part of St. David’s it was lunch time!!!   The advance party, ie Jane and Mia went ahead to reconnoiter, their aim was somewhere that sold cakes etc., we on the other hand just went with the flow and a few minutes later we get a message saying they’ve found somewhere that sells cakes, so off we head.   Standing at the bottom of some steps waiting, and when we arrived we all trooped in only to find it was a pub that actually sold a few cakes!!!  After finding a suitable table that could accommodate 3-dogs underneath we decided to have lunch and maybe a cake to follow.   This pub was called, unsurprisingly “The Bishops” but strangely not after the cathedral or bishops palace but after the outcrop of rocks known as the “Bishops” a couple of miles off Ramsey Island.

After lunch the three of them headed further down the hill to look into the cathedral, I on the other hand couldn’t face the walk back up the hill, my knee was giving me real ‘jip’ today, so I waited on someone’s gate watching the comings and goings of all the visitors, like us, unable to get to the beach.   Once they returned we headed back up the hill towards the car park arriving as our “paid time” expired, perfect timing.    By now the weather had improved, the rain had stopped, the sun was doing its best to come out so the decision was to head to Nolton Haven to give the dogs a good run round.  

Again Nolton Haven was virtually empty except for like minded people exercising their dogs.  Mia on the other hand decided to have a paddle but by the time we left it had turned into a full blown “dunk” in the sea.    

Back at base and the pooches were knackered, didn’t hear anything from them ‘till their last walk later after dinner and some more Marjon.   Tonight the bed went down easier but we couldn’t remember the cushion layout!!!   

Tomorrow the weather forecast looks better so hoping for a day on “Marloes Sands”, one of the main reasons for coming to Pembrokeshire.

Sunday 13th August

To avoid paying the parking dues for two vehicles we elected to get away before 0800hrs and find a nice lay-by for breakfast, but nothing would happen until sand though it wasn’t raining, the sky looked full of it; a great start to our short holiday!!!

Leaving  Brecon along the A40 was rather pleasant; minimal traffic as we meandered through the Brecon’s with intermittent rain falling.   Fortunately during one of the short interludes of sunshine we found a reasonable lay-by off the road so stopped for breakfast and it also had a reasonably grassy area to walk the dogs.

We weren’t due at the camp site officially until 1409hrs so didn’t rush but stopped at Tesco in Haverfordwest as we received confirmation Jane and Mia were coming down this evening for a few days so had to “up” our provisions!!!

Arriving at our camp site at the appointed hour and drove into the field overlooking St. Brides Bay with only one other caravan, we were spoilt for choice and once settled headed to Newgale Beach to give the dogs a good run-around. Unfortunately after paying to park and climbing over a mountain of stone flood defences, we saw the signs, “No dogs off the leads”, and worse, the tide was right in so no sand either!!!!   Having paid to find this out we were quite “peeved” as we headed off towards Nolton Haven.   Newgale is a vast beech whereas Nolton a small inlet with a beech and therefore much quieter so parked the car using the same ticket we had from Newgale 👍 and walked to the sandy beach; no dog signs, a result.   We had a paddle whilst Tom-Tom and Rosie charged around, in and out of the sea like a couple of hooligans and were completely “pooped” by the time we put them in the car.

Back at base camp in time for Jane and Mia’s arrival who turned up in good time for dinner. After dinner we played Marjon before the fun and games began, ie, making up the bed.   This was the first time we had converted the table area into a rather limited double bed but with much laughter, and a fair amount of cursing, we achieved a bed; how comfortable it would be, we would no doubt find out in the morning!!!

Saturday 12th August

Pembrokeshire here we come, but instead of doing in one stint we decided to leave a day earlier and stop the night in Brecon; I say a day earlier but I mean leaving in the afternoon.  We had arranged for haircuts and a “tree stump-grinder” to come and give us a quote.  We eventually hit the road around 1500hrs, a little over 2-hours drive. Our destination was a “municipal” car park over looking the river Usk that allows motorhomes free overnight accommodation between 1800hrs and 0800hrs

Out of our village and straight into very slow moving traffic on the A303 and when we turned to the link road heading to Taunton, the same.  Being a Saturday afternoon we thought the majority of the holiday traffic would have gone; wrong!!!   Never mind we’re on the M5 soon, that should be clear; wrong again, it was worse, stop – start, stop – start all the way until junction 18a, the turn-off to South Wales, at this point the road was clear; obviously no one wanted to holiday in Wales!!!

Arriving in Brecon 10-mins before the free time starts, we took a chance and parked.  It was raining pretty hard so with no visible cameras and we figured no one from the “enforcement” company would be about, we took a calculated risk. 

After dinner we decided to head into Brecon as on the way through we “clocked” lots of people wandering about, far more than one would expect normally, also we noticed a  number of “pop-up” bars.   

The walk into town turned out to be farther than we thought, but the “lure” of a decent pint of local ale kept me going.   The rain couldn’t decide what to do, it rained one minute and then stopped as we wandered along a very picturesque footpath alongside the river bank.   It turned out this weekend is the Brecon “Jazz Festival”; no doubt this accounts for the number of folk about.   

We wandered, though I struggled around looking for somewhere to get my pint (or two!) but to no avail, all the pubs were heaving, but worse, the music was blaring so loud you couldn’t hear yourself think, not our cup-of-tea.   So failing to get a drink we welded back to Rosie though by now the rain had decided, it was pouring!!!

Back and secure, albeit wet, in Rosie we got the gin bottle out, no pint but gin and cribbage before bed.

Monday 31st July

Though it’s not actually raining this morning, the sky looks full of it plus the forecast isn’t very good so we took the opportunity to start packing up.   But first, shock, horror, there were so many empty bottles outside from last night, we must have really enjoyed ourselves and partied hard!!!

With a fair amount of wind and everything being wet, packing up was a little problematic especially for Mark, he also had his tent to stow away!!!  We had paid for tonight so we could stop all day but looking up and knowing the forecast, this would be pointless so cleared everything after breakfast.

Mark’s convey of cars left about mid morning but we headed back to the beach for one last walk with the dogs and again we were lucky, there was a window of no rain.

Back to Incledon farm to collect Rosie and then we were “homeward bound” and looking forward to our next outing; Pembrokeshire in a couple of weeks, 😃😃😃 but first we need to get the boiler sorted!!

Sunday 30th July

What a night, wind and heavy rain virtually all night, traditional holiday weather but no regrets returning from Spain.  I don’t think “global warming” has reached this country yet!!!!  Fortunately there was a rain break at 0700hrs when I took the dogs out, and another just when we went for showers, otherwise wall-to-wall rain and very heavy at times.   The good news though, with Mark’s tent being in the corner of two hedges, it was reasonably protected and he got a good night’s sleep.

After breakfast we got together and had a “pow-wow” to decide what to do today.  Naturally sitting at the top of Putsborough beach wasn’t going to happen but Mark and Ashleigh do want to get another surfing session in today, hmmm.   We eventually decided to go our separate ways and get together later for dinner in the local pub but after ringing to book, too late, all booked up.   We rang several others, same story, no room at the Inn; probably a combination of “Sunday Roasts” and “The Weather”, so Fish and Chips it is!!!

Today is the Belgian Grand Prix and with such appalling weather, an afternoon in Rosie watching it seemed attractive but must walk the dogs sometime.   We settled down with a cuppa and snacks just before the start and as the cars went on their “out-lap”, the heavens opened and just as the start lights went out, so did our tele 👹👹👹. When the picture did return, our WiFi  signal was so affected by the conditions that everything was buffeting so badly that we had to switch it off 🥵🥵🥵.  Had the weather been better we would have been on the beach and not seen it anyway!!!!   So now it is plan “B”, highlights on Channel 4 at 1830hrs.    Change of plan; as there was a “lull” in the rain we headed back to Saunton Sands to give Tom-Tom and Rosie a good run around and as always, they made the most of it.    They are much better at re-call these days so we can relax a bit more, though Rosie in particular thinks everybody and every dog is her friend!!!

Walk completed before it started to rain again; we were very lucky 😃😃, so headed back to camp; when all else fails, get the crib board out, which we did.

Around 1730hrs we got a message from Ashliegh, “we’re on our way, get the drinks ready and we have the fish ‘n chips” this was followed by their actual drinks order!!!

With the outside being rather wet but very cold, the 7 of us squeezed around Rosie’s table to eat our supper accompanied by several g&t’s; very cosy but great fun especially as we also had the three dogs trying to get in on the act!!!

Soon after dinner Derick and Cath headed back to their abode, they wanted to get on with the “packing” as tomorrow we all head back.   Once Mark had returned, still in Rosie we continued to party having a good laugh.   

Around midnight we broke up, walked the dogs and went to bed for our last night in Devon.

Saturday 29th July

This morning Ashleigh is joining us and whilst waiting, Mark got his fancy “Lotus” bar-b-q out again.   Ashleigh left very early this morning and was expected for breakfast so Mark  cooked loads of bacon and when she arrived, we all enjoyed bacon sarnies for breakfast; I must say I am very impressed by this “Lotus”, the big question is; do I, or do I not get one???   

After loading the surf boards onto the camper van roof, we followed them to the beach whilst Ashleigh headed to the B&B in Croyde to collect Derick and Cath.

There is an enormous car park above Putsborough Sands holding several hundred cars, or more appropriately VW camper vans, the surfers vehicle of choice.  Ideal as base having cooking facilities, space for changing and somewhere to keep warm and dry after surfing and naturally a bed if needed.   Mark being very thoughtful forewent his normal parking spot as near to the beach as possible, we were at the top where there is a lot of grass so that us “4-oldies” could get the chairs out and watch proceedings but before they went surfing Mark and Christine took the 3-dogs for a long walk along the beach.

Putsborough Sands, a wide expanse of sand with a few rock pools at its southern end; it  stretches 2-miles south from Woolacombe and is one of several popular beaches on this coastline that is ideal for surfers.

After the “dog walk”, which all 3 thoroughly enjoyed, they were now happy sit down and rest whilst Mark and Ashleigh prepped their boards but disaster, unfortunately Ashleigh hadn’t brought the “pins” used to hold the keel in place, still they both fought their way into their wet suits and headed down the hill, but only one surfboard under their arms; they are going to share it,  meanwhile the four of us sat in a line watching.   The weather couldn’t make up its mind up, our coats were continually being “put-on and taken-off” but fortunately no rain.

Whilst they were away playing in the sea, Paula spread out a lovely lunchtime picnic for their return.  We were hoping to get into the sea but the walk down the hill to get to the beach but more important the steep hill getting back up was a prospect too far🥵🥵.

After lunch 4-of us played a version of “UNO” but with a standard pack of cards though it was windy and we spent quite a lot of time picking up the cards that blew away!!!

Back at “ base camp” and tonight it is bar-b-q again, but Mark is our chef with his “Lotus” cooking whilst Paula prepped and I organised the “G ‘n T’s”.   Again it was windy but it didn’t cause Mark any issues; I may have to reconsider how I cook!!!

Again Derick and Cath were taken back to their B&B early evening and the 5-of us settled in Rosie for the rest of the evening; too cold to sit out tonight🥵🥵.  Later all the dogs were taken for a late walk before we headed to bed.   The forecast isn’t good for tonight and tomorrow and is telling us to prepare for an “interesting” night.   This will be very interesting for Mark in particular, with Ashleigh here, he will be sleeping in a tent!!