Bit of a jump and a bit of a story. Thursday we got up, it was raining off and on, and we decided to go to Craster. It took a bit of effort to get off the campsite but off we went. Craster was a bit disappointing so we had a coffee and went for a drive to see if we could find somewhere to stay that night as it was pouring again and there was no way we would get back onto the camp site.
We eventually sorted out a car park just before the causeway to Holy Island that would be fine as we planned to go over the next day. Driving back to the campsite to pay for the previous few days we heard a big bang, ground to a halt, and discovered that the fresh water tank had fallen off. The previous owner had fitted a new, larger, one just before we bought the van and obviously hadn’t checked the strength of the supports. The nut holding the support on one side had sheared off and the tank was just held on one side with the other on the ground with a big hole in it where it had dragged along the road. No choice what we would be doing now - we would be going home.
For the next hour Les was lying in the road in the poring rain trying to get the tank off. To say he was wet was an understatement! Even with me holding the umbrella over him he was soaked and so was I, it was raining that hard. Les got it off eventually then we drove back to the campsite, settled up, and started for home. A lousy finish to a not very successful week. Les had also got a really nice day arranged for the Saturday (his birthday) driving over to Hadrian’s Wall and then to the Lakes to camp in Wasdale and have a meal in the Wasdale Head Inn to celebrate his birthday. Instead we would be back in boring Stafford after a drive of almost six hours.
Not done much Friday and Saturday but have decided to re-do the seats in the camper. so as well as ordering a new tank we have ordered foam and we have been out today and bought some new material. We are going to have them two colours, terracotta and cream. Les has bought himself a new hard drive and a machine to convert tapes to CD’s with his birthday money. We have also decided we are going back to Northumberland next year in June and that Sean can come with us. The area is beautiful. Also we are having another week off in September, going to Sean’s first, taking him away for the weekend, then down to Mum’s to take her out for the day. Then we can go off to Norfolk for the rest of the week. You never know the weather may even be on our side.
We had a glorious sunset last night, but this morning it was really cloudy and didn’t look too promising but you never know. We decided to go to a Camping Outlet store on the road to Berwick to get some chocks and then go on to Berwick. The outlet place, when we found it, was really good - bought lots of things - chocks, catches, a small rucksack (to keep in the camper) and shoes for Les and some socks. It must have been a lot of stuff as it came to £86!!
We stopped in the cafe for a coffee, then up the road, literally, into Berwick. It turned out to be a really nice market town with a huge river running next to it and a very big viaduct on which the railway runs. The weather had considerably brightened up by now and we went for a walk around the ramparts and then found the parish church that we had read about in one of our leaflets - one of only two built when Cromwell was in charge.
We then went back to Seahouses where the lifeboat was supposed to be launched for a practice run at 6pm but just before getting there the mist rolled in from the sea and we thought that it might not happen. We went to the cake shop first, then down to the quay. Still not sure but quite a few people were arriving with cameras then someone said the lifeboat would launch in two minutes. This was supposed to be for the BBC One Show - there was a man with a camera, one sound man and Dan Snow. The Grace Darling launched on time and came round into the harbour where ‘the guys’ got on board and they all disappeared off into the mist.
Back to the campsite where we used our new chocks before it began to rain.
There has been some more rain overnight and a little this morning. We had some breakfast and had already decided to leave the site and check out the other one. Drove round to Seahouses and had passed the site before we realised. but carried on and decided to visit Ellingham. There is an Ellingham Hall and a lovely church. We had a walk round, Les took quite a lot of photos - he didn’t even think there was a church here - and we got to the camper and it started to pour .
We had noticed a sort of car park or turning place outside the church and decided to park there and listen to the Grand Prix. We have since decided to stay the night as it is really peaceful and a lot nicer than the campsite. We shall probably go and see what the other one is like tomorrow. Spoke to Sean last night, seemed a bit quiet but okay. Les phoned him today just to tell him where we are. We have had a lot of rain today but we may have a nice evening. The new cupboard Les made is brilliant and really useful. Just phoned Mum - Sean answered - told him where we are, he says they’re okay.
It’s almost 9am, we are drinking our tea and a kestrel has landed on the camper and then on the ground right next to us. The water pump was leaking and making a noise but we think that Les taking a piece off and putting it back and tightening it may have fixed it - we want to get some spares though.
Went to Hexham Abbey this morning (see photo) and the town is really nice. Then had quite a long drive through some beautiful scenery and quite a bit of rain to Alnwick, stopping there to go into the bookshop and also get a bit of shopping. We had stopped earlier in the day at a farm shop which was very disappointing as we thought it would be like the one in Worcestershire, but it was a cabin in someone’s garden. We did, however, find a really good one, by luck, on the road we were supposed to be on - bought some chicken, bacon, eggs and cakes, We should be okay for food for quite a few days.
The campsite at Seahouses is a disappointment, it’s full, almost 200 assorted caravans, campers etc., also lots of kids - should have known better this time of year. Only going to stay the one night - having a look at the other one tomorrow. Trouble is there’s not much else round here unless you are paying £15 a night and we don’t think there is any wild camping. We shall see.
Les is down at the beach taking some photos and it’s a pleasant evening although it has gone chilly.
