South-West coast UK trip / meet Slimbridge

[Hotel California]

Heading of for the UK to join the meet at Slimbridge / Gloucester .
Leaving behind our home in very sunny weather on thursday evening the 19th
April , the plan is to drive up to Dunquerqe to get on the 6am ferry to Dover on friday the 20th.
Just drove up in to the ferry terminal and parked up in front of a small building /waiting area where DFDS let you wait/spend the night. Toilets inside 24h open.
Drove 200km from our doorstep to the ferry.
Arrived at 23pm and got up at 4.30am to get in line to board the ferry , seemed a very good periode to take the ferry as there was almost nobody there . In the three times we took the ferry here we where supprised how litlle people showed up. Trucks , yes ....but cars and campers ...very llitlle.



The ferry crossing went smooth , not much to do on the ferry but only 2h (minus 1h timedifference)
Also cheap tickets 15% discount as we payed only 121€ both ways dog included and the dog is 18€ one way so much better than the Shutlle witch was +300€ when i looked .
Need to say i book as a car under 2,20m h and 6m long

Mieke sat nice in the Cali , wonder if she's aware whats going on ? Guess not

 

[Hotel California]

7am on friday and the white cliffs are in sight !


We drive straight to Slimbridge where we will meet up with old and new friends at the meet @Simon set up .
It's our thirth club meet afther COTF in 2014 and the Lower Lode meet in 2016 witch we combined with a tour arround Wales
The ride from Dover using the M2 - M25 - M4 then Swindon to Cirencester/Stroud/Slimbridge 327km , went really smooth no traffic jams at all , arrived at the site about 11.30am
The weather seems to be ok and looks like to stay this way for the weekend!
Seeing that much Cali's parked up in one field give you goosebumps , no ?

 

[Hotel California]

The weekend flew by and we dicided to stay a night extra on the site until monday to head off on a trip direction to the south-west coast Devon/Cornwall /Lands End and over the east coast back to Dover by the 1st may to get back to Belgium.
We got a tip for a night in "the free" by @SusiBus and actually ended up finding it also dispite it beeing pretty remote.
So here we are parked up at Minehead with a lovely view after riding 141km from Slimbridge .



Did a walk on the Coastal path and dicided to sleep with the roof down due the heavy wind.
In the end the wind became less at night and we could have easyly used the upstaires bed.



Woke up with nice views , short dogwalk

breakfast (scrambled eggs in the new RidgeMonkey ) and as we just headed off a Dutch coupple with a VW Crafter came up and they just started a "world tour " in the Crafter now 6 weeks UK then back to mainland and later to Canada and the USA !
@Amarillo his EU tour seems nothing next to this....alltough they got more luxery than Tom in his Beach

The plan is to drive trough the Exmoor NP and up until St-Ives using the A39 coastal highway . When we woke up the weather was still ok but after a hours drive the rain came and all the nice views in the Exmoor got disturbed by fog.
The ride went well and we ended up after 242 km at Polmanter Touring park in St-Ives booked in two nights hoping to go for a walk tomorrow but the weatherforecast seems not that good !
The site looks to be very good , a big site with lots (sports)facilities and restaurant/take away .
Some pitches have seaview but guess it's a 15-20m walk to St-Ives town center and beaches.

Right now its raining with hauling wind... only 11celcius at 6pm.
Wasn't Cornwall suppose to be a warm climate region?
You all foolled me telling it's so nice in Cornwall!


While sitting in the Cali @minehead we suddenly got some visitors....glad they did not came in the midlle of the night , it would scared the hell out of us there in the midlle of nowhere!

 

[Hotel California]

@WelshGas , sitting there at Minehead yesterday looking at the water and Wales on the other side . Cowbridge is about straigt on the opposite side from Minehead ...did you saw me wave in the morning?

 

[WelshGas]

@WelshGas , sitting there at Minehead yesterday looking at the water and Wales on the other side . Cowbridge is about straigt on the opposite side from Minehead ...did you saw me wave in the morning?

Maybe if you had flashed your headlights this evening. Too misty this morning.​

 

[CampervanTime]

I really feel for you - Cornwall is absolutely beautiful but can be very windy and get a bit of rain now and again!!

How did you like the A39? Good views of the ocean?

What route are you taking back? There is an absolutely stunning coast road between Porth and Padstow. See here:

https://goo.gl/maps/gmAiESJYEm62

We can't get enough of the place, such good beaches and dog walks on the coast path.

Have fun in St Ives. Take a walk round the headland, it is quite picturesque.

If you have time, pop in to the Tinners Arms in Zennor. It is a pub from the 1271 with log fires etc. It's just brilliant. https://goo.gl/maps/BxtPJi5gCxJ2

 

[Borris]

The weekend flew by and we dicided to stay a night extra on the site until monday to head off on a trip direction to the south-west coast Devon/Cornwall /Lands End and over the east coast back to Dover by the 1st may to get back to Belgium.
We got a tip for a night in "the free" by @SusiBus and actually ended up finding it also dispite it beeing pretty remote.
So here we are parked up at Minehead with a lovely view after riding 141km from Slimbridge .
View attachment 32397
View attachment 32401

Did a walk on the Coastal path and dicided to sleep with the roof down due the heavy wind.
In the end the wind became less at night and we could have easyly used the upstaires bed.

View attachment 32400

Woke up with nice views , short dogwalk
View attachment 32399
breakfast (scrambled eggs in the new RidgeMonkey ) and as we just headed off a Dutch coupple with a VW Crafter came up and they just started a "world tour " in the Crafter now 6 weeks UK then back to mainland and later to Canada and the USA !
@Amarillo his EU tour seems nothing next to this....alltough they got more luxery than Tom in his Beach

The plan is to drive trough the Exmoor NP and up until St-Ives using the A39 coastal highway . When we woke up the weather was still ok but after a hours drive the rain came and all the nice views in the Exmoor got disturbed by fog.
The ride went well and we ended up after 242 km at Polmanter Touring park in St-Ives booked in two nights hoping to go for a walk tomorrow but the weatherforecast seems not that good !
The site looks to be very good , a big site with lots (sports)facilities and restaurant/take away .
Some pitches have seaview but guess it's a 15-20m walk to St-Ives town center and beaches.
View attachment 32402
Right now its raining with hauling wind... only 11celcius at 6pm.
Wasn't Cornwall suppose to be a warm climate region?
You all foolled me telling it's so nice in Cornwall!


While sitting in the Cali @minehead we suddenly got some visitors....glad they did not came in the midlle of the night , it would scared the hell out of us there in the midlle of nowhere!

View attachment 32398

Hello Wim,
We've been to Bossington Hill on many occasions to watch the sun go down. Lovely spot. I hope the three of you are enjoying yourselves.
It was great to meet you both again at Slimbridge and I hope it isn't too long before you can visit another UK Cali meet.

Best wishes
Paul

 

[Bill R]

The weekend flew by and we dicided to stay a night extra on the site until monday to head off on a trip direction to the south-west coast Devon/Cornwall /Lands End and over the east coast back to Dover by the 1st may to get back to Belgium.
We got a tip for a night in "the free" by @SusiBus and actually ended up finding it also dispite it beeing pretty remote.
So here we are parked up at Minehead with a lovely view after riding 141km from Slimbridge .
View attachment 32397
View attachment 32401

Did a walk on the Coastal path and dicided to sleep with the roof down due the heavy wind.
In the end the wind became less at night and we could have easyly used the upstaires bed.

View attachment 32400

Woke up with nice views , short dogwalk
View attachment 32399
breakfast (scrambled eggs in the new RidgeMonkey ) and as we just headed off a Dutch coupple with a VW Crafter came up and they just started a "world tour " in the Crafter now 6 weeks UK then back to mainland and later to Canada and the USA !
@Amarillo his EU tour seems nothing next to this....alltough they got more luxery than Tom in his Beach

The plan is to drive trough the Exmoor NP and up until St-Ives using the A39 coastal highway . When we woke up the weather was still ok but after a hours drive the rain came and all the nice views in the Exmoor got disturbed by fog.
The ride went well and we ended up after 242 km at Polmanter Touring park in St-Ives booked in two nights hoping to go for a walk tomorrow but the weatherforecast seems not that good !
The site looks to be very good , a big site with lots (sports)facilities and restaurant/take away .
Some pitches have seaview but guess it's a 15-20m walk to St-Ives town center and beaches.
View attachment 32402
Right now its raining with hauling wind... only 11celcius at 6pm.
Wasn't Cornwall suppose to be a warm climate region?
You all foolled me telling it's so nice in Cornwall!


While sitting in the Cali @minehead we suddenly got some visitors....glad they did not came in the midlle of the night , it would scared the hell out of us there in the midlle of nowhere!

View attachment 32398

Nice post Wim and what a great Wild Camp spot at Minehead !
Hopefully you get some better weather - enjoy the trip
Bill

 

[Hotel California]

Yesterday in the evening it stopt raining and cleared out a bit so we still could see the sunset

Stayed dry all night.
Waking up with the sun shining...
But unfortunate prediction of rain later the day , themp. low only 10celcius at 9am.
Site looks to be ok alltough i think way to crowded for us in the high season .
Now it's only 10% full so very quiet.
Sanitairy is good , hot showers alltough the building itself feels cold .
Heading off for a walk to St-Ives while it's dry hope we can come back before the rain.
First some toast made in the RidgeMonkey

 

[westfalia]

The weather is very changeable down there where you are, i would´t bother
looking at the weather reports, i use a weather stone .
If its really crap weather, you could pop down to the south coast and if your lucky
find the sun.

 

[Rich20]

There are some very nice Tin mines in that area and a couple of museums which tell the story of Cornwalls mining industry. Bottalick mines are well worth a look.

 

[MattBW]

Hope the trip is still going well. We will be in Devon next week I suspect


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[motacyclist]

i use a weather stone

Is the the one where if the stone is wet, it's raining?

 

[westfalia]

Is the the one where if the stone is wet, it's raining?

Thats the one.

 

[GillianC]

Go to Lymington @hotel california. You would love Lymington - a beautiful place and you can also get the ferry as a foot passenger over to the Isle of Wight for the day. I think that Hurst View camp site is a favourite for many.

 

[motacyclist]

If you go through Mousehole, breathe in and pull your mirrors in!

 

[motacyclist]

First some toast made in the RidgeMonkey

Like the square plates, more space efficient!

We just received our Ridgemonkey from the shop, do you have to butter the bread before you toast it?

 

[MattBW]

I would highly recommend Lynton and Lynmouth too if you pass them on the way back out of cornwall @hotel california

They call Lynton "Little Switzerland" and for good reason, beautiful.

http://www.visitlyntonandlynmouth.com

 

[Hotel California]

Just back from walking from the campsite to St-Ives . Very nice town guess very busy in the high season , as even today there was allready many tourists . Was about 20-30m walk to the center and we spent the day overthere . When we got there arround 10am we had a rainshower about 20min but then it cleared out and it turned sunny !
We walked on the seaside , the dogbeach and then in to the small streets where the tourist shop are .
Send a postcard to my mum ...yes a genuine postcard handwritten with a real stamp ! Any of you remember postcards?



We where so lucky with the weather, sitting on a bench in the sun eating pasty and a coffee with seaview , would never thought we be doing this after yesterdays weather.
Now we are back in the Cali did a 15km walk all together and in 5min a rainshower about 10m ...lucky again we sat in the Cali
When walking on the seafront saw these signs hanging ....


Now i now why....

That rainshower came at the right time as it was wet i took the time to wash off the present of that seagull
Damn you birds...

 

[MattBW]

Wow look at the colour of that water, so jealous! We do have bad weather sometimes but it can often change quickly too Even your pooch is enjoying the view!

Yes the seagulls are quite keen to dive bomb people and steal their food, they can be quite fearless sometimes. They also leave presents too as they did there!

 

[Hotel California]

As we are trying to adapt the UK lifestile and driving on the left starts get a habbit we tryed out some tipical UK delecious sweet food.
Got a saffran bowl and some other things i forgot the name of . Got in a small bakery locals use not on the seafront in the tourist shops
The one in the midle row to the left , rocky r.... something , and the one in the midlle row second from the right.
I wanted to try them all...!


Pasty we had allready now tryed some fudge...


Also got me these but they will be not opend until back home allthough the guy in the shop let me taste the St-Ives and sure need to bite my nails not to open my botlle
Here some of my favorite local products

Also saw some nice other things...

 

[MattBW]

Rocky road! Now I am hungry!

 

[Hotel California]

Like the square plates, more space efficient!

We just received our Ridgemonkey from the shop, do you have to butter the bread before you toast it?

No butter (it's a non sticky pan) on a low fire , turn arround frequent .
There's a thread on the RidgeMonkey in the coocking section on the forum with loooots of tips and things you can do in it. So far i'm really happy with it.

 

[Borris]

Just back from walking from the campsite to St-Ives . Very nice town guess very busy in the high season , as even today there was allready many tourists . Was about 20-30m walk to the center and we spent the day overthere . When we got there arround 10am we had a rainshower about 20min but then it cleared out and it turned sunny !
We walked on the seaside , the dogbeach and then in to the small streets where the tourist shop are .
Send a postcard to my mum ...yes a genuine postcard handwritten with a real stamp ! Any of you remember postcards?
View attachment 32416

View attachment 32417
We where so lucky with the weather, sitting on a bench in the sun eating pastery and a coffee with seaview , would never thought we be doing this after yesterdays weather.
Now we are back in the Cali did a 15km walk all together and in 5min a rainshower about 10m ...lucky again we sat in the Cali
When walking on the seafront saw these signs hanging ....
View attachment 32418

Now i now why....
View attachment 32419
That rainshower came at the right time as it was wet i took the time to wash off the present of that seagull
Damn you birds...
View attachment 32420

Be careful eating anything outside Wim. Those feathered b#st#rds can spot food from kms away and will swoop and steel anything right out of your hands.

 

[Hotel California]

Be careful eating anything outside Wim. Those feathered b#st#rds can spot food from kms away and will swoop and steel anything right out of your hands.

The lady at the backery warned me also.
We were carefull but while sitting on a bench at the waterside next to us a couple sat down eating fish&chips and giving some fries to what seemed to be a not even 2y old girl witch looked pretty dumb to me to start with .....on top of that they started trowing fries in the water!