Bogged Down in Wales

We left Aston Marina before midday on Friday on our inaugural trip in the mighty motorhome.

The weather was atrocious , but the scenery was stunning as we passed through Snowdonia.

They don't seem to have traffic lights at roadworks in Wales, but they have this funny little car that you have to follow in convoy each way ...

I think it was to make sure that you stick to the 10 MPH limit ...

The weather was decidedly dodgy, well it was Wales, but the motorhome drove a treat ... very easy to drive, just rolls around a bit on the corners!

We arrived at out remote campsite at Llanfendigaid ...

This house was next door, which was owned by the chap that owned the campsite plus there were a couple of cottages.  You can rent out the house and the cottages, the house sleeps 19!  There was a group of writers staying there whilst we were there.

Check it out here

We even had a view of the sea, plus on the grounds there was a huge heated undercover pool for the use of the campers plus house guests ... we planned to give that a go!

It pissed down really heavily overnight, but it was so warm and cosy in the van!  It may have been remote, but we had 240v 'shore power' and water etc.

We were booked in for 3 nights.  On Saturday morning Elaine was feeling a bit rough and needed some drugs.  The closest town was about 7 miles away, so we got the van ready to move off ... no probs I thought, but as soon as I tried to pull away the drive wheels sank into the mud!   We tried everything to get out, deflated the tyres, set up some wooden duckboards, all to no avail!  We were going nowhere, we were also plastered in mud ... Elaine moreso since she had done a complete splat in the mud backwards at one point, whilst we were trying a manouevre with a piece of Tarp we found in a yard (too hard to describe any further!)

But 'aha' help was at hand!  There was one other caravan on the site, which we originally thought was empty, but after about two hours of our faffing about a rather fat large gentleman (from the Black Country) came over!  He had thought we were 'southerners' when we were talking to each other so didn't want to help us, but when we told him we were 'Aussies' he was fine!  (It pays to have 'dual nationalities').  He had a small car and lots of rope so gave us a tug out of the bog and we were away.  There were four other spots on the site, but we coudn't get to any of them, it was just too boggy!

We got Elaine her stuff from a local town then headed off towards civilisation at Barmouth ... dropping off a slab of beer to our friend who pulled us out of the bog of death!

We stopped at a lovely site in Barmouth and parked up on gravel ... luxury !

I took the dogs for a walk and ended up watching the South Africans beating the Welsh in the rugger, but the commentary was in Welsh!!!  Havn't heard anyone speak it yet!

This morning the weather was glorious, so we took ourselves and the doggies for a walk into Barmouth.

Could do with a bit of sand on the beach ...

Too true!

The doggies were happy and made a sandcastle ...

Bombo loves the beach and goes mental on the sand ...

It is a really lovely town ...

With some spectacular views ...

The palm trees have been put away for winter ...

Nice mural ...

We popped in for a cup of coffee but got thrown out for indecent behaviour, I can't make out why???

We were a bit peckish after our walk so we decided to treat ourselves to some chips and gravy/curry sauce which we ate on the sea front in the sunshine... Elaine said it was like manna from heaven!

After a while luxuriating in the sun and taking in the wonderful scenery we decided to head back to the caravan park ... but we had to pass the local pub on the way, so it would have been rude not to pop in for a swift half ... just to help the local economy!  We commented while sitting there that we used to be 'champagne and prawns by the pool people' but now enjoy 'chips, gravy and guinness by the seaside' equally as much !!!

We were going back to the boat tomorrow but are enjoying the maiden voyage to much, so we will stay out for a bit longer.

 I am pleased to say the motorhome is behaving impeccably and everything works as it should :)

Lest We Forget!

Fish Pie and Other Stuff !!

My cooking skills are a bit lacking, so I was well chuffed with a fish pie I made last night.  I only had some chilli cheese to put in it, so that  gave it a bit of a kick, but I ended up making a bit too much ... then checked the recipe ...  it was for 4-6!  Thanks Jamie, you legend!



This fella came knocking for his breakfast this morning.....fish pie?

We had to do a few chores in Stone plus take Bombo to the groomers, which in my opinion has got to be one of the best occupations in the UK ... they are always booked up weeks ahead, and charge a pretty penny - still cheaper than Oz, but not much in it.

Dot and Gordon (NB Ewn Ha Cul) were moored up in Stone so we dropped in for a cuppa plus Dot gave us some jam and jelly to take away, thanks Dot.

For the last couple of days of have been derusting and priming the oversized cratch.  Yesterday was a write-off, as the weather was just awful.  Today I got a lot more done ... just needed to undercoat it and overcoat with gloss a bit later.

Bombo came back a pretty boy, and smelt like one!

Elaine has been stocking up the motorhome for the past couple of days, as tomorrow we are off on its maiden voyage ... we are off to some remote spot in Wales, should be fun, can't wait!

In The Real World

Elaine had an appointment in Manchester at 8.40am so it was up at 5.30am to take the doggies for a walk, as we wouldn't be back till late in the evening. Many thanks to Ray and Diane (NB Ferndale) for dog sitting the boys for the day.

We were on the M6 by 7.00am for the normal just over an hour journey to Manchester..... it took just over two  hours! Living the quiet life on the boat you tend to forget about the real world of people sat in traffic jams going to work, it was a welcome to the real world.....I didn't  like it!

Back to normal tomorrow, with first light at 9.00am!

A Bonny Bonfire Night

On Saturday we awoke to a grotty looking day - windy and rainy but we were cosy on the boat - moored up in Stone.
'
We were due to meet aboard Dot and Gordon's boat NB Ewn Ha Cul for pre fireworks drinks and nibbles on Saturday evening.  Unfortunatly Dot went lame earlier in the day ... they didn't shoot her but she was advised to rest her leg.  Consequently the drinks and nibbles were rearranged to the mighty Caxton.

We were joined by Andy and Sue (NB Festina Lente) Ray and Diane (NB Ferndale) Jim and Joan (NB Two Jays).

After a couple of hours of drinking and nibbling we headed across the the Stone bonfire and firework display ... we had to pay £5.00 each to get in!

It was the biggest bonfire I have ever seen, it was the size of a two story house, plus it had the Tardis on top!  Some kind of sci-fi themed bonfire ...


I was surprised they lit it as it was blowing a gale, but lit it they did.  We then realised what the £5.00 entrance fee was for ... the air was thick with black smoke ... aha, the money was to offset the carbon footprint!

It was the most fantastic bonfire ...  luckily the wind blew the smoke away from the crowd and over the local council estate, so that was OK!

Diane and Elaine were well wrapped up, winter is well and truly here ...

The house is nearly gone ...

There was a definite wicker man feel about it, strange folks up these parts.

The fireworks display was good, not up to Sydney's new year's eve standard, but they cost in the region of £5,000,000 !!

Everyone went their own way after the fireworks, except Ray and Diane who came back to the boat till the late hours for a few more drinks and yet more nibbles, including some of Ray's famous brownies!

We had friends visiting from Macc at lunchtime today, so as the sun was shining we decided to travel to the other end of Stone to chuck a u-ey at the nearest winding hole and then head back to Stone ... at least then we would be heading the correct way to go back towards the marina when our friends arrived.

Elaine squinting into the bright morning sun, Bombo was smiling too ...

Into the first lock ...

Bombo looking for his mum ...

Giving the boys a walk in the sunshine ...

Up she comes in the second lock of the day ...

By now the wind had picked up and rain looked very likely ...

They had given this willow tree a haircut ...

Then it happened....it absolutely pissed down!  Sammie ran inside the boat, but Bombo would rather stay with his mum and get wet.  We tied up back in Stone and lit the fire to dry out and warm up before our friends came ...

Our friends arrived about 13.00 hours so we had lunch and drinks on the boat.  After a couple of hours the weather changed yet again and the sun came out for a really nice sunny afternoon so they came for a quick trip with us back to the marina ...

Come on Jane - put your back into it!

Once back in the marina we connected up the umbilical cord (electric) and gave them a quick tour around the motorhome before driving them back to their car.

It's now Sunday evening ... we can feel a visit to 'spoons coming up for Sunday dinner!

Short Cruise To Stone

We were up bright and early-ish this morning, to prepare Caxton for the cruise into Stone. First stop was the fuel wharf where the lovely Nicky from Aston Marina filled us up with dodgy red diesel.


Diane from NB Ferndale plus Dot and Gordon from NB Ewn Ha Cul had walked down from Stone to sort out some marina business so we gave Diane a lift back to Stone whilst Gordon kindly set the locks for us.

Into the first lock, Bombo quickly assumed his position ...

Elaine handing out biccies and carrot cake to Gordon plus the crew of a boat coming in the opposite direction ...

We were soon moored up in Stone, the weather was decidedly on the dodgy side, as in it was pissing down!

We did some essential shopping, lit the fire then at 15.30 met up some of this year's Aston Marina winter moorers, for a few 'early doors drinks' at The Swan.

Left to Right...Dot, Ray, Elaine, Jim, Diane, Joan, Me and Gordon.

Ray and Diane very kindly presented me with my Wedgewood Happy Mug to commemorate the mighty Caxton cruising past the Houses of Parliament back in August!

It was a really nice afternoon, catching up with all the different cruising stories over the last 8 months.

Tomorrow we will all get together again and go to the local Bonfire Night.

The Dogs' New Mobile Kennel

We spent most of today sorting out bits and pieces for the new van.  We don't need a great deal as we can use a lot of the stuff we have on board the narrowboat, like cutlery, glasses, spare hook up line etc.

We have already removed the carpet from the rear of the van, as it was held down with press studs, but the carpet in the front of the fan is fitted with the furniture sitting on top of it, to reduce squeaks and rattles.  The only problem being that it's a beige carpet, and a recipe for disaster - plus the seating is beige material!  As you can see by the pic below, the boys were very much at home in their new mobile kennel.

We went out and bought throws for all the seating plus the bed, and clear carpet protector for the carpet in the front. We also had to go and buy a couple of gas bottles as they don't come with the van.



It is fantastic to drive, just so easy and light.  It's a bit big to go shopping in, but all good fun ... we just have to watch out for low entrances to car parks as it is just over 3.0m high!

We left the dogs on guard went we parked up ... Bombo guarded the cab whilst Sammie guarded the living area. 

It takes up just over 3 car spaces, so probably wouldn't be a good idea to go shopping on a Saturday!

It has a fair bit of overhang if parked normally ...

We got back to the marina late in the arvo, where we found that we now have a flock of sheep roaming around on the marina grounds ... they probably want to entice a few more Kiwi boats to stay!