BAKEWELL

 Dame Shirley Bassey had finally arrived at Moorgate Road and we were eagerly planning our very first weekend away. Before that though, we had to buy loads of ‘stuff’. Tesco proved very handy, yielding lots of kitchen items, my particular favourite being a folding washing up bowl. An early sixtieth birthday present from mum was a very nice portable barbecue. Boxes started arriving from Amazon containing pans, tools and a table. 

On Wednesday Ian attempted to connect the wi-fi. After about an hour and a half and lots of swearing he gave up. 

On Thursday I received a carpeted ramp in the hope that Misty would be able to get in by herself. It seemed to work! After work Ian had another go at the wi-fi after reading the instructions. He managed to get it working pretty much straight away. The TV is a smart TV so we can watch Netflix, Amazon Prime and BritBox as well as all the usual channels. 

Misty entrance ramp

By Friday morning I was loading food and clothes into Dame Shirley, ready for a tea time departure. I made up the bed using regular shaped sheets and quilt, they seem to fit OK!

Nicely fitting quilt!

I also had a really exciting delivery! My commonwealth games uniform arrived. I love it, particularly the gillet and peaky blinders cap!

 

‘Courtesy of the Peaky Blinders’

Vicky’s super small head 

After all the excitement of the delivery I was really buzzing (championship talk for excited) for our first trip in Dame Shirley. I couldn’t wait for Ian to arrive home from work. Luckily they finish at four on a Friday and he didn’t hang around long after that, he was buzzing too. 

Soon we were ready to depart, Misty tripped up her ramp and settled down. We climbed in and adjusted some knobs. And we were off!

Preparing to depart

Ian had purchased a sat nav programme for his iPhone so we tapped in Bakewell and started to follow the directions. All was well till we reached Grindleford and the road was closed. No problem, we forged ahead on our own route till Baslow. Here we hit a snag. The stupid sat nav took us down a really narrow road despite being specially for caravans and motorhomes. Ian did a fantastic turn in the road but it was a bit hairy. First thing on the list. Proper sat nav!

After that excitement we made our own way and arrived at Greenhills holiday Park unscathed. First things first, fill up with water. More nifty work from Ian saw us reversed nicely up to the water tap and retrieve the hose that Bid Ed had given us. Unfortunately the end wouldn’t go into our filler cap. Luckily the campsite had one of their own. Number two on list. Hose converter. Following receptions instructions we soon arrived at pitch 133. Great! It backed onto the kids playground. The screaming and running kids playground. Number three. Ensure campsite is adults only. 

Dealing with an errant hose

In position right by the playground

No worries though as we laid out our table and chairs and toasted our first trip in Dame Shirley with champagne Kathy and Einar had sent us. Cheers kids! We took Misty for a little spin around to the dog and nature area which was lovely.

Dame Shirley Bassey Booze

Misty spin

Soon I was rustling up a first meal, Tesco finest, in our oven and we were eating outside. After tea we examined Dame Shirley to within an inch of her life, setting up all the electrical thingys and playing with the seat belts. We turned TV on and watched some tennis before we went for another dog spin. On our return we retired to our lovely island bed. All the time this was happening, children were running and screaming in the playground. Kids will be kids you may say. All well and good but till after midnight? Where were the parents?!

Dame Shirley Bassey Grub

Ensuring Levelness

I had a lovely nights sleep, Ian not so much. He foolishly got up at 5am as Misty was rustling about, and let her out. She proceeded to run off and he had to chase her, but obviously he could not shout her back! I just rolled over and snuggled down. About 7am Misty was rustling about so Ian got up to let her out! Fool! I just rolled over and snuggled down. 

Our first breakfast in Dame Shirley was to be porridge, to test out a pan, and toast, to test out the grill. Both were a success. We then tried out the shower, also a success, although it is most suited for small people. 

Lovely Dame Shirley Bassey Breakfast

We had decided on a walk into Bakewell, about two mile away along the banks of the River Wye (not that one). Once there, we plonked ourselves down outside a cafe for lunch. 

Not Barbados, Bakewell!

Pub Grub

We had arrived on the day of the Bakewell carnival but decided against staying to watch so returned to the campsite a different way across the fields (and roads!) 

Over the fields and far away

Shattered, we prepared for bed with only the sounds of the night and screaming of gangs of feral children as background. Oh! And the newly arrived stag or hen do that was ripping it up in another field.

After another lovely nights sleep for me, and a better one for Ian (we shut Misty in the cab area and closed the blind on the roof light over our bed - you live and learn) we arose to another lovely day.  A lot of  ‘units’ were leaving, but we had forked out for another night so we could stay the whole day. Porridge again for breakfast then we both tried out the campsite showers, not bad but we preferred our own. Today we decided to walk down the river Wye the other way. We passed through the lovely little village of Ashford on the water and found a little beach where Misty had a cooling swim.

Misty swim

After a walk though some woods we returned to Ashford and the Bulls Head for a full Sunday Dinner, followed by Bakewell Pudding and cream.

When in Rome!

So full we could hardly move we waddled back to Dame Shirley to ready her for departure. On examination we found that Big Ed had neglected to push the plug back into our waste water (or grey water as us Motorhome peeps like to call it). This meant that the mucky stuff had been illegally draining out onto the pitch all weekend. C’est la Vie. Ian emptied the chemical toilet (mans work) while I disconnected the electric and wound up the wire (incorrectly as it happens!). Ian disconnected the gas and I tidied stuff up to stop the rattles (impossible). No need to empty that pesky Grey stuff! We were soon on the road again, thus ending our first trip in Dame Shirley Bassey.

Next stop, Forest of Dean

In place of the now defunct toilet watch, I am adding Strava watch. A map of our walks, runs, or cycles while on tour, if I remember to start the App. In both cases this first time, I didn’t remember straight away which is why the lines don’t join!

Strava watch

Into Bakewell

Through Ashford