Thurs 18th Oct 2012
We set off at 1o.30 it was a bright, sunny morning. We arrived at Doug & Brenda’s about 12.00, Brenda made us some lunch then we took the dog a walk through the estate and park, chatted some more then Bren made us a nice meal, watched a bit of TV before bed.
Miles travelled 73
Fri 19th
Doug took us for a ride round, started at an auction where he wanted a few things then he took us to see Oink the water buffalo then we went on to Belper to a shopping outlet and Home Bargains store, I bought a doorstop, a stuffed dog. Then we went into the town where we got fish and chips and took them to eat in the car, we then had a look round an antiques warehouse before going on to the Riverside Park where we had a cup of tea in the visitor centre which was in an old mill, before walking round the park, it was a bright, sunny day. On the way back we stopped at a wood burner stove shop and a garden centre, a very busy and tiring day, had a snack supper and Doug & Rich went to play pool.
Sat 20th
Set of at about 11.00 and arrived at the Cannock Chase Camping and Caravan Club site at just gone 12.00. We had expected Harry & Loraine to be there already but there had been some mix up with their booking so they had stayed at a CL last night and arrived an hour or so after us, the warden made a big fuss over whether he had room for us as he reckoned Harry had not turned up and so had forfeited his pitch, it was sorted out eventually. We took the dog a walk in the wood where it was possible to get a phone signal and rang Margaret to arrange to meet tomorrow. After tea we went to Harry’s van and played Triominoes.
Miles travelled 37
Sun 21st
We woke up to quite a heavy fog, we went to meet Marg & Bri at the German cemetery, took a bit of finding but got there in the end, we went early and had a walk round, the ground was very wet and there were lots of red spotted toadstools about. The cemetery was quite gloomy with rows of dark granite headstones, the fog had lifted by now but it looked gloomy even in the sunlight. All Germans and Austrians who had died in both world wars were re-interred here in the 1950s, nearly 5000 of them mostly prisoners of war. We went out to wait for Marg & Bri but they weren’t there, eventually I got a call and they had been waiting at the first car park, we caught up with them and had a walk round the Commonwealth Cemetery, most of the soldiers in this one were from the New Zealand Rifles and had died in the Flu pandemic of 1918/19. We then went to the Seven Stars at Brereton for a very nice pub meal. Marg & Bri went home and we went on to the visitor centre where we had an interesting time in a WW1 accommodation hut which was manned by a veteran who gave us a lot of information about the military history on Cannock Chase. Back to the site for tea and then a game in our van in the evening, it started raining quite heavily.
Mon 22nd
We had intended to go the National Memorial at Alrewas today but it had rained overnight and it was foggy and very wet so decided to give it a miss. In the afternoon we went to a large garden centre, Byrkley, it was a huge place with Clothing shops as well as lots of Christmas stuff. We had a cup of tea and a cake then a good wander round, on the way back we called at the Co-Op in Rugely then back for a rest, and tea before another triominoe challenge in Harry’s van. It had been a very wet, miserable day.
Tue 23rd
Not quite as foggy this morning but still very wet underfoot and dripping from the trees, Harry took Loraine and I into Lichfield.
We went into the most wonderful bead shop with the most wonderful stock of all things beads, glittering with colour and sparkle, there must have been millions of beads, I bought a couple of kits to make baubles and a necklace, I had seen Loraine’s and admired them so thought I’d give it a go, a few doors away was a fabric shop and I managed to get a nice yellow fat quarter to make a bag for Karen’s mum. We stopped for a cup of tea then wandered round the town for a while going into one or two shops, it was quite mild but still damp hanging round in the air. Harry picked us up and we went back to site. Rich had taken Crackers on very long walk and tired her out.
A quiet afternoon then tea and Triominoes again.
Wed 24th
We woke up to another very damp morning, we packed up and said goodbye to Harry & Loraine and were on the road by 10.30, mizzling all the way we were home by 11.30.
Miles travelled 38
It had been a nice few days, a shame the weather turned so wet but it was nice seeing Brenda & Doug and Loraine & Harry, we saw a few interesting places as well. The site was good, facilities warm and clean and plenty of walks on the chase if the weather was better.
Site fees £48.60
Fuel £67
