Bluebell Woods.

47.3 Miles. Now at Arlebrook House at Stonehouse near Gloucester.

Gypsy Rover at Bayardo Farm Marlborough, Wiltshire.

After two hectic days of walking we decided a quiet day was to be the order of the day. Reading and computer work took up most of the day. Later on two more arrivals entered the camp. The first was a 4 x 4 and caravan with a sole occupant who got himself organised pretty quickly until he started to erect his awning. The wind was a bit gusty making life difficult for him so we went out and offered our assistance. He did let slip that “her in doors” had given him strict instructions to leave the awning until she arrived after work. Still we soon had the awning up and all he had to do was peg it down.

Forestry Commission, Westwood Forest, Marlborough.

Horse riding is popular in Westwood Forest, Marlborough.

The second arrival was a Burnster 3 axle motorhome similar to ours. Once they were set up they came across and invited us to join all of them in the awning for drinks, reminiscent of Heretaunga Caravan Club days in New Zealand. The caravan couple were John and Angie who only came from Pewsey for a long week-end and the motorhome owners were the Middleton’s from Great Yarmouth. It transpired that they are part of a group of 7 campers who meet on a regular basis. The other 5 were due to arrive later on Friday.

A sea of blue in Westwood Forest, Marlborough.

In passing I must comment on John’s awning as it was very similar to one we had in NZ but instead of aluminium poles it had telescopic Titanium poles with adjustable locking making erection so easy. Overall we were very impressed with it.

Pixie fairy in Bluebell wood's.

This morning before we broke camp it was suggested that we should take a walk through the Westwood Forest adjacent to the camp to see the Bluebell’s. Well, we were not disappointed as there was literally acre’s of Bluebells carpeting the forest floor. In places the flowers were so dense all you could see was blue.

This one had to be different! Blue and white Bluebell's.

On our travels today we came across the big Tesco’s at Cirencester where we topped up the larder and the diesel tank. The last gas station we passed had diesel at £1.50 per litre, Tesco’s was only £1.41 plus more Tesco points, so it had to be good.

Rape seed, the farmers current  bonanza cash crop.

A total of 1791 miles, since 5 March 2011

Ring of Stones.

63.5 Miles. Now at Bayardo Farm near Marlborough

A very unusual pub on the way to Marlborough.

We had a full day ahead of us so we left camp earlier than usual. With the bank holiday well and truly over traffic wasn’t too bad. Our first port of call was the Caen Flight on the Kennet and Avon canal. We thought as we were passing we would call in to see what was happening, which turned out to be absolutely nothing. No boats on the move what so ever. We did note some repair work that has been carried out between a couple of locks near the top. Walking back around the back of the holding ponds we found a British Waterways yard that we didn’t know existed.

We've been up and down here before. The Caen Flight on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

The next destination was to be Avebury and the ring of stones. We had visited there before about 15 years ago but the roll of film we used at the time got lost and we had no record of the place.

Avebury National Trust.  The village Dove Cote.

The Old Bakery Avebury village.

Since we last visited things have changed with a new visitors car park where we had to use the coach park due to our length. We can only remember small stones in one field but there are now some enormous stones spread out over 4 fields. Were they there previously and we never noticed them or have they been added since? Some of the stones or boulder’s are so large I fail to see how we could have missed them last time.

Avebury National Trust.  The ring of stones. Rather large stone's I think.

Some stone you found there Dot.

Avebury National Trust.  The ring of stones. Some of these stones are monstrous

A good view of the Avebury ring of stones.

These stones are gigantic.

We had received a suggestion that we should visit West Kennet Longbarrow which is an old historic burial site but suitable parking didn’t appear to be available so we had to carry on to our present camp site.

Silbury Hill is a Site of Special Scientific Interest with it's fauna. It stands 130 ft high and was made about 4500 years ago.

A total of 1744 miles, since 5 March 2011

650 Steps and still climbing.

Only takes you to the top of the Gorge and then you walk back.

Cheddar Gorge with a clear blue sky again.

We left camp on foot this morning heading into Cheddar. The first Cheddar Gorge tour bus left just after 10am and we wanted to be on it to avoid the crowds should they eventuate As it turned out only two tour coaches pulled into town along with a couple of dozen cars so there were no crowds today.

All sorts of minerals can be found in the Cheddar Gorge.

The rugged sides of the Cheddar Gorge.

When you consider that the gorge was completely submerged under the sea a couple of million years ago it’s amazing what has taken place over the march of time. The caves are still being explored but this entails underwater scuba diving which is not for the faint hearted not being able to see where you are going or what is up or down.

A Stalagmite and a Stalactite join up in Gough's Cave.

Water and minerals created these beautiful formations inside Gough's Cave.

Richard Gough’s obsession with the cave opposite where he lived in the gorge lasted from 1892 to 1898 when he opened the cave to the public in 1899. He spent all his spare time along with his son’s exploring and clearing access to the different caverns until he found what is now known as Aladdin's cave and St Pauls Cathedral. Those early visitors must have felt like explorers themselves as the caves must have been very wet and muddy and not like we found today.

Water and minerals created these beautiful formations inside Gough's cave. They feel like glass.

What natural element created what looks like snake skin?

The Cox’s Cave just down the road was quite different and they have set up an audio visual display along the lines of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. In the final section it is very dark and in the flash of a camera we spotted what we thought was a hooded dummy standing by an entrance covered by a curtain. I pulled the curtain aside and went in closing the curtain behind us. All of a sudden the curtain opened but there was nobody there. We didn’t think anything of it until another couple came in and we found that they had not touched the curtain when it opened and closed. Supposed dummy must have been a staff member having a bit of fun scaring the customers.

The last task for the day was the 274 steps up Jacobs ladder to the 4 mile cliff top walk. We took our time having breaks at the various information boards along the way and we reached the top in reasonably good condition. Once at the top the next thing was the tower, another 47 steps, but the view at the top was tremendous.

274 steps to the top plus 47 up the tower.

The look out tower at the top of Jacobs Ladder. Cheddar Gorge.

We walked part of the cliff top walk where we found some wild Soay Goats. By this time we decided it was time to head back down to the valley floor as we still had a twenty minute walk back to camp.

A Soay wild goat who wasn't too upset by my presence.

Gumboot Tree!

Spotted in Axbridge yesterday.

Axbridge.

59 Miles. Now at Clinton House CL in Cheddar

Cheddar Reservoir which is the water supply to Bristol.

We were not looking forward to travelling on a bank holiday Monday but unfortunately it was just the way things panned out. Leaving Dulverton was OK until we reached the A361 when traffic got heavy and slow. Luckily most of this traffic turned off onto the M5 leaving us with quite a clear run until we reached Taunton where we became caught up in heavy traffic once more. We crossed the M5 a couple of times only to see it grid locked and crawling along in all 3 lanes.

A kaleidoscope of colour alongside the Cheddar Reservoir.

Upon arrival at Clinton House CL we were warmly greeted by the proprietor who gave us full instructions on how to find everything. After lunch we walked into Axbridge which is a medieval market town close to the Cheddar Gorge. The quickest way into the town was by walking around the Cheddar Reservoir which supplies town water to Bristol. The reservoir holds 6 million cubic metres (1,350 million gallons) which is drawn from springs within the Cheddar Gorge.

King John's Hunting Lodge. Built in the 1460's it was 250 years after King John and the name was acquired in 1904 by it's then owner.

On the road into Cheddar we passed a building which I was certain was an old railway station. On our walk around Axbridge we found the building plus what would have been the goods shed. The Cheddar line used to be known as the Strawberry line as Strawberries were it’s main freight. The station is now used as a youth centre and is in good condition and the original track bed is now the Axbridge bypass.

Axbridge Railway Station. Built in Mendip stone in 1869 for the Bristol Exeter Railway. Later to become the GWR.

Tree carvings in Axbridge, Somerset.

A total of 1680 miles, since 5 March 2011

May Day was Rest Day.

Unfortunately it turned out that there was no Sunday service on the buses around here so we had a well deserved quiet day in camp. We spent the day reading and watching the comings and goings around camp. This afternoon it was TV time with that great epic Lawrence of Arabia reconstructed.

MV Oldenburg passenger/freight ship to Lundy Island from Ilfracombe.

Ilfracombe harbour. Anstruther and Runswick lifeboats but I think they are now re-fitted and privately owned.

Swallows return.

50.0 Miles. Now at the Lakeside Club Camp at Dulverton.

For the last two days we have been inundated with May Flies and along with them we have seen the return of at least 6 Swallow’s making a good meal out the flies. We have had them flying all around us quite low at times. Ah well, a sign Summer’s on it’s way, yer right!

Today’s journey to Exebridge only took an hour and a half and being another bank holiday week-end traffic wasn’t too bad. We are now parked within the Exmoor National Park on the Devon/Somerset border.

Lakeside Caravan Club Site at Dulverton on the Devon/Somerset Border.

Not long after getting set up in camp we had visitors, Bernie and Louie from New Zealand who have been following our blog. Like us they have lived on a narrowboat (Timaru) for 4 years and toured the country. They have recently left New Zealand where they ran a B & B in Nelson. Now they are in two minds as to whether to stay here or return to NZ hence the visit to compare notes. Nice to meet you guys, hope it all works out for you what ever you choose to do.

A total of 1621 miles, since 5 March 2011