With the travel restrictions lifted and the reopening of campsites we decided to have a few days away. This is the first time we have used the van in 7 months although I have taken it for a couple of runs to keep the battery charged up.
We went to North Cornwall for 3 nights before the main school holiday rush starts and stayed in Camelford. A very quiet village, just a few basic shops but on a bus route.
It was strange, in that not slept in the van, or been far in it for 7 months you had to think twice about some of the basic things needed to be done in the van when setting it up on site.
One of the places we visited was Wadebridge, downstream on the Camel river. We used to come here 40 years ago for holidays and rented this house for a couple of weeks. The house then was owned by the Vicar of Bideford and was his intended retirement home, so it wasn't a holiday let as such, more of a home from home in that many of his books and personal stuff was in the house.
Here's the house, but I suspect the vicar has now passed on.
The bus service in Cornwall like all bus services has a restricted timetable so there is usually a longish wait. To pass the time I wandered around the hedgerow snapping the wildflowers.
On public transport you have to wear a mask and most people complied with it, although there were very few people using the bus.
Another day, a wet one, was spent going to Tintagel, famous for its links to the Arthurian legend. Again a bit of a nostalgic trip because at one time we were thinking of moving here and running the post office and shop. Looking back thankfully that didn't happen, as most post offices in small villages have now been decommissioned. On reflection I wouldn't have enjoyed living here with it being busy in the summer and very quiet in the winter. It's interesting though to look back and think how different things and life could have been.
This is the very old and original Post Office in Tintagel, now a National Trust property......not the one that we were looking at.
This is the new bridge leading to the King Arthur's castle !!!
All in all it was good to get away and see how the Covid restrictions work in the campsites , on buses and in restaurants. When you haven't mixed and done the "normal" things for months your confidence can take a knock and it takes time to resume normal service but as I said most people in all the places we went to obeyed the rules.
Lets hope it stays likes this as we certainly dont want another spike and another lockdown .
Your country handled this whole affair lots better than ours did..as the death toll continues to rise. SO Happy you were able to get out and enjoy some nostalgic sites, and yes we can all look back and say what if? I really enjoyed seeing all the flowers and the national trust home and the Castle! Hope you have a good week.
ReplyDeleteI think there are lessons to be learned everywhere Sondra, because from what I read if we had locked down earlier it would have saved lives. Although we are one country all four nations did something different and with different rules.
DeleteIt was a good break and just nice to go somewhere different.
What a lovely trip, Dave. I felt like I was traveling with you. I do love the stone buildings and the flowers and greenery so lush. How great you were able to get out and breathe the fresh air. I have a longing to see the ocean and put my feet in the water....soon, but not yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Wanda its often the things we just took for granted before that we now miss. Maybe when the schools are back and its quieter you can get to the beach.
DeleteI am glad you enjoyed your nostalgia trip away, Dave. A strange coincidence as our first Cornish holiday was near Tintagel (at Bossiney). Thereafter we took our family (3 children) there each year for six years, staying on a residential caravan site. All the kids, now with their own families, love Cornwall and go back there each year.
ReplyDeleteWe, too were looking, about 40 years ago, for shops in Cornwall and spent days inspecting those the estate agents offered us. I was eventually going to buy a taxi business down there and all legalities were arranged, but then my father died and we needed to be in Kent for my mother's sake, so it all fell through. Like you, I don't regret it now as the then future of business in Cornwall took a decided downturn and we could have been left high and dry. But all happy memories.
Avus, that is a strange coincidence, if those plans had gone ahead 40 years ago I could have bumped into you in Cornwall. Like you I have no regrets about not moving there.
DeleteGreat pictures as always!
ReplyDeleteGood for you getting away. I understand how strange it must have felt.
Nice to travel elsewhere to be rained on however.
Glad you got away.
Thankfully we are well used to rain, Mr A. I think these new ways will take a bit of getting used to.
DeletePleased to see that you managed to getaway for a break in Cornwall.. Great to see your images of the wild flowers... Did you take you bike on the trip??
ReplyDeleteI always put the folding bike on the back of the van as thats handy for shopping trip or just pootling around. As it was a short trip I didnt bother with any rides. When we go way in the van we tend to do walks.
DeleteLoved seeing and hearing about your trip to cornwall. One of my favourite counties. I remember Tintagel - been there a couple of times. Interested to know what sort of van you have.... am contemplating a small van to go adventuring in when I retire shortly.... a very small one... for a very small adventure!
ReplyDeleteHi Sian, A van would be very handy. I've left a comment on your blog.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Dave with many more coming your way! It is so nice to see you still have your blog here, yes I know it has been a long while since I had visited last. It is still horrible here, many people still refusing to wear their masks let alone keeping their distances, then they wonder why they themselves had become infected. I enjoy your posts and never knew you thought of becoming a Postmaster, a lot I had missed and so much catching up to do. I left a happy birthday on your FB where I spend most of my time in groups there that I belong to these days. All is well at our end and we follow the guidelines at keeping safe.
ReplyDeleteHi Anita good to hear from you and thanks for the birthday wishes. Yes times are certainly different now and people dont follow the rules which is why this county is in lockdown again. When I go on cycle rides and call into a town very often its like "what Pandemic" many people are just carrying on as normal. So take care and all the best.
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