Category: 2021 Panda Posts

A test run to Plymouth to visit David and Yvonne for a couple of nights. All went well, although we did discover that Panda is a bit longer and wider than a normal vehicle! And was it cold! I had turned off the heating without letting it shut down properly, consequently I couldn’t get it to fire up when we needed it! Had to resort to reading the instructions in the morning to reset it.

This is it, our first camp site, in the middle of London, well Crystal Palace really, as they won’t let us pitch in St James’s Park. An uneventful journey thankfully, arriving at Crystal Palace at about 3, to a less than half full camp site. And once I’d worked out how to get shore power (hook up in motorhome speak) we were sorted. Unlike any 16amp socket I’d seen before, with these you insert and twist the plug. The site is literally located in the shadow of the Crystal Palace TV transmitter, and fairly convenient for shops and overground stations…

Well we arrived on Wednesday afternoon with no rain, but that soon changed, and the strong winds and rain finally abated on Saturday morning. So virtually no sleep on Wednesday or Thursday nights with gale force winds constantly rocking PandA and rain beating down on the roof. But we did get our second covid jabs in Yeovil on Friday morning, so we’re up to date. And we finally got out on the bikes on Saturday morning and headed up some very muddy lanes to the lovely historic Somerset village of Milborne Port, with its own set of blue plaques and…

Whilst not a PandA specific post, we’re homeless from Saturday with an almost continuous set of holiday bookings through to the end of September, so have had to pack for the weeks ahead, starting with a long weekend sailing with the club on Rob’s boat, Arabis to Yarmouth, 8 weeks on PandA, James and Hayley’s wedding near Folkestone at the end of July and finally flying out to Jacana on the 27th of July. The logistics of all this are challenging, especially now that we need to be in Folkestone on Saturday 24th July at lunchtime to have a pre…

This was a great location and definitely worth a return visit sometime, just 3 other caravans, on a large flat field, only a couple of miles from Lymington, and the weather was reasonable. So after stocking up with victuals (can’t get away from nautical speak) in Dorchester we eventually found the site down some very narrow lanes, making the mistake of relying totally on the satnav instead of a bit of route planning to maximise use of A roads. But at least the building supply lorry was happy to reverse! A chance then to do a bit of shopping in…

This time a camp site only 10 mins walk from Fern. So Friday night we were entertained to a Bbq at Ferns with some excellent cooked meats and real ale, and excellent company with Bob and Flick. It does however remain a mystery how we managed to walk back across a field, negotiating 2 styles, with horses in the pitch darkness of 2am! We just remember there was lots of laughter🤣 It was a busy weekend and on Saturday we went sailing (motoring) in Wini, with Fern and Tommy in their 23ft sailing boat, up Southampton water and back to…

Well what is there to say about Bognor, the actual camp site was OK, the town OK although a bit run down in parts, the beach OK, BUT the location of camp site was sandwiched between a very busy road, with boy racers seemingly driving hell for leather all through the night, and an Aldi building site working all through the day. So not a lot of sleep was had! The site, was however convenient for 3 supermarkets and a very professional hair dresser, Lucas, at Head & Jones a 20 min walk away, where Ann had a head and…

What a contrast from Bognor, a small site with only 3-4 others at the back of a riding stable. The only noise disruption being the dawn chorus with a rather loud and very persistent cuckoo, and the neighing of the two horses behind us dressed in Essex zebra bling! (yes, as zebras, see photo below) And what a great location, a pub and Indian restaurant only a few minutes walk away. So it was a chance to get on the bikes and explore the quiet and nearby countryside and towns. On Sunday we ventured just a couple of miles down…

Ann’s belief that Norfolk is flat was dispelled as we descended the fairly steep, 3/4 mile ling track through pine trees and flowering rhododendron trees to the secluded motorhome site at West Runton. It was hot and sunny when we arrived, so much so that Ann even went for a dip in the sea, about a mile from the site. It was definitely too cold for me. We had a great stop here, on Thursday, David (my brother) and Muriel met us and took us along the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of the North Norfolk coast to Wells-next-the Sea,…

Owing to the West Runton being full (apparently) a chance to catch up with my brother David and his wife Muriel and park on their drive for the night and enjoy a few bottles of local ale and a great roast dinner. A great stop, with free shore power and all the facilities! Also visited the nearby crematorium.