Dobbin goes camping

Bank Holiday Weekend May 27th to 29th May.
"Travels with a Donkey"

A new kind of adventure, car camping and walking.

Dobbin.

Time to try out my new toy; Dobbin. I had located a Caravan Club listed Site near to Blandford Forum and planned to spend two nights there. On Sat. I set off about 9 o'clock expecting to get there in about 1 hr 30 mins. i did not use the A31/M3 route as I knew it would be busy but unfortunately my alternative via Salisbury was nearly as bad due to there being horse racing there and it was gone 11 when I arrived at the National Trust Property, Kingston Lacey. 

Kingston Lacey.

I had a look around the house. Hundreds of paintings Must be one of the largest individual collections anywhere. The Shame is they have to keep the light low to avoid damage which makes it hard to see the detail.

I had lunch in the restaurant before spending a pleasant afternoon wandering around the grounds in the bright sunshine. I greatly enjoyed the kitchen garden which appears to have been made into allotments with several amusing scarecrows

I drove on to Blandford where I paused to buy supplies before driving to the site on a Farm in Enford Bottom. Dobbin was soon connected to the electricity and I had my first cuppa on board.

The farm was a real working one with sheep and other animals including an Alpaca. Facilities as expected very basic, an electric hook up, a tap and one small toilet. Quite adequate for a short stay. Washing up done I set out to explore the adjoining Blandford Forest. It was a steep climb up to over 200 metres. Fortunately I had a map as the paths were not marked and twisted and turned in all directions. I guess I only covered about two miles but it seemed much more.

The following morning I climbed the hill again this time by a different route. I  met a couple with a dog and we walked together for a couple of miles. As we walked along the ridge they were able to name the various hills around. 

I left them and descended to the Stour Valley taking the old railway line to Shillingstone. 

The track extends from Blandford to Sturminster Newton and was very busy with cyclists of all kinds.

I met a couple and their handicapped daughter Victoria. They were taking pictures of a melodious sang thrush. We chatted as we walked and I realised how hard they were working to make sure Victoria has as good a life as possible.

A delightful coffee stop here in the old railway station. Well worth a visit for any railway enthusiast although there is no actual track laid beyond the station yet.

Victoria with her Mum.

Whilst in Shillingstone I also visited the church where it seems a service had just finished with the congregation enjoying a post service cup of coffee. I still had plenty of the morning left so I decided to return along the railway track , going past the point I had joined it earlier and aimed for the White Horse Inn in Stourpaine. My timing was perfect as I was served immediately, a few minutes later there was a steady flow of new customers. I had a pensioner's special. Roast beef dinner followed by strawberry sundae and coffee, all for a set price of £11.95. Very good it was with excellent service from the four ladies who shared the bar and restaurant duties.

As I turned back towards the camp site it started to spit with rain but fortunately it did not amount to much until I was back inside Dobbin. (Later it rained harder and kept me awake for part of the night.)

Dobbin has a ceiling mounted DVD player so I was able to watch a film before I had a very modest supper, having had such a splendid lunch

Monday morning was damp and misty with a forecast of more rain so I decided to get back home to enjoy doing other things. (I would not have wanted to walk much anyway).

The trial trip worked out well and I learned a lot about how best to organise myself and Dobbin. A few teething problems which I have sorted out this afternoon.

Here is a map of my route: (I don't know how the time taken came about I did not enter any timings!)

Gridironman