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 

Hermitage

Only one ride this week due to other interests:-

Simon's pictures from the ride showing what lovely countryside we were riding through. Lots of fresh green trees and pines too. 
To see them as a slide show just click on the first one:

Gridironman.

A most enjoyable week with three very good but different rides.

I'll let the maps with the summaries tell most of the story. 

Overall a week which saw me miss most of the rain and our decision to ride on Sunday rather than a somewhat showery Saturday was a good one. The countryside is splendid with the trees so fresh and green and lots of spring flowers. The Red Campion being particularly noticeable. Quite a few butterflies including some small blues (chalkhill blue?). 

Interesting Clouds

Simon Takes a break at the beach.

These pebbles are not made for riding!

A passing container ship.

Enjoy,

Gridironman

Busy Weekend

Saturday 13th May 2017.

A nice gentle ride to help Paddy get back his full fitness. We enjoyed a nice break at "The Golden Glider", Lasham. I had a very tasty hunter's chicken as I'd not had lunch while Paddy contented himself with a coffee and a cake. It was warm enough to sit outside as long as we sheltered from the cool breeze. Paddy left me far behind on the descent of Armsworth Hill. "Weight and Gravity" he claimed.

Sunday 14th May 2017.

I was deserted by my mates as they had a variety of excuses not to ride today. Am I using the wrong aftershave?

I decided to head South and East, but had no clear plan. In the event I climbed Old Winchester Hill by the sneaky back way, I'm not sure it is any easier than the direct way up from Warnford.

A lot of cyclists out and about all happily exchanging greetings. At the Sustainability centre I met groups from all over Hampshire and chatted to a lady from Fareham who runs Breeze Rides. 

To extend my ride I went via Ramsdean and Steep. Surprisingly my fastest speed of the day was from Ramsdean towards Stroud and not the hill from the Sustainability centre towards East Meon. I guess it is because the road surface is much smoother there.

I visited the little Church in Froxfield and marvelled in the beautiful stained glass windows.

Near Privett I discovered these lovely houses tucked away in a fold in the valley.

My only PB for the day was from Cheriton to the ford, thanks to a pint of "pots"?

Gridironman.

Manche to Med. Reunion and more.

I have had a wonderful three days enjoying a reunion with six of my companions from our Fantastic Manche to Med ride last June. We met in Royal Sutton Coldfield and had three good rides.
The weather was a little on the chilly side due in part to a strong North wind. However we had no rain so that was a blessing.
The countryside was much more rural than I had expected with many winding lanes with scattered villages. The roadsides were decorated with wild flowers, cow parsley, bluebells, dead nettles, green alkanet, buttercups and dandelions. The farms are mainly arable with potatoes and other cash crops, as well many fields of oil-seed rape to tickle our noses. It was much flatter than I had expected, in one area I thought I was back in Holland with ditches instead of hedges.

The Magnificent Seven.

Sunday 7th May 2017.

Monday 8th May 2017.

In Memoriam of my School Pal Peter Swayne

Peter was in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them. or the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month
the sun shines through the slot.

Another Fleet Air Arm Memorial.

Tuesday 9th May 2017

The Famous Five go Cycling.

My Pals at the Marina,
Barton-under-Needwood.

Narrow Boats moored at the marina.

Thursday 11th May 2017.

A fantastic week to date. Any more rides this week will be in my next report.

Best wishes to you all,

Gridironman.

Back in the UK!

Tuesday 2nd May 2017. 

It was with some trepidation that I joined the Alresford Groupetta and Pedallers ride as I was not sure how much my sore rib would affect me. I needn't have worried for as you can see from my ride summary I managed a moving speed of 12.4 mph. Our plan was to have coffee in Bishops Waltham but not wanting to get there too early we decided to take a roundabout route. We also factored in that Chris would be riding home, so we did a clockwise route so he could leave us after Upham. It was a fine day and the traffic on our route was largely light, so we were able to enjoy the countryside in its spring glory. 

Quite by chance we met the Winchester CTC in Swanmore and again later at The Flower Pots in Cheriton. 

My Ride Summary with view from the ridge east of the Milbury's.

Many of the fields were bright yellow with rape. The scent was very strong in places causing our noses to react. In some wooded areas there were swathes of white with the unmistakable scent of wild garlic. Red campion appearing now along with white dead nettle.

A most enjoyable day out with only a little discomfort of the rib when riding on bumpy surfaces.

Thursday 4th May 2017

Another chance to enjoy a good ride in preparation for a short break in the West Midlands. Another fine day with a mixture of cloud and sunshine.

My first objective was to check the roads we are using for The Pace Judging & Freewheeling Event on Saturday, so I rode through Ovington to Easton. The roads were all open after recent resurfacing work. 

I decided to try an unusual route for the day riding on some of the larger roads. The busiest of these was the road through Twyford to Allbrook, but even this one was not too bad. 

I discovered a new coffee stop near Allbrook and stopped for my first break (15 miles covered). The young lady running it was very welcoming and told me she plans to put out some tables and chairs.

Next I called at a garage in Belbins to talk to the manager about a small camper van I might be interested in buying.

At The Boot a few riders were sitting outside in the sunshine with a larger number inside. After the a meal, a drink and some craic I continued on my way through Stockbridge and along the A30 to Sutton Scotney. 

The worst part of this was I was riding over high ground into a strong NE wind. Traffic was not too heavy and as the road is 36 feet wide there was plenty of room for traffic to pass me. Time for tea I thought and called on my cousin for a chat and a cuppa.

The rest of my day was completed on more familiar roads and I arrived home around 4.30.

Saturday 6th May 2017.

Now off to cycle in the West Midlands.

Gridironman.