I'd taken a day off to get us ready, but herself was stuck in work until 5pm, having escaped the clutches of shielding just a few days previous.
The winds are picking up as we pull away from Home Is Where You Drag It Towers at 18.30 hrs, and we immediately get slammed in the side as we climb the slip road at J48 and over the Loughor as we head east.
I eased off the throttle for two reasons, firstly the winds and secondly this is Toyah's first big test since having major surgery during lockdown.
The trundle was easy through south Wales with light traffic, as was the haul down the M5 through the West Country. Off the M5 and onto the A30 we trundled, not having stopped.
Things started to get a little more interesting as we climbed higher as we skirted Dartmoor, and by the time we're at Jamacia Inn on the top of Bodmin Moor we're down to 40mph in the darkness. I'm not tired though, and the dogs have slept the entire journey, so we carry on.
The section of the A30 that's not dualled by Perranporth was hairy with the sky filled with lightning as we felt the full force of Storm Erin. We're nearly crawling along now, but soon drop down into Penzance.
I'm thinking to myself that we've been through the worst of it, but how wrong could I have been.
In the inky blackness of the night, with gales force winds howling all around us and lashing rain we crawled along the last 9 miles of the A30 to our laybye at Crows en Wra. This was no easy task as I edged the rig through deep standing water and threaded our way though fallen branches.
Ar midnight I'm turning off Toyah's ignition, having covered the 275 miles from home in 5 1/2 hours without the wheels having stopped turning.
Friday 21 August
We wake early with the van getting a hammering in our exposed spot. We have a quick cuppa and Ronnie (who towed down here last week) tips us off that our pitch is vacant.
Knowing that Trevedra have a relaxed approach to arrival times, I'm rushing Herself to slurp her coffee quicker (she usually has no bother doing this with Gin) and before 9am we're checking in and pitching up.
MBW has breakfast on the go so we tuck into that in Ronnie's awning before tackling ours as Storm Erin does her very best to rip off our fingernails. Herself only lost one, so I'm waiting on the fallout a bit later. Tin hat on.
Just as we're banging in the last peg, with impeccable timing, Roids roll us in his Beamer. We spend the afternoon catching up before thoughts turn to tea. We're all too tired to think about cooking, so Fish & Chips are ordered from 190 Degrees West and a collection slot booked for after we've been to Tesco to stock upon shant.
With dishes cleared and after watching the sun set at Trevedra we drop down into the cove for the evening.
Erin is whipping up the Atlantic as it pounds the shoreline and we spend some time watching the foam before making our way over to the sanctuary of The Old Success Inn for a nightcap.
Saturday 22 August
After a great night's kip we breakfast on Eggy Bread while hatching a plan for the day.
It is decided that Newquay is the destination, but it's gone lunchtime by the time we're crunching the miles back up the A30.
Newquay is rammed, and shortly after feeding a King's ransom into the Turpin machine we're threading our way through a sea of face masks on the narrow streets.
Having been shielding / self isolating / working from home for the past 4 months, all the people are too much for Herself an I. We volunteer to look after the dogs, so having abandoned us on an outside table in the Walkabout Ronnie and MBW take Beastie to the Aquarium while Roids and TF take themselves off to the shops.
We're rushing to get back to the cars before our tickets run out, but remarkably we're the safe side of the APNR cameras with seconds to spare. It's fast approaching Beastie's tea time, se we'd planned to eat out on the way back west.
We tried Bowgies at west Pentire first, but they're booked up until 7pm. We carry on, but before long we're stationary having been held up by a Kia that had wrapped its front end around an ancient LR Defender.
The New Inn at Goonhavren looked promisingly quiet, but on enquiring at the bar I'm told they're not doing food because of COVID. Onwards and we try the Whitehouse Inn a little further along the A3075. This isn't even open for business, though renovations look like the reason and not COVID.
We decide to hit the A30 west and enquire over the phone to the Turnpike Inn near Hayle. They've nothing until 8pm, so our last shot is a pub we've been to previously in Hayle. Can't remember the name though until we're right on top of it. NO room at The Cornish Arms either.
We've one more shot before calling it a day. If it were not for COVID I would have kissed the young girl at front of house when she told me they had room. I call the others and we take an outside table overlooking the estuary at The Old Quay House.
Beastie has spotted the various climbing frames and slides, so I take her off to burn off some energy while the others sort out our order.
Hit the spot lovely it did.
It's gone 8pm by the time we get back and fast approaching Beastie's bed time, so we adjourn to Ronnie's awning to blow the froth off a few too many cold ones once she's settled down.
Sunday 23 August
I wake early doors and take to dogs over to Sennen for a run.
Herself has breakfast on the go by the time I get back, and we decide over alfresco bacon butties that today will be a beach day.
With our kit piled into 2 cars we drop down into Sennen Cove with the intention of staking a claim to a spot on the dog friendly harbour beach. Not a chance. The car park is rammed, so plan B is put swiftly into action.
We follow the A30 back to Penzance and head straight for the beach at Long Rock. Herself hates beaches with a passion, but sat and gritted her teeth while the rest of us spent great afternoon entertaining Beastie in the sea and building sand castles.
Roids had to outdo me though by digging a boat. Beastie was most impressed and he was her hero for the afternoon.
Back on site the Weber is fired up for a BBQ feast, which is washed down with a crate of Thatchers Gold.
Monday 24 August
I'm up early doors emptying a full bog. By the time I'm done my space in the bed is occupied by two rather smug looking border collies. I know when I'm beat, so take up a berth on one of the front benches.
I'm back fast asleep when Ronnies comes in at 8.15am to grab Toyah's keys to take the 4 dogs over the cove.
Over breakfast we decide to give Lands End a go today. We're enveloped in thick mizzle on site and the plan is to leave the dogs in the boot for an hour or so. We're not 1/4 mile form site and it clears. Parked up in Sennen we can see the cloud lingering over Trevedra.
By the time we're run the gauntlet trying to get into the car park at Lands End the sun is trying to break through.
Any thoughts we had of leaving the dogs in Toyah are abandoned and Herself volunteers to hold onto the 4 of them while we do the "attractions" on the proviso that a few Tarquins and tonic are put in front of her to help pass the time.
First up is Arthur's quest. To be fair the whole thing was a bit too much for Beastie, and she was a little clingy, that is until MBW told her that Dats was also scared, so she cwtched into me in solidarity.
Out through the gift shop and we're back into Aardman's "Grand Experience". This was more her dap, and she enjoyed looking at all the stuff.
Just because sh'ed looked after me in Arthur's Quest I treated her to stuffed Grommit in the shop on the way out.
I'm making my way back around to do the Jolly Roger 4D film experience when Ronnie tells me it's not running today. I ask if we had discount off the "all inclusive" ticket price to compensate, but the answer confirms my opinion that Lands End are robbing gits, that and the fact that they've put the parking up £2 since last year!
We lunch on pasties while the weather holds off, and I'm sat aghast as a two year old demolished a complete medium cheese and potato version all by herself.
I site with herself and people watch in the main square while Ronnie, MBW, Beastie, Roids & TF make a dash for Greeb Farm before it closes.
Back on site we fill our faces with a curry I'd thrown into the slow cooker before going out, and we adjourn once again for a good old laugh and chat while doing our very best to empty his cool box of alcoholic beverages!
Tuesday 25 August
Rough night last night. Herself woke me from my drunken slumber at 1.30am to let me know that Storm Francis has wiped out our very expensive Kampa wind breaks. I didn't stop to put on anything so am out in 90 mph winds and horizontal rain attempting to salvage them.
Roids jumped out of his pit to assist, but had the presence of mind to put on my coat to protect his torso from the elements.
By the time we've got a mangled mess of poles and canvas inside the awning we're both tingling with the cold and desperate to jump back into the warmth of our pits.
I'm just nodding back off at 3am and the van starts to rock a little more that it was. I peak out of the blinds and realise that Storm Francis is now having a bloody good go at the newly exposed front of the Kalari.
I'm out there again, but it soon dawns on me that I can do nothing more except hope!
8am comes, and in daylight we can see that the Vango has taken a battering. Pegs have been ripped out of the now soft ground and 30% of the awning has either collapsed or is flapping about.
I'm on my hands and knees in the howling wind and lashing rain in an attempt to peg down any unbroken pegging points.
Toyah is reversed up tight, and Roids brings over his Beamer from the overflow car park to offer a little more protection from Francis.
Over breakfast Herself and I inform the others that we'll be going nowhere while the winds persist, but as their holidays are coming to an end at the tail of this week, so they could head off out if they want.
We manage to walk the dogs between downpours, but sit tight wondering how much more Francis has to throw at us as the torrential rain comes back to accompany gale force winds within 10 mins of our return.
Technology is a wonderful thing, and I'm at an age where I'm still impressed by many minor things. Herself an I are sheltering in the van when I'm prompted to load up the live webcam from Porth Leven.
Stood in front of it (and getting very strange looks from passers by) are our lot, trying desperately (and failing miserably) to get Beastie to wave at the lens. I'll give credit to Roids here though as he resisited the temptation to flick me a set of VVs just for the fun of it!
We spend the evening in Ronnie's awning having a good slurp and a really good laugh until late on when we are more conscious of the noise we may be making.
Wednesday 26 August
We wake and Francis appears to have passed over. The view from my pillow is somewhat nicer this morning.
After the last few days it feels a little strange to see sunshine and not listen to the desperate flapping of the awning!
The dogs need a good run after being confined to barracks for much of the last 24 hours so I head on over to Sennen to wipe the sleep from my eyes looking up towards Cape Cornwall.
i swear there is no better place in the UK to wake up!
A communal breakfast is had once more, and Beastie joins me at the hotplate to rustle up a quick feast of eggy bread for 7.
A day out is planned, and while they all get ready, I volunteer to keep Beastie entertained. She's been obsessing with kites since we got down here, and we's managed to procure a kiddie one in Newquay a few days ago, but the weather had not been on our side since.
No excuses this morning though, and to her delight we got hers out and the oldest and youngest of our party spent a delightful hour holding onto a bit of string in the breeze and kicking Pappa Pig around the field.
Piled into 2 vehicles we once again hit the A30. TF and MBW want to do some shopping again, so Newquay is the first destination. Somehow we manage to get parking and make our way into town. Once again we get a little way down Fore St (why does Cornwall have so many of them?) before Herself and I decide the crowds are too much.
We take an outside table at The Fort Inn and enjoy a pleasant afternoon soaking up the sunshine with a view over the beach towards the Island.
Roids and TF return first with TF carrying haul from the surf shacks. True to form Roids is empty handed. They are soon followed by Beastie, Ronnie and MBW. Ronnie is loaded up like a Sherpa, but my expectations that shops are done for the day are unfounded.
Pulling into Perranporth it's immediately obvious that parking will be an issue. We've circled our usual two car parks with no luck. I know the third choice will have room as it's massive, but they want £7 to abandon your car on their dust bowl and it is troubling me somewhat.
Reluctantly we make our way over there. It's gone 4pm now, and I can only assume the bloke in the booth has had a very good day, as he waves us through without asking for payment. Result!!
They manage to squeeze a few more shops in before they close (at 5pm due to COVID) and I'm relieved that Herself fancied nothing in the jewellers.
Thoughts turn to food and we stroll over towards Seiners Arms. Despite her best efforts the girl at front of house was unable to find us a table. Fully booked inside and the un-reservable tables on the outside terrace all occupied.
We're turning around dejectedly and my attention is drawn to a couple occupying a rather large table who look like they've been nursing two glasses of lemonade for a few hours.
I start to look at them, then I look at their empty glasses, then I look back at them. They soon get the message and say "Oh, we're gong soon, you can have this table if you like." "Oh really, that is so kind, thank you."
I hover over them until they move.
Now, we'd ordered our food and I'd not paid much attention to the menu, but it did say "box meals", but I was somewhat sceptical when our meals appeared in boxes with a set of wooden knives and forks. But fair play, all the meals were superb. Served piping hot and good portions.
We're all sat there full as Gyppo's handbags with a view over the beach when my thoughts turn to the bill. It's never a pleasant experience when feeding 7.
I give Roids my wallet and he goes in to settle up. We'd not known, but this place is taking part in the "Eat out to help out" scheme. To my delight, the entire bill for 7 meals and side orders comes to a few pennies under £44. I am beyond happy. Ecstatic would be an appropriate word.
It's been a lovely day out and we don't want it to end. We detour through Penzance and park up on the sea front. Loaded with loose change and face masks fitted we finish the day off nicely in the Grand Casino Amusements.
I'm going to have a moan here. I'm on a lot of Facebook forums, and am constantly told how much the "Wild Camping" community contribute to the local economy, and how short sighted the councils are for placing restrictions on overnight parking.
I don't buy it, and am firmly of the opinion that these people are free loaders.
As I sat outside the arcade holding onto the dogs, my point was more or less proved. Campervan parked up in free parking space. Curtains closed, 12v TV tuned in. Obviously avoiding contributing to the local economy by not paying any campsite fees.
Next they bring out a gas bbq, set it up on the wall, fire it up and proceed to cook some frozen burgers that they'd brought with them. Back into the fridge they went to retrieve a few cans of Lidl lager.
These people always claim that they put money in the tills of local shops and local pubs!!
Anyway, back on site and Beatsie is over tired. Ronnie and MBW retreat to their van to try and get her to sleep. We sit up in our awning for a short while as the heavens open. It's raining really hard, and not long before water starts to seep up through the awning carpet.
Thursday 27 August
It hammered down all night, and was still hammering down this morning. I get up for a pee at 7am and it soon becomes apparent that I've lost my place on the bed.
I fire up my Samsung and all is not well at home. A major incident has been declared in our village due to a freight train carrying fuel having caught fire and derailed. It's been burning all night as well as spilling into the adjacent estuary. Houses have been evacuated and emergency respite centres opened.
I wake Herself. She gets on the blower to Creaky and Grumbles and I check up on coupons. All thankfully OK, but they say they could smell the fuel in the air and the rain tastes of it.
This will take some containing and clearing up!
Meanwhile back is West Cornwall the biblical rains continue. We now have a water feature in our awning. The rain continued all morning, but approaching lunchtime air traffic into the airport sprung to life. John (the owner) informs me that when this happens it's a sure sign that the weather is clearing over at the Scilly Isles (they wont fly out of there in bad weather).
Sure enough, within half an hour it clears up and we have sunshine.
I make the most of the gap and take the dogs out over to Sennen, via the flooded access road to site.
Roids and TF have already taken themselves off out for the day. Firstly to Perranporth and onto Falmouth.
I've plans to empty the awning and lift the carpet in an attempt to dry it out, with the assistance of a borrowed garden fork.
Herself joins MBW and Ronnie on an expedition into Penzance and leave me to it for the afternoon.
They get back and the sun is still shining, but winds are picking up once more bringing inevitable change.
Being close to the airport here, Beastie has become obsessed with the light aircraft that fill the sky. As soon as she hears the screaming engine she's out pointing up at the sky shouting "Plane, Plane!"
She had a treat this evening though as the strange sound of chopper blades filled the air, with the pilot of the Merlin treating us with a few overhead circuits of the site. A bit like camping in MASH.
As it gets darker we settle in for a movie night in the awning. A bed sheet is strung between poles and the projector fired up for the evening's entertainment, as we dine on "cinema food" of hot gogs, nachos and popcorn to complete the experience.
"Frozen" first for Beastie, and when she'd gone to sleep we watched "Rock of Ages". It was midn ight by the time we're diving into our respective pits.
Friday 28 August
The wind is picking up which means change, but we have a leisurely breakfast while the sun shines. It's their last day down here today, so we need to start breaking Ronnie's camp. His awning is driopped dry stashed under the van before we head off out for the day.
We left site in sunshine in just short, tee shirts and flip flops. We drive through showers to Porth Leven, but it's dry by the time we abandon the cars.
With the 4 dogs, Herself and I make a bee line for the beer garden at The Harbour Inn, and settle down for a pint while the others do the gift shops.
No sooner had we placed a drinks order than the sun went in, the wind picked up and it clouded over. It then began to rain sideways for 5 minutes.
They didn't find what they wanted in the gift shops, so we make tracks for Marazion. Most of the shops there were shut!
Cornish Skittles in Hayle was next where we've got an alley booked for 4.30pm with food to follow. We're seated for them to take our order and Beastie has us all tickled. The waitress is working her way around the table taking everyone's order when Beastie catches her attention "Chicken nuggets for me please!"
She's quick to catch on that one!
She even won the game of skittles by some distance, due mainly to some imaginative scoring by Dats!
Back to site now for the time we've been dreading all day. Roids loads up his Beamer and is off for home at about 8pm. Tearful farewells all round as we wave them off.
We complete the breaking of Ronnie's camp, get him hitched up and once more the emotional roller coaster of saying farewell once more.
Herself and I are in bits as we do a bit of tidying up in our now very empty and very quiet caravan and awning. We've thoroughly enjoyed having our family down here with us and feel privileged that they choose to spend quality time on holiday with us. We're really going to miss them all next week.
Like us both boys and their partners all get Cornwall, they all get west Cornwall, they all get the Lands End peninsular and they all get Trevedra.
