Nelson had booked himself and his tribe a week away for February half term. We wanted to join them but were struggling a bit as this year the school break straddles both Grumbles' and Roids' birthdays.
Nursey and Mike are also joining them for a few nights but are limited due to Mike's acute shortage of leave to take from work.
The plan is we'll join them all after helping Grumbles celebrate being on this planet for a rather impressive 86 years and return home in time to host a family celebration to mark the occasion of Roids waving goodbye to his 20s.
Sunday 15 February
We're up and at em and down the storage yard relatively early to complete loading up ready for the off, and by 9.45am under uninspiring skies we're ready to roll.
Trude has a bit of a thirst on and her fuel needle is dropping far too quickly for my liking as she hauls the van up and down the hills of rural west Wales. A bit of a hiccup at Synod Inn as Dwr Cymru have a road closure in place sees us diverting through New Quay itself - complete with narrow, twisting and congested streets. Exiting the other side Herself removed her embedded nails from the dash and we're pulling into Pencnwc to the sight of Beastie and Bwmps darting around on their scooters full of smiles to see us.
We've not put a proper awning up since October 2024 in the Peak District, and I'm immediately reminded how bloody heavy they are. Herself and I have been toying with the idea of a Thule Omnistor coupled with Isabella Buddy panels for a while now, today has made our decision, we're selling all our awnings and going down that route!
The weather gods are with us though. I've just hammered in the last peg and the heavens opened as we all dive inside our own vans for cover.
Chillaxing for a few hours is the order of the day until it's time for Wales to take on the Froggies. It didn't start well, and by the time I get a text from Nelson saying they're taking the dogs to the beach I'm more than ready to give up that particular televisual experience.
Herself is cold and wants to stay put, curling up under a throw on the front benches.
Rolling into New Quay we take advantage of Ceredigion's free parking for Blue Badge holders and head down to the sand. Only there wasn't that much of it with the tide being in.
We've 6 dogs between us and virtually occupy all available space on the beach. Others with dogs are walking down the ramp, clocking us and doing an about turn!
Nursey gave us all a scare just before Christmas, having a significant cardiac episode, and is still recovering. I've not seen her much out and about since, always within the confines of our or her home. Let's just say watching her struggle back up the concrete ramp to the road reminded me of how far she has yet to go.
Tea is procured from The Captain's Table to take back to the van to eat, where Herself has now managed to warm through with the Alde heating doing it's work at 28 degrees. Doesn't it look cosey in there!
Beastie and Bwmps want to go up the club, and I fancy a pint. Herself isn't leaving the confines of the van and is dog sitting while we flick on the torches and follow the tarmac road.
The club is lit up like Blackpool, and first impressions are good as we take a table close to the bar at the back of the function room.
The children's entertainer looks familiar though, I give Nelson a puzzled look and he reminds me the last time we saw him was when he was our waiter when we rode the Polar Express in Christmas 2024!
He was loud, very loud. Bwmps donned his noise cancelling headphones (along with far too many other children for my liking - he could have operated at half the volume he was) and I turned off my hearing aids that were distorting such was the din.
I also doubled up on my round to try and help me into the groove!
Beastie was well into it though, the noise not bothering her as she bopped the evening away, hanging on Mr Polar Express' every word.
I don't do audience participation, never have, and Mr. PE was doing the rounds getting people to sing into his mic. He approached our table, eying me up, I shuffled in my seat nervously before giving him a look that had him changing course like a F1 driver approaching a chicane. He didn't bother us again.
Back at the vans Nursey is in ours with Herself looking after 4 dogs and Mike sat in his van looking after their two. Not a late one tonight ..... oh and Herself is now too warm!
Monday 16 February
Rough night last night, and sleep was hard to come by. I should have got up to sort it but was comfy in bed. The predicted strong winds had arrived with me fretting about the awning as I'd not fitted the storm straps yesterday and also before retiring I'd not turned off the heater we'd huddled around in the awning earlier and I had recurring thoughts about that toppling over and catching fire.
4am and the dogs want letting out for a pee, so I get up, unzip the flap and turn the fan heater off. With that done and me seeing the awning was holding out I returned to bed and caught some zzzz for a few hours.
First thing after breakfast the big pegs get hammered in and storm straps fitted before the dogs get clipped on for a walk over to the dog exercise field. It was moist, very moist and muddy, requiring many watering cans to clean them all down before heading out for the day.
First port of call was The Moody Calf Barn at Bargoed Farm. The plan was for Beastie and Bwmps to have soft play time while we all had a coffee. They're full though so Nelson books them in for a slot later in the day.
Aberaeron next where we park up for free and walk into town for a mooch. The wind is biting cold though and Herself's knees are feeling it and Nursey is struggling to catch her breath, so we do just one circuit before calling it a day.
Back in the cars we head north on the very scenic A487 that hugs the dramatic coastline on the lookout for somewhere to eat. Herself was starting to have doubts, and was having visions of getting to Aberystwyth before finding anywhere as we crawled through Aberarth and Llanon which were both closed.
I have to admit I was starting to have those same thoughts myself and was worrying about Nelson and Nursey being stuck in the confines of their car with a very hungry Bwmps. He doesn't do being hungry that boy!
Like an oasis in the desert the sign "Serving Food All day" outside The Black Lion in Llanrhystud comes into view, and we're spraying gravel everywhere as the three VWs take a sharp left into the car park.
I quite fancied the (and I quote) "Butcher Cut ham" off the menu, as did Teacher and Mike. Let's just say what came out on our plates had not been anywhere near a butcher, nor had it been carved off a joint. Slices of wafer thin ham out of a packet procured from Londis over the road didn't quite cut it, but I was starving and blood sugars were dropping so it had to do.
We wave goodbye to Nursey and Mike who are returning to site to pack up and head home as we turn into Bargoed Farm for our allocated spot in the play barn.
A Latte and slice of cake completed my meal, please don't tell my Diabetic Nurse, as we settle down during what we find out is the allocated SEN session. This means no loud music and far less people admitted.
Both Beastie and Bwmps have a whale of a time in there, and it was a very pleasant time indeed.
A late visit to New Quay in the fading light was abandoned due to there being no beach left at all for the dogs to run on (High tide) so we returned back to site for a quiet evening in the van. No clubhouse tonight.
Tuesday 17 February
A much calmer night equaled a better night's kip. On opening up the blinds it looks like a better day ahead. The coffee machine gets dug out and I treat myself to a Costa while Herself stays curled up under the duvet.
No rest for the wicked though as my phone is soon pinging.
"Are you up yet?"
It's Pancake Day, and Beastie and Bwmps had been promised pancakes for breakfast.
With that done Nelson and Teacher take the kids up to the pool for a swim while we dog sit Nala and Jax, and generally spend some time chilling in the awning.
See that Draught Stoppa there, we've had it over 7 years now and it may be a bit battered but it does a superb job of stopping draughts. You could even call it a "Game Changer". I feel like I almost invented winter caravanning ..... honestly.
They come back from swimming and we pile straight into the cars and onto the very scenic A487 hugging the coast towards Aberystwyth.
Rolling into town we thread our way through the narrow streets and park up on the promenade above the South Beach. It was a bit nippy, but wrapped up we enjoy some time throwing balls for the dogs and playing dare with the crashing waves.
Herself had thrown together a picnic lunch which was devoured back at the cars while the dogs catch their breath and have a slurp.
We drive round to the North Promenade and after some considerable difficulty we manage to bag a space big enough to fit the two cars in before setting off along the storm debris covered prom towards the pier.
On arrival Herself and Teacher promptly dive into the Inn on the Pier leaving Nelson and myself to enter a world of noise and neon lights inside the Royal Pier Arcade.
Many pennies were spent, but both Beastie and Bwmps enjoyed, and that's all that mattered.
Beastie's got it in her head that she wants an ice-cream, not any old ice-cream though, she wants to go to an ice-cream parlor! Herself scores herself a new Dry Robe from Saltrock as we trudge the side streets in search of ice-cream.
We're just about to give up, and again like an oasis in the desert the pink lights of Cow Shed appear.
We dive into the warmth and all join Beastie (except Herself cos the very thought of ice-cream makes her sick) in tucking into various flavours. Don't know where she had the idea from but Beastie was in her element.
Back at the cars we take the dogs down onto the North Beach this time. They chase balls while beastie and Bwmps play chicken with the rollers! I let them in on a "hack" to keep their feet dry - don't put them in the water!! It's a game changer .... honestly. I'll be reinventing the wheel next!
No scenery in the inky darkness back down the A487 where an evening of chilling is enjoyed with a takeaway meal procured from the onsite club - Street food Stylee!
Wednesday 18 February
Bit of a rough night last night again, the wind picked up and lying in bed it felt like the awning was dragging the caravan all over the touring field.
Nelson & Co come over armed with sausages that need cooking and we embark on a slow morning in the caravan. Think we mastered it like we've invented caravanning!
Heading out for the day we follow the A487 south for a change, first through Cardigan and then taking the road that follows the Teifi Estuary into Cardigan Bay, soaking in the view as we went.
Parking up at Poppit Sands we wrap up against the biting wind and head down to the beach for some good old winter beach fun.
The plan was to call into Crwst Poppit for a coffee, but all 3 tables were taken so we headed back towards St Dogmaels diving inside the welcoming Teifi Waterside Hotel for a warm and spot of lunch with "Dai Crabs".
From there we made tracks into Cardigan itself, parking up behind the Guildhall Market for free and setting off for a mooch.
Yesterday in Aberystwyth we happened across a specialist model shop. Grumbles is a model railway enthusiast and Herself took a fancy to a model bus for him, until she saw the £38 price tag. It got left where it was. Well today we're looking round the stalls in the market, and the very same bus in the very same packaging is priced up at a far more reasonable £9.95. Robbing barstewards.
Beastie and Bwmps get a brown one each to spend in the toy shop while Herself and I head back to site. Any thoughts we had of dropping the awning vanished as Trude's wipers go into overdrive along the A487.
Herself gets into Nigella mode and throws together a Bolognaise which we all tuck into in the awning, there's no way on earth Beastie and Bwmps are dining on that red paprika laden dish near our new upholstery.
With dishes cleared away things get serious and the Cryptic Killers pack gets dragged back out. They didn't fully solve it last night and have another crack. Even Beastie was in on it.
A great hack for helping the clock run down until bed time in the caravan. It's a game changer .... honestly.
I've been impressed with the Coachman these last couple of days when we've used it for socialising. Nelson and Teacher have their own van, but that was purchased when Nelson's license was restricted to a certain towing limit, and while it still does them and their family unit, it struggles with any more.
The VIP 675 and its open plan layout has coped admirably at breakfast and in the evenings, accommodating 4 adults, 2 children, 3 big dogs and 1 small dog with ease.
Not late tonight, we retire with rain hammering on the roof in the hope that it stops by 2am as forecasted allowing the wind to dry the awning off ready to pack up.
Thursday 19 February
The rain did stop overnight, but the wind also dropped. I'm up and dressed at 7am after a great night's kip, making a very slow start at breaking camp.
Herself stirs at 8am and we go at it proper, with welcome assistance from Nelson. Whilst no wind equaled an easier awning drop, it did mean the awning was still a little wet, so it just got loosely folded and bundled onto the back seat.
We've said our goodbyes and are rolling our of Pencnwc by 9.15am, which I think is good going considering we had an awning to deal with.
I'll admit it was difficult pulling away, we've had a ball spending precious time with them all, but commitments at home are calling. The hollowness made even worse when Teacher send up a picture saying how strange it is without us pitched next to them.
Late last night Dwr Cymru issued an update that they've opened up the road closure on the A486 between Pencnwc and Synod Inn, so at least Herself is spared the torture of me towing through New Quay to get out.
They've forgotten to clean the road though and by the time we see the end of road works sign the van looks like it's been following a farmer spraying cow shit on the fields!
I wish I could say that the journey home was uneventful, but I can't. Rolling through Synod Inn our Satnav had a brain fart and sent us on the B4338 as opposed to the A487. All was good initially, but after a mile or so the B4338 ceased to have a white line down the middle of the carriageway, narrowing even further in places to single track with passing places.
Lets just say we were glad to come across the A475 to divert and ignore the infotainment screen, no matter how many miles it added to the journey home.
By the time we're pulling up outside the storage yard both Trude and the van are in a sorry state, both covered in road filth.
I'm unhitching and I have an "Oh Shit" moment. Looking down I see that out towing electrics lead has been dragging and worn through the protective casing. Not quite through to the bare wires, but I'd estimate just a few more miles and we'd have lost road lights!
Anyone know of a hack to stop this happening?
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