Well, we only actually bloody did it!
Mags, Lulu and I have officially upped sticks and headed off into the sunset!
On to pastures new!
Thursday the 12th of August 2021, saw Mags and I leave the employ of LBS Builders Merchants where we had enjoyed careers of 10 and 14 years respectively. On Friday 13th August, we handed the keys to Caeglas Farm back to our landlord & landlady. I jumped into Lulu and Mags into our heavily loaded C-Max, and we headed south. Well actually, we headed east on the M4 very slowly and then south on the M5, even more slowly.
A 2-and-a-half-hour journey to Exmoor House CAMC site at Dulverton, actually took us around 6 hours. The traffic was horrendous.
Exmoor House was our overnight stop and after arriving, we wasted no time in heading out for beer and supper at The Bridge and another beer at Woods Bar in Dulverton.
On Saturday 14th August 2021 we headed further south towards our home for the next three months. We pulled onto Hillhead CAMC site, Brixham, Devon at 12.35. Smack bang in the middle of their arrivals time!
New park up for Lulu
We were shown up to our own staff compound and left to set up our pitch.
If anyone ever tells you that an air beam drive-away awning is the best thing since sliced bread – they’ve never had sliced bread. If we did not need the space that our new Outdoor Revolution Cayman Combi Air awning give us, it would have become a very expensive bin liner. In the immortal words of Jim Royale of The Royale Family – ’15 minutes pitching time…..my arse’! Almost three hours after arriving, we were done. Lulu was levelled. Our waste, electric and water were connected and all of a sudden, I was in the mood for a beer.
We headed off to the onsite bar, Nico’s, had a couple of beers and a delicious spring green risotto. We headed back to Lulu at around 9pm and settled down to an early night. For our first night, on a packed ‘holiday park’ style site, it was very peaceful.
First trip into Brixham
Sunday morning dawned grey and dull, so after breakfast we headed off into Brixham for a look around. We decided to walk in on the old bridleways. A lovely 3 mile walk later and we popped out virtually onto Brixham’s harbourside.
OMG!! It was if everyone in the UK had caught a bus to Brixham at the same time! Having been in and out of lockdowns for the past 18 months, it was a bit of a shock to the system. It was extremely peopley!! The restaurants and cafes along the harbour, clearly open, all had ‘Closed’ signs up! If you weren’t in or had not booked – you weren’t getting in!
We walked around for an hour or so and passing a ‘fish and chip’ shop called Simply Fish, we spotted a table becoming free. We asked at the door if we could be fitted in and yes, no problem but give them 5 minutes to clear and clean the table.
This wasn’t a chippie per se. The menu was amazing. We both settled on a fillet of roasted hake served on a bed of roasted garlic potatoes. It was washed down with a local Devon lager Bloomin’ superb it was too. If you are ever in the vicinity – pop in and give the food a try!
We decided to get a taxi back to site. Hillhead is where it’s name suggests. At the top of a very long hill! I didn’t fancy the slog up, one little bit!!
Home via a couple of beers at Nico’s and we were in bed by 9.30 – lightweights that we are.
A wardening we will go!
Monday morning came and we both found that we were gainfully employed again! This time by The Caravan and Motorhome Club as Assistant Site Wardens.
Our first couple of days will be basic on-site training, getting to grips with different machinery and vehicles, learning new systems and methods of working.
Hopefully you can teach an old dog new tricks and that we can have long and happy careers with the club.
Leaving Marley for the last time
Talking of old dogs, one of the last things we did before leaving Caeglas was to scatter Marley’s ashes beneath our favourite rose bush in the corner of our garden. We still miss him, every single day but he will always be with us on our adventures though. He would have loved this new adventure.
Catching Up!!
Mags and I are only too aware that we have let our blog posts slide over the last couple of months but we will catch up with them. We have our 2021 tour to upload along with other bits and pieces. I bought a lot of new camera and vlogging kit and we actually filmed a lot during our tour to put together our first vlog on YouTube. However, events of the past two or three months have virtually swept us along and with starting a new career, time has overtaken us.
We will get there. Thanks for bearing with us.
Until next time, safe travels all,
Kev, Mags & Marley
xx