Well I don’t suppose anyone could have predicted what 2020 had in store
for us all. Around the beginning of the year there were news stories
about a new potent corona virus circulating in China and a large part of
that country had been locked-down. At that stage we had no idea of how
it was going to have a dreadful impact on Europe and particularly the
UK.
We last went away in the van before the Christmas 2019 and we knew then
that for the first three months of the New Year we would not get much
use out of the van because in February we were having a new kitchen
fitted and the following month a new conservatory. In the middle of
March the Alliance went into White Arches for its first annual service.
The pickup date was delayed because they were waiting some spares
because the PCB on the boiler had failed. By now things were staring to
get pretty serious in the UK and on Friday 13th March we
picked up the motorhome from Rushden with all contact being kept at a
distance and we even paid before we left home. As it turned out this
timing was by the skin of our teeth!
The following week the lock down in the UK started in earnest and people
of a certain age (us!) were told/advised to stay indoors and have a
minimum contact with the outside world. This presented all sorts of
difficulties not least in getting shopping deliveries. This was further
aggravated by shelves in supermarkets being stripped of food as people
panicked and bought everything in sight, including toilet rolls!!! On
the supply front things did start to improve and we have been thankful
for regular Waitrose deliveries once we had been accepted as vulnerable
customers. Writing this in the middle of May something's are still in
short supply, or come in and out of stock. What we can’t get our sons
can usually get for us. You do eventually adjust to lockdown but you can
also become a bit lazy and lack motivation. It is difficult to look
forward to going away in the van as not only do you not know when
campsites will reopen but also because the virus is still very much with
us and it could for some time to come its whether you have got the
confidence to go away! I doubt campsites will be open before the end of
June, although that might depend, either way, on how we are progressing
with containing the impact of the virus.
Up until about a week ago we were only allowed to drive for essential
purposes which did not include taking a motorhome for a run or indeed
the family car. Unfortunately the latter suffered a problem battery and
had to be replaced. Today (19th May) as the driving of
vehicles have been relaxed a bit I took the motorhome out for a run of
about twelve miles just to keep everything in working order. I was not
concerned so much about it not starting as last year we had a Battery
Master fitted which pumps a bit charge through to the cab battery.
Although traffic has increased a bit in the last week or so it is still
pretty quiet on the roads.
There are some who think they may not get to use their motorhomes or
caravans this year. We will decide when we consider it safe to do so.
Sunday 2nd August. It is almost eight months to the day that
we were last away in the motorhome. Campsites re-opened on 4th
July having been closed for three months. Things are far from back to
normal. Whilst many were
clamouring to get away we were perhaps more reticent because this virus
has not only changed the way we live our lives but also because it is by
no means over.
It was against the background that we decided that we should see how we
managed by booking four days on a service pitch at the CMC site at
Cirencester. Sites in August are usually very busy and the enforced
closure of sites for three months seems to have created an increased
demand. The precautions in place on sites means a different experience
when you arrive on sites. On arrival membership cards are deposited on a
plastic container and you are asked to go off and find a pitch and
return later to settle up. When I did eventually return to Reception to
settle up I was surprised at the number of membership cards there were
in the tub! Receptions are a very different place these days. Only one
person allowed in at a time and face masks to be worn. I was given
rubber bands for the toilet block. The idea being that access to the
blocks are restricted and if there already a certain number of bands on
the board outside the toilet block you have to wait until someone exits.
By contrast the journey here today was relatively trouble free. We cut
across country via Buckingham and Bicester to Oxford and then out west
in the direction of Cheltenham before we headed down the Fosse Way to
Cirencester. We have stayed on this site quite a few times in the past.
One major change (apart from the above) is that the access road has been
reconfigured. Apparently this road is on land owned by Cirencester
College and in their wisdom, rather than resurface the original road,
decided to build a new one. The only problem was that it was lined with
large lumps of rock to discourage vehicles going off the tarmac.
Fortunately some changes have been made and providing you have a clear
run the road is fine although it does feel constricted.
Monday 3rd August. It seemed pretty chilly overnight although we both slept well. We left the Taylormade screen at home thinking that we could cope with just the Remis blinds! Weather today was very similar to yesterday, mainly sunny with a few dark clouds but generally very nice. We had a wander around the site today. It is a large site with over 200 pitches and it is pretty full. We took the opportunity to have a look at the new site access road. It seems tighter than it appears when you are driving down it. A pretty lazy afternoon.
Tuesday 4th August. A bit dull early on today so we left our
walk until after lunch when it was a bit brighter. We decided to walk
down into Cirencester Park. To get there you turn left out of the
campsite. What you immediately notice is that the road from the campsite
to the Cricket Club and has also been resurfaced but with no rock
boulders!!! Both the cricket and tennis clubs were very busy. The
entrance to the Park is just beyond the clubs. The Park has a lovely
avenue of horse chestnut trees although many of them are nearing the end
of the lives. The Park owners have planted alternative varieties of
trees to try and maintain the Avenue. Apart from walking there is not
much more you are allowed to do in the Park which might explain the
absence of seats! It is a wonderful view down the Avenue to the Town and
it is probably the best way to walk into the town. One thing we noticed
as we walked back was the number of cars at both cricket and tennis
clubs, clearly no one walks anywhere in Cirencester! The volume of cars
could cause a problem for anyone arriving at the site. The site is still
very busy with not many spare spaces.
Wednesday 5th August.
Weather dull for most of the day with a bit of sun and light
rain. Lazy day with not much going on except a bit of people watching.
Thursday 6th August. Time to go home. Bit of a drizzle most
of the day. Fortunately no condensation on the inside of the windscreen,
probably because, apart from our first night, it has been warm
overnight. When I started the engine the engine light didn’t go off so
that was a bit worrying! When I read the manual it said see a dealer
when you can which didn’t suggest any urgency? Anyway when I restarted
the engine the light went out immediately and stayed off for the rest of
the journey so no cleared what caused it? Journey home was pretty
uneventful. Did our usual fuel fill up at Wolverton just before we got
home.
It is without doubt that COVID has made a big impact on our on how we view things as they are not the same. Whilst there has been an avalanche of people eager to get back to camping we are not so convinced. There was nothing wrong with our stay. Everything was well organised and people kept their distance. However unlike many we like to use the motorhome as a base, rather than a mobile beach hut, and explore the surrounding area, stop off for a coffee or a drink but we have felt uncomfortable doing so. If all going away is about is sitting around the van we can perfectly easily do that at home.
Cromer
COVID is still gripping the Country and we were not entirely sure we
should be going away but the only alternative would be to continue being
a prisoner in our own home. North Norfolk was chosen as it has seen far
lower cases compared to some parts of the country and we can still get
out and about from the site with minimum contact with others.
Sunday 11th October dawned bright and sunny albeit a bit on
the chilly side. Such a contrast to recent days when the weather had
been pretty grim. We have little to do on the day of departure as we
have pottered the week before filling the van with things we will need.
Just before 10.30 we were on our way. On leaving MK the sat nav usually wants to take us down the M1 to junction 13 which we usually avoid. However, we cross the M1 en route and it looked fairly quiet so we took our chance. It’s not as direct as the A421 but that is currently being duelled and is sometimes closed at the weekend.
We made a stop on the A11 just north of Mildenhall for a coffee. Looking
out of the window I was surprised to see we had stopped next to karting
track. Not quite sure of the age of the participants but it made me
think of the likes of Lewis Hamilton who started his racing career in
karting. When we approached Norwich, we decided to try the eastern
bypass as the last time we came this way we went through Norwich which
was frustrating. Was it the right decision? Not altogether sure quite
honestly. It is a long way round and not really proper bypass with grade
separation junctions but probably better than going through the City.
Not quite sure how we managed it but we ended up in a strange part of
Cromer but fortunately I recognised some of the roads and we were able
to find our way to the seafront. The campsite is just is short distance
from here. Check in was fairly normal if you ignore the masks and
screens in reception! We had booked a serviced pitch and found one on
the new area. We are sandwiched between two other Bailey motorhomes, on
one side is an Approach 740 which was our original motorhome.
Monday 12th October. The weather forecast for our stay is not
particularly good but at least this morning it was dry so we decided to
have a walk towards Cromer. We only went as far as the Cliff Top carpark
café as we were only out for a walk. Surprising number of people in the
carpark including a few school age children! This carpark is quite
popular with motorhomers although they can’t stay overnight. Probably a
handy rest area if you are too early to get into any of the local
campsites. We gave the café a miss but it seemed to be well prepared in
terms of COVID. On the way back we had a look at the houses that face
towards the sea. Quite a few have taken advantage of their location by
adding balconies which must be nice on a hot summer’s day.
Tuesday 13th October. The weather seems to be stuck in the
same pattern, mainly grey cloud, although we did get a few brighter
periods mid-morning. A little warmer feel today as there was less wind.
Pretty lazy start to the day but after a late breakfast we walked to
East Runton which is not far from the campsite. From the main road you
can take the lane down to the beach although we chose to sit of the
seats on the cliff top to observe. Quite a lot of people walking on the
beach. If you were feeling fit enough a round trip from the site via
East Runton and Cromer is possible, depending on the tide.
Back at the site most of the available pitches are taken and it seems to
be a 50/50 split between motorhomes and caravans. The last couple of
times we have been here we have used the restaurant but that is
currently closed and only providing a take away service. This is only
the second time we have been away this year and we find that for a four
night stay we can be self-sufficient with what we have brought with us
which makes like a little less complicated.
Wednesday 14th October. The weather conditions are more or
less the same as they have been since we have been her. The sun
sometimes breaks through but not for long! Major difference today was a
stiff easterly breeze which we took the full force of as we walked into
Cromer again. I think both Margaret and I are getting a bit concerned as
to how far we can now walk having been in virtual lockdown since March!
Maybe we worry too much as we walked at least two and half miles today
but we could have probably gone further. I think we need to build up our
stamina!
Cromer is a strange place as on the one hand it seems a fairly normal
Norfolk town which some may say had seen better days but it still
retains elements of its past heyday. The Pier is a good example with its
end of the pier theatre. As you wander around the streets you notice
some of the buildings must have been quite grand in their day, some of
them having stained glass windows. There is even the Hotel de Paris
dating back to 1830’s which dominates the skyline above the Pier. We
looped into the town and it was interesting to see many wearing masks
which is not strictly required in the open air but perhaps people were
going from shop to shop so just kept them on. It will be interesting to
see if places like Cromer actually get any long-term benefit from the
Staycation effect created by COVID? Given that it was a dull and chilly
day there were certainly a lot of people around.
This is our last day at Seacroft before heading home tomorrow.
Typically, the sun came out during the afternoon just as we were
thinking of our journey home!
Thursday 15th October. We decided that rather than retrace
our steps to Norwich and the A11 we would travel via Fakenham and
Swaffham and take the A1065 down to Mildenhall where we joined the A11.
In terms of time it is six of one and half a dozen of the other. No dual
carriageway until you join the A11 and of course you are at the mercy of
any slow-moving vehicles. Weather was pretty filthy and so was the van
by the time we got home!!!