Staycation 2023 - Christmas Market

Tuesday

As expected the weather was terrible from the moment we set off.

Our mood was one of optimism that no matter what, we'd enjoy the trip.

Even a prang that broke the left mirror couldn't ruin the "midweekend" entirely. It looks as though we will need to splash the cash... How about a Just Giving appeal?

The Ohrex (the satnav) decided to avoid the Dartford Crossing and go what I always think is the long way around the M25 via Gatwick and Heathrow airports.

It saves us the £2.50 toll and maybe a lot of sitting in traffic.

We were on the road early, for us 9am is early. I had set a departure time of 8.30am but that was simply to get us moving. After the heavy rain there was a lane near Ashford and another near Maidstone that had the hard shoulder (emergency lane) flooded. later I read on Google that the flood near Ashford had spread across the entire three lane highway. 

We were making good time at our regular 55mph on the GPS driven HUD (Heads Up Display) and stopped as usual at Cobham Services on the M25. Reggie walk and pee time and us to get a coffee. Once again we went to McDonald's. Usually the coffee is good. Cheaper than other outlets but this time too watery and weak.

Maybe I need to buy an inverter so we can run the Bosch Tassimo when parked up?

Once back on the M25 the rain got harder and harder... By the time we approached Heathrow it was tipping it down so hard the wipers could hardly copy.  The overhead message boards said surface water and to slow down. Most sensible drivers did, but there were still others that ignored the water.

We tried another stop at the M1 services at Watford Gap.  I think this maybe the oldest service area on the motorway network. It used to be called the "Blue Boar" many years ago and was "famed" for its terrible blue plastic furniture, both chairs, tables and padded sofa-like seating.

Sadly there was no room for a 7m van. The parking is pretty tight and so we went back on the motorway and went to Leicester Forest East.  Can't see much forest though.

We eventually parked. Note to self. Ignore the "caravans this way" signs and go to the car parking. It's easier and actually exists.  The "caravan" parking is generally full of trucks in any case.

Arrival at Chatsworth Caravan Club site was around 3.30pm. Still daylight.  Luckily the River Derwent was behaving itself and staying inside the boundaries of its banks. There was evidence of the previous week's flood with the huge and deep puddles.

We checked in and setup on Pitch 112.  Nice enough. By the time we had all the electric setup it was time to take Reggie to find the dog walk.  It's enclosed between two walls from the original stables and dogs can run off lead.  Reggie seemed to enjoy himself sniffing about in the leaves.

In the evening we had homemade bolognaise and cauliflower rice washed down with a fruit cider from Sweden, bought at Aldi! I managed to get the TV tuned in and we watched a few things. Internet at the Chatsworth site is not very good at all though.  Even with a 50% signal at 4G it was slow, but was fast enough to get YouTube working on the Amazon Firestick. We watched a few motorhome/vanlife vloggers.

Wednesday morning

Reggie was unsettled all night and I ended up taking him out for pees and generally wandering around evert two and half to three hours.  We changed the bed configuration three times! From extended single, to single to double to accommodate him. He likes to sleep not in his own leopard skin bed but on the settee side of things next to Claire's feet!

After breakfast he had a walk and then we locked up the van and left him with his licky mat and peanut butter. And off we went to the market.  Using the back gate key we were on the way. Various campers had said on the forums that wellies were a necessity. It turned out there were maybe two others that had wellies on! Walking boots would have been sufficient.

The walk was maybe twenty minutes to the house and the market alongside it.   In the course of the day we bought a few gifts for neighbours and ourselves. A coffee and hot chocolate and then later a bratwurst with cheese for me and a local farmhouse sausage for Claire. We were probably there and then walking time about three hours.  Reggie was waiting when we got back. Ready for his dinner!

And of course we had to buy a Bakewell Pudding!

Here are the photos I took. Many of these can be seen on our Instagram site.

Reggie had another walk in the dog walking area. More sniffing. More piddling.  Then a couple came in with a pair of Labrador bitches.... Wow. Reggie has in heaven. Chasing around with them most unlike a 13yo dog!  Eventually we got him back and headed back to van.  

It was fish and chip night at the site and the van had set up by reception. Reggie and I went and we had chips and gravy. Really nice non veggie meaty gravy!

A bit more TV and then it was bed time.  This time Reggie slept through the night until about 7.30am. We had an alarm set for 8am. Maybe chasing the "girls" had tired the old boy out?

Thursday

Hometime. We were up early as weather forecasts weren't good for the drive home especially in the south. In the end we were almost home when it started to rain heavily at times.  Even the Dartford Crossing went smoothly.

We arrived home in rain and unloaded the van.  I messaged our friend Matt to get the Amazon link for the new mirrors. Like he has, we will fit the shorter armed ones. less likely to bash them against posts and oncoming vans and trucks!

We need to get this sorted before our next staycation in December.