From The Cross Keys to Cosgrove Park

The Happy Caravanners were busy yesterday helping their friends Babs and Grahame move. They have given up their pub, The Cross Keys in Woolstone, Milton Keynes and set up camp in an ABI Award Daystar at Cosgrove Leisure Park in Milton Keynes.

No, not forever. They intend to emigrate to Australia. Sad for us but it will be pretty tough on the Aussies too! They are going to some place I can't remember the name of to open a bar. Look out for some HC blogs from there another day cobber!

If you happen across Cosgrove Park, make your way through the beautifully landscaped grounds following the Touring Field signs. you will pass a number of fishing lakes and an array of seasonal tourers (lots of Hobby's, we can't insure them) to enter the very latest tourer accomdation at Cosgrove on a gently sloping, grassy field where the caravans are neatly edged up to the 'ranch style' fencing. You will be taken, for a moment only, by an air of peace and tranquility that epitomises Cosgrove Park. You may be approached by some friendly ducks seeking food or friendship, a swan perhaps. But then... Is it a Jet Ski, is it a Speedboat towing a wetsuited skiier? No... it is Babs laughing her head off! Ha Ha Ha!!!!! Aaaallo! she will say.

I won't tell you exactly where they are, but when you find them, you tell me. If you can't see them just stop and listen. Two nicer people you will find it very difficult to meet. Say Aaaallo back, you will be very welcome.

HC

Down on the Ranch

This weekend the Happy Caravanner will be taking the Fleetwood, yes Fleetwood, probably the last one I know, off to Honeybourne near Evesham. Why? Because my old mate Steve is coming with the lovely Dawn and Steve's 'Cadac' cooked breakfasts are second to none!

Mrs Happy Caravanner and I will be staying at Ranch Caravan Park, Station Road, Honeybourne. If you spot us, come and say hello. Don't moan about anything though because I never put my mallett away! I might even give you a copy of our fantastic Cade's Camping, Touring & Motor Caravan Site Guide.

Ranch is a lovely site in a lovely part of the Country and only about an hour from home. In the village of Honeybourne is a quaint 13th Century pub. You knew there would be one somewhere didn't you?

We will report back on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday to let you know how we got on and how we stayed dry!

Well, we didn't but who cares?

Friday night was dinner at ours. It Should have been ready when S and D arrived, but I mistimed our journey and we were late. No matter. We ate, played a bit of music, beat the intro and all that stuff from oldies, had a drink and went to bed.

Next morning, Steve was cooking breakfast as normal on the CADAC. Mmm! After which we were off to Tewkesbury. Here everybody has a caravan I thought, clearly they didn't want one, but the nice man from the Pru (other insurance companies are available) bought them one anyway while his friends dried their houses out and replastered them! Seriously, the flood must have been one horrendous disaster.

Raining again in Tewkesbury, we parked by the open air market, very handy in the wet. Here you can rummage around under mumerous tarpaulins to see if they have anything you want. Ah hah! Four umbrellas guvnor and two lovely cauliflowers for a pound!

In a gentelmenly fashion, Steve and I guided Ruth and Dawn to the shops where we expressed great interest... in the pub over the road called the Britannia. Not wishing to catch colds Steve and I decided to stay here and make camp. The women came and went, came and went, they never stayed because they didn't like it. Excellent choice of pub.

En route back to the vans, we popped in to the oldy worldy pub in Honeybourne, just to look at the menu. Anyway, the food was very nice and we could not eat any more!

Sunday, rain kept the CADAC cooled as I cooked breakfast, I could have poached the eggs I suppose. Later we went to the Evesham Vale Country Park I think it is called. It has a garden centre, shops, more shops, a steam railway and a man selling kites!

Well it was too damp to do much else, so we made tracks and packed up to go home. Mostly got away with doing the jobs outside in the dry until hitching up, then it p***ed (poured) down and I got soaked. Jumped in to the car with rain running down my back and I was too afraid to put my electric seat on in case it electrocuted me. Ruth kept trying to though!

Well we will be off to Egypt without the caravan in a bit, but when we go to Stamford in June, I'll be back as they say, well somebody did.

After that, Spain. Hasta la Vista baby! HC

Isn't It Ironic

Well that's it isn't it, 20 years of happy caravanning brought to an end less than a week after starting this blog!

There we were in the kitchen, my wife, my 2 children and myself when through the kitchen window we saw our car seemingly moving down the road of it's own accord?

Confused and concerned I rushed out to see our car coming to a standstill but attached to the rear corner of a twin axle Abbey. The gentleman towing the caravan (and I can call him a gentleman now that I have calmed down) had misjudged how much space he needed on is drivers side and decided that our family car would be going on holiday to Breen with him.

Now accidents happen, I know this, I work in insurance but this experience has defintely taught me one thing.... there is no excuse for being a complete and utter idiot.

I surveyed the scene and using a much used phrase "you could have got a bus through there" I wondered just how this situation had come to pass? Maybe Abbey are making caravans bigger than buses these days, I don't know for sure but I very much doutbt it? No, it was simply a case of not enough care being taken.

So if you are towing in residential area please do take note of your surroundings and take more care. A little more attention taken in this instance and there would be £4,000 less damage!

Got to see the funny side my wife says. Well ok, let's hope for a better summer from here on in.