| Bridport, Dorset 2010 Good Friday 2nd April We decided to have a break over Easter and fossil hunting was our aim. Bridport seemed the best idea as we knew the site at Bingham Grange and the local area from out visit in September 2009, and at school break time being an adults-only site was essential! We got up late having decided not to load up the caravan the evening before, which we soon regretted as the heavens opened and it rained hard and non-stop until 12:00. Kenny got drenched and I had to put his coat in the dryer before we left. He had been singing, 'We're all going on a summer holiday', as a celebration of the spring weather but I was optimistic that it would improve as had been forecast. The meteorologists got it right and the rain stopped just after noon revealing a bright day with some blue sky that we followed all the way to Bridport. |
| Caravan Adventures with Christine & Dorothy |
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We had a very late lunch at 4pm consisting of 2 wraps with various chilli fillings for me and ham and cheese sandwiches for
Kenny. All was washed down with a glass or two of rose wine. We spent the remainder of the day relaxing, reading, bickering
and laughing, ending the day eating our rhubarb and ginger brulee and watching a DVD on Kenny's laptop.
Kenny. All was washed down with a glass or two of rose wine. We spent the remainder of the day relaxing, reading, bickering
and laughing, ending the day eating our rhubarb and ginger brulee and watching a DVD on Kenny's laptop.
We arrived at Bingham Grange after a 1¼ hour drive and the
sun was shining. We were on a grass pitch this time as that was
all they had left when I booked. After the heavy rain the ground
was water-logged and quickly turned to mud and we decided
that we would not book a grass pitch in future as the risk of
treading mud inside the caravan was high.
sun was shining. We were on a grass pitch this time as that was
all they had left when I booked. After the heavy rain the ground
was water-logged and quickly turned to mud and we decided
that we would not book a grass pitch in future as the risk of
treading mud inside the caravan was high.
| Dorothy & Harry on site |
Although we did have neighbours
either side, the view from the caravan
was lovely across the field (not
surprisingly empty of tents although
there were a few dotted among the
grass pitched caravans) to the
wooded walk at the bottom of the
slope. Once settled in we went to the
local Co-op store to stock up with food
and particularly wanted to get the
ingredients for the rhubarb and ginger
brulee. Kenny had been given some
rhubarb from his current customer's
garden and he had seen Delia's
advert for Waitrose showing the
recipe so we just had to do it!
either side, the view from the caravan
was lovely across the field (not
surprisingly empty of tents although
there were a few dotted among the
grass pitched caravans) to the
wooded walk at the bottom of the
slope. Once settled in we went to the
local Co-op store to stock up with food
and particularly wanted to get the
ingredients for the rhubarb and ginger
brulee. Kenny had been given some
rhubarb from his current customer's
garden and he had seen Delia's
advert for Waitrose showing the
recipe so we just had to do it!
Saturday 3rd April
A heavy shower of rain woke us early, it was still dark but I heard the cockerel start crowing soon after so knew it was about 5am. Kenny slept until
nearly 10am and I had got up and showered (after queuing for about 15 minutes as I was later than normal along with nearly everyone else!) before
waking him with a nice cup of tea. Needless to say it was raining, or April showers as Kenny politely called it. We had no real plans so had a late
breakfast (or brunch really) and decided that if we did nothing all day but read our books and lazed around in the caravan it didn't matter, we both
needed a rest.
The rain fell all day and apart from a trip into the traffic jams through Bridport before ending up in Morrisons where we bought more supplies, we didn't
venture out again. Reading, listening to the radio, playing Trivial Pursuit (Kenny thrashed me for the first time in history!) and eating were the activities
of the day. The curry we bought at Morrisons was really good and we finished the day watching a DVD as per usual.
A heavy shower of rain woke us early, it was still dark but I heard the cockerel start crowing soon after so knew it was about 5am. Kenny slept until
nearly 10am and I had got up and showered (after queuing for about 15 minutes as I was later than normal along with nearly everyone else!) before
waking him with a nice cup of tea. Needless to say it was raining, or April showers as Kenny politely called it. We had no real plans so had a late
breakfast (or brunch really) and decided that if we did nothing all day but read our books and lazed around in the caravan it didn't matter, we both
needed a rest.
The rain fell all day and apart from a trip into the traffic jams through Bridport before ending up in Morrisons where we bought more supplies, we didn't
venture out again. Reading, listening to the radio, playing Trivial Pursuit (Kenny thrashed me for the first time in history!) and eating were the activities
of the day. The curry we bought at Morrisons was really good and we finished the day watching a DVD as per usual.
Easter Sunday 4th April
Luckily, and true to the weather forecast once more, Sunday dawned bright and sunny. We had
a late breakfast again (why rush when you're on holiday?) and set off for Seatown and a walk
along the beach hunting for fossils. But when we found the car park full with a multitude of other
people with the same idea we retraced our steps and decided to go on to Lyme Regis where we
knew we could park okay and get hunting.
The weather remained sunny but the breeze was a bit nippy. We had dressed for warmth and
once on the beach were glad we had. First we walked along the promenade where I had an ice
cream and Kenny had some chips as we had to wile away a couple of hours until the tide had
gone out enough to get along to the fossil part of the beach. Being eager to start our hunt we
both risked getting wet feet to get through a gap where the tide had only just receded enough to
pass and then spent the next two hours or so along with lots of other people digging around for
treasure. (Note: always start your fossil hunting on these beaches on a falling tide). I was
pleased to find two nice crinoid (fossilised sea-lily) pieces and a huge belemnite.
Luckily, and true to the weather forecast once more, Sunday dawned bright and sunny. We had
a late breakfast again (why rush when you're on holiday?) and set off for Seatown and a walk
along the beach hunting for fossils. But when we found the car park full with a multitude of other
people with the same idea we retraced our steps and decided to go on to Lyme Regis where we
knew we could park okay and get hunting.
The weather remained sunny but the breeze was a bit nippy. We had dressed for warmth and
once on the beach were glad we had. First we walked along the promenade where I had an ice
cream and Kenny had some chips as we had to wile away a couple of hours until the tide had
gone out enough to get along to the fossil part of the beach. Being eager to start our hunt we
both risked getting wet feet to get through a gap where the tide had only just receded enough to
pass and then spent the next two hours or so along with lots of other people digging around for
treasure. (Note: always start your fossil hunting on these beaches on a falling tide). I was
pleased to find two nice crinoid (fossilised sea-lily) pieces and a huge belemnite.
We got talking to a couple who had been reprimanded by the coastguard
for not leaving the beach promptly once the tide had started to come in the
previous day. This is a dangerous area for fast rising water levels so extra
care must be taken at all times. Getting a pocket tide timetable is
particularly useful when fossil hunting as some parts of the beach are
unreachable until the tide has started to recede.
for not leaving the beach promptly once the tide had started to come in the
previous day. This is a dangerous area for fast rising water levels so extra
care must be taken at all times. Getting a pocket tide timetable is
particularly useful when fossil hunting as some parts of the beach are
unreachable until the tide has started to recede.
To view any image full-size
just click on the thumbnail
just click on the thumbnail
| tide going out |
| view from the caravan |
| Lyme Regis Cobb Harbour |
| view to Charmouth |
| the fossils we found |
We were exhausted when we got back to the caravan and showered to rid ourselves of the salty sea air residue before sitting down to eat nibbles, dips
and various other things we decided to finish up that were in the fridge and cupboards.
Monday 5th April
Time to head for home and Kenny sorted out the outside stuff as usual and I did the inside. Kenny got talking to our neighbours on the adjacent pitch
who were also leaving to go home and they explained that they only stayed at adults only sites now as apparently they were having lunch in their
awning one day and a Frisbee came flying in and landed in their food!
Julie
April 2010
Kenny's Trip Tip 1
If you have an internal water pump inside your caravan and the hose that goes into the water container curls up at the end you do not get the full
amount of water out so have to top it up more frequently. To prevent this happening push about 18 inches of 22mm overflow pipe over the end of the
hose and it keeps it straight and rigid therefore at the bottom of the container. We did this and it works!
Kenny's Trip Tip 2
Even the best grass pitch will turn to mud quickly in wet weather so be prepared with extra mats in the caravan doorway (and on the step if this can be
done safely) to stop the mud treading in. Slip-on shoes also help as they are easy to remove before treading into the caravan proper.
and various other things we decided to finish up that were in the fridge and cupboards.
Monday 5th April
Time to head for home and Kenny sorted out the outside stuff as usual and I did the inside. Kenny got talking to our neighbours on the adjacent pitch
who were also leaving to go home and they explained that they only stayed at adults only sites now as apparently they were having lunch in their
awning one day and a Frisbee came flying in and landed in their food!
Julie
April 2010
Kenny's Trip Tip 1
If you have an internal water pump inside your caravan and the hose that goes into the water container curls up at the end you do not get the full
amount of water out so have to top it up more frequently. To prevent this happening push about 18 inches of 22mm overflow pipe over the end of the
hose and it keeps it straight and rigid therefore at the bottom of the container. We did this and it works!
Kenny's Trip Tip 2
Even the best grass pitch will turn to mud quickly in wet weather so be prepared with extra mats in the caravan doorway (and on the step if this can be
done safely) to stop the mud treading in. Slip-on shoes also help as they are easy to remove before treading into the caravan proper.