Month: May 2015

Down the sarf coast this weekend – and it was full of cockney barra-boys.

We wanted to get away for a couple of days at the end of half term, so after looking to see where we hadn’t been, we settled on Bournemouth. Decided that as we didn’t need the car when we got there, we would let the train take the strain, and eighty quid for the three of us – which wasn’t too bad.

Set off from Severn Tunnel Jnt on the commuter train at 7:55, dropped off by Becs we headed to the carriage we *may* have a booking on, only to see that no booking tickets were out, and it was packed. So for the first half hour into Bristol we hovered around the corridoor. Once in Temple Meads we found a four seater and relaxed a little bit. One change in Southampton which had a big train with loads of seats and 3 and a bit hours later we were at Bournemouth, and it was drizzling.

Got a taxi the mile or so to the hotel – a fiver, bloody cabbies must be rolling in it, we tried to check into the Premier Inn. No joy, but at least we could drop our bags off, with a promise to return around 2. We hadn’t realised that the Wheels festival was on, but we headed into town first for a beer and some nosh.

After a little walk around and up and down we found nothing much, but a slightly worn shopping place – we got a paper, and went for a beer in the standard – Slug and Lettuce. Couple of pints later we headed over to the burger place for some nosh – one hour wait! So we walked back to Wagamamma’s on Kate’s insistence, and after a 15 minute wait in the wind we gor a bench and had some decent noodles. Once sated we headed back to check in.

After another queue we got our room, and bless my soul if we didn’t manage to get a “sea view with balcony” – which was nice. After a view of the pier and a little unload, we headed down to the sea front – to see what we could see, by the sea. We walked by the sea, and the fun sounded like it came from the top, loads of noise and screeching. We walked the front and watched Kangaroo Joe do a wheelie on a quad bike on the sand, then up to the fun.. It had finished, we saw a formula ford car, and some go-carts and some lawn-mowers – the sun was shining.

Back down into the town, and a search for a decent pub – we failed and went into the Brasshouse – which is like a Wetherspoons, only not quite so nice – quick beer, then back to the hotel for a real drink and a sit in the biiig window. It was after seven now, so it had to be supper time. We headed on back down the avenue, and tried the burger place again – hour wait. So went to the other burger place – Longhorn, which was quite a nice place, had some stags in and a queue for the toilet – but slightly different beer and a really good burger – moist and pink, and a real tasy burger.

Into the shop to get some provisions, which didn’t get eaten in the end – and back to the hotel and very quickly to sleep – except for Kate who busied herself with the Sims…

Day 2

Up early for a quick run from one of the piers to another, the main one was open, so got to go on for free. Back, cold shower to cool down – then over to Weatherspoon’s for a quick sausage roll…

Walked over to the train station – about a 20 minute walk from the hotel, and onto the quick train to Poole. Out of the train station and it didn’t look great, but once we got down to the “old town” things picked up, and we had a look at the million pound boats outside of the sunseeker factory, and snuck in a little beer in the sun (and wind) on the front. We walked to the end, and saw the old lifeboat station, then back across the old town to lunch.

We stopped in a place recommended by tripadvisor – the Crown Hotel, which did look a little dodgy as we entered, and had a big fat dog on one of the benches – but we stayed for a drink, and then decided on lunch here – it was grand. Had free breads to start, then a massive “starter” of mussles, and a great beef suet pie. We sat in the courtyard, and it was a little breazy, but pretty good. Then we walked some more, and found another decent pub – Rope and Anchor, which had a pleasant fruity guy running the show.. After all this fun, we headed back up to the station and the train back to Bournemouth.

Was pretty tired by now, and took the longer way back to town, walking past all the food and drink shops – back in the hotel, we had a quick beer, and decided on the Indian Lounge – which was a pretty good find – we sat in the “window” which had a great view of all the stag dudes and dudesses walking passed. My Vindaloo was good, Madras not so much.

Went back to the hotel, Kate queued for a Pizza and I listened to some SKA from the main stage on the beach. For 45 minutes, it got cold, but then they came back. Tired – bed.

Next morning we had the Premier Inn breakfast, and due to being so honest we had to pay for it, too many queues and too hot. But I loaded my plate and it was sufficient. Dossed in the room, then hiked to the station for the return. Got back a little early, so had to lift and was screwed over by £8.50 for a taxi home.

Good time, but doubt I would go back, unless it was to specifically see the Wheels festival..

Hotel: 8/10 (sea view / balcony)

Longhorn: 8/10

Indian Lounge: 7/10

Ma and Pa came up this weekend, it was Mothers birthday and a Bank Holiday, so they could take advantage of a spare room and kip down with us.

Friday was as normal, but just for me, as Sian stayed at home and mowed the lawn and took Kate to the pictures. Not too much had in the pub, and an early night.

Up on Sat and out for a wee cycle, it was windy again, and a little rainy. I took the bike out and as soon as I got on it the rain began, just a “light drizzle” but enough – and that wind, it is never ending. Just a quick 17 miles today – I say I am on a taper, before CarTen next weekend, but in reality I was just tired and lazy. Folks came about 11, and we headed off after waiting for daughter for an hour. Up the M5 to the first sop off, Eastington and a nice place called the Old Bagers Inn. Looks a little dodgy from the outside, but I did my research, and although the car park was packed, it wasn’t and we got a good seat and a couple of lime and soda’s and a decent burger (if a little dry). After nosh it was onward to the main event.

Woodchester Mansion is part of the National Trust, and is in Woodchester, I think. We stopped off before to look at the view, then down a tiny lane to the car park (£3) before walking down the track to the mansion. I had quite good expectations on this place, which were unfortunately largely unfounded. It is a big house that was nt finished, and you are supposed to be able to see how they built it. It was fine, if a little on the expensive side, at £7 each – but you could see stuff. They have “the builders in” which as part of an unfinished mansion gives the impression it is unfinished because the work is still happening. That’s not the case, but with scaffold all over it is a little “hmm whateva”. Toilets out the back, which Sian noted that there was a bloke having a wee with the door open – which turned out to be pops..

We had a mooch, and a tea, which we were overcharged, but pops pushed our refund, then we had a lift back which was “no charge” – which was nice.

Jst a short hop home, and even though we had a big lunch, we managed to get a big, fat Indian down our necks.

Next day mother was booked into the Celtic for afternoon tea, so we went down Chepstow for a look around – which as it was Sunday morning consisted of looking at closed shops and having a tea in the Lime Tree. Then over the normal place for a Sunday – the garden center and farm shop – we made our way back and they headed off for tea. We had arranged for some flowers to be put on their table, which weren’t which is disappointing from the Celtic Manor, we never got an excuse.

Monday was a niceish morning, so I took the last ride before CarTen, and squeezed in a 40 before the May fair, and a couple of Stella’s.

Good Bank Hols all in all…