Devon - 9th-13th April 2009

Thursday 9th

T had a long and trying, eve-of-Bank-Holiday, drive down to Exeter in order to meet K who had been working in Plymouth. The nearest food to Exeter, St David's station was a Pizza Hut on a nearby retail park. We couldn't believe that they had 'sold out of everything' by 8pm at the start of a Bank Holiday. Carried on - T in a black mood (well greyish anyway, because he was pleased to see K) - to Teignmouth which seemed to be in 'ghost town' mode. The only place which had any lights on was what looked like a little corner cafe. Pushing open the door we entered what seemed like a parallel dimension - a beautiful Greek restaurant, bustling, noisy with a great welcome from the owner Nick (what else could his name be!). The food was great and plentiful and we left with our faith in the world restored. We headed back up the hill to Holcombe Down and soon found an ideal, silent lay-by where we slept the sleep of the contented.

Friday 10th - Good Friday

We awoke to the sound of silence - we'd only noticed one car pass during the night. We decided to head down to Shaldon for a fly-by before our brekkie stop high above the coast at Labrador Bay. After a little leg-stretcher we carried on to Dartmouth, where we'd arranged to meet T's sister. The ferry was, as usual, scary - just what would happen if the little shunting boat missed the raft with the cars? Parking in Dartmouth on Good Friday is a nightmare. We eventually found a spot in a car park and had no change for the machine - we were beyond caring by then so just left The Rosabella to the whim of the traffic wardens, reckoning that she would be able to charm herself out of trouble! Had a couple of beers and and an hours chinwagging with Gayle and her daughters before continuing towards Salcombe. We drove through Hope Cove before finding an excellent site at Bolberrow Farm, where we esconsed ourselves before returning to Salcombe for a mooch and fish and chips on the harbour. The place seemed to be full of 'okay yah' twelve year olds squealing and giggling and talking about boys being 'soooo immature'. Were we really like that once (without the okay yah bit)?

Saturday 11th
We had another peaceful night, this time on The Rosabella's first ever, proper camp site, and awoke to a beautiful, clear, frosty morning. As we brekkied outside we were told by a very enthusiastic site owner about a walk down to Hope Cove via a coastal path. We decided to stick to our original plan of heading back to Salcombe for a further mooch in the sun. We had coffee on the harbour and bought a prezzie for The Rosabella - a 'Live Life In The Slow Lane' sticker, hoping it may raise a smile in those stuck behind us on the road, or, if not, annoy them even more! Returning to the site after lunch we went on the recommended walk along the coast and in to Hope. T couldn't resist the temptation to help a couple of blokes who were struggling to load a dinghy on to a trailer and then spent half an hour regailing K with the story of how he managed to cut off the electricity supply to a whole French village by driving a dinghy on a trailer, with the mast up, through the HT line. A quick pint in the Hope Cove pub and a walk back to the site in the gathering dusk, after watching a gorgeous sunset over the sea. As we walked stars appeared, twinkling in a deep blue sky. A tractor was still ploughing although it was after 10pm - it was an idyllic night, another deep, peaceful sleep in The Rosabella's care.

Sunday 12th - Easter Day

Another beautiful morning, warm and sunny. K awoke to see a giant rabbit emerging from the tent on the next pitch - well, a man with pink bunny-ears anyway! A leisurely breakfast outdoors and then T dozing whilst pretending to do yesterday's crossword. He was wearing his new shorts for the first time - they had been his favourite trousers yesterday but he managed to set fire to them by standing too close to a candle the previous night, burning his knee in the process. He had been looking for shorts in Salcombe yesterday - no need now. It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good, and all that! We decided to stay put at Bolberrow and pottered about fettling The Rosabella and listening to our Van Morrison albums. Very chilled out! We walked again in to Hope Cove and saw our first swallows of the year, bluebells, butterflys and, on the way back in the dusk again, bats. Another beautiful sunset and we decided to eat al fresco, complete with duvet jackets and woolly hats to fend off the frost!

13th April - Bank Holiday Monday
Time to leave came early as T drove to a cliff-top car park for brekkie, with K still in bed. We took in the spectacular views before heading for home. traffic was heavy - we lunched in a jam and swapped drivers at Exeter. We enjoyed a leisurely drive home, T completely relaxed with his feet on the dashboard, listening to the countdown of the 'most played records of all time' (Everley Bros, 'Dream' in 3rd; Queen, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in 2nd; and yes, Procul Harum, 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' in 1st place, just in case you're interested!). Stopped off to see K's parents in Bristol, taking the route over the suspension bridge and avoiding the traffic, and then on to K's for a good sleep before work on Tuesday. 529 miles covered and, all in all, an excellent, relaxing Bank Holiday trip.

Tonfanau, 28th February - 1st March 2009

Saturday 28th

Lying-in at T's on Saturday morning but couldn't resist the sunshine, so packed The Rosabella and headed for our favourite site, Cae Du at Tonfanau. Went via Newtown in order to pick up supplies at Morrisons and a few bits and pieces needed for fettling of The Rosabella. Managed the former but Focus DIY useless - as normal. Lunch overlooking the golf course and sea at Aberdovey and stopped in Towyn in the hope that the little hardware shop in the High Street would have the tools T wanted - result! And a plug for the sink as well! Cae Du was still closed for the winter but the farmer's wife was persuaded that we were self sufficient and didn't need the switched-off services - we bought eggs as a thank you! K went walkabout while T tried to sort the aerial out - couldn't do it because it was dark but rigged temporary arrangement so soft music over dinner of pasta and smoked salmon.

Cae Du, Tonfanau






Sunday 1st

Another lovely day - woke to the sound of the sea and oyster catchers. Lay in with lots of tea watching pochards and mallards on the sea. After brekkie sorted aerial out - it's now fitted and working. Spring-cleaned The Rosabella and T managed to whack his head very hard on the back door. Nattered with the farmer as we left the site, heading for Aberdovey for lunch. It was very busy for St David's Day but we managed to find a balcony seat in The Dovey Arms and had our roast beef lunch outside - at the beginning of March! Home via Llyn Clwedog, picturesque as usual and back in time for tea. A good, rlaxed, no-stress weekend.

Llyn Clwedog

Scotland, 11th - 15th February 2009

Wednesday 11th
We left home 8pm-ish for our first proper trip in The Rosabella. An hour later we were still eating our chips in Shrewsbury! We headed north, up the M6, turning off at Killington Lakes. After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing we found a little pull-in on a lane overlooking the lake and bedded down at about 1am. It was cold - again, our completely OTT anti-freeze measures did the trick.












Killington Lake



Thursday 12th
Heading further north through the odd snow flurry. We decidede to visit Colin and Diana (two of K's old students), and Ripley (their assistance dog!) in Glasgow on the way up in order that the trip home wouldn't be too hurried. Stopping for soup and sammos at the M74 services it was snowing heavily - gritters, snowploughs and a number of accidents was evidence of how bad the weather was becoming. After a cuppa with C&D we resumed the trek north with another couple of hours to do.
Glencoe was dark and scary but T remembered The Clachaig Inn which he'd visited on a climbing expedition years before. We stopped off there for food and a drink. The ambience was great and there was a bit of live music to boot.
We set off again, looking for a pitch, ending up in Glen Nevis. We bedded down at about midnight, not as cold as the previous night but slightly worried about being moved on - every layby except ours had 'no overnight' signs.









Glen Nevis

Friday 13th

Awoke from what K announced as 'the best night's sleep ever!' Although snow was all around it seemed much milder. T returned after his visit to nature's bathroom announcing that he'd had an audience of yaks (well, Highland cattle anyway).

After tea in bed T decided to see how far up the Glen we could take The Rosabella. K refused to move so we set off with her still esconced! The lane became more and more of a struggle and soon The Rosabella was behaving like a 'fairy on a gob o' lard', to use an old Black Country expression. The final fifty metres proved too much, resulting in a delicate reversing manoeuvre, on an ice slab, over a narrow wooden bridge. K looked a picture (of something) in her thermal jim-jams, walking boots and furry hat as she shouted (useless) directions to T through Rosabella's open rear doors.
As T brought Rosabella to rest, K made an unexpected friend. A robin, obviously highly entertained by our shenanegans ahd taken a shine to her. He followed her back to the bridge and before long was pitching on her fingers, confidently taking crumbs from her palm. He was joined by a great tit and while T recovered from the trauma of the reversing exercise they took turns sitting on her hand and feeding.











K makes a new friend, whilst T struggles!!!



We were close to the car park at the end of the track and in one last effort we pushed, revved, slipped and slid to the top. safely parked it was time for brekkie before we prepared for our walk to the Steall Falls.



K: "You said it was just a little ramble!"

T: "It is"

K: "So why is there a sign saying 'Danger Of Death' at the start of the track?"

T: "That's to remind you not to give all of your food supplies to small birds!!"

The walk was spectacular and would have been an easy stroll if not for the ice covered rock underfoot. As it was it took a lot of concentration as we walked upstream, past water-cut gashes in the rock, solid waterfalls, along the edge of sheer drops to boulders. We squeezed between a couple of boulders and the vista opened in front of us - a big, snow-covered meadow with the waterfall, An Steall Ban, obvious in the distance At the far end, just below the falls there was a three-cable 'Burma Bridge' to be negotiated. K's arms were only just long enough but the crossing was one of the highlights of the day.

Cable bridge below Steall Falls

On the way back down we met three Canadian girls who were stereotypical accidents waiting to happen - trainers, jeans, thin jackets, setting out at 3.30pm on a midwinter day. T suggested to them that they may find it a bit of a struggle further up the track and, thank goodness, they turned back with us.

A quick cuppa and then back in to Fort William for supplies - tonight was going to be Haggis du Rosabella. A quick spin back to The Clachaig where K asked the receptionist if she knew of anywhere we could pitch for the night (a bit cheeky really seeing as how The Clachaig is a hotel!). The receptionist was very cool (in the positive sense) - 'no problem, just stay on the car park'. Result! Haggis was fab - the real thing for T, veggie version for K - although T preferred that as well - followed by an evening next to the huge log fire in the bar, lovely beer and a great atmosphere. The Rosabella was a short stagger away and we both slept like logs, apart from one short punctuation when we were entertained by a piper at two in the morning.

Without a doubt, one of our best days ever.

Saturday 14th

Back into Glencoe for brekkie opposite Bidean nam Bian, the fantastic triple cliff of the Three Sisters of Glencoe. Decided it would be bad form to park on the helicopter landing pad so parked in a layby for 'Princess Eggs' and photos.

Off south again - for part of K's bithday prezzie, coupled with Valentine's Day, we had a room booked in a hotel at Moffatt and wanted to be there in time to take advantage of warm baths. Spectacular views of snow on The Trossachs and lunch on the move as we made our way through the Glasgow traffic. We arrived at Moffatt at around 5.00pm, looking forward to said hot baths and changing into posh clothes for a special St Val's dinner. K, therefore, was very grumpy because the bath took for ever to run hot. It all worked out in the end though, and complimentary champagne cocktails made it all feel better.

Sunday 15th

After a great night and a huge brekkie it was off again with a plan to stop off at Samye Ling monastery on the way home. The Tibetan tea room was open this time, and the building of the new block is coming on apace. After a couple of hours, including an hour of very therapeutic meditation in the beautiful prayer room, it was back on the road again, heading for home. We stopped for a quick cup-a-soup at Gretna before continuing hammering (or as close as The Rosabella gets to hammering) south. Almost home and the 'phone rang - Keith wondering whether we were going to the pub that evening. We were still north of Manchester actually but decided we should milk every minute of the weekend and so kept going to Montgomery, The Dragon, supper and a good relaxing end to the trip with Keith, Lizzie and Sue.

All in all a good trip. We covered 860 miles, The Rosabella is fab, comfy and we didn't freeze to death - we can't wait for our next trip.


View Scotland, February 2009 in a larger map

Saturday 31st January 2009, Bala

We had dinner with Nick and Liz, old acquaintances we had bumped in to over new year and who had bought a campervan since we lat met. Very nice, very amiable. As we'd arranged to visit Allan and Norma in Colwyn Bay on Sunday we decided we should take the opportunity for our first overnight in The Rosabella.

It was the coldest night of the year as we headed for North Wales. We decided to detour to Bala and found a nice layby in a lane, a few yards from the lake - our first wild-camp on our first night, setting the tone for most of our nights in Rosabella.

We were definitely in overkill mode for staying warm, with thermals, sleeping bags and a double thickness duvet. We were roasting, although the condensation was horrendous.

Brekkie before we set off (including the now-legendary 'Princess Eggs' - see the recipe section) - on the wrong road! A twenty mile detour ensued although when we did eventually turn up Allan was almost as excited as us when he saw The Rosabella!




Survived! The coldest night of the year, and no frostbite related injuries!!

Sunday 25th January, Black Mountains

Our first trip out in The Rosabella was to Amanda's 41st birthday party at her house in Glaesbury. Lots of music, food and laughter - Amanda seemed surprised by the number of friends that she had!

We just had to take Rosabella up in to the Black Mountains, near Talgarth, just to make a cuppa, try out the cooker, play with electrics and generally fettle!

Rosabella's first trip

The Story Begins Here.........

The Rosabella is a 1994 SWB Fiat Ducato and she came to her new home on 17th January 2009.

It was a bitter-sweet moment - we were glad to have her, but sad for what it meant for Mom and Dad - his deteriorating health meant that he couldn't really drive again in the way that he used to. Mom helped by saying that they were glad she (Rosabella) was going somewhere that she would be used, and that they hadn't wanted to sell her to a stranger.

She didn't know she was The Rosabella by the way, and neither did anyone else. We've never felt the urge to name a vehicle before. This felt just right, and it tied in with a song we'd been singing at our gigs that winter.

She needed a bit of surgery to get her through MOT in February 2009, and the rain still comes in a little - she is getting on a bit though, so we can excuse her being a bit leaky!


The Rosabella arrives, Jan 09

January 2010
Sadly, T's father passed away just before Christmas 2009. He had built The Rosabella and there were plenty of references to 'The Van', as it was called before we took it over, in the eulogies that T and his brothers delivered at the funeral.
It makes it even more poignant now, when we find some little user-friendly wrinkle that he invented, and we hope we can do The Rosabella justice - if we have a fraction of the fun that T's parents had with her we're going to be very lucky people.

Derek Hedges, 1931-2009