Three Steps to Heaven

Today, another fine day so we set out to find the commemorative stone to Eddie Cochran who died near Chippenham in 1960. It was easy to find as it was on the main road in at Roden Hill.

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During the 60s there was a story going around that Dave Dee (of Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich) had attended the accident as a young Policeman and had taken charge of Eddie's guitar. Apparently that's true.

Next stop was Castle Coombe. Been there before but had to take another look. A lovely village to spend a little time at.

Then on to Bradford on Avon. I had only driven through there in the past so we decided to stop. Some lovely ancient buildings but not a lot to keep us there long.

Randa

A few photos from yesterday:-

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There were dozens of classic cars on the roads yesterday, from Moggies to Mustangs, MGA's to Healeys. We followed a perfectly kept 1965 Angila 105E for a long way towards Bradforn on Avon. Although drven by old folk, I had a job on my hands keeping up with him along the narrow, winding country roads. These cars, once considered as family cars are tiny compared with every car on the road nowardays although we can say tht about our Touran now. Car park spaces are no longer big enough for all the Chelsea Tractors around.

Today we went across to visit Devizes and the 29 lock Caen Hill. Devizes s a very nice looking town.

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We fell foul of the NT again today however when we tried to park at Avebury. We arrived in the car park and were prepared to pay £7 for the car park. It was free to see the stones but there was no way to pay cash and 4G was not active so the only alternative would be to walk 400 yards up to the offices within the village and walk 400 yrds back with a ticket before taking the walk again to see the stones.

We wern't sure where to go but there was a mention of a village car park so we drove around, viewing many of the stones on route, only to find that this was only for permit holders and disabled drivers.

I again wondered how foreign visitors would manage.

We’ve spent the past couple of days staying close to the campsite as the weather is lovely and the campsite is so peaceful. Full marks to Peter Williams the owner. He does love his ride on mower however.

This year and because of covid he has taken bookings on a no deposit arrangement, just let him know if you can’t make it. Would you believe that there are a number of people who have let him down as they couldn’t be bothered to phone up and cancel.

Last Thursday when we were returning to the campsite I was wondering about filling the car up with diesel in readiness for our trip home but decided not to bother until the weekend. Many thanks go to the BBC for causing panic and alarm on Thursday evening by broadcasting that there is a fuel shortage only to take it all back on Friday morning by announcing that people shouldn’t panic buy. TOO LATE, all garage forecourts were already full.

We did get enough fuel to ensure that we cold get back home but have been determined not to use much since.

Mrs R has made a new friend, a single lady camper who turned up in a lovely little Go Pod which she bought new from Red Lion Southport recently. She’s added lots of flower power to it. After a tour of the van, the missus returned to say how impressed she was with it and it had everything a loan traveller (or two travellers as it has a large double bed) would need. including room for a porta potti. It would fit in our garage a treat. I might play along with that and she can tour Europe and take me along too.

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We have been talking rather tongue in cheek for the past two years about how she’d manage camping without me and she has started to tow the Eriba again. Worrying isn’t it?

There’s a rather good boot sale about 100 yards from the campsite every Sunday morning weather permitting, so we took a stroll down there this morning. Came back clutching more books and wooden frames for Mrs R’s knitting projects. Couldn’t resist this book :-

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Randa

I was waiting for someone to say something on that but not you Mick as you're an old bugger like me.

For all those youngsters among us I quote:-

£sd (occasionally written Lsd, spoken as "pounds, shillings and pence" or pronounced /ɛl. ɛsˈdiː/ ell-ess-DEE) is the popular name for the pre-decimal currencies once common throughout Europe, especially in the British Isles and hence in several countries of the British Empire and subsequently the Commonwealth.