Vintage Vehicles

Walking home this morning from Pam's we were passed by a procession of vintage vehicles making their way through Portreath ...







They were advertising the Steam Rally to be held at Stithians Showground in August ...

Weekend In Exeter

We'd noticed in the West Briton (local weekly paper) that a Caravan and Motorhome Exhibition was happening at Westpoint Exeter and as there was something we really wanted to get for our motorhome we decided that it was a good excuse for a weekend away. As it was only about two hours to Exeter we left after lunch yesterday, stopping at Sourton Services for a cuppa and then driving on until we reached the Caravan Club Site which is situated right in the middle of Exeter Racecourse. The weather was pretty foul on the drive through Cornwall but as soon as we crossed into Devon we seemed to leave the fog behind. We checked in and were given the choice of three pitches so we took number 81 which was not too far from the toilet block and was also beside the track which led to the race course so handy for walking Hamish. After helping to get the electrics connected and the TV working with a new Freeview box I left Mike to have a siesta while I took Hamish for a run as he'd been really good on the journey. We set off down the track ...

and he immediately made friends with another dog out for a walk ...

I decided it was easier to go in the opposite direction or they'd have been playing all the time so we turned right onto the racecourse. This is where we were ...

Looking up and down it was the most perfect place for a dog to have a run ...


I tried to get Hamish to pretend he was about to jump the fence but he would insist on looking in my direction!

We've now moved on a bit further and Hamish seems to think that the horses will be running up the road ...

Round the bottom bend and another sign ...

Then we're within sight of the grandstand ...

We're now almost back to the campsite which is opposite the grandstand ...

and the tower ...

and just in case you've forgotten why you're here!

We then returned to the RV so Hamish could have his tea and Mike and I could have a glass or two of wine!

This morning we awoke to a much better day with the sun shining. This is the view from our RV towards the grandstand ...

and this is looking to the racecourse ...

Considering that the site only opened for this season last Friday it was amazingly busy. We left the site and crossed the track ...

then made our way the short distance up the M5 to Westpoint. We flashed our bus passes and so got into the Show at Seniors rate (bonus!) and were told to park up with other motorhomes ...

It was a short walk round passing this lovely sign at the roadside ...

and we could see the main building across the field ...

I just loved this car which was on the display outside the Main Hall ...


The whole Show was dog-friendly and so we went into the Hall and made our way around the perimeter stands. After passing various food stalls with wonderful smells we found just what we'd come for! Silver screens ...

We like the internal ones and had been looking online but really wanted to chat to someone about them. A very nice lady told us that these were now discontinued but they were the properly shaped ones for our model of van so we snapped them up before she sold out! A bargain at £39 when all I'd been able to find online were ones that cost in excess of £70!! As it was rather large to carry around we popped it back to the RV and then investigated another area of the Show.

There were loads of secondhand vans for sale and of course they were all open for visitors so I had a great time looking in lots of them. It's always nice to see the other layouts and internal decoratons. One was so over the top with flounces and satin material - yuk! Hamish was a little angel as we dragged him around because he does have a tendency to cock his leg on anything that is upright! No embarrassing moments thankfully. From the secondhand van area we went up the slope to the bits and pieces stands passing this chap on our way ...

Nothing for us unfortunately but I spotted something that I knew Jo and Paul wanted for their caravan. There were some Aquaroll covers at £6 which was a bargain so after a quick phone call and a decision about which colour to get, I bought them a navy blue one. At this point we decided that as we'd been everywhere and got what we wanted we'd head back to the RV for a coffee and then get on the road for home. I fancied stopping at Meldon Reservoir for lunch and so the map came out to try and remember how we got to it!

We left Westpoint, crossed the River Exe on the M5 ...

and very soon we were parked at Meldon. We decided to go for a walk before lunch so made our way up to the Reservoir ...




We had walked on the Granite Way several years ago which leads to the viaduct at Meldon and we thought that from the car park we'd be able to get to it. Wrong! We could see it in the distance ...

but after looking at the map in the car park we realised that when we'd last walked it we'd been staying on a campsite which had access onto the track and it was nowhere near where we were now! Plan B - back to the RV for lunch. It didn't take too long to get home from here and although there's quite a bit involved in getting the RV out of store and loading it (I'm always amazed at how much we need for a short time away!), the weekend break was definitely worth all the effort.

Trail Sign Success!

Walking Hamish this morning we passed the sign and it has been changed! I can't believe how quickly Cornwall Council have acted. Well done guys. Now all visitors to Portreath will be correctly informed of directions out of the village.

Mineral Trail Signs

The Mineral Tramway is a great way of allowing walkers and cyclists to enjoy Cornwall on the safe tracks which are away from traffic. Just recently we've noticed that a number of new signs have been erected around the village informing visitors of the routes and the distances they are from their destination. We happened to stop outside the Portreath Arms the other day and I looked up to see one of these new signs.

There was just one problem - they're pointing in the wrong direction!! If you want to get to Devoran which is at the far end of the Coast to Coast Trail then apparently you head for Portreath Beach and possibly swim around there! If you want to get to Illogan which is just up the road from Portreath you apparently have to go via Devoran! So this morning I took a photo of the sign and emailed it to Cornwall Council in the hopes that they'll send someone down to put it right. Watch this space as they say ...

Portreath Tramroad

Mike has had to go to London today as he has an appointment at Moorfields Eye Hospital early tomorrow morning. Paul very kindly offered to pick him up at 9 o'clock and deliver him to Redruth station to catch the London train and so I've had a whole day to myself with a list of jobs as long as my arm!

After walking Hamish this morning to see his Grandma and report that Mike was on the train and stage one of his journey was going to plan, we came on home to start on some very necessary housework. It was all going splendidly until Hamish decided that he needed a trip out again for another constitutional! Back home to the housework again. A break for lunch then more cleaning!

After hearing that Mike had arrived at Paddington, met up with Jamie and found the Travelodge where they were staying tonight I said the magic word to Hamish - Walkies! It was now just after 4 o'clock but still very sunny so we set off along the Mineral Tramroad ...

It's quite safe for pedestrians although the odd bicycle can be found creeping up behind you but thankfully this cycle ride had finished by the time we were walking it ...

It runs parallel and just a bit higher than the road ...

I don't let Hamish off the lead as there are many tracks and routes down and I'd hate him to get inquisitive and get hit by a car on the road. This is what I call the cyclist's tree ...

I swear it has been left to grow like this so it can catch cyclists who are busy chatting and not concentrating on where they're going!

We then approached the first of the road crossings ...

The road is very obvious now and there's nothing to stop Hamish from zooming off downwards ...
Approaching Bridge and we come to a small bit of the track that is privately owned ...

There were a few daffodils in bloom here ...

Then another gate ...

and another guide to show us which way to go ...

The Bridge Garage was just below us ...

I decided to go as far as the Factory shops and then turn around ...

Looking on over the fields you can see Redruth in the distance ...

So it was back on the same track ...


and we were soon at the road crossing again ...

We passed the seat and I promise I didn't stop for a rest even if my legs were complaining ...

Now we're back to where we started the tramroad ...

Along Sunnyvale Road where they've had to build a nice new wall because the road kept falling down into the field. It looks very smart now!

A short step home to a very welcome cuppa and a big bowl of water for Hamish.