Tuesday, February 17, 2004

A trip to Bath in the Caravan

Just got back from our Anniversary weekend near Bath. We drove up with the caravan on Friday, our 3rd Wedding Anniversary as well as being Valentines Day. I had found a site to stay at in the Best of British booklet, the Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park, near Chew Valley Lake in Somerset. After we had set up the 'van Ian made a lovely dinner and we just chilled out watching the TV for the rest of the evening.

The next day, Saturday we drove to the Bath Park & Ride carpark and then got a bus into the city. First stop was the Roman Baths (www.romanbaths.co.uk) which were amazing and fascinating. The excavation of this huge Temple and Bath complex of 2000 years ago is extensive and given that its in the middle of the city, right next to Bath Abbey has been all done underground. Afterwards we visited the Pump Rooms and tried the spa water (an acquired taste!). It was bitterly cold but we still decided to go on one of the open top buses that tours the city and very nearly ended up with hypothermia! but a great way to get around and see everything properly. Afterwards went back to the most amazing fudge shop where we had watched a lady making the fudge (www.fudgekitchen.co.uk) and bought a slice of Triple Belgian Choc to go with the Maple & Walnut I had earlier. Has to be the worlds best fudge!!!

That evening we went out for our Anniversary Dinner at The Carpenters Arms (http://www.buccaneer.co.uk/carpentersarms/index.htm)a lovely olde worlde pub and restaurant I found on the internet (and only 5 mins away from the caravan site). There was lovely big log fire burning in the bar which was welcome seeing it as was -3C!


Saturday had been a lovely sunny day with blue skies although bitterly cold. On Sunday it was a lot greyer so we decided to pretty much take the day off and only went out for an hour to drive to Wells and Wookey. The scenery is so pretty all around this area that one doesnt mind just going for a drive. The rest of the day we chilled out reading the paper or watching TV. Later Ian cooked a fantastic prawn curry for dinner.

Didn't get up until 10a.m. this morning (Monday)! Had breakfast of bacon & eggs, sausages, mushroom and baked beans with fried bread (its amazing what Ian can produce on that little caravan cooker!) Packed up nice and leisurely and drove off site at 12am. Had a lovely drive home through some very pretty scenery and villages and got home just after 2.30. Have just spent a couple of hours unpacking the caravan and putting it to bed again for another month or so. Can't see us taking her out again until the end of March when I have a week off. This is the first time we have been out in her in the Winter and its been a different experience, what with night temperatures going down to -4c! The water has frozen, the electric was initialy intermittant, although we did manage to sort that out fairly quickly. Cant wait for the next time, although its lovely to be home!
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