After five nights under canvas, it was time to pack up and head for, not home but, our next night’s accommodation.
We emptied the tent and released all the guy ropes before deflating the air beams.
The mass of canvas just needed folding to fit into the tent bag. Luckily, after our last fight with the tent, I photographed a paper ‘model’ being folded to fit said bag (see here).
Unfortunately, my model origami wasn’t quite correct and the tent didn’t fit. We unfolded the canvas and tried a different configuration, namely folding it in half, then half again on the other axis. We repeated this pattern until the parcel was the right size to fit the bag. Easy !
First port of call was the big Tesco store in Barnstaple for fuel and snacks. As I was paying the cashier looked up and said that I qualified for a 5p sandwich (it’s a meal deal thing) so I picked up a Ham and Mustard for Sue.
Driving towards the M5, the SatNav stated that we’d have well over an hour before we could book into our hotel so I selected ‘Avoid Motorways’ and selected a suitable scenic route.
We ended up going via Watersmeet, Cheddar and most of Bristol including passing under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the boarded up cliff railway.
On the northern edge of Bristol, we arrived at the Almondsbury Lodge – our base for the next couple of nights.
Having come the pretty way, we were able to book in and find our room where Sue tested the bed – looks okay from the photo.
As Sue took it easy, I made my way to the village from which the hotel took it’s name for a bit of geocaching fun.
On the way back, I called in at the pub next to the hotel, primarily to check out the venue for an evening meal and , of course, to rehydrate after my excursion.
Beer-wise, all they had of note was Wainwrights bitter of which I sampled a pint outside in the sunshine whilst perusing the menu.
With my thirst quenched, I returned to the hotel and convinced Sue to accompany me next door for a meal.
After freshening up, we sauntered to The Swan where we had an ample meal washed down with a couple of bevvies.
We returned to our abode where we had a couple more drinks at the bar (no real ale just Hobgoblin in keg) before retiring for the night.