Stratford-upon-Avon (Day 3)

Yesterday evening we queued for forty minutes at the Thai Street Food stall whilst listening to the ZZ top tribute band play Rolling Stones hits!

The wait well worth it though. Nothing like Thai food when you've spent the day chilled by a cool wind. 

During the night the forecast rain arrived. Oh dear, did you not know rain was forecast. We watched a couple struggle to take down a heavy cotton awning one handed, him with coffee mug in hand and her with a cigarette. Is that woman wearing hand knitted trousers. Probably Marge, anything goes here. We love these people, we see them everywhere and they just add to our travels. Opposite a couple packed up their tent leaving rubbish on the grass. These people we do not love. John was red with anger and went and spoke with them. They denied it belonged to them. Unbelievable!

By late morning the weather had settled and we decided we would defiantly stay another night at Stratford allowing the weather to improve a little more and the holiday traffic to pass through.

We walked into the town alongside the river Avon carpeted green in a flotilla of water lily pads.

Two men were magnet fishing, they informed us that once they'd found a live hand grenade. As you do. 

Stratford upon Avon is a quaint English town, birthplace of William Shakespeare, with a beautiful river where a squadron of swan's parade, divided occasionally by the small manually operated passenger chain ferry that crosses between the river banks.

The town centre was closed to traffic, as a large market was in town which we walked around stopping to photograph the half-timbered Tudor buildings. Move along ladies. Not like John to be so polite, normally, shift your axxxe is his line of attack. Rude, you sound like Marge! The town was busy and this meant it was hard to take photographs, but there we go.

Today is our twenty-third wedding anniversary and suddenly a beacon of light appeared. Pizza Express, we thought they'd all been closed down. Great. Time for lunch. Wine, don't mind if I do. The meal was nice the service appalling, but we didn't let it spoil the day. (And no Angela wasn't eating from the child's menu, perspective is just a bit extreme in Stratford!)

We have enjoyed spending time at Stratford upon Avon. The show was O.K., but not as good as we expected it to be. However we've met some interesting people, seen some fantastic vehicles, eaten tasty food, listened to some entertaining music and as an added bonus the Red Arrows have flown over twice along with a Catalina on their way to the Midlands Air Show at Ragley Hall. We are surprised at just how many vans are still here this evening. Like us they will leave tomorrow to continue their adventures. We're heading to Norfolk where hopefully we will find some better weather. Don't worry Marge. The terrain is nice and flat there.

Stratford-upon-Avon (Day 2)

Yesterday evening we watched the sun go down casting a soft pink glow over the racecourse.

Are we getting old Marge? The music's loud, isn't it? Disco, Classic hits, soloists playing guitars, not to mention the music on a loop from the onsite fairground which is actually quite good. And the drinking, all day and late in to the night, they must have hollow legs. Marge has attracted a little attention which has been nice. But she can't compete with the bling, paint work and distressed look of some of the other vans. But good news Marge, John is looking to have you resprayed with raptor paint. Rapper you say? No Marge raptor, just google it. Any particular colour you prefer?

This morning after a beautiful day yesterday the rain fell and the wind blew cold. This was to be the best day of the weekend as far as the weather went. We waited for it to settle a little before we took a walk around the show site talking to people about their products, vans and life's. All around us were bloggers, people with face book pages or on Instagram. Their vans adorned with stickers and signs. 'Adventure before Dementia', 'On Tour', 'Living the Dream', 'Van Life' 'On us Holidays'.

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. The weather looks grim so we are going to move on in hope of finding better weather. "How about somewhere different tomorrow, Marge?" You should have a sticker printed with that on.

Stratford upon Avon

That's typical of transporter people fairy lights hung on their awning. Each to their own Marge. The campsite is an interesting habitat and the behaviour of its campers entertaining not always in a good way. We can see you picking dead skin off your feet whilst we eat our breakfast! Even though we were leaving the Oxford campsite this morning we were presented with cardboard crowns and a platinum jubilee flag. Forced fun. We hate it!

Today we had a drive of around an hour and a half to the racecourse at Stratford upon Avon. We weren't expecting the show we were attending to have too many people camping at it. Mistake. It was rammed!

 

Every type of van you could imagine was here. marge seems to be in a little section of crafter vans alongside lowered T2 VW's and as always those big white plastic fridges known as motorhomes. who let them into a campervan show? Across in the other field are the overland vehicles. The International Campervan Show and Overland Adventure Show is a show for enthusiasts run by enthusiasts and there was no doubting it.

Walking out we stopped to talk to a couple with a Ptarmigan cabin on the back of an old army lorry, they were in the process of converting it into an expedition vehicle. John had worked on these over thirty five vehicles years ago at Airtech and spent a long time talking to the owner whilst Angela put the world to rights with his wife.

This evening the atmosphere is charged, the music loud, the burning charcoal catching in your throat the sight un describable. We'll let the photographs over the next few days show you this. Meanwhile we need to show her off to a man whose just noticed Marge.