Waltham Chase Caravan Club

Last of the Summer rallies saw a good turnout on the rally field.

Due to a change in my working hours, we actually arrived in time to make a sneaky visit to the local pub on Friday afternoon! This was followed up by a BBQ back on the site.

On the Saturday evening Lynda & Geoff kindly supplied a buffet for everyone, as they were celebrating their Wedding anniversary.

On Sunday morning the rally officers had arranged a cooked breakfast for everyone, with a little help and a few frying pans we all enjoyed a full English breakfast.

Whilst on this Rally we received the sad news that our secretary, David Bradley had passed away, from his recent struggles with his health. He will be sadly missed.

Rest in peace David.

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As we were staying in the area, we were fairly prompt arriving on site, only to find the Rally Officers (Sid & Eve) packed up and ready to return home. Unfortunately Eve had tested positive for Covid and had no choice but to return home.

Monica and I decided to step into the Rally Officer’s shoes, and shortly after we had set everything up, Three vans arrived on site in procession.

Over the course of the week we had 10 units on site, sadly Robbie and Sue had mechanical issues with their Land Rover, and had to be towed back home after only 4 days on the rally. This was better than their trip to Pennington, but I’m not sure that we are going to see the Land Rover on a rally again!

The week was filled out by plenty of eating and walking, and taking in the local sights.

Below are some images captured during the Rally.

Sadly just a quick 2 night stay for us, but we really enjoyed this rally site.

The rally field had its own wildflower meadow, which gave everyone a chance to spot the butterflies and wild orchids. The site also had a good network of footpaths and bye-ways available.

The best news of the weekend was that David was finally allowed home after a lengthy stay in hospital.

Below are a few images from the site.

This was a new site for us and the weather was very kind over the whole rally.

It was good to see Robbie and Sue join us on the Rally field, but sadly their starter motor disintegrated on the first day, and they had to return home on the back of a breakdown truck!

Linda and Chris stood in as rally officers, and were kept busy organising Fish and Chips on Friday night as well as walks and a bus tour on the Isle of Wight.

Here are few images from the Rally.

Due to Covid restrictions, this was our first outing with the caravans. Over the course of the Rally Seven units made it to the Rally field.

The weather certainly tested our awnings with several days of strong winds and rain, sadly our canopy succumbed to the high winds. The wind also made it quite a challenge to record our daily bingo numbers. Lynda Bezant won the Prize (supplied by Linda Davies)

Everyone on the rally took advantage of the sites location to visit different areas. Our own visit into Wales saw us caught out walking in a torrential hailstorm, when we returned to the car at 11.30am the temperature was only 1.5 degrees centigrade!

On the last Sunday we had our Coffee morning, this was a nice relaxed affair with just Four units left on the Rally field.

Thanks go to Geoff and Linda for looking after us, and to Geoff for his usual high standard of rally field.

Below are a few photos taken in and around the Rally Site.

Leasam Farm, Rye – September 2020

As new members we hadn’t been to this rally field before and were pleasantly surprised to find a lovely view to greet us, together with excellent weather for the entire week. We did lots of exploring in the area and it is a part of the country that we haven’t been to before. The coastal trips were very good and we even managed to get to a couple of National Trust properties, despite not having booked in advance.

We also celebrated our 29^th Wedding Anniversary and brought this forward by a day to avoid the ‘Rule of Six’ which came into force on the Monday. We did a buffet for each table, which seemed to go down very well and then some delicious cakes appeared from the rally marshals. It was lovely to share it with you all.

Geoff & Lynda Davies

View from our caravan

Old Dungeness Lighthouse

Cakes with sparklers on!

Swan on the canal next to the Military Road, just outside Rye

Thanks to Lynda Davies for submitting a report for the Rye Rally. Mac

Its been a funny year, and this is the only rally that Monica and I, managed to attend. the pandemic put a stop to our rallys in the early part of the year, and then a broken window in our caravan prevented us going away.

Seven units made it to Limmer Pond, and enjoyed fine weather, and a pub meal on Friday evening.

Hoping that next year we will be able to attend more rallys.

If anyone has a rally report or images they wish to add to the blog, just let me know.

Mac

Wednesday 14th
Rally officer’s arrived on site to set up signs for the upcoming rally.

Here is Geoff trimming the grass.

Thursday 15th August
Five vans arrived on a fine day Mo & Ian,Chris &Lynda,Sid & Eve, Chris & Steve and David. Plans were made for pub meal at the Harewood Inn for Friday Evening. Nice Full moon rising at 9.00pm.

Friday 16th August
Wet start to the morning. Still raining when David and Jane joined us. They arrived in time for the evening meal at the pub.

Saturday 17th August
Much better weather today. BBQ in the evening, although an early finish as there was a chilly breeze. Below are a couple of photos on how to put up an awning.

Sunday 18th August
A group of us ventured onto the footpaths of Herefordshire to find the Harewood Inn, this involved trekking through fields of Maize and Sugar beet. We made it to the pub with only a slight deviation, and had a drink to celebrate Sid’s 76th birthday. On the return some scrumping was done as the path also passed through an orchard.
Helen joined us on the Rally field in her motorhome.
In the evening we had a BBQ and cake in honour of Sid’s Birthday.

Tuesday 20th August
Today saw the welcome return of the Clegg Family to the Rally field, this was their first rally this year due to many unscheduled trips to the hospital, and Stevie’s recuperation from his accident.
Sid organized a visit to Tewkesbury to do a town walk, the group were impressed with the stained glass windows in the Abbey.

Wednesday 21st August
Today a visit to Monkland Cheese Dairy, we had an informative tour of the dairy, followed by a ploughman’s lunch.

Thursday 22nd August
Sadly nothing to report from the rally, as we were out all day on a trip to the Heart of Wales.

Friday 23rd August
The afternoon saw most of the group take a cream tea on a River Wye boat trip. In the evening it was the first time during the rally that we were all able to sit outside for our supper.

Saturday 24th August
Lovely Sunrise this morning, although I am not sure how many of our group witnessed it (photos below). Temperature up to 28 degrees centigrade today, with the same forecast for tomorrow. A fine evening allowed us to enjoy our supper in the Sunshine.

Sunday 25th August
Most of the members took of in different directions today, visiting various locations. After our evening BBQ we were entertained with Mo’s card game! Later in the evening a really clear sky gave great views of the Milky Way and Jupiter.

Monday 26th August
Last day of the Rally for us as we head home, the rest of the group are booked in at a local pub for their “Last Supper”

Finally a few assorted photos from in and around the Rally Field

Five caravans made the journey down to Birdham, this is a popular location for us as it is close to Chichester and also the coast for some dog walking! Although we had overnight rain on Friday, the weather was generally fine, and by the end of the rally the temperature was up to 30 degrees centigrade! Not much else to report from this rally, but looking forward to our next rally, which gives us more time away.

Sunset seen from Itchenor, just down the road from the site.

A couple of views of the Rally Field.

A fabulous location with fantastic views to the south, south west and south east. Those that visited the site a decade or so ago wouldn’t recognise it now with the grass mown to lawn perfection.
The views were beautiful from its 150m elevation when the sun shone, but come the south westerly gale in the early hours of Saturday morning the intrepid rally officer had to set out into the rain and Force 7 gale to secure the event canopy, like a mariner furling the sails on the yard arm of a clipper rounding the Horn!
Intrepid campers that we are we still barbequed on Saturday evening – sans canopy – sitting out, behind wind breaks, as in days past.
A lovely site, but not in gale force winds.

Thanks to Steve Webb for supplying this Rallys content.