Up north or Bust - Our tour of Northumbria and the east Coast of the UK Day One 7th May

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 Up north or bust!  (Well something like that!)

We have tried to make a break for it up north in the past – to the Peak district. But, for various reasons, we had to abandon that trip last September and come home earlier than expected. So, it is we are making another attempt but this time to Hadrian’s Wall, Northumbria and back down the East Coast!

 

7th May Tuesday

Starting mileage: 18379

Away by 0915 from the storage site, it’s an easy drive up to Haldon Hill where we call in at the services for our first coffee stop. I manage to grab a bacon roll. Alas, there are no veggie rolls for Mag. They have run out of stock. What is a loving husband to do? I eat my roll in front of her, commiserating with her bad luck and misfortune between mouthfuls!

Fill up with diesel - £80 worth and then up the A38 and M5. It is easy driving.   Stop at Strensham for some cool drinks; our air conditioning unit has run out of coolant and we have the blowers on full. 22C and lots of sunshine .... What is this? It has been raining down south since September.  We are unsure how to handle this freak weather phenomenon!

We finally arrive at the Egerton Arms, Chelford. We are trying a pub stop and get a nice welcome. Staff are chilled, food is good but pricey as is everywhere now. Great atmospheric little pub. 

Opting to park out back on a track next to a field, we find it a tight squeeze with a few other motorhomes already here. On rough grass and sloping at a funny angle length way, if it rains we will be in trouble as we can see the dried out ruddy ruts beneath us. Ever cautious, I decide we will sleep in the front tarmac car park and put up with any road noise, so we move!

For some reason, our fridge doesn’t seem to be working on gas! No idea why but it’s very frustrating as we are off grid for the night! Code 3 error – gas not getting through! Yet, all gas taps are open, gas tank is 60% full. The ignition works as I can hear clicking and then the whoomph as the gas ignites but 30 seconds later it fails and code error 3 flashes once more on the fridge screen. After six goes we give up. Fortunately, the fridge is not fully stocked. It works fine on 12V when the engine is running and we haven't been able to test it yet on EHU but it did work last week when I plugged it in  back home. A mystery then which could curtail our plans for off gridding as much of this trip as we can!

Actually, that gas tank indicator is something that has bugged me constantly since we got Bryony! It is always inaccurate – always showing far less gas in there than there is in actual reality. Which is the better way to be, I guess. Trying to read the gauge underneath is an absolute nightmare, requiring Simone Biles (USA Gymnast)  like contortions; as is remembering which way to turn the valve to close it when you are looking up at it from an upside down position! Anyway, enough moaning. Autosleeper Broadway owners will all know and suffer this!

In the setting sun, the red brick pub looks lovely, all warm and orangery glow. Road traffic settles down significantly as the evening wears on. Some clear skies with only a few scattered clouds so I might get some star gazing done tonight. 

Tomorrow, we visit Jodrell bank and then hopefully call in at Marquis at Preston to get the fridge fixed, before heading a little further north up M6. 

Route:  A38....M5....M6...A54 ....A535....A537

Costs: £80 fuel.  Coffees £5.  Pub meal £48

Postscript: I managed to get a brief period of stargazing – sort of. I have some new equipment – a little red box computer, a new guiding camera and little scope and a new app that manages it all. For weeks I haven’t been able to get the three to talk to each other. Tonight, for the first time, it all connected and worked. By which time, all the stars had disappeared behind clouds! Still, it all works now so I am happy.

for the next part of the trip: https://wherenexthun.blogspot.com/2024/11/up-north-or-bust-our-tour-of_5.html