South Lytchett Manor - May 2016
This is the third time we have been to this site over the years and it is always a pleasure to arrive there. We came in just behind Stella Mary with her two doggy co-pilots and immediately in front of Bill and Phyllis who had stayed on our drive for a couple of nights to break their journey from oop north.Once we had pitched up we walked down the road to the St Peter's Finger pub/restaurant to grab a menu in order to see if we could organise a group meal on the Thursday evening.The weather had not been very kind to us and the entertainment of the afternoon was one of our members being towed out of a sloping part of the rally field as it had been so wet there was no grip at all. They did fortunately find a flatter area and were quite safe for the rest of the rally.
This is the third time we have been to this site over the years and it is always a pleasure to arrive there. We came in just behind Stella Mary with her two doggy co-pilots and immediately in front of Bill and Phyllis who had stayed on our drive for a couple of nights to break their journey from oop north.Once we had pitched up we walked down the road to the St Peter's Finger pub/restaurant to grab a menu in order to see if we could organise a group meal on the Thursday evening.The weather had not been very kind to us and the entertainment of the afternoon was one of our members being towed out of a sloping part of the rally field as it had been so wet there was no grip at all. They did fortunately find a flatter area and were quite safe for the rest of the rally.
On Thursday there was a choice of buses to take. Poole in one direction, Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage in the other. Given time it was perfectly possible to go on to the rest of the Jurassic Coast by bus. We chose to go to Swanage and then catch the steam railway for a nostalgic trip through the Dorset countryside.We had booked the restaurant for 6.30 so from about ten past there was a steady stream of SMOCies walking up the road. One corner had an enormous puddle (well flood really as I saw animals going around two by two looking for the Arc) and we had to cross over the road to avoid being swamped by a wave every time an inconsiderate driver went through. However, that was the least of our problems as once we got to the Pub we found that their water main had burst and so they had to close – so no dinner! Pity they did not ring and tell us before our damp walk. We were offered a free bottle of wine as compensation if we came back the next evening. Some of our folk did go back and had the free wine but there is a leaflet given out by the site which has the offer of a free bottle of wine between two people so they did very well indeed! Fortunately there is a Chinese takeaway which will deliver to the site entrance.
Poole is always worth a visit and fortunately when we went the sun shone for a change. I love walking along the quay and seeing all the boats and lusting after the mega-yachts in the Sunseeker Yard (which I subsequently found out is now owned by the Chinese). Once things had dried out a little back at the site we got out the giant Jenga and Dominoes and several people came over to try their luck.We tried to find a suitable walk for everyone to join in, but it had been so wet that it was not possible to do the circular walks that the campsite suggest. Never mind – perhaps next time we come here.Coffee and raffle as usual on Sunday morning. I had given everyone a pub name to illustrate and put in their 'van window for everyone to guess, so we had the results of this and also the Link Ladder quiz provided by Pat. We had to leave on Sunday afternoon as our 'van was being serviced at Essanjay in Poole so we spent Sunday night in their car park. We did go back into Poole, walking this time, and had a wonderful cruise round the islands in the harbour fortunately in the sunshine. |
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