But we need a map!

Talk about frantic! Going away a day after dry docking was always going to be hectic. Removing the grime inside and out of FS took the best part of Friday, and we hadn't even started thinking about what we should put on MB. When Ian eventually went to MB, his heart sank, he couldn't believe what he saw. The bonnet, windscreen and overhang of the roofline, covered it was with pigeon poo. If that was not bad enough, they had obviously been gorging on berries because red staining was the result! That took nearly an hour to clean! 10.pm and went to bed knackered with still no thought of what to take with us for the holiday. 

Rising early, it was all hands on deck to make ready for the off. By midday, we were just about ready to leave and had all but fastened seatbelt and engine started when I remembered the eggs! Not just that, but all the veg was also still in the cupboard. Imagine what we would have returned too in a months time! Anyway, eventually we got underway and another surprise. Arriving at Sherwood Pines and both Ian's brother Alan and sister Sheila were already there. Good grief....they live the furthest away, we the nearest, yet they beat us to the park! With no allocated pitch, (just turn up and find a site) they managed to claim three pitches near to each other and all with electric hookup. Forest surrounds us, so I live in hopes of spying some wildlife, although to date, I have noticed a lack of bird song!

 

After the usual meet and greet and after coffee and cake, we went for a wander. At the reception, we asked for a map of the walks and cycle rides. Got a big thumbs down on this request. The visitor center was where we needed to go and to be fair we were told to either walk along the road or head through the forest, the distance being equal "Roughly ten minutes walk" said he. Of course, we decided the forest route was the way to go but although he roughly pointed us in the direction, without a map we were always going to get lost! The ten-minute walk turned up to be nearly an hour and thanks to Ian's sister Sheila with  GPS on her phone, managed to eventually find the center. 

 

Hmmm, That sign doesn't bode well! Doggie in the foreground is Skye, Alan and Angela's gorgeous flat coat retriever. Yea, we get our doggie fix this week.

We had taken so long in finding the place that it was shut so all that way for nothing. Ah, but then Sheila spied a board and what should be on the board but a map of walks and rides. Phone cameras out to take a photo, and at least now there was some hope of finding the way. Deciding not to go back through the forest, sure enough the walk down the road back to the campsite was but a stone's throw away. Not the 10 minutes told to us but a 5 minute walk and we were back to the reception. 

 

If the weather holds (and it is looking decent) the bikes will come out. Hmm what will tomorrow bring!.