Hoses, trenches and fire dousers.

We needed water! And not just us. Camping on a proper site should be not have been a problem but with all three of our motorhomes wanting to top up the tank and having the awnings up, we would have had to take them down just to drive to the tap. A solution was found though. Three hoses, two connectors,  join them together and connect to the tap. Alan's Motorhome was the furthest away and it easily reached his filler point. We did get several bemused looks, though when the hoses were stretched right across the camp.

It reached!

Next Chris and Sheila turn

Finally, ours.

 

Sheila had a reasonable night, painkillers are a marvellous thing! Of course taking a bike ride was now out of the question, but walking was still in the mix. 

 

Alan (eldest) Sheila and Ian the baby.

With the temperature already soaring to 25 deg, ice creams were mentioned and so off we all went to the visitor center.

 

Well you had to didn't you?

 

Then because we are all kids at heart we followed the Gruffalo trail and entered the deep dark wood! As walks go most enjoyable. We found all the characters, and some where interactive.

The three men discussing what squirrel was made of! Men! Never changes, does it. They just have to know!

Back at the site and whilst the rest of the family chilled out, we went off with our bikes to find the WW1 trenches.

The area then known as Clipstone Shrogges in Sherwood Pines Forest Park was used by the military during WWI, and replica trenches were built for the purpose of training troops. Some of the trenches were open to explore and the information boards telling the story of some of the local soldiers were a fascinating read. 

 

 BBQ night and Alan volunteered (or maybe was coerced?) into doing all the cooking. The rest of us searched cupboards and fridges to produced enough food to feed the 5000! Then instead of playing UNO (tad difficult for Sheila to hold her cards) Mexican Train came out. During the game a right old to-do was heard across the way. Two lads had arrived in their car, loads of alcohol, music blaring and a BBQ lit with wood. It states very plainly in the rules that only gas BBQs are allowed, Rules are made for a reason and lighting a fire in a Forest is why this is so. Anyway we found out this morning that it was the chap in his camper van behind us that went and found the rangers. Armed with a bucket of water they threw it over the fire much to the lad's horror. Then told to turn off music and if they wanted to get funny about it the Forest commissioners were back at the reception and if informed, they would have been kicked off the site. We never heard another peep from them!

The blue pop up tent gave enough coverage for the top half only, the legs stuck out into the open air. The other guy slept in the car.

Another hot day forecast tomorrow, not sure what the plan is but I think Ian has just about persuaded me on another bike ride.