Clith-Torq-Clith
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Thu 30 Aug 2018 22:57
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Clitheroe, Highbridge,
Plymouth, Torquay, Plympton and Back to Clitheroe
   We both woke at five and after a
quick cup of tea set off for Highbridge as we need to drop in one of Eva’s
settee cushions that has a crease (we initially thought was due to being a
packing crease). Then on to our storage unit in Plymouth – IF – the car behaved,
if not, limp to Torquay, swap cars and head to the storage unit afterwards as we
had filled the car with ‘stuff’ to ease the weight of towing down with our
borrowed car. I said that I would do at least three quarters of today and Bear
would do the first half pulling Eva back to Cornwall on the morrow. As we left
the Wicked Witch optimistically informed us that our
journey would be just shy of five hours, she didn’t know that we planned to keep
at a steady fifty five, heating on full blast and stop every hour to top up with
water. Each time we stopped Bear leaning over, bottle in
hand was a common sight. Just for a change in tension the offside tyre
pressure light came on – so a pit stop at an actual Air and
Water made things feel very grown up. At the first few stops Bear kept
asking if we needed to change drivers but as the car was behaving, temperature
staying steady, I didn’t want to jinx things and was happy to keep going. Having
the heat on full blast whilst helping the radiator keep steady was interesting
for us. Not at all bad when we had left as it was only eight degrees but soon
enough outside had risen to eleven and Bear was in charge of getting the sunroof
just right so the sun wasn’t blasting the top of my head and the wind wasn’t too
fierce. I did have to redirect my side to stop my right foot burning preferring
the heat at chest height. We made it to the storage unit, having not too bad a
session through the M6 and M5 roadworks at half past one or put another way,
eight hours of staring at the temperature light and a quick stop to deliver
Eva’s cushion. We sat and ate our picnic lunch before offloading ‘stuff’ and
heading to see Rachel and the boys for a quick hug before driving to Torquay as
our temporary steed was not due back from its MOT until half five.
   Arriving at Hyundai Torquay, pleased to be here. Adam took out poorly
car to the workshop and passed a few comments at the blast of heat he had felt.
Oh, no sympathy from us, his five minute ordeal..........Huh. A bit of time to
spare Bear settled to chat and I took the opportunity to get my stomps done.
Simon’s trusty steed passed its MOT with flying
colours and we followed Adam from the garage at twenty past
six. Simon’s car has an older version of connector
for towing lights but a phone call to a friend and the ever
able-to-sort-us-out-son had located a mate who could lay his hand to a convertor
or “knock us one up”. This meant a journey back toward Plymouth but this time to
Plympton.
 We followed Adam’s lead through the
start of the skinny bit of road just beyond the garage and whack. A big 4x4 had
pulled in for him but no sooner than he had passed than it launched out at us
and took out the wing mirror – less than twenty feet
Bear had been behind the wheel. I get the feeling that when the men arrive with
the white, snugly fitting outfits I won’t complain as the buckles are clipped
into place......
   At Adam and Jenny’s a very welcome
cup of tea and a chance for an impromptu hug from Faye and WIlliam who were keen
to show off their trampoline. We were impressed by
them and also at how the grass seeds have sprouted into a lush green area.
 True to his word, after we had
enjoyed another cuppa, Adam’s mate duly arrived with our much needed convertor.
We were treated to Faye and WIlliam in crocodile and unicorn
onesies and were offered a bed for the night. Tempting though the offer
was, it would mess things up as Eva’s pitch was booked out for the rest of the
year once we moved off in the morning. So, after hugs all round we got back to
our journey, Bear at the wheel at eight o’clock. We swapped drivers just south
of Dudley and as Bear snored happily I tucked in behind a lorry who became my
pathfinder through the closed junctions on the M5. Once on the M6 I had another
stretch of closure, this time I tucked behind a Belle Vue coach who sadly left
me at Manchester. During the first set of miles ‘off’ the motorway I began
humming We’re on a Road to Nowhere and at the more stop than start bit
through the thirty mile speed limit section on the M6 I was humming Road to
Hell.
  Thirty miles from Clitheroe a little
light pinged on. Now I don’t give a damn how tight the men in white coats do up
the buckles, I guess having a little flexibility to cuff my nose might be
nice.......... When we finally arrived at our destination I checked the lights
on Simon’s trusty steed and all look well but I was simply too tired to check to
see if it was due to a brake light. We can depend on Eva’s light for the return
journey on the morrow.
  Leaving the car outside as the camp
site gate snaps at eleven not to open again until seven in the morning, we
bimbled toward Eva. My watch telling us a ridiculous
time, Bear carrying the cushion the caravan
shop had ‘loaned us’, bed hastily rebuilt we snapped our eyes shut at
three...........relief........
ALL IN ALL TALKING HEADS OR
CHRIS REA ???
KEPT SEEING THE SAME
THINGS..... |