BACK HOME - GOOLE

Sunday 26th July – Friday 7th August 2009

Two of my friends in Goole have decided to get married and the groom is so short of friends that he has asked me to be Best Man. Consequently I am now back home and to my dismay found that all my suits seem to have shrunk. So it’s off to the tailors to get a replacement and off to the hairdressers for a haircut.

The weather on the day of the wedding was terrible with heavy rain for most of the day. To make things worse the reception was held at the Boat Club and because of the number of guests, most was held outdoors. In spite of everything it turned out to be a wonderful day and a lot of credit needs to go to Mark & Christine’s many friends who helped with the planning and running of the reception.

The next part, and probably the final part, of this years Mooch is slowly out to the Lake District, and then even slower back into Goole for around the end of October.

WHITE WATER PARK - STOCKTON-ON-TEES [131]

Wednesday 22nd July – Sunday 26th July 2009

The approach to this site is fairly straight forward if you follow the directions from the Caravan Club. This is another site that I have visited before [site 51 but not on blog] and I use to bring a ship up to the jetty at Portrack Sewage Works before the barrage was built and most of the area was desolate and run down. Since then the area has been developed and now has the barrage facilities with pubs, restaurants and hotels.

The site has all the usual club facilities with a games room for those that require it. Buses run from near the barrage and a footpath runs to a nearby Asda supermarket. More stores are in the retail park on the other side of the River Tees. The seaside resorts of Redcar and Saltburn are within driving distance and like all such facilities are much better when the sun shines. More details of local attractions are available from the information room on the site.

If you are keen on water sports then this site is ideal. The pub and restaurant at the gate belongs to one of the large nationwide chains but offers food and drink at reasonable prices.

Analogue TV signal good
Digital signal available

£14.38 per night [3 adults for part of stay]

OLD HARTLEY - WHITLEY BAY [130]

Friday 17th July – Wednesday 22nd July 2009

Friday 17th July 2009 was the wettest a windiest day that I had ever towed in. The rain was continual and all roads had deep surface water with many flooded areas. However, after taking it steady, I managed to tow the 76 miles in just over 2 hours. I’d been to this site a few years earlier, and I don’t think much had change. From the entrance it slopes down to the cliffs and all pitches have good sea views. Some are not suitable for awnings, so you need to indicate your preference when booking. Many of the pitches slope although the club has terraced some to reduce this, the warden will always advise on pitch allocation.

The approach routes in the handbook and on the website are not accurate as the A186 has by-passed Shiremoor, but most visitors had managed to work it all out.

Out and about offers many things to do and public transport passes the entrance although the nearest bus stop is a short walk along the road to the right. From Whitley Bay you can catch the metro into Newcastle however the buses travel there and can be quicker in most cases. My daughter’s family, who had arrived, enjoyed their stay but thought that four nights were not long enough to enjoy all the local attractions. A pub at the entrance serves hand pulled beers and offers meals. Fish and Chips and more pubs are at nearby Seaton Sluice. I am reliably informed that the leisure centre in Whitley Bay has a good pool.


Analogue TV signal good
Digital signal available

£12.35 per night [1 adult]

WILD SLACK FARM - CASTLETON [129]

Monday 13th July – Friday 17th July 2009

The Caravan Club website seems to be confused with the Castleton in North Yorkshire and the one in Derbyshire as they have all C/Ls in these towns listed in both regions. Wild Slack Farm is in North Yorkshire and if you haven’t yet visited you really need to put it on your list of things to do. The C/L is in a separate area to the adjoining small commercial site, but all pitches have stunning views over the surrounding moors. Martin Foord, the owner is never very far away and always manages to appear when you arrive. He will show you the available pitches and offers advice on the best way to set up your outfit as some pitches do slope. There are a couple of showers [50p token] and a washing machine and dryer are available.

The surrounding area is ideal for walking, and there are many interesting places to visit further afield by car. A leaflet is given to new arrivals detailing local attractions and provides useful information about the surrounding area.

Bus and rail facilities are available in nearby Lealholme which is about 1 mile away. There is a shop, garage and pub in the village, but if you require more substantial facilities you will have to travel to Castleton or further afield to Whitby.

I have found a useful site for information on digital TV which will tell you the direction to point your aerial. Put in the postcode and name of the site and tick the box for professional aerial installers,
www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/


Analogue TV signal good
Digital signal available

£10.50 per night

THE HOWARD - ROSEDALE ABBEY [128]

Thursday 9th July – Monday 13th July 2009

I visited this site about the same time last year [81st site] and don’t normally return to sites because of time limitations. However my daughter and family were visiting so I decided to join them.

Very little had changed apart from the weather, this time it was sunny and drier so most of the pitches could be used. The wardens were the same and they even remembered my name [a little worrying]. Rosedale Abbey looked beautiful in the summer sunshine; however I have noticed this with most places.

Since my last visit one of the pubs in the village had ceased trading but all of the other limited services are still available. Mobile phones still don’t work but a local TV transmitter, ready for digital telly had been switched on and most people onsite managed to get reception. Once again I have found that tree movement plays a big part in digital reception and I believe the future is looking bad for fixed aerials on caravan roofs. Time will tell.

Analogue TV signal good
Digital signal variable depending on tree movement.

£10.20 per night [3 adults for part of stay]

ROXTON - BARTON-UPON-HUMBER [127]

Sunday 5th July – Thursday 9th July 2009

As with many C/L’s the approach roads to this one get narrower the nearer you get. But this does not present any problems as there are several passing places; however the lasts few hundred yards are a bit undulating so make sure your best china [or rum bottle in my case] is well secured. The friendly owners, Derek & Jean made me very welcome and showed me were everything was. The pitching area is all on level grass although one pitch on hardstanding could be utilised if the weather dictated. Eggs are available if required.

Barton-upon-Humber has all the necessary services and there is a bus service between Hull and Scunthorpe if you want to travel further afield. A rail service to Grimsby also operates from the town. The Humber Bridge spans the Humber estuary close to Barton and is a must for anyone who has not yet seen it. At present the toll for cars is £2.70 and £4.90 for a car and caravan. Barrow-on-Humber which is closer to the C/L has a shop and pub and I believe a bus runs from here to Barton.

This site seems popular and many visitors had been before. There are many footpaths is the area and one benefit is that the local area is flat. Further afield are the Lincolnshire Wolds and the seaside resort of Cleethorpes. Elsham and Normanby halls are also worth a visit.

Analogue TV signal good
Digital signal variable depending on tree movement.

£9.00 per night [1 adult]