The National Forest 14th - 18th August 2020
The National Forest 14th - 19 August 2020
It’s been a difficult year, despite it being one worthy of much celebration it actually started to become quite depressing. Notwithstanding Bill and Val’s quest to do so much in this, their anniversary year they actually got stuck in a rut and when circumstances allowed for them to get out and do something they found themselves hard pushed to motivate themselves, but motivate themselves they did.
They decided that the caravan had stood idle too long so they booked to stay in the National Forest at Conkers. The purpose of the trip was threefold, a) to commission the caravan that hadn’t turned a wheel since January, b) revitalise themselves by seeing different scenery and c) the visit the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) as close to the 18th August as possible.
They arrived on sited on Friday 14th August and set up the caravan from scratch and washed it down. The following day 15th August, being VJ Day and the fact they are British Legion members they led the site’s two minutes silence, they then witnessed the fly pass of the World War 2 vintage aircraft on their return form the NMA. When al the chores had been done they just sat and relaxed. It’s amazing what a different environment can do to your mental state.
On the 16th August they drove to the NMA where the first stop was the Royal Naval Patrol Service memorial where bill placed a poppy cross in memory of his uncle William WALLACE after whom Bill is named. William WALLACE’s ship HMS Fratton was suck by enemy action on the 18th August in Normandy, Afterwards Val and Bill visited the Far East section of the Arboretum to see the aftermath of the VJ Day commemorations. It was an emotional day and they returned to their van to reflect.
On the Monday, apart from visiting the local supermarket for a few provisions they just totally relaxed. Those few days really did them some good.
Tuesday 18th they hitched up the caravan and drove home, rejuvenated and looking forward to the next trip.
You can't beat getting away in the caravan. Even the things that seem chores at home ate easily accomplished.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good time.