Second Trip To Hoddom Castle

October 2021

Given that our first trip to Hoddom had gone successfully we decided to visit again, this time ordering a flat pitch (even though we had invested in some better ramps in the meantime, as the initial ones I had bought were too small). I bought the ones on the following link, and they have proved invaluable, https://amzn.to/3wxOEMs.

As we had left all the tables and chairs secure from our previous return there was little need to tie anything down for the journey. As we knew where we were going there was less excitement for this, our second trip. We took a handful of clothes each (no suitcases needed!), and transferred the contents of our fridge to the motorhome and we were ready to go. Finn's food was transferred from his allocated shelf in the freezer. Two bottles of our favourite Sauvignon Blanc were also put in the fridge. Just after lunchtime on 14th October 2021 the handbrake was released and our second trip began, with Finn proudly sat on his bed between the seats.

As we neared Carlisle Sue asked whether I had loaded the bread on board, obviously I hadn't so we would need to pick some up somewhere. With this in mind we stopped off at the fuel station in Carlisle, and took the opportunity to fill up with diesel. Topping up the tank cost more than £80, which was a big shock for someone used to paying £30 to fill up a Fiat Panda! (Rather than paying excessive amounts for fuel at the motorway services I advise that you locate the nearest supermarkets on your Maps on your phone. Tescos is the first building as you leave the motorway at Carlisle. Today, the cost of diesel at Tescos in Carlisle is £1.49.3/litre, and the cost at Southwaite Services, just South of Carlisle, is £1.78.9/litre. Given that the Elldis Accordo is built on a Peugeot Boxer chassis with a fuel tank capacity of 90 litres it costs £26.64 more to fill up on the motorway!).

We later arrived at Hoddom, but, as this time the weather was inclement Finn had to remain in the motorhome, and no thought was given to erecting an awning. After connecting the electricity up (in the rain!) and adjusting the TV aeriel to get the best signal we settled back for a quiet afternoon. Finn soon learnt that he could jump up onto the settees and survey his ground for the presence of dogs from the window. His neighbour, a Scotty, was doing the same from his motorhome.

We had already arranged for a taxi to meet us at the end of the exit road the next evening to take us to the nearby Thai restaurant and we took the opportunity to pace the route so that we would not be late. We also needed to buy some bread from the onsite shop.

After we completed our tasks we returned to the motorhome for a quiet afternoon reading. Whilst preparing Finn's tea we found out that the fridge settings were too high and his food was still frozen. The motorhome heating was working sufficiently well that the food quickly defrosted.

As it was low season we decided that we would not have to book a table at the campsite restaurant and bar, and we set off for an early tea at 6.30pm, Finn enjoying all his encounters on the way. We had decided to eat there on the Thursday to avoid the bingo and karaoke on the Friday.

After a great meal and a couple of glasses of wine we decided to retire to the motorhome to savour the Sauvignon Blanc. Finn behaved himself in the restaurant lying under the table the whole time. There were many dogs in, and all were well behaved.

After moving the settees we set up the bed for the night, when we discovered that the control box, beneath the settees, for the solar panels that we had installed, emitted a flashing blue light.The flashing was not of any significance though to spoil our sleep and a peaceful night was had by all. Finn, again, decided to settle down in a spot that blocked access to the bathroom. This may be the time to discuss the benefits of solar panels, as they can extend the amount of electricity available when the motorhome is off grid. I would recommend that they are installed by experts in order not to overload the circuits. Given our weather they can't provide a significant amount of electricity that can be relied upon but they do provide a good backup when plug in facilities are not available. I bought my panels from https://www.photonicuniverse.com and they were installed by https://www.nomad-solar.com.

The next day we woke up to blue skies and a warmer day, and after breakfast decided to climb the nearby hill to Repentance Tower, a local landmark next to the park. The literature states that it is sat on a mountain but as it is only 350 feet above sea level it is well below a 'Munroe'. That said, the approach to the tower is quite steep. This was Finn's frst encounter with a style, which he ignored and squeezed himself under the fence.

As the farmer had erected a sign indicating that there were young animals around both Sue and I were wary of cattle, of which there was little sign of. We both know of someone, walking her dog, who was killed by cattle protecting their calves. Sue spent the walk hearing imaginary hoof noises from the blind side of the hill.

When we reached the top there was a spectacular view of Dumfries and Galloway, the Solway Estuary and the Cumbrian mountains in the distance. It is definitely a walk worth the effort.https://reivers.info/repentance-tower/.

The tower includes a small graveyard and details of how it got it's name. Interestingly there is an ex-slave buried in the graveyard.

We returned to Hoddom Castle through the woods and decided to reward ourselves with an ice cold cider in the bar, where we sat outside making the most of the sun. Once replete we decided to return to the motorhome to make ourselves presentable for our evening at the Thai restaurant.

With the clear skies the temperature plummetted once the sun had set, and we endured a chilly walk to our meeting with the taxi. Unusually he was bang on time and we had a much more enjoyable trip to the Thai restaurant, when compared with our previous trip.

In line with Finn's plans to scupper things Finn had a poo on the way to the taxi, and we had to hide the poo bag for collection upon our return.

When we arrived at the restaurant we found that, this time, dogs were not allowed in the main dining area and we were ushered to an outer area which, after some prompting was heated by way of patio heaters. With us being the only fools willing to eat outside we enjoyed our meal in privacy. Only later were we joined by a Rhodesian Ridgeback, a Husky and a Collie and their owner. A dogfest soon began with Finn enjoying the company.

The fun was brought to a swift end with our taxi driver arriving bang on time, and after a pleasant journey we returned to Hoddom Castle. Whilst walking back to the motorhome I felt the first gripes, there must have been mushrooms in my dish. I cannot tolerate mushrooms, and closely scan any menu I am given to ensure I avoid eating them. There was no indication of mushrooms in the meal I chose.

By the time we arrived at the motorhome I was in a state of panic, and handed Sue the keys and sprinted to the nearest toilet block, as we had agreed to avoid number twos on board. I fumbled with the key to gain access to the toilet block and ran into the first cubicle. I then wasted valuable seconds looking for a hook upon which to hang my jacket. I realised that there wasn't one and threw my jacket to the floor as I turned to sit on the toilet. I was then fiddling with my belt when my bowels let loose. I hadn't had time to drop my jeans and sit down, and let out a scream of 'Oh Shit' to match the action.

I then sat down with soiled jeans between my legs and tried my upmost to clean up. All was not lost, I thought, I could use my jacket as a type of kilt for the walk back to the motorhome. I then stood up and moved back from the toilet to give myself more room to clean up and extract self as cleanly as possible from my jeans. I was stood there over my jacket when my bowels let forth another mighty deluge. This time it was 'OhShit, OhShit, OhShit'. Bang goes my kilt idea! I am now kneeling on the floor trying to clean up the mess as best I could, quietly thankful that there was no-one else around.

I cleaned up my clothes and the cubicle, all the time thinking as to how I was going to get back to the motorhome. I had decided to go 'commando' that day so all my tackle would be available to see. In the end I said 'Sod it' and unlocked the cubicle door, and marched out with my clothing in my hand. I successfully exited the toilets and made it back to the motorhome unseen, or I thought so. When I visited the site shop the next morning the girls in there gave me odd looks, and were laughing at something, did they have CCTV footage of me?

When I made it back to the motorhome Sue was on the verge of sending out a search party, and she insisted that I leave the clothing on the ground outside the motorhome. As it was clear that neither of us would wish to clean up the mess the offending articles were popped into a plastic bag and disposed off in the nearest bin.

Luckily, among the handful of clothes I had brought was a spare pair of jeans.

After all the excitement we set the bed up and settled down for the night.

The next morning the rain had returned and we decided to have a quiet day, so after a small breakfast we read and watched TV for most of the morning. By afternoon things had cleared up so we took a walk through the woods until the sole of my boot decided to fall off (this was turning ito an expensive break!). The grass was still very wet from the earlier rain, and my remaining footwear was inappropriate for a country walk. It could, however, deal with a walk to the onsite bar, which is where we headed. After a couple of drinks there in front of the log burner all previous calamities were forgotten. Finn, however, was despairing of his holiday sitting under bar and restaurant tables, and decided to make his frustrations known.

We decided not to outstay our welcome and returned to the motorhome to prepare ourselves for the return to the said, same bar that night.

On all the journeys around the park Finn met many humans who fussed him, and many other dogs wanting a mutual bottom sniffing session. He very much enjoyed his time on these walks.

That night we returned to the bar for our evening meal, and there were many people (and dogs) there; on all our earlier visits we hadn't seen it as busy. Finn was treated to a bowl of water by the bar staff, which he managed to upturn within seconds, soaking the carpet.

There was a singer/guitarist entertaining us that evening, and his dog was crying quite loudly because he had been separated from his owner. Unfortunately the duet were not pleasing to the ear and we soon took our leave. An early night was called for as we had to pack up and leave the following morning.

We returned to the motorhome incident free; no mushrooms had been inadvertently eaten. The settees were reorganised, the bed was made and we settled down for a quiet night. The site is very well run, and there was not much noise to break our sleep.

Finn woke us up at first light, and we rose to another grey, wet day. It didn't matter too much as our only plans were to pack up and go home, so after a light breakfast we disconnected the electricity and drove around to reception to hand our toilet block keys back. Then the serious stuff.....

The last turn, as you exit the site, is an area within which you can empty your 'grey waste' (washing up water/shower and sink water) and empty the toilet cassette (not the nicest job!). I was allocated these duties accordingly, and we left the site.

Given the wet weather this second trip was not as enjoyable as the first.