A few more stops along the way :o)

Last weekend, Phil was lucky enough to have a weekend off and I was booked onto a craft workshop in Middlesborough on the Saturday.

The original plan was for me to travel up on the Friday, attend the workshops and then travel back down again afterwards.  I was looking forward to the workshops, but dreading the effects of the journey.  However, as Phil was off and we now had Kitty our motorhome we decided to take our first little jaunt in her.

So we found a nice little campsite about 10 minutes from the workshop venue, booked it for the Friday and Saturday night and set off on our way up.  The journey took about 3 hours and we reached the outskirts of Middlesborough at mid-day.  We decided that we would find a Wetherspoons to have a brew (tea - !) and maybe a bite to eat.  Our first stop was The Thomas Sheraton, but it was a bit too busy for us to relax and eat so we finsihed our cuppas and moved on to The Highland Laddie, about 15 minutes down the road, where we were able to relax and have a snack before moving on to the campsite to get set up.

Stockton-on-Tees

(Also) Stockton-on-Tees

The following evening after my workshops, we went out for a meal (yes in a Wetherspoons!) as it would have been Phil's dad's birthday and we wanted to make it special.  After Phil picked me up we drove to  The Half Moon Inn where we enjoyed steak and kidney pudding and a pint.

Billingham

This may be our last trip out of the year as finances are now tighter than ever, but we will be spending the winter months planning future road trips.

Cheers for now
Phil & Stefanie :o)

(Wetherspoon's count 10 + 3 = 13)

The beginning .....

Well we've only gone and done it - eek!!

After at least 2 years of day-dreaming and talking about 'when we get our motorhome' we went a little mad!  The little nest-egg I'd been saving for when I finally need an automatic has found another purpose :o)

We figured that I hardly drive any more as it is due to the fatigue I experience with my Fibro - poor Phil gets to do more than the lion's share.  So this is us on our very first morning, we spent 10 hours travelling by bus to view, spent the night in her and then Phil drove all the way home the next day.

In the years we've been a couple we've tented it, caravanned and stopped at caravan sites with the children.  Now that they are older, and we're a bit 'past it' for tenting, we thought this would be an ideal way for us to get around the beautiful British countryside.

Being CamRA members too, we're always on the look out for pubs that serve traditional real ale, and often when we've been away we've hunted down a Wetherspoons as they do consistently offer nice ales at a good price.  One day we started to wonder how many we'd been in (not too many - honestly - probably about 15) and we thought it would be a great little challenge to ourselves to try and visit all of them on our future travels.  Of course there weren't so many then!! We looked yesterday and there's over 900 - so I think the challenge will most likely defeat us, but we'll certainly have fun trying!

We will aim to post photo's of us outside each one, or if not possible with a photo that will confirm the name (ie pub menu) and we won't be managing an alcoholic drink in all - but luckily they do free coffee refills, and the wi-fi will be a bonus when we are away from home.

I've added below the photo's we've taken so far since we planned this challenge and then blog some more as we go.

Berwick-on-Tweed

Dalkeith

Scunthorpe

Wellingborough (this was on the way home with the motorhome hence very tired!)

Gainsborough

Skegness

Boston (excuse the hair - was windy!!)

Sleaford

Victoria Station, London

Morpeth

We have also been in the Wetherspoons in Doncaster, Robin Hood airport - but we didn't get a photo there so will have to go abroad on holiday again sometime - such a shame!!  Then there's our local ones, Lincoln, Grimsby and Louth without photos yet - so maybe a few more than 15!!

Cheers for now

Stefanie & Phil

:o)

(Wetherspoon's count 10)