For the first time since lockdown began, it was time to head out in the van. As is my usual practise, I picked a site relatively close to home for the first trip and so it was on a reasonably sunny Friday morning, I set out to go down the A68 to Jedburgh.
First port of call was Sainsburys for some food and since this was the first trip in a long time, other supplies for the van. The supermarket was very busy for a Friday morning, I thought they might be giving the stuff away.
Stocked up, it was time to head off and straight into a traffic jam at Sherriffhall roundabout. Clearing the traffic, I was onto the A68 and the straight road to Jedburgh. First thing I did notice is that several of the towns passed through along the way are now 20mph zones, so part of the journey was a crawl. And there was the inevitable farm traffic to get round. This wasn’t much of a hinderance, and I was soon crossing the bridge into the site.
Check in was different from usual in that I stayed in the van and was directed to my pitch, via the motorhome service point. Parked up it was time to pitch up and this involves putting up the awning. There is something about putting up an awning that I really don’t like. Every time I do it, I swear I am going to replace the thing with a toilet tent as that is all I really need. An awning is far too large for my needs. But then again it can be handy, especially in wet weather as a place to dry wet clothes. However, the rain brings its own problems.
Pitching up took about 45mins and then it was time to wander into town and pick up a few supplies that I missed before. Jedburgh is quite small, and the centre of town is about a 20min walk from the site along a lovely waterside walk.
I had planned to get some serious reading done on this trip so once back from town, it was time to settle down with a good book. I’m currently reading my way somewhat slowly through “The Origins Of Totalitarianism” by Hannah Arendt. Away from computers and TVs, the van is an ideal time to get reading done.
Teatime rolled around and it was time to try out the grill I had bought last year. A lovely steak was grilled, though somewhat charred and the dishes were done by boiling a kettle and washing in the van. This is less than ideal due to the space, but it can be done.
Since the weather was not too bad, I settled down that night to sleep in the upper bunk. This involves a bit of a climb but is more comfortable than the main bed downstairs.
Saturday dawned early. A group of crows is known as a murder of crows and murder was going to be done if they didn’t stop cawing at 4am. Still after a bit of a snooze it was time to get up and head into town for the main point of the visit, to see Jedburgh Abbey. I was there for it opening to discover that most of the site was shut. There is a danger of falling masonry in the abbey itself so only the grounds are accessible. A bit of photographing later it was time for another wander round the town.
The other big attraction in Jedburgh is Mary Queen of Scots House. This was shut completely due to Covid but there were some nice flowers in the gardens that were open.
Back to the van it was time for more reading and a bit of a nap. The rain had been on and off all day and unfortunately for the couple opposite me, it came on again at teatime just as they were trying to barbeque some sausages. There was then the classic British site of someone hunched over a BBQ with an umbrella trying to keep the food dry.
Sunday was another early one due to the crows and as it was time to head home, packing up was achieved in about 45mins though the awning was soaking wet. Home up the A68 avoiding the lunatics deciding the speed limit was not for them and then the inevitable trying to dry the awning and the mountain of washing.
Not a bad trip, pity the abbey was mostly shut but bodes well for getting out and about again.
Recent Comments