In Deepest Devon..
Well, well it is the year 2000 already! What have the Arrow Group cooked up for this year's extravaganza? A trip to Devon, that's what! A good trip this year with plenty to do and not a small amount of travelling around in a clapped out transit van. Read on..
Fact Panel
Details
Trip Date:
June 2000
Transport:
Ford Transit Minibus
Accommodation:
Two Caravans
Duration:
Five Days
Cost of Trip Per Person:
£320
Video:
Sony Mini-DV and Hi8 Video Cameras
Rating:
Excellent
Members Attending
Ilfracombe Trivia
County
Devon
Population:
11500
Known For:
Fish, Harbour, Pubs, Tourism.
Where is Ilfracombe?
Day One: Saturday
This year we set off a bit later than we normally do seeing as how we were fed up of being tired during the Saturday as we had driven down the previous night. We first collected the van from the local Stetson garage, and we were pleased to report that the bob has made an appearance! What a treat awaiting the members of the arrow group. A trip over to Lynton and Lynmouth for the day. Plenty of golf action and funicular railway activity here. Don't forget the hydro electric power station and cream teas either. Lots of great video footage taken too..
After a gap of 7 years the famous bob van returned! Leaking oil, burned out brakes and ripped seats were much in evidence, an enjoyable start to the holiday.
Unusually for an Arrow Trip we set off quite late-about 9.30am. We had to collect the van from the BOB rental firm, we were not disappointed with it in terms of BOB features. Dodgy brakes and an oil leaking engine were just a few of it's qualities.
It was the usual fly down the M5, stopping off at Strensham Services to divvy up our Arrow Savings money (also known as the Walter) and to stop for a bite to eat. We arrived at Hele Valley Caravan park at about 5.00pm, collected the keys and settled in.
After settling in we took a nice walk into Ilfracombe itself. It's a quiet little town with a good harbour, very picturesque. Some good scenes were captured on video and their were plenty of pubs within staggering distance which is what matters at the end of a hard day's travelling.
There was an excellent little pub serving a great selection of meals called The Pier down by the harbour which was great. It was cheap too. Matthew decided to go for the biggest thing on the menu, a mixed grill. Nobody knows how he managed to consume it all!
As it was the first night we went a bit mad on the ale-but not to much! We managed to find our way back again ok, and retired to bed to be up early for our trip out tomorrow to Lynton and Lynmouth
Day Two: Sunday
The chief attractions were the gorge and funicular railway, and we visited both. The railway was pleasant enough with an excellent view of the Bristol Channel. It's actually powered by water being filled in the top carriage and dates back to the Victorian Era.
After alighting from a trip on the funicular railway nearby we made our way to the golf course which was a pitch and putt 18 hole. Much mirth was captures on video as the hapless Arrow members showed off their golfing prowess-not! Still, a most enjoyable way to spend an hour. We went for a bite to eat before tackling the Lynmouth Gorge.
Being somewhat careful with our money, the Arrow Group managed to obtain some discount on the entry fee to the gorge. Once inside it was a most pleasant amble up the path to the waterfall at the end. Mike decided to go for a paddle in the clear water providing more usable video footage. The Gorge also supplies power by way of a hydroelectric station built at the head. There was a museum and the station workings were also open to the public.
We wrenched ourselves out of Lynton and Lynmouth for the day and made our way back to Ilfracombe driving up and down some tortuous country roads. The van got a good scraping after Nic who was driving claimed that a telephone pole jumped out at him. A kangaroo court was later held to examine the situation and with much reluctance a not guilty verdict was returned on the grounds that it was a case of collective responsibility. ('Mark made me drive' I think were the words used..)
Time then for an ale at the Hunter's Inn and to let the brakes cool down before heading off home to freshen up, before wandering down to Ilfracombe harbour for some food and drink. A photo session on the sea wall completed the days events. And so another day on the Arrow Trip was completed. We nestled in the pub for the rest of the evening playing a few games of pool and darts and chatting to locals. Tomorrow would see another busy day when the Arrow Group invaded the West Somerset Railway
Day Three: Monday
More treats in store today with a ride over to Minehead and a journey on a steam railway. It's all railways this year. Naturally we stopped off for a cream tea and a pint at the end of the line. A nice meal and then back to Ifracombe to have the van broken into. A good end to the day!
Up we rose bright and early after the previous night's debauchery to a cooked breakfast, newspapers tied in with a spot of DSA. What better way to start the day?
The Arrow Group are playing with trains today. We set off for Minehead in the morning in plenty of time to imbibe in a cream tea-ery or two, and to play the arcades before boarding. We also had a quick look around the town and see if their was anything worth filming. We got some good video of the Station itself and the old style signs and buildings, it should cut together well
We spent about an hour and a half on the train, as it stopped at quite a few stations en route. The weather was nice and warm too which was a bonus. Eventually we reached Bishop's Lydeard, and to be honest we didn't find a lot to do there. In fact we only had forty minutes before the train back. So a tour of the station carpark was really the main attraction. That and the pub.
After catching a swift one at the pub in Bishop's Lydeard we caught the train back to Minehead. All in all it was a good way to past a few hours in the afternoon. At Minehead we sought out another pitch and putt. Another 18 holer, Chris excelled again by whacking the ball too hard and losing it.
After the golf we found an eaterie in the town centre which was nice. We returned to Ilfracombe and sojourned to the pub. Foolishly the van was left overnight at a remote carpark near the harbour. Sadly the next morning we were to pay the price of this foolishness with the Walter taking a severe pounding.
On Tuesday we took time out to see Croyde Bay after taking a tour of various autopart shops. All will be revealed tomorrow!
Day Four: Tuesday
A new one for the arrow group as we visit and spend some time in an Autoglass building watching a new van window being installed. A visit to Croyde Bay and a swim in the afternoon helped to balance things out somewhat though. Still, it was our final night so plenty of ale was sunk to reflect on the day's events.
So the day started with a trip to Barnstaple to get a temporary window of plastic fitted while we await a delivery of a new one from Exeter. At least we got to visit another Devon town! The group popped into Tesco's for some refreshments and Matt got some photographs developed there. We also loaded, and emptied, the Walter which worked out at about £65 each. There was certainly a lot of grumbling going on at that point, to be sure!
After Tesco's we went on to Croyde Bay for the afternoon. The weather by this time has cleared up, the rain had gone and the sunshine appeared.
WYet again we popped into a café in Croyde Bay village for a bite to eat. Then it was out on the sand. Hooray! It was a really lovely stretch of beach with some good surfing.
Chris and Matt decided to hire out a wetsuit each for an hour and try a bit of surfing themselves. Mike decided to test the water without a wetsuit reckoning that wetsuits were for nancy boys! Mark and John were content building dams and irrigating the beach while Nic wandered off for a walk along the Bay. Stuart did some DSAing for a change!
Soon it was time to head on back to Autoglass to have the van window fitted. The Walter at this point took a severe pounding and was relieved to the tune of £320. Still they did a good job so at least we could return the van back without penalty. So we headed on back to the campsite lighter in the pocket but with the van in good shape. Again, as in previous nights we walked into Ilfracombe for a bite to eat and an ale or two. In actual fact there was a lock in at one pub which was nice...
Day Five: Wednesday
For the final time we rose and consumed breakfast in the caravan, and it was soon time to leave. We bade goodbye to the caravans and Hele Valley for the last time and headed off back home. The day wasn't quite finished yet though because the Group stopped off at Weston Super Mare in Somerset. It has to be said that there wasn't a great deal to do as we didn't really have lot of time. A walk along it's pier to play the arcade and that was really about it.
And so another trip was over yet again. A jolly good time was had by all and , apart from the van getting broken into, went without incident. All that was left to do was to return the van back to the hire place. The van did suffer a bit what with the window getting smashed and the scrape along the side scratching the paintwork. Mike and Mark dropped it off, waiting nervously for the van owner to spot the scratch, but with a bit of distraction on mark's part it wasn't noticed. The lads then walked away very quickly!
Well, you can't keep the Arrow Group down and planning has already started for Arrrow 2001, to be in Ireland. Our first trip 'abroad'!
