The Arrowgroup

Day One: Saturday 2nd June

The first day, and after a late start collecting everyone the group motored down the M5 on the way to Cornwall, stopping off at Michaelwood Services for Breakfast or similar. Mark parks miles away in a space reserved for Motorhomes, despite their being plenty of spaces near the entrance to the services.

There have already been a lot of discussion about Mains and Sub Mains - Stuart is unhappy about the food intake at Michaelwood services, deeming it insufficient to prevent him being "crabby" He makes Mark guarantee the group will be stopping again, even referring to a previous conversation about starting times, where Mark attempted to slip out of his contracted responsibility by saying he had never replied to the E Mail therefore there was no contract to stick to.

Once done, more travelling occurs and the group reach Minehead for lunch at the Strand Café - This is what the Arrow group is all about. Eating. Eventually after roughly 9 hours of motoring, we arrive at Bude. It starts to rain as we enter our rented accommodation at 9 Hawkers Court in Bude. After settling in it's to the Sainsburys across the Golf course where the group quickly stocked up on food goodies. Boursin cheese in particular.

It was then back to watch some football on the tv, then John turns up - hes had a bad journey as well it would seem. After some rest the group then headed out for eats and drinks in Bude. First stop was the Crooklets Inn for Evening Meal, then The Globe, the Carriers, the Bencoolen, which had a very nice mural and back to the Globe for the last un. It was then a stagger back to the house for Cheese, Biscuits & Wine.

Day Two: Sunday 3rd June

The group awoke with some sore heads after last night, but nothing a proper breakfast couldn't cure. Mic cooked this up for us, as is usual. It seemed a castle visit was in order and so Bude Castle was located and it turned out to be rather a disappointing house with some castellations rather than a grand affair with turrets and whatnot. At £3.50 entrance fee including Art Galleries it wasn't too bad. We are made aware of the wreck of the Bencoolen, who's mural was in the pub of the same name, and a chap called Gurney who invented the Limelight.

The group had time for a snackette at the castle Cafe with more cakes and coffee. All that fat needs to be burned off and so it was down to Bude Canal for a spot of Canadian canoeing, two and a half hours of aquatic fun. What larks! Not sure what the Canadian connection was, unless they have different shaped canoes..The demand for fun having been sated, the group called in at Sainsbury's for food top up then it was back for another spot of DSA. And well earned it had to be said.

The evening proceeded according to plan with a visit to the Tiandi Indian Restaurant. All very nice and the rest of that evening was spent at the various pubs in Bude.

Day Three: Monday 4th June

A rainy Monday dawned and after the usual breakfast it was time for Wizards and things with a visit to Tintagel further up the coast. A £5.70 a go the price didn't seem unreasonable. A good opportunity arose for some scenic shots to put in the video, and also much climbing and walking up and down steps pointlessly. All that effort resulted in a visit afterwards to the King Arthur Arms (where else?) for a bit of luncheon.

It was onwards up the coast and to Boscastle, scene of a big flood back in 2004 for a walk round. Naturally an Ice Cream is incorporated into the visit. A walk down to the Harbour and a climb on lots of rocks both sides of the harbour seemed a good idea. And it was, says this observer.

Later on the way back it was Sainsburys food top-up then back to Hawkers Court for a cup of tea and a snooze. Back out later and it’s a meal in the Bencoolen then a drink at the Brendon Arms, Falcon Inn where there was a Folk Evening & Fireworks - We get chatting to a bloke called Ferg from the Northeast who has been thrown out of the folk festival for playing to loud.. Then it was a trip to Globe, playing pool - with a lady called Trace' who took a shine to one of the group.

Eventually the group get tired of all the attention and head home. Only to find we couldn’t get in the door as the lock had jammed. After hopping over the back garden fences, Mike eventually shoulder charged the door in, and all was well.

Day Four: Tuesday 5th June

After the excitement of yesterday it was something allegedly more sedate. A look out the window confirmed lots of rain for the day so an indoor fairground museum maybe? Sounds like just the ticket. So set off for 'Dingles' Fairground Museum. Dull it was, according to some. Others found it highly amusing to hear from those other members of the group how dull it actually was. This author personally found it most interesting. Food at the Café in Dingles provided convenient escape route.

More exciting fun was waiting in store as the group headed to Launceston Steam Railway, to begin a journey of 10 mins duration through to Newmills. Newmills is a place where there is nothing to see, but it provided the group with amusement as one of the group was panicking that he would be left there, observing that the engine was de-coupled and chugging off back down the line, presumably never to be seen again. No such luck, it came back so the group was able to travel straight back to Launceston.

Visited the Co-op for a paper on the way back and then Home for DSA and watching the recent video footage. The evening came and we couldn’t get a table at the Brendon so it’s a meal at the Falcon instead. Then followed a relatively subdued night, but back for Wine and anything else left in the Fridge.

Day Five: Wednesday 6th June

Up today with a Breakfast followed by hasty tidy up of the rented house. The group left Hawkers Court and went to the centre of Bude to return the key, after which they headed back Home. There was a stop at Taunton Deane services for a Toilet Break - two of the lads were bursting. The group arrived at Bristol and struggled to park. The group went to the Nova Scotia Pub by the quayside for some doorstep sandwiches.

An interesting visit to the SS Great Britain with audio tour was had, some good filming possibilities arose and were taken advantage of. Left Bristol in the pouring rain which has, to be fair, blighted a large part of this trip. Then on up the M5 and to the Hopwood Services for another Snackette before arriving home to Nottingham and environs.

So another trip completed, and thoughts were cast towards the next year which would see the group over in Sussex and Brighton..