About Me

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Hi! I'm Eunice and I live in Bolton, Lancashire, with my two dogs Sophie and Sugar and an assortment of cats - well it used to be Sophie and Sugar, now it's Sophie and Poppie. I first began camping back in 1997 when my then partner took me to Anglesey for my birthday weekend. We slept in the back of the car - a hatchback - using the cushions off the settee at home as a mattress, and cooked and brewed up on a single burner camping stove. The site was good, the views were great, the weather fantastic and I was completely hooked. Following that weekend we got a two-man tent and some proper accessories and returned to Anglesey two weeks later, then over time we progressed to a three-man tent followed by an old trailer tent, then a new trailer tent, a campervan and finally a caravan. When my partner decided that the grass was greener on the other side of the street - literally - in April 2009 and I suddenly found myself alone after fifteen years, I decided there was no way I was going to give up camping and caravanning if I could cope on my own. This blog is the story of my travels, trials and tribulations since becoming a solo camper - I hope you like it

Friday April 19th 2019 - The start of a new adventure

After spending several years camping in North Wales each Easter, and having not-very-good-weather for the last few of them, I decided that this year I would have a complete change of direction and location. Instead of going south from home I would go north, and so it was that I got myself booked into a small out-of-the-way camp site in the north west Lake District from Good Friday to the following Tuesday. I'd never been to that area of Cumbria before so this was going to be a whole new adventure for me and the dogs. 

 After just over a week of sunny but chilly days the temperatures started to increase in the few days leading up to Good Friday and I left home at 8am on a sunny morning which was already fairly warm even though it was still early. Setting off reasonably early meant that the traffic was still fairly light so my journey up the M6 and across the A66 was an easy one with no hold-ups, and as I got further north and west the scenery just got better and better. Driving along the west side of Bassenthwaite Lake I was met by a 'wow' view several times but unfortunately there was nowhere on my side of the road where I could safely pull in, so any photos would have to wait until my journey back.

 I couldn't get onto my pitch at the camp site until 1pm so I'd previously arranged with my blogging friend Jayne to call and see her while I was en route, and I pulled into her driveway at 10.30am. After corresponding via our respective blogs and email it was great to finally meet her; I was provided with coffee and hot cross buns for elevenses, Sophie and Poppie were given some duck strip treats to chew on, we had a short dog walk round a very pleasant block and a tour of her large and very wonderful garden, which is an absolute credit to all the hard work she and her husband have put into it over the years. 

Eventually though it was time for me to leave and after saying our goodbyes I headed off for the camp site, though I did make a brief stop along the way to photograph a view of the River Derwent which I thought was worth a shot. A sheep and twin lambs with cute little faces were grazing nearby so I snapped those as well then continued on my way to the camp site.

The site is part of a working farm so after booking in at the farmhouse I went to find my pitch - no. 11 - and once I'd decided which way round to park the van and put the tent I made a start on setting up our home for the next four nights, although we would actually be sleeping in the van. With everything finally sorted I took the dogs for a walk round to familiarise myself with the site and the farm and came across three pygmy goats enjoying the sunshine in a small enclosure.


Back at the tent I fed Sophie and Poppie, made myself a sandwich and a brew then sat for a while just taking in the views and enjoying the peace and tranquility. With fields all round, Skiddaw and other fells in the distance, and no noise other than the birds, sheep and resident chickens I had a feeling I was going to like this little site.

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12 comments:

  1. Dyanne @ I Want Backsies28 April 2019 at 04:03

    I would rather have my fingernails pulled out than go camping, but I think it's awesome that you love it so much! And when there are baby lambs and beautiful views around, it could almost convince me to give it a try. Just kidding - still not for me! :)

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    1. Tigermouse28 April 2019 at 09:11

      Thanks for the comment Dyanne, loved your 'six sentences' by the way. I know there are people who would rather go to hell in a handcart than go camping but I've loved it right from the start, even more so since I've been on my own, and it's a great way of simplifying life and escaping the rat race for a while :)

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  2. Jules28 April 2019 at 06:29

    A great start to your weekend. And how lovely to meet up with Jayne.
    I like the sound of the campsite too - peace, tranquility and goats!!! X

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    1. Tigermouse28 April 2019 at 09:17

      It was great to meet up with Jayne, I had a lovely time in her company and it made a great start to the holiday. The camp site is lovely - just peace and quiet, the views and the animals, and for anyone who likes star gazing there's no light pollution either as it really is out-of-the-way :)

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  3. Bag End Gardener28 April 2019 at 07:40

    Very weird to see my garden on someone else's blog :-) Normally that would mean your photos have been nicked . . .

    Those goats are just so cute.

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    1. Tigermouse28 April 2019 at 09:41

      The goats really were cute, and very friendly too. My favourite was the first one, he/she was a bit smaller than the other two :)

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  4. Allan Gill & Jack.28 April 2019 at 16:14

    Excellent pictures once again. I think the bug for camping has to be in your blood and it is totally unexplainable to anyone how it makes you feel and the enjoyment you gain from your hobby.

    This is the first time I have commented on your blog but I have followed you for a few years, from the days of Joll with “m” in our life in a caravan to the fat blokes travels.
    Always very interesting reading and may you have a very enjoyable forthcoming camping season.
    Allan.

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  5. Tigermouse28 April 2019 at 17:06

    Thank you for the comment, I didn't realise I had a follower from afar :) I went to several places over the Easter weekend and took far more photos than I could possibly put on here - exploring somewhere I'd never been before was really interesting and I'll certainly go back there another time :)

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  6. Anabel Marsh28 April 2019 at 23:19

    The faces on those two lambs! Adorable. I get the impression you enjoyed your new location.

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  7. Tigermouse28 April 2019 at 23:29

    Your impression is right Anabel, I enjoyed the new location very much and wished I could have stayed longer. Since getting back home I've discovered lots more places in that area which I could see without having to drive too far so I'll certainly be going back again in the not-too-distant future :)

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  8. kjsutcliffe10 May 2019 at 22:37

    wonderful, glad you and Jayne have got together, we (Jayne and I) will be doing the same soon too - looking forward to finally meeting her in person xx

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  9. Tigermouse11 May 2019 at 00:14

    I hope you enjoy your meet up with Jayne - she's just as lovely as she sounds on her blog, and spending a few hours in her company was a great start to my Easter break :)

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I really appreciate good comments - who doesn't? - but due to a recent tide of spam from anonymous readers all comments will now be moderated, and only those with a direct bearing on this blog will be published. I'm sure my regular blog readers/commenters will understand the need for this - and to anyone whose comment isn't published, you know why.

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