Packing took longer than expected, despite us making a start on it the night before.
There were last-minute jobs to do like extending library books, which fortunately can be accomplished via the Internet.
Finally, everything was shoe-horned into the "pocket rocket" and we were on our way. How we managed to pack a duvet and pillows last time [when we went to Cornwall in 2002] I have no idea, as the car was full up this time without them.
We stopped at our local BP and topped up the tank, then went down the A20 to join the M25 at Swanley. We went via the Dartford Crossing, and as we were going northwards, that meant that we went through one of the two tunnels. The toll was £1.
We continued anti-clockwise around the M25 to the M1, where we headed north. By then it was about 3pm, and after going most of the way up the M1 to where it joined the M6, we pulled off into a service area. We think it was Watford Gap. We each indulged in a Wimpy quarter pounder meal there, but didn't think it was as good as McDonald's.
It was about 4:30pm when we got back on the motorway and filtered onto the M6. We discussed the new toll M6, but decided that on a Saturday afternoon, even if there were roadworks, we were unlikely to be significantly held up, so we saved the £2. Anyway, I wasn't sure where the toll M6 could be exited. [A later check of the map revealed that it took a completely different route and would have rejoined the regular M6 further north than where we eventually left it, so we made the right decision in not going on it for reasons other than just financial ones!]
It was my original intention to go past Stoke-on-Trent on the M6, but then we realised that the M54 was available and signposted for mid and north Wales, so we filtered onto there. That eventually became the A5, which went through Llangollen, and from there we took the A525 over the Horseshoe Pass and came out at Ruthin. We briefly lost the A525 in Ruthin, but then picked it up again to Rhewl, where our hosts' directions kicked in and we turned off onto country lanes so narrow that you hope you don't meet anybody coming the other way! Fortunately we didn't:-)
Our host, Dewi, climbed off his grey Ferguson tractor to greet us. He said he wouldn't offer to shake hands, and held up a pair of very oily hands as evidence of why. He found his wife, Ann, who looks after their guests, and she let us into the static caravan and showed us around.
The layout is a little different from the last static caravan we stayed in, as the bathroom is at the back, and the second bedroom is by the kitchen area. The whole caravan is nicely decorated and very comfortable, and there is garden furniture on the paved area outside, where we could sit and watch the World go by.
It was lovely and quiet, and the wildlife seems pretty tame. On our first evening, we watched a family of rabbits; we saw a jay in a nearby tree; and a pheasant on the next hill.
We didn't bring a lot of food with us, so we had toast for tea, before retiring for the night.
Holiday Report: Sunday June 13th (Ruthin, Horseshoe Pass)
Summer Holiday in North Wales, June 2004 - Holiday Report Index
Helen Stephenson's Holiday Reports Page
Helen Stephenson's Summer Holiday Pictures - June, 2004 - Index
Last Revised: 11th July, 2004.