Motorhome Adventures 2016: Much Wenlock

The route from Snowdonia to here was via some very bendy A roads. Arthur said he dreaded to think what the B roads were like and was glad he'd programmed his sat nav to avoid them. There must have been a motorbike rally somewhere as we saw literally hundreds of motorcycles.

Here we're staying at Styche Caravan Site in Much Wenlock, which isn't Caravan Club. It has largely the same facilities, only smaller (3 loos and 2 showers - supposed to be 3 but one's out of order) and there are more people camping in tents. Friendly staff. They had to loan us a power lead because the pitch they put us on was too far from the power point.

We chilled with a glass of wine before heading into the market town of Much Wenlock for a meal. The first time we took the route through the fields and the woods, which was pleasant enough but would have been tricky coming back after dark. We found a place called the Fox Inn which did Sunday Lunch till 7.30 (Arthur was sold on that immediately). The food was so good that we ate there every night. On this occasion we got talking to the couple at the next table who were locals and filled us in on all there was to see and do.

Much Wenlock

We walked back through the town in order to check out the High Street which turned out to be quite a happening place on a Sunday evening with two pubs pumping out live music. We decided to stop at the George and Dragon for another drink and to listen to the music. A very enthusiastic audience, several of whom got up to sing. One bunch left before us; one guy was on crutches. His friend thought we needed to know his story, that he'd been in the TT races and had come off his motorbike when swerving to avoid another accident. I assumed this had happened recently, but the guy added, "that was 20 years ago and he's determined to keep walking."

Two more drinks than usual meant rather more trips to the loo and Arthur claimed he was stalked by a rabbit on the way to the toilet. There were rabbits around, so he may have been.

The following day we visited Bridgnorth. Historic town with a ruined castle and a short funicular railway that links the upper town with the lower town. We didn't go on it, just enjoyed the view from the top. The historic courtroom and council chamber were open to the public so we had a look in there, but they were quite anxious to get everyone out as there was a wedding on.

Bridgnorth

Found a nice literary cafe with wifi and shelves of books.

The following day there was some excitement as we ran out of gas. We'd been told by the guy at the dealer's when we picked the van up that the gas cylinders last "literally for ever" so we were somewhat surprised. Presumably they don't give you a full one, but it would have been nice if they'd pointed that out so we could have made sure we had a spare. As it was, Arthur had to go and ask the wardens (he'd normally look online but this place has no wifi or even 3G) where the nearest source of gas cylinders was and go and get one, and a spanner to undo it, before we could have our morning cuppa. They directed him to a country store which sold everything from greetings cards to shotguns.

In case you're wondering why we picked a relatively obscure place like Much Wenlock it was so we could swing by Stourport and have lunch with our friends Don and Jo, who we last saw when they put us up when we went to the Caravan and Motorhome show in Birmingham and bought the vehicle. Had a nice lunch and catch up with them and their daughter Julie and grandson Joshua in a pub called the Old Beams.

Having had a substantial lunch, that evening was one of our nights in, although we did still walk up to the Fox Inn for a drink so we could use the wifi.

The next day we visited Ironbridge, which has a historic - you guessed it - iron bridge. It was built in the 1700s and was a toll bridge up until 1960. There was a sign there giving the tolls for carriages and various types of animal like sheep or cows or pigs. In the little museum in the old toll house there was a picture of an elephant crossing. No mention of what the toll was for an elephant! Even royalty had to pay to cross and there was also a picture of Prince Charles handing over his toll when he visited.

The Iron Bridge

After lunch we followed the recommendation of the people we met on the first night and sought out the Victorian town museum. It has a street laid out with shops as they would have been in Victorian times. They actually sold things, and people who really wanted to get into the spirit of things could visit the bank near the entrance and change their money into old money. Every item for sale had two prices, old money, about 2d, and current day, about £1.50!

There was lots of industry around the area back then and a lot of the old works are preserved alongside the town along with some industrial relics, old engines and the like. Lots to see including a shire horse being led through the streets, an incline plane (basically a railway line that goes uphill), a funfair, chickens having sex and old fashioned signs and adverts, some of which could be rather amusing.

The Victorian Street

A bicycle shop, Victorian style

Advertising, Victorian style

Back home the next day, although Arthur took a detour to Northampton to see the people who fitted the satellite dish. It had started working again in the second campsite but he wanted them to check it, anyway, so I just headed home.

The vehicle is back in store now until next month when we're planning a trip to Scotland.