Post by Ian Leggett on May 7, 2009 19:49:58 GMT 1
With 15 cars joining at a unique and charming floral garden near Colchester, we began the Anglia Road Run 2009. After a ploughmans lunch and a visit from the local press for photos some members took advantage of a chance to look around the gardens.One member who installs AA signs had brought a 1930 era wall sign, with appropriately ELMSTEAD MARKET across the centre and mileages to Colchester and London on it. Appropriate because the Beth Chatto Gardens we met at, are in Elmstead Market. We drove to our afternoon visit to Thorrington Tide Mill. This is the only working Tide Mill in the UK now, and a guided tour was enjoyed by all. We then moved on to Clacton and our hotel for the weekend, before joining more members who had travelled direct, and going for a meal in a reserved restaurant.
Saturday saw 19 cars set off for a sea front drive through Holland, Frinton, Walton, where we visited a Maritime Museum, then on to Dovercourt for a sea front light lunch. Then returning to Clacton for a free afternoon to relax. In the evening we had the event dinner in our hotel followed by a Quiz Session. Some help was given by the two children who had joined us for the weekend. They also drew their favourite car which happened to be a Triumph Stag driven by Mike Beavis. After the prizes were awarded we set about eating them, after all prizes are for sharing.
Sunday involved a visit to a Nature Reserve near Colchester and listening for Nightingales, looking for Adders, and panning for gems was on the itinery. Then onto a great lunch in a nearby pub before moving on to a Museum of Power near Maldon. Train rides, and a look at the former water pumping machinery, and a model village passed the time before an almost uninterupted journey back to Clacton. I say that as it was a Bank Holiday on the coast, but we have experienced no traffic hold ups at all. On our return to Clacton many enjoyed local fish and chips, and a spectacular fireworks display right in front of our hotel.
Monday we set off on the final stage, to Dedham. When we arrived we had a space saved for our 18 cars, but soon the area filled, and I think there was a sigh of relief from the drivers trying to park when, after our 2 hour stop we left and created 18 more spaces. We then arrived at Gnome Magic and a Grand Buffet before entering the woods to count the gnomes and elves. Incredibly our youngster got within two of the correct number while most of us were at least 100 adrift. It was good to see that a 10 year old could count to 1074 without paper or electronic help.
It was then time to depart as many had 4 hour return journeys ahead of them. I had the priviledge of two gifts, one from the Members of a croquet set, and one of a mole in a car, cast in plaster of paris, with the appropiate registration SC1, from the Gnome Magic gardens.
The bonus was the weather which stayed dry until the last afternoon, and the brilliant sunshine for much of the time, although the wind off the seafront was sometimes a touch chilly.
Time to start thinking about next year now. If this is your type of event, seeing that cars on the move with regular sightseing stops then let me know, we can always welcome new members as we did this year with 5 people who had not been before.
Unfortunately my camera threw a wobbly on the last photo, and wiped off the 25 I had taken over the weekend. Oh! modern technology, never had that with a 35mm camera.
Ian Leggett.
Saturday saw 19 cars set off for a sea front drive through Holland, Frinton, Walton, where we visited a Maritime Museum, then on to Dovercourt for a sea front light lunch. Then returning to Clacton for a free afternoon to relax. In the evening we had the event dinner in our hotel followed by a Quiz Session. Some help was given by the two children who had joined us for the weekend. They also drew their favourite car which happened to be a Triumph Stag driven by Mike Beavis. After the prizes were awarded we set about eating them, after all prizes are for sharing.
Sunday involved a visit to a Nature Reserve near Colchester and listening for Nightingales, looking for Adders, and panning for gems was on the itinery. Then onto a great lunch in a nearby pub before moving on to a Museum of Power near Maldon. Train rides, and a look at the former water pumping machinery, and a model village passed the time before an almost uninterupted journey back to Clacton. I say that as it was a Bank Holiday on the coast, but we have experienced no traffic hold ups at all. On our return to Clacton many enjoyed local fish and chips, and a spectacular fireworks display right in front of our hotel.
Monday we set off on the final stage, to Dedham. When we arrived we had a space saved for our 18 cars, but soon the area filled, and I think there was a sigh of relief from the drivers trying to park when, after our 2 hour stop we left and created 18 more spaces. We then arrived at Gnome Magic and a Grand Buffet before entering the woods to count the gnomes and elves. Incredibly our youngster got within two of the correct number while most of us were at least 100 adrift. It was good to see that a 10 year old could count to 1074 without paper or electronic help.
It was then time to depart as many had 4 hour return journeys ahead of them. I had the priviledge of two gifts, one from the Members of a croquet set, and one of a mole in a car, cast in plaster of paris, with the appropiate registration SC1, from the Gnome Magic gardens.
The bonus was the weather which stayed dry until the last afternoon, and the brilliant sunshine for much of the time, although the wind off the seafront was sometimes a touch chilly.
Time to start thinking about next year now. If this is your type of event, seeing that cars on the move with regular sightseing stops then let me know, we can always welcome new members as we did this year with 5 people who had not been before.
Unfortunately my camera threw a wobbly on the last photo, and wiped off the 25 I had taken over the weekend. Oh! modern technology, never had that with a 35mm camera.
Ian Leggett.