Leave only Footprints

I stirred around 4:30am to the gentle sound of raindrops falling on the roof of the tin tent. I drifted back to sleep.

Next time I awoke it was after 8am and the rain was still falling steadily and monotonously.
Tap tap tapping endlessly on the roof,
reminding us that weather was currently happening outside.
Fellow caravanners and caravanners were noticeable by their absence, as they stayed hidden in their shells.



Unfortunately. we were also out of water...
Yes, it was a question of "Water Water Everywhere nor any drop to drink!"


Fortunately, DH volunteered to go and fill up the water,
as my coat was buried in the depths of the boot of the car.
Rain was forecast to fall throughout the day,
so we decided to head home.
The season's reading matter was removed from the top lockers - not good to have too much weight up top whilst travelling.
Washing up was complete.
The toaster emptied of crumbs.
Floors swept/hoovered.
Seats and airers stashed away.
Bins, and other essential services emptied.







Then the van was hooked up,
lighting checked,
pitch card handed in,
and off we went.
I had nearly dried off by the time we stopped for lunch,
along with a few thousand others,
at a service station along the way.

Then, something strange happened in the queue at Costa.
Fellow survivors of the boggy Bank Holiday weekend
began to chat to each other,
sharing experiences of breaking camp during such sodden weather.
This is just not how British people are supposed to behave, but then again,
we do like to talk about the weather,
so the importance of matters meteorological
overrode the default 'reserved' mode.

Unless something unexpected happens, we have had our last sleep in the van for 2018.
It has been a good year.
Next year will be different,
visiting other places,
travelling other roads.

Leave only our footprint

This was all we left behind.

By now the mower will have tidied up the stray long lenths of grass and weeds, which DH could not reach with his shears. 

After all the rain, grass shoots will soon start to appear.

Meanwhile we take with us memories of beaches, castles and towers, moors, steams and bridges, cafes & towns, shops and churches.
Devon is a very beautiful and varied place.
No matter how many times we visit,
we still keep finding new places to explore.







The motorway was fun, with lots of spray.
We passed quite a lot of breakdowns,
small bedraggled groups -  sadly, but wisely sheltering under trees behind the crash barrier, waiting for the breakdown services.










Soon we were home to the joys of laundry, unpacking and deep cleaning the tin tent, prior to its return to storage.

Well done faithful servant, you have served us well.
We could not have done it without you!