Last year’s holiday in Avon Tyrrell was so successful that as soon as we returned from it we booked again for this year, and members who had been on, or heard of the previous trip started looking forward to it.
Friday
We travelled in our minibus and 5 cars, which allowed some members a later departure to come after work, but the majority set off from various locations around Oxford before 11am, and arrived at Avon Tyrrell at lunchtime. We sat in the sunshine and enjoyed the packed lunches we had brought.
Some of our more mobile and adventurous members wolfed down their lunch and tackled the Tree Top Trail, making their way on wobbly ropes and other obstacles though the trees, ending up sliding down a zip wire.
After 3pm we moved into our cabins and unpacked, and awaited our new innovation. Last year we had seen a Tesco delivery to the campsite, and resolved to try this ourselves. In previous years we have had to shop on previous days, store all the food for the group, and pack and transport it in the minibus along with our luggage. This year it all arrived in a van, and and was swiftly moved into fridges, freezers and store cupboards.
Although we had just stocked up on food there is nothing like Fish and Chips eaten by the sea, so we placed an order at Mr Pinks and set off for Milford-on-Sea.
When we returned to Avon Tyrrell to chat and play games we were able to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Saturday
Traditionally we like to start with a good cooked breakfast, with bacon (if wanted), eggs, sausages (with a vegetarian option), beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, toast etc. This set us up for an active day.
We divided into groups so that everyone who wanted to could do Climbing, High Ropes and Canoeing, all coming together in the middle of the day for a picnic lunch by the lake.
Climbing
Avon Tyrrell have a climbing wall tower offering different degrees of difficulty. They also have seat harnesses which can provide additional support for a wheelchair user, and most importantly, experienced instructors who know how to use the equipment to give people of all abilities a safe, yet personally challenging experience.
High Ropes
The High Ropes are really high
Picnic lunch
Before we started the day’s activities we had made sandwiches, which we ate by the lake.
Despite having had a substantial breakfast we found an active morning in the open air had given everyone a good appetite.
Canoeing
At the lake they lash two canoes together for stability and to have a hoist for safe boarding.
Dinner time
All our various afternoon activities we were gathered Avon – the largest of the cabins we were staying in – for a meal of pasta carbonara or pasta with tomato and basil.
Campfire
After we had eaten Simon, our pyromaniac-in-chief, presided over a fire where we toasted marshmallows and sang campfire songs.
Sunday
The day started very early for some as one of our members, who had gone to bed early on Saturday evening, was becoming worse rather than better, and around 2am we rang for an ambulance. As it had been a Saturday night on a fine evening the ambulance service was very busy with revellers who had come to harm, and we were a long way from the concentrations of people. As our member’s condition was alarming but not immediately life threatening I waited up, watching for the ambulance which arrived around 8am taking the patient to hospital – accompanied by Mary, our club leader, in a car. All this happened before most of our members were awake.
Sunday morning breakfast was simpler, but still plentiful, with cereal, toast, yoghurt and fruit available and plenty of fruit juice, tea and coffee. We then washed up, stripped beds and packed our bags and the kitchen utensils and uneaten food so we were ready to depart after lunch
Archery
Archery is very popular with our members. This is due to the friendly and encouraging staff and the special brackets they have which hold a standard longbow and allow it to be fired by someone who would not otherwise be able to participate.
Homeward Bound
We had booked a roast dinner (with vegetarian option) at Avon Tyrrell house. This meant that we only had to load the minibus and other vehicles and we were ready to depart. As Mary, the member who was still causing us concern, and a car, were still at the hospital we had to rearrange our homeward arrangements regarding who was in each vehicle. Some members were not returning to Oxford but were travelling on to another holiday, but this was not unexpected.
Luckily we were able to rendezvous with Mary and the recently discharged patient at Sutton Scotney services. A combination of a recent change in medication and anxiety over being in unfamiliar surroundings had caused their symptoms, and there were able to transfer to the minibus for the journey home.
With a universal feeling of relief we were all looking forward to getting home and glad that our worries were over…
Or were they?
An accident on the A34 just north of the M4 junction had closed it completely in the Northbound direction. The minibus has a Satnav, but it is not aware of traffic conditions, and only ‘knows’ that the closed A34 was the best way to Oxford. Chris, who was driving does not know the area around Newbury, and there was no one on the minibus who could act as a navigator. Fortunately I was a passenger in one of the cars behind, but mostly in sight of, the minibus, so was able to send directions, over a mobile phone. The roads we used were very minor, often only wide enough for a vehicle in one direction, and were filled with northbound traffic. Anyone who had intended to go in the other direction must have changed their minds, so we made slow but steady progress. The battery levels on my phone dropping worryingly and as a rear seat passenger I had no way to recharge it , so it was a huge relief when we finally emerged back on the the A34 north of the incident and were able to finally get everybody home.