I Smell Summer!

Within 3 weeks of having 3 or 4 inches of snow fall in Leamington Spa, it seemed summer was starting to show with the odd patch of warm weather. We wasted no time in planning a camping break to usher in the good weather season and dust off our beloved barbeque. The location was selected on Friday at work using a combination of wanting to go somewhere with a beach and somewhere with a forecast for sunshine. We settled on the tip of the Gower peninsular in Wales which is one of the most picturesque places in the UK. Getting off to an earlyish start on Saturday, we picked up one of Duncan’s work mates from Worcester on the way to Wales along with Tania and Ryan, 2 fellow Kiwis. A couple of hours drive later and we had arrived in Wales where we stopped off in Swansea to stock up on food for the weekend. Then it was off to our beachside camp ground.

Setting up our tent was a nightmare for Duncan but entertainment for everyone else, who had by that stage set their tents up, unfolded their chairs and were sipping on some cool drinks. The tent had been given to us by some South African mates who had returned home recently. Duncan thought it was somewhat superior to the Warehouse one he had been given in NZ and by then given to some other Kiwi mates in the UK. He was wondering about this decision after the South African tent turned out to be a lesson in Origami.

Feeling a bit wound up by the tent, the lads threw around some Frisbees and had a beer before we set off for a bike ride along the coast. It was not long before Becs, Mark and Duncan decided it was about time they turned back and let Tania and Ryan carry on. Back at base we set up the first barby of the year and happily drank cool beers and ate our first burnt offerings of the season. Summer never tasted so good and for us Kiwis, the barby is an essential part of making us feel at home.

The night produced some rain but the following morning was all clear. We packed up our things and decided to take a hike up one of the hills that was the backdrop to the golden beach stretching out from our campsite. The going was tough and we were glad we had brought along a big bottle of water. The track lead us up over a great hilltop with marvellous views and down to a cliff top pub for lunch while some colder weather blew through.

After lunch we took a walk down some stairs from the hilltop pub and out onto a peninsular that was accessible only at low tide. After reaching the peninsular we all took a seat and watched as some mad walkers clambered across rocks to the point of the peninsular. Too tired to carry on and with a long drive home looming, we headed back home along the beach in silence as we were all knackered from what turned out to be an 8 mile walk.

Glad to be breaking in our barbeque and bringing on summer we hope to have the tent sorted by the time we need it again. Looking forward to warmer weather and maybe, just maybe, a bit of a tan.