Camping in the Cotswolds- Tuesday and Wednesday

 Penny’s stomach issues seemed to be getting worse so we made the decision to take her to the vets just to get checked out. The nearest one that was able to see us was in Chipping Norton, about 5 miles away from the campsite so that was good. The surgery building looked amazing compared to the one we normally go to. We had to still stay in the waiting room whilst the vet examined her. It was just an upset stomach, Penny does have a habit of drinking from puddles and eating greenery, so it was just an injection to ease the pain and solidify things then some paste to also help with the solidity but also with restoring the good gut bacteria. We had to feed her plain chicken and boiled rice so another trip to the supermarket was required to get chicken and rice.

 By the time we got back it was a bit late to go with the original plan so we went to Broadway Tower which is the 2nd highest point in the Cotswolds and you are supposed to be able to see 16 counties from the top. The view was pretty impressive, it’s just a pity it was hazy so the photos do not do it justice. I didn’t go into the tower as you had to pay £12 each and it wasn’t even that big. If it had been £5 or less I would have had a look.

There was a walk around the grounds you could do but dogs had to be kept on the lead as there were deer around.

Craig decided to do the longer walk with Emma but Matthew, Sam and I decided to go and get a drink instead. Matthew wanted some food so he ordered beans on toast which was technically on the children’s menu but the portion was so generous and adult would have been satisfied. I liked the look of it, very thickly sliced crusty bread with loads of butter melted onto it and then the beans in a pot. I think that was Matthews favourite meal of the holiday so far.

 We then went into Broadway village. It had been about 30 years since we had last been there. We had been camping then, but with friends. Craig couldn’t remember the village but I could clearly.

 I had to seriously resist temptation when I went into the Cotswold Trading shop, I could have quite easily spent a fortune in there. Emma and Sam bought ice cream of a street vendor who was prettily dressed in candy pink and white stripes. They certainly stood out amongst all the more natural colours of the grass and brick.

We awoke to sunshine on the Wednesday and the first day of no incidents. Today we were visiting my favourite village in the Cotswolds – Bourton on the Water.

 On the way we did a slight detour to drive past Diddly Squat Farm Shop, the only place Matthew had wanted to go to. To our surprise it was open. The website says it is only open Thursday to Sunday. Of course we called in as it was very quiet and no queues. Matthew almost ran to the shop so he could have a look. I loved the Cow Juice machine. It was a vending machine that was on the outside of the shop so if you ran out of milk you could go along with your bottle and just fill up. I wish more places would do that as it would save tonnes of plastic being wasted and encourage recycling.

I think Matthew spent most of my money in there buying a baseball cap, some Bee Juice as well as an empty Cow Juice bottle. It was the happiest he had looked all holiday. The only thing that would have made him happier would have been if Jeremy Clarkson had been there.

 

By the time we got to Bourton on the Water the clouds had disappeared and the temperature had increased. Bourton was extremely busy as visitors made the most of the sun and the shallow water to sunbathe, picnic and paddle. Penny was extremely glad of the cool water and I was the only one who didn’t go for a paddle in the water.

 Bourton is a very pretty village and there is plenty to do as well as paddle in the river. There is the Cotswold Motoring museum which is the home of ‘Brum’ and Birdland. There is also a model village which is Bourton in miniature. Although Penny could have gone into the museum and Birdland she could not go into the model village. We just enjoyed being by the river.

 

Emma and I had gone to the cinema to see the latest version of ‘Emma’ and I knew that some of it had been filmed in Lower Slaughter, just a few minutes down the road so that was our next stop.  It was very quiet compared to Bourton and there really isn’t anything there except the Mill which we walked up to.

 

It was then back to the tent via a quick stop in Stow on the Wold as most places were getting ready to close by the time we go there. I did notice that like Moreton in the Marsh there was a distinct lack if normal high street retailers and they were independent shops or local ‘chains’.