Just by chance it was the same weekend (the first one in August), a year later, for our meet up with our dear friends who we met in Canada. Barb had done all the bookings and we checked in and made our way to our pitch,. It was a nice clearing in the forest, shared with another couple of vans. B&B had arrived before us (being retired) and were quick to make us a cuppa while we set up.

The picture does not really do it justice. The surface is sandy and a favourite with rabbits.

We spent the evening chatting and Barb fed us. The meal featured veg from Bob’s very fruitful allotment and was very nice indeed. Bob had also brought us a bag of his freshly dug taters and a cabbage the size of a football. Very kind.

As we went to bed, the skies opened and we were treated to a massive thunderstorm. It was lovely lying in bed watching the display through the roof vent. How I love a good storm!

By morning it had cleared and we sat about chatting for a while, thus it was late morning before we decided to go out and explore. We went to Midhurst and had a good poke round the charity shops and such, and sat and watched a jazz band playing in the sunshine in the square outside the church (St. Mary Magdalene & St. Denys) in the Market Square. Archie wasn’t keen. He shivered throughout!

We then walked down to the wharf and the attractive South Pond and then back up into town for a spot of lunch.

After lunch we decided to walk up to the ruined, but still impressive,  Cowdray House, a Tudor building which reminded me of Titchfield Abbey in some way. Perhaps they are of a similar age? Something to research. The House is Tudor in origin and has a chequered history, Interestingly,  Guy Fawkes was briefly employed as a footman there. It was also damaged in the Civil War and finally destroyed by fire in 1793.

A river runs through the grounds and Archie had a  fine time fetching sticks with a few other dogs. It was lovely to see him enjoying himself so.

We then strolled up to Cowdray Park and watched a bit of cricket and then some polo. Very exciting. Would like to see more.  Amazing horses and a fine display of horsemanship too.

We returned through the lovely leafy lanes to the site and had a pre-prandial siesta before getting ready for dinner at the lovely Foresters Arms in Graffham. Very good food and a delightful ambience. An altogether lovely evening. Coffee at our place and then bed.

We woke quite late (not much sleep the night before due to the heavy rain) and had a last coffee and a chat and then packed up and said our farewells. – until the next time.