Saturday morning, up early and the van is packed very quickly, there’ll be four of us this time so an extra set of clothes, one extra duvet and a full fridge. We left at about 08:30 and headed for a Camping and Caravanning Club Certificated Site called Mendip View. One stop in a services on the M4 and we arrived in Bristol. Nearly as soon as we had arrived in Bristol, Helga – our trusty Tomtom, seemed to have a problem figuring out where we were and we somehow managed to get lost in the Bristol roads and ended up driving over the Clifton suspension bridge, nice for all but April who doesn’t do heights well, and she was driving.
So once we were the other side we hoisted up our proverbial socks and arrived at our campsite at about midday. The quickest thank you to our landlord we headed for the Balloon Festival held at Ashton Manor. We had driven past a car-park just after the bridge and I had told Helga to remember it, so we asked her nicely to route us there again. £7 to the lady on the gate of a Nursery (a children one, not plants) and we had parked.
Had to walk quite a way and mostly uphill we find ourselves overlooking a mass of fairground rides, eateries and attractions.
We decided, at first to find the lay of the land and had a walk around the site. We then found a carousel and let Toby have a ride whilst JP and I sat on the grass and watched people wander by. Once the cliff edge chase had finished, we went to watch some model aeroplanes being flown in unison in the main arena and a paraglider. We then decided to have a peruse of the arts and crafts tent, which was very creative and Toby saw a ride he’d like to go on. Not the easiest if rides to explain but up to six kids stand on a bouncy castle style platform in a circle while a padded arm spins and tries to knock them over. The lady operating it was “evil” stopping it immediately underneath them or raising the arm just as it reached them (he he).
From there we went into the World War One site run by the BBC, Toby had a number of runs through their assault course and managed to bandage me up as I’d hurt both my head and arm. April helped the gentleman assisting Toby with my sling and Toby was issued with a certificate for his endeavours.
Soon it was to close, so we left and found a nice place to sit ready for the evenings entertainment and watched a Rolls Royce Spitfire fly past and a parachute display team.
A few battles with the rain later, a clear outlook and the arena flooded with hot air balloonists who all rolled out their balloons on the floor. Then the VERY LOUD COUNTDOWN started (which unsettled Toby and forced us to move).. After the countdown was over 20 balloons inflated in the field and once up they started flashing in time to music. Quite lame to describe but incredible to watch. Here is a video on YouTube of the night glow
A long walk back to the van and a short trip back to the campsite (no detours this time) and we were all tired enough to just pass out.
An experience not to be missed, I heartily recommend it.
