The only downside was the campsite was full of loads and loads of youngsters (all good there) who were still partying very loud at 3am on the Friday night. But we were all young once and me and Mrs Blakey are pretty chilled about this sort of thing so it was no real problem. Saturday was much better it has to be said too. All in all I'd rate the Hillend campsite as 9/10. The only things that could have made it better would have been if it had been a smidge closer to the beach (200m is really not far at all mind, but with the dunes you can't see the surf from the campsite) and if it had been a smidge quieter.
We got there Friday night, parked up, popped the roof and went straight to the beach as it was still light. A big disappointment as there was hardly any swell but after a 4 hour drive I was getting wet regardless so slipped into my wettie and paddled out. Not really worth it but any wave is better than nothing when you've travelled so far. Plus I had the whole of Rhossili to myself and a glorious sunset to enjoy so I wasn't moaning.
Waiting for a wave.
We went back to the campsite and waited for our friends to arrive - they were travelling down later that evening. When they got there we had a few more beers and about 1am we decided to crash out - but the party in the site went on for a good while after that! This was the first chance to test out the bed extension and it really did make a big improvement - that extra 20cm or so length on the bed just made the whole experience much improved.
Friday evening camp.
Next morning we got up, checked the surf - very flat - and decided to hang around the campsite. Another friend who lives down that way joined us and we sat about in the leigh of the van chatting about the World Cup and Maxican Waves and other bizzare stuff for a few hours. Then he wandered off and we lit the barbie and cracked open the first beer. Lovely just chilling about the place and having everything on hand in the van.
Saturday barbie.
Later on in the afternoon more friends who've moved to Swansea arrived and we all decanted back over the dunes to the beach. The waves were still pants but, hey, when in Rome. So I picked up another hour or so in the gutless 1' swell with a howling cross shore wind. Pretty horrendous conditions really.
Back to the campsite, grabbed a bite of tea and another beer and then up to the local cafe where they were showing England vs USA in the World Cup. Hmmm, shocker but I still think we'll top the group.
Sunday we checked out the surf but didn't go in, sat around enjoying more lovely weather and generally chewing the fat and then eventually headed home up the M4. An easy drive home that will no doubt be made even easier after tomorrow when the van goes in to have Cruise Control fitted.
This weekend was the debut of the new kitchen pod. And what a winner it was. We bungeed it into the van when travelling and then just unstrapped when we arrived. We pulled it out a smidge from the wall when we wanted to cook on it (so that the top hob-lid could open fully) and then pushed it back snug against the wall when we'd finished cooking. The pod held the gas hob, our gas bottles, all our cooking utensils and pans and all our crockery and cutlery, plus a weekend's worth of food. All in the one place, neatly stacked away and easy to access - it did the job perfectly. Then when we came to come home, everything was already packed away and all we had to do was bungee it back in place. The doors have all warped slightly since I varnished it on a hot summers day (you live and learn I guess) which is a tad disappointing after the hours I've spent making it, but that doesn't in any way stop its functionality so I'm still really pleased with it.
Kitchen pod in use.
All in all a really fun, relaxing weekend. The weather was great, the surf was pants, and the two new additions to the van (kitchen pod and bed extension) were both really useful and did the job great. Fantastic.
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