East coast break, windy with a touch of knitting .

 Last week we spent a couple of days over on the east coast (uk) Sutton on Sea to be exact. Whenever we have the van fully serviced we have to take out some of the stuff that usually stays in all year round. Tables, chairs, tool kits etc litter up our front room so that the engineers can get to all the electrics, water , gas and heating pipes to make sure all is safe. 

Every year I go through the mountain of stuff and remove anything that is surplus to requirements, originally I would take out a couple of carrier bags of bits and bobs that seemed like a good idea when we bought them but never get used but this year it was just a couple of cans of furniture polish from the back of a cupboard and a water hosepipe, I've no idea why we carry two when we rarely use one .

Once we get the van back and repack it, we usually grab two or three nights away to make sure everything is back in place, nothing worse than going on a road trip without the oven shelves or pillows ( yep, we have had to return for both of those items in the past)

Anyway, we found ourselves on a very pleasant site about a mile from Sutton for a blustery few days.

Once set up, watered and fed, we went down to the beach which is about a mile from the site. nice and quiet away from the small town and the usual holiday makers. We noted where the nearest cafe was and decided to return the next morning for coffee and breakfast (sausage baguette) the next morning.

I'm not sure whether the cafe used to be the post office but there was a post box outside and when post boxes and knitters/crocheters are found in the same vicinity, this happens..

Once we had sufficient food and drink, we walked along the prom, past the beach huts and into the town.

The sea defence flood gates were open but by the time Ian returned sat the end of the day they had been closed in preparation for an expected high tide.

More knitting greeted us in town

 

This all turned out to be part of a scarecrow trail around the town, We have visited this area ( Mablethorpe, Skegness etc) many times since childhood and regularly passed by a large antique shop on the main street, always vowing to call in sometime. Well after 30 plus years of driving past in cars, on the bike etc we called in. It was one of those places where you would need to visit several times, So much stuff in so little space !!

Ian volunteered to tackle the stairs up to the top floor and took my phone camera just in case.

Possibly a flax wheel, broken flyer.

This one looked more complete but he couldn't see the treadle under the surrounding junk.

Lunch was eaten at the beach cafe, not quite the summer view that the name conjurers up.

We went our separate ways and I walked back by the main road. I wanted to grab a picture of the church with the leaning tower but it doesn't really show the angle in the pictures.

I also wanted to grab a photo of a local street name ( again passed by many times)

Some knitting was achieved back at the van, I managed to finish the blue and white hat ( the white is Ryeland but the blue was out of my oddments bag so no idea on the breed)

The random pot of jam sneaking into the picture is cherry and kirsch which may or may not sneak back into the van for our road trip. 60mph gusts of wind the next morning delayed our departure by a few hours but we made it home safely.

Not what I was expecting

 Every so often someone will offer free fleece to me, I'm usually cautious about accepting but sometimes its worth a chance. I asked what breed the sheep were and was told border Leicester cross, This made me a bit apprehensive as I'm not the biggest fan of long wools but hey, if I can't spin it, I have a friend who will use it on her allotment.

So the fleece travelled up to Nottinghamshire and we made a trip out to collect them. First glance was interesting, very clean, not a lot of vegetable matter and for the most part not a lot of crimp

My first instinct is that this is a down breed cross, locks short and stubby, reminds me of Oxford Down only shorter (maybe Shropshire) and I suspect that they will make warm hats.

random crimpy locks

Half the fleece is now washed and I'm still thinking down breed fleece.

At this point I realised that my camera did not like taking photos yesterday !! anyway, here is a spun knitted sample 9wpi, 4mm needles at the bottom as a curiosity knit, 4.5mm at the top to check if suitable for plain hats.

Its really warm and woolly, not super soft but will be great for the usual mitts/hats etc. Next step will be to see how it takes dyes.

I've just had a quick look at the other fleece, quite different on first glance so I'll try and get it out fully later in the week.

In other news, this beauty is in the wash today.

Have a great week everyone, its going to be a hot one today so once again I have a line full of washing from the van as I try to get ready for another road trip.