Only 2 years late - off roading and Stratfording

For Anne's 50th birthday, we had planned an off road driving day, followed by a long weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon. Naturally things could not go to plan. The first booking was cancelled thanks to covid, the second thanks to the crew having a bad back, the third thanks to the Eastnor Land Rover centre deciding to close for the day we were booked in. Amazingly, considering what a **** year this had been all in all, the arrangements worked out this time.

After arriving at Eastnor and raiding their coffee and biscuits, we thought that things would be a bit tricky as Anne falled  the first challenge rather spectacularly. She struggled to get the seat adjustment sorted out in the Defender and needed some support from the instructor:

The day improved dramatically afterwards though, with some great forest sections of mud, rock, water and tree roots to avoid. Just what the car can achieve on road tyres is truly amazing. Some of the man made obstacles were fun too - like this 40 degree "ladder" climb where the traction control has to manage the wheels on the stepped areas to keep us moving:

You can see the concentration in the driver (Anne's) eyes before taking on the challenge which the car just ambled up quite happily, under novice driver guidance.

In the forest areas, we were shooed off by a very aggressive Reeve's pheasant who has been known to attack the instructors when they stop to open the gates to "his area":

The Defender can manage water up to 90 cm deep. There were plenty of  muddy watery areas on the forest trails but  you see things better in this man-made area.  It was kind of worrying to see how far up the car the water was - in the carefully placed mirror. (It was 1/3 of the way up the doors but our feet stayed dry):

We thoroughly enjoyed the day, the lunch, the conversation with our excellent instructor Rob and seeing just how capable these cars are. The setting is pretty special too, in the Eastnor Castle estate

After overnighting in Great Malvern, we headed to Stratford-upon-Avon with a little lunch and walk stop at Evesham. Lovely town, good riverside path and a couple of nice coffee stops. The Old School cafe is as quirky as it is good. The "ecclesiastical area" looked great in the sun too: 

Stratford was a retail therapy session for Anne (lots of Xmas present shopping), a double Rohan jacket purchase for us (poor credit card). some chilling and three special meals out. We went to the rather special Loxley's restaurant twice (yup, it was that good) and had a lazy Sunday roast lunch in the One Elm. By pure coincidence, Tina was also in Stratford that weekend with relatives and so we had the chance of a brief catch up since they ate at the same pub for lunch. All most sociable.

Things were rounded off nicely by visiting the Royal Shakespeare theatre on the riverside, sitting upstairs and enjoying a glass of fizzy stuff looking over the town and river. It just had to be done:

Back in the hotel, thinking that a rather good few days were coming to a close, we had message from Bernie, who you've come across in these ramblings many times before. He was driving home and saw the road signs to Stratford. Knowing we were there, he diverted to see us so a walk, together with Beau his little dog, down to the famous actor's pub the Dirty Duck was needed.

A very sociable and enjoyable few days after the various cancelled or messed up trips we had attempted earlier on. Much needed too.