This weekend was all about the Big Bennett Meet Up Weekend. In attendance were: Us Mr & Mrs Bennett Senior Jez, Niki and Elijah Bennett Toby & Nicole Jack & Rosie
Here they all are (except me…Mrs B)
It was so hot all weekend and temperatures reached the high 20’s. We had some sun worshippers in the group but some needed help cooling down.
We spent the weekend paddle boarding, kayaking, eating, drinking, laughing and having a good old catch up.
In our previous Croft Farm blog we discussed the poor facilities but avoided them this time choosing to turn a blind eye. If you want to read that blog click here
Unlike me (Sam) I didn’t take many photos at all probably due to being in the moment and enjoying the company but I have cobbled together a gallery from different sources which hopefully will give you a sense of place.
Whilst packing up I (Sam) got a call to say my mom had been rushed to hospital so it was straight to the hospital and an abrupt end to a lovely weekend.
Update: mom is doing well and out of hospital having had a pacemaker fitted. She spent a week in hospital and a week at our house and she was more than ready to return home.
I know what you’re thinking…not another Lake Bala blog! It really is a lovely place and the lake is perfect for paddle boarding and kayaking as that’s what everyone is doing.
We were blessed with glorious sunshine for the whole trip which makes it even more enjoyable especially if your names Buddy and you’ve managed to escape your tether…
Mr B and Master B went out on the kayak early doors.
Master B is yet to get the paddle boarding bug and has so far resisted even trying it out. That was until a little encouragement and a slight push got him out on the board for the first time.
No seriously…he did get on his feet too.
and then he caught the bug! Absolutely loves it and incredibly talented at it too.
Once Buddy saw Master B on the paddle board he was keen to try it out.
Wait until we get you a buoyancy aid Buddy!
We had a mad ten minutes with Mr fussy pants needing some attention.
If anyone is wondering what kind of a man Mr B is then this photo should say it all.
carrying both boards so Mrs B doesn’t hurt her back (it’s fragile)
Always the gentleman! I did manage my paddle though lol.
Do we still have catalogues in 2022? If we do, we’re available for pennies lol…
So that just leaves the Buddy gallery to end another great weekend at Glanllyn Caravan Park, Lake Bala.
With a big beautiful blue lake, Croft Farm was the obvious choice for our next Paddle boarding trip. Easily accessible form the M5 motorway with no narrow roads making the it an ideal motorhome journey.
You have to check in first at the reception which doesn’t have parking for motorhomes or caravans so its a quick perch blocking in other cars before heading to our pitch. Once there we didn’t know whether we needed to pitch to the left or right as there’s normally site rules and we found out that with gravel pitches even the canopy needs to be on the gravel which isn’t ideal but rules are rules.
On the day of arrival the weather was glorious and the males decided to go straight onto the lake with their paddle boards.
Unfortunately I got mainly videos which I can’t add to this site so this is the only photo I have of Mr B on a paddle board!
After such a beautiful day we relaxed in the evening ready for a full day of paddle boarding and kayaking the next day…however, it rained all day. Dark skies and cold winds meant a day of games in the motorhome.
Even though we have a sink for washing up, we tend to use the site washing up facilities to reduce the need to fill up with water and empty the grey waste. The washing up facilities at Croft Farm are by far the worst we’ve ever seen. There was no shelter so if it rains all day you have to wash up in the rain. The sink were constantly blocked and full of rancid dirty water so we never actually successfully washed up on site. I felt very sorry for the tenters who had to other way of washing up. This site charges premium prices for their pitches but the facilities are well below par. The toilet and shower block was uncomfortable to use with very basic cover between cubicles. Again if you pay basic prices you don’t mind but our pitch cost £42 a night.
Having said that despite the facilities the main draw is the lake and that is probably the reason for the high pitch price.
Buddy is definitely living his best life having been with us for 17 months and very settle into life with Duggie’s Adventures.
Of course the weekend was also about celebrating fathers day and these two came to join us for the evening.
So most of Mr B’s boys all under one motorhome roof!
Lake Bala is now one of our regular destinations. It’s easy to reach after work and school on Friday so an ideal destination for weekend of waterspouts. On this occasion we decided last minute to go on Saturday morning so we needed to make the most of the day.
If you’ve read our previous blogs on Lake Bala you will see our kayak expeditions although we are also fans of paddleboarding.
In Bala the petrol station is on the side of the road. You basically pull up and a really friendly guy comes out to put fuel in the tank. Had a great chat with him about rising fuel prices etc and our first full tank costing more than £90. Initially two and half years ago it was costing around £65 – 70 so that’s a huge increase in a short space of time.
Thats not the friendly guy by the way, that’s Mr Bennett looking confused!
Arriving at Glanllyn Lakeside caravan and camping site we checked in and as usual we were given a choice of pitches. We opted for a pitch on the beach as we haven’t been down that end before.
The pitch gave us great views of the lake and was super handy when carrying the paddle boards and kayak down. The only downside was leaves and twigs falling on the motorhome roof throughout the night which could be quite loud but it wasn’t enough to spoil the location.
As soon as we were pitched it was paddle boards inflated, wetsuits on and off to the lake we went. Lake Bala is really shallow around the shore and doesn’t become deep until you’re quite far out. If like me (Sam) you fear deep water then this a Great Lake for you to paddle board or kayak in. You can see the bottom for quite a while and when the water becomes dark you know its getting deeper. Wearing a buoyancy aid will give you a lot more confidence. Not everyone wears them but if you have any doubts get one, it will be the difference between wanting or not wanting to get in the water.
I (Sam) actually woke with a migraine that day and thanks to new medication was able to feel quite normal by the time we got to site allowing me to enjoy paddle boarding. Normally, before the new medication that would have been two days lying down unable to move my head! A new lease of life you could say.
We was on the lake until quite late to make the most of only staying one night. On our late night walk with Buddy, Tristan decided to get some light trail shots with his cool lightsaber.
Duggies Adventures 