My GTR is begging to go for a ride tomorrow and head in a different direcion to my usual trips. So tomorrow, (Friday) once I've walked the dogs I'm going to head out towards Tetford near Horncastle in Lincolnshire.
The plan is to locate a couple of houses I stayed at in the village of Tetford 6 & 7 yrs ago respectively. The second property I stayed at in Tetford was an 18th century converted farmhouse which on day three of my holiday my wife and I and the two dogs were forced to leave due to paranormal activity. You can laugh.....but I kid you not!! ;D
There had been a number of 'incidents' since we arrived and on the final night things were so bad we considered sleeping in the car, it was like a scene out of Amytiville horror. :-[
Anyway I always said I'd go back and face it again....even the owners of the property who lived locally thought the house was haunted. Anyway I digress.....full write up and pics to follow.
Paranormal activity? :o
What happened? Was it a case of old rattling pipes, or did a ghost menacingly say to you "get out" ;D
or Ernies ghostly Gold Tops, a-rattling in their crates..............
Trust me you would not believe me if I told you, but it was the real deal. Its the only time in ten years of holidaying in the UK that we have ever cut short one of our breaks & both my wife and I wanted to return home immediately because of the 'house'.
A couple of examples....two nights running we both heard voices above where we were sleeping and yet we were in an attic which had been coverted into a bedroom and there was nobody else staying at the house. We had dogs which wouldn't go in one of the downstairs rooms, there was an abundance of flies which kept appearing in one area of a bedroom, you'd kill them and then an hour later they'd be back. You just got the sense that you were being watched from one of the upstairs windows everytime you went into the gardens. The final crunch came on our last night when I was......well, you would never believe me & would probably only laugh. But something happened which scared me sh**less and my wife witnessed it too. We left the very next morning, three days into a seven day break. The owners when we wrote to them later and explained what had happened confessed that they also had their suspicions that the house was haunted and actually gave us some money back from our holiday. That doesn't happen often!!
Now I'm really intrigued. What happened that's so unbelievable?
I'll tell you later...............wish me luck!
Well I'm back despite having visited the haunted house. A few quick safety checks of the GTR as I'd had some of it in bits over the last few days, quick trip to Morrison's to fill up and I was off. I've never been to Lincolnshire on the bike before but I have been many a time in the car with the wife and dogs for short breaks etc as it's a part of the UK I am particularly fond of and hope to retire there one day.
Pretty boring initial part of the journey, mostly motorways, M62, A1, A1M & then onto the A631 towards Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. Approximately sixty miles in to the trip I thought I'd check my mpg and was pleasantly surprised....
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1905.jpg)
I knew I'd never be able to sustain that once I got off the motorways but nevertheless, it just goes to show what the GTR can do as there are a few people who ask is it an economical bike?
Somewhere in the vicinity of Epworth I came across this unique house for sale, interesting little property.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1906.jpg)
As I came into Haxey on the A161 I saw a cenotaph. There's something about a cenotaph in a small village, there's a genuine connection usually with that village and the names upon it. They are always also so meticulously maintained and if possible I like to pay my respects by spending a few minutes there and reading the inscriptions.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1907.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1908.jpg)
Another strange fact about me...I'm not a religious person by any stretch of the imagination but I do like churches and in particular village churches. I think its something to do with the design and architecture of the buildings.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1909.jpg)
Just beyond Haxey I came across this stunning thatched property. I gather it was the old Post Office but that it is now a residential property. The detail in the thatching by the chimney stacks is terrific; I don't think I've ever seen anything like that.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1910.jpg)
I had to take one of the GTR in front of it.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1911.jpg)
Just a few yards from the thatched property was this quaint little stream and bridge....
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1913.jpg)
I can't quite remember where this next picture was taken but it was probably on the way to Market Rasen, right on the road side. Plenty of parking facilities, toilets, food etc & popular with bikers.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1914.jpg)
This woman pulled in on some sort of sports bike as I was getting ready to leave and looked as though she was waiting for someone. Then this Chav, 40 something bloke, covered in tatts came into the car park in some souped up small hatchback with big bore exhaust, spoilers etc. They were obviously racing each other and he seemed surprised that the sports bike pulled away from him.....Doh!
I continued on towards Horncastle using some of the lesser frequented roads like this, they were stunning. Great clear views and very quiet & lots of open fields.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1919.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1921.jpg)
I eventually arrived at Tetford and recognised the village immediately getting my bearings in resect of the haunted house.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1922.jpg)
Village life....
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1925.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1927.jpg)
It only took me a few minutes to find the haunted house...don't be fooled by its apparent innocent appearance!
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1928.jpg)
Ready to take off on the bike if I saw anything weird at the windows.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1930.jpg)
Quarter of a mile or so down the country lane in Tetford is another property which I once stopped at on my 40th birthday, seven years ago. Both the haunted house, and this one are owned by the same family & they have another property which they live in which is situated between the two. They suspect their house is haunted too apparently.
This house thankfully wasn't haunted. This is a beautiful property, a converted barn/s and yes it is all one property. Absolutely stunning inside.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1933.jpg)
The rather modest rear garden which our dogs loved....
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1935.jpg)
The GTR having a rest.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1937.jpg)
The great Lincolnshire countryside.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1938.jpg)
From Tetford I rode out towards Alford where I remembered many years ago seeing a Corn Mill, which I had always wanted to visit. There's a small tea room and farm shop there. Well worth a visit if you found yourself passing through.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1939.jpg)
Then, seeing as how I was only a stone's throw from the coast I decided to head out to Mablethorpe which has a terrific beach which you can access just off Golf Road. Good for kids and your dogs.
Before I popped down to the beach I took a ride down a road which runs parallel to the beach and on which there is a campsite. I think there used to be some annual biker venue down here but I could be mistaken.
Saw this lazy duck...(it's probably trying to avoid falling in that murky water).
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1941-1.jpg)
Whilst I'm taking the picture of the duck, this mother of all Hares came running across my path, from right to left. Sods law and all I managed to get a picture of it but the thing was mostly behind a fence post. You don't see many hares but trust me this was a big bugger.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1943-1.jpg)
Anyway back to the car park by the beach where I was initially heading. I've never noticed this before in the car park.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1944.jpg)
The beach was virtually deserted, usually when the weather is as good as this you can't move in the car park.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1945.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1946.jpg)
Fond memories of walking one of my dogs down that beach, three years ago she died, here's a picture of her for old time's sake, a very loyal GSD.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/IM000362.jpg)
My final stop before heading home was to go over the Humber Bridge on the outskirts of Hull. I was shocked to learn that even bikes have to pay to cross, £1.20. I thought toll fees didn't apply to bikes, I've obviously led a sheltered life. After crossing the bridge I parked underneath it in a viewing area and took a quick photo showing the peaks of the bridge just peeping above the trees.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1949.jpg)
Up to this point the weather had been kind to me, not a drop of rain. It was never going to last. Ten miles or so out of Hull on the A63, M62 heading back to Bradford the heavens opened up. Thankfully I rode out of it and then later hit all the Friday afternoon traffic by Leeds on the M62 so I came off the motorway and used some shortcuts arriving home at just after 5pm. Two hundred and sixty three miles all told. The roads were brilliant and I'll definitely be heading out that way again.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/13th%20May%202011%20Lincolnshire%20Trip/100_1951.jpg)
Hope you enjoyed the write up and apologies if I rattled on a bit.
It's called Willingham Woods - one of the largest Bike Meeting points in UK, same league as Box Hill, Ponderosa etc.
What's that on the wall? :o
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/gnusblat/Ghost.png)
Scaaaarrrrryyyy ::)
Looks like you had a good day then Mr Wolf ... I love the thatched cottage , oh and the bike was looking good too !
NB, I didn't see that on my photos ;D
I told you the house was haunted!
Quote from: Lonewolf on May 13, 2011, 08:06:44 AM
I'll tell you later...............wish me luck!
Still waiting for the story!
I emailed it to you a couple of days ago. I used the envelope link to the left of the globe in your profile.
Quote from: Lonewolf on May 16, 2011, 11:05:27 PM
I emailed it to you a couple of days ago. I used the envelope link to the left of the globe in your profile.
Just checked. definitely haven't received it. Maybe the ghost is watching ;D
Quote from: Lonewolf on May 16, 2011, 11:05:27 PM
I emailed it to you a couple of days ago. I used the envelope link to the left of the globe in your profile.
That's no good, we're all waiting to read it! (nice pictures as usual).
Kevin
Ok, to put you all in the picture and to appease your curiosity this is what happened. :o
Firstly you have to remember all the other stuff which had happened since we had arrived which had us on edge a bit...but the final straw came on the last evening that we were prepared to stay.
The haunted house issue was a nightmare. People mock me over it but its true, very true indeed. It came to a head on our last night there when something/somebody actually got hold of my legs and dragged me down to the bottom of the bed. My wife was in bed with me and she was laying at the side of me so it wasn't her and she wouldn't physically be capable of dragging me even if she wanted to. I can remember my legs being held as clear as day as I was dragged down to the bottom of the bed. That was the icing on the cake and we both mutually decided that enough was enough and later that morning we left. You usually get a visitors book in these holiday homes where people can write comments good or bad about their stay. I never read them, I just cant be bothered. But on the morning that we left I read peoples comments and there was a small percentage who had actually written in the book saying that they had experienced some strange & unexplained incidents during their stay at the house.
Interestingly I wrote a letter to the holiday company more for a joke than anything else explaining that we had cut our holiday short due to the house being haunted. The holiday company forwarded the letter to the owners of the property and low and behold a few weeks later we got a letter and cheque back from the owners. The owners who live literally a hundred yards or so away from this house confessed that they had read the visitors book in the past and seen various comments about spooky goings on but that they had never personally experienced anything at this house. Interestingly though they did believe that their own house was haunted and therefore had no reason to dis-believe what we had described and as a gesture of goodwill gave us some cash back for our holiday being spoiled. Cant say fairer than that can you? I would honestly never stay there again though even it was free.
There's a lot of history in that area of Lincolnshire, battles being fought etc. The other property we stayed at though, the red bricked building which is owned again by the same family and on the other side of the owners house was sound, we never experienced anything there and there were six of us staying there and three dogs.
One of life's little mysteries I guess.
Are you sure you hadn't been watching Paranormal Activity (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179904/) the night before? Did the dogs not bark? I used to be into this paranormal stuff when I was younger but now as a scientist I question everything for a rational explanation (except for why people buy BMW cars - there is no rational explanation for that ;D)
I'll be interested in reading the reviews of that hotel. Anyone for the 2012 meetup to be held there?
I wouldn't mind staying there, I am a believer in things paranormal, though I have never had any experiences I do believe that such things can and do happen.
All of the above is fact and no spicing up, bloody scary place :o
I would never stay there again.
Quote from: Norman Bates on May 19, 2011, 12:25:27 AM
Are you sure you hadn't been watching Paranormal Activity (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179904/) the night before? Did the dogs not bark? I used to be into this paranormal stuff when I was younger but now as a scientist I question everything for a rational explanation (except for why people buy BMW cars - there is no rational explanation for that ;D)
I'll be interested in reading the reviews of that hotel. Anyone for the 2012 meetup to be held there?
How about 2011 ;D
Yes, but how many of us will end up with brown pants
I sense I am being mocked!