Homesteads in the Sun

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Rally Report: Sunshine, Skittles & Sleuthing for Biscuits at Homestead Caravan Park

Dates: Late September 2026

Attendance: 12 Caravans & Motorhomes

Marshals: Joy & Mick

Late September decided to turn on the summer charm for our weekend away at Homestead Caravan Park. With blue skies overhead and the mercury hitting a sizzling 25°C on Saturday, you’d never guess autumn was knocking on the door. A turn-out of 12 units rolled onto the rally field, where our fantastic marshals, Joy and Mick, greeted everyone with warm smiles and pitches ready to go.

Friday: The Great Biscuit Heist

The weekend kicked off in classic rally fashion. After pitching up, folks gathered inside the event tents to catch up over a cuppa. The kettle was boiling, tea and coffee were flowing, but a crucial question immediately arose: where are the biscuits?

Enter Joy on a covert mission. Spotting an unsuspecting caravanner still busy unpacking, Joy swooped in and successfully negotiated custody of an emergency tin of assorted biscuits. Crisis averted, diplomacy intact, and Friday evening settled into easy laughs and chatter.


Saturday: Stone Forecasts, Hot Rods & Mental Maths

Saturday morning began with a mass migration to the onsite café for breakfast. While there, everyone consulted the high-tech local meteorology: "Gerald’s Weather Forecasting Stone." Since the stone was completely dry—and definitely not swinging or missing—dry weather was guaranteed.

The morning offered plenty of distractions:

  • Shop Therapy: Members took full advantage of a handy 10% discount in the onsite accessory shop.

  • Caravan Daydreaming: A casual stroll through the showroom had plenty of people checking out the gleaming new models, calculating bank balances in their heads and asking, “Can we squeeze that into the budget?”


  • Classic Cruisers: The car park hosted an impromptu gathering of classic American motors and vintage gems—including a stunning blue custom Ford truck—providing a treat for the petrolheads in the group.

Saturday Afternoon: The Mölkky Showdown

By the afternoon, competition was brewing on the grass with a lively game of Mölkky (or "Skottle", as it was dubbed).Armed with 12 numbered wooden skittles and a throwing pin, tactics ranged from pinpoint accuracy to wild, hopeful lobs, keeping both players and spectators thoroughly entertained under the warm sun.

Saturday Evening: Pub Dinners, Flag & Beetle Mania

With appetites worked up from the skittle pitch, a convoy strolled a few hundred yards down the lane to the Black Boy pub and restaurant. It proved a winning choice—spotlessly clean, exceptionally welcoming, and dishing up delicious food all around.

Back on the rally field, the evening got underway with Flag. Louise gave a big, well-deserved vote of thanks to Joy and Mick for their hard work coordinating the weekend, followed by an update on upcoming rally fixtures.

Then came the main event: a classic, fast-and-furious Beetle Drive. The rules were simple—roll the die to construct your bug from body to antennae, strictly in anatomical order—but the competition was fierce. Dice rattled across the tables, pencils flew, and shouts echoed through the tent as players raced to bring their six-legged masterpieces to life.

Wrapping Up

Between the spotless rally field, the serene fishing lake, and sweeping views across the rolling Essex countryside, Homestead proved a top-notch venue.

A massive thank you goes out to Joy and Mick for marshaling such a smooth, fun, and memorable weekend. Here’s to the next one!







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