Longwick (Home)

All cosy in Marge last night. A glass of wine and a good book, what's not to like.

A respectable 14c in Marge this morning, not bad for the third week in November.

Whilst in Swanage today, we called in at the estate agents, picked up a couple of Ercol dining chairs in a shop to boost our stock, and also a mid century clock for our own collection.

All this shopping made us hungry, so we treated ourselves to homemade fishcake, chips and a variety of pea sides and sat in the warmth of the fish and chip shop to enjoy them. Outside. the stiff breeze was tugging at the feathers of the young seagulls, as they waited in anticipation of some tasty tit-bits.

After lunch, we took a walk along the seafront and noticed the pristine sands of the summer months, were carpeted in waxy seaweed. Sadly, upon closer inspection, a tide of plastic, invaded this display of nature. A lone lady, was picking through the plastic , removing this poison that has become a worldwide problem. Sadly, it will take more than one ladies efforts to solve it, but good on her, we should all be inspired by her efforts.

It has been a productive day, but we decided to head home later this evening. There is a weather warning for the south coast tonight and tomorrow, so it would be no fun in staying away.

Studland

Lastnight at home, the outside temperature was somewhere below minus 2c. So this morning, we needed to thaw out Marge ready for her travels. Whilst she gently warmed in glow of a bright frosty sunlight, we took time to remember the birds who struggle to find enough food on these cold days.

 Last night John cooked a whole chicken marinated in tikka paste, the carcass after being boiled, had been kept to put out for the birds this morning. The area we live in, is famous for Red Kites, a large bird of prey with wing spans of up to six feet. It wasn't long before one was sat on our grass enjoying a 'taste of India'. Unfortunately, before we could photograph it, it took flight, a shame as it would have made a fantastic picture for our blog.

Today we had reason to travel to Poole. One of our tenants, an elderly lady, required our attention!!

After sorting out a couple of jobs she needed doing, we walked into town and visited our letting agent. Whilst there we asked if they had any suitable buy to let properties available. I know, we have said no more, after the trials and tribulations of the last few years, but we're just thinking about another one, or maybe two!

Passing through the town on our way back to Marge, we walked through the Dolphin shopping centre. Their Christmas lights this year are stunning. 

Tonight we are back to one of our regular stops on Studland. A drink in the pub, then back to Marge for paella, (a memory of our trip to the continent, not that long ago). 

Tomorrow we are off to Swanage, to seek out some more furniture bargains, and potential properties. We'll let you know how we get on.

Longwick (Home)

What a beautiful start to the morning. Even though the surroundings were hard and industrial, as we were at Poole Ferry Port, the dazzling rising sun was blinding, obscuring the activity of the loading car ferry.

As we leave Poole, driving along side Holes Bay, the still water of the high tide reflects the anchored boats. On a sandbank, the ducks, geese and swans gather for an early morning meeting. 

We are leaving early, as we have to attend to some family business on the way home. As we leave Dorset and the coast behind, we head across country to Salisbury. The sharpness of Salisbury Cathedral's spire greets us as we drive over a brow on the outskirts of the city. Salisbury has suffered greatly as a result of the chemical attack on the Russian couple this year, and we have noticed how quiet the roads have been when we have passed through it recently. But hopefully, with the Christmas market coming to the city centre, and the threat from events earlier this year no longer, the visitors will return. 

As we leave via the ring road we pass by the college, a blast from the past for John, who studied here many years ago. Traveling on-wards passing through the Hampshire countryside, the now late morning sun warms us through the glass of the vehicle. 

Our family meeting over, we head towards home, the dazzling sun of the early morning now sinking in the sky, splitting the clouds as it dips, a fiery orange light reflects off the wing mirror of the van.

Next week we have reason to travel south again. Perhaps we'll take Marge with us for another adventure, we'll see.

Poole

What a start to the morning, sunny and warm, with no chill in the air, just loving this mild weather, please let it continue! That said, the grey clouds are circulating, and we know the forecast is for rain showers later today. But we enjoyed the moment over breakfast, sitting in Marge with her side door open, enjoying the heat of the morning autumn sun, the temperature a respectable 16c. Here we were, just over a hundred miles from home,  detached from reality, a campervan really does give you a feeling of freedom.

After breakfast we traveled down to Swanage, where we picked up a couple of mid century bargains to sell upon our return. One of them cost just £2.00.

At one, second hand shop we stumbled across fourteen stone phalluses or phalli (depending on which university you went to) of a reasonable size, alongside a display of some large dolphins, not sure of the connection.

Before heading back to Marge for lunch, we stopped by at the church to marvel at the display of poppies in the grounds, then it was on to the Swanage steam railway centre for a coffee.

Tonight's stop is the glamorous ferry terminal at Poole. Sadly we will not be boarding the morning ferry to France.

This evening we walked up to the quay for a meal and a drink, stopping to photograph the Sunseeker boats, the lights under their rear decks lighting the green of the sea water, one of them was named 'Angela's', not sure we could run to one just yet!

Up on the quay was a sea cadet tall ship called T.S. Royalist. During the summer you will quite often see a tall ship moored here, and they just seem to look right in the setting. Before returning to Marge this evening, we stopped for a second drink in an old pub down a side street just off the quay. The part of the pub we sat in had a high wooden vaulted ceiling, and the plaque on the outside of the building said it dated back to 1350.

Tomorrow we will journey back home, this two night trip just a little tease for Marge, who we know is itching go be taken on another big adventure!

Norden

Guess what, Marge has sneaked out again! 

Despite it being the second week of November, the weather today has been remarkably mild.

As we journeyed south today to our beloved Dorset, the sun streamed through the semi-naked trees, their golden leaves fallen onto the ground beneath them creating a carpet of gold.

On the way to tonight's stop, we stopped to look at some camper vans, parking Marge a reasonable distance away, so not to hurt her feelings. She is a feisty thing, but not as young as she was, and a little lacking in power, but although we love her, we are tempted to buy bigger and slightly more powerful, however saying that she does everything we need, and has taken us to some great places this year. But we are just looking, no harm in that!

After realising what a bargain Marge was, we leave and head towards Poole to cast an eye over the outside of our rental properties, then move on down to Poole quay, 

parking Marge in a normal car parking space, (another plus for her). 

We take a walk to stretch our traveled legs. Across from the quay we check how many Sunseeker boats are being prepared for new customers, a touch of sadness as we realise it wasn't that long ago we were wowed by the size of one named 'King Power', it's owner also owned Leicester City football club.

From Poole, with the sky now inky blue, and Marge's headlights glowing as usual like candles, we headed to tonight's stop, The Halfway Inn at Norden between Wareham and Corfe, (I know we were only here three weeks ago). 

Tonight we are not alone, for the first time, we are joined by another newer, smarter van, but it does not have the character of Marge. After a couple of drinks in the bar, it was back to the van for homemade chilli con carne.

What a life this campervanning is, let's hope the weather is kind over the next few months and we can continue our adventures. The forecast for tonight is rain, but we don't mind, the pitter patter of raindrops, whether we are in a tent or van we find soothing at night, also rain means a warmer night, and that's another recommendation for Marge, the smaller the van, the easier to keep cosy.

Home.

A huge ivory moon last night, with ribbons of cloud gliding in front of it.

This morning after a dreary start, the weather improved slightly, so we took a short walk along the river Arun.

Moored on the river next to Marge, was a boat called Queen Sardine, for some reason this made us smile. As we sorted out the van for the off, the leaves were falling fast from the trees, spinning to the ground, and chasing to the corners of the car park in an autumn frenzy.

Our journey home, took us close by Arundel castle, then onwards into Surrey, where the weather deteriorated a little more. By early afternoon, we were near to home, and decided to stop at Marlow on the Thames for a short while.

The access to the town, is via a narrow bridge, so a little tight for Marge, but we know she has negotiated her way in and out of tight spots before!

 We took a short walk, passed the slipway, where two swans were preening themselves at the waters edge, oblivious of us and the roar of the weir behind them. But after a while, we could see the rain clouds gathering, so headed back to Marge.

We are now home, and already our thoughts are of more travels, looking at blogs of other travelers on the internet. Hopefully, Marge will be on her travels again soon.

Arundel.

A bright, breezy morning, with a sharp chill in the air, greeted us this morning. The price to pay for such a gorgeous warm sunny day yesterday. Along the coast we can see Brighton, a slate blue sky hanging over the town.

We took a walk out along the cliff top, we are enjoying our time at the coast, there's something relaxing and freeing about being by the sea. Our walk took us to a nearby campervan sales centre (we know), but it was purely to look.  After a couple of hours of viewing one particular van, and having Marge valued, we decided to go across to Brighton for lunch.

We stopped at Brighton Marina. A few years ago we sold a boat we owned on the Thames (after it was broken into, and it never felt the same again), to a young man who had it transported here to live on. Despite taking a walk around, we couldn't see it, perhaps that was for the best, they say never go back!

 We'd had our lunch at Pizza Express, sat outside, along with many other people, who couldn't believe that it was the third week of October and here we were soaking up the sun beside the boats basking in the marina. During lunch, we discussed buying another van, but as we were not both in agreement on this particular one we decided to give it a miss.

Tomorrow we must return home, so late this afternoon we retraced our journey back to the lovely Sussex town of Arundel.

Tonight's stop is in the pub car park of the Black Rabbit (please google it), alongside the river Arun. It is a beautiful setting, and the price to stay here is a donation into the charity collection box on the bar, but besides this we had a couple of drinks as normal. Tomorrow morning we hope the weather will be fine, as at the end of the river we can see Arundel castle, and we know it will make a great photograph.

Tonight, all cosy in the van, with toasted cheese and onion sandwiches and a glass of red wine, what's not to like! We are already thinking about a trip away with Marge in November, weather permitting.