Poole

Last night the wind blew across the marshland. Marge shook, rattled but luckily did not roll. It was a tad breezy wasn't it, Marge? Home today.First how about one more cheeky little day out Marge? Take us to Lymington. Cornish pasties and ice cream await.

We always feel sad when our trip comes to an end. It is now four weeks since we set off and now must return home to attend to some matters. We are grateful for the fine weather, the beautiful scenery, stunning sunsets and the people we've met along the way. That aside, we hope to take Marge away for a couple of weeks at the end of July. There's just no stopping us.

It was just after four when we eventually arrived home. The garden looked a little windswept. We'd missed the best of the roses and the poppies, although a few blooms held on for our return. Washing on within half an hour it soon felt like we'd never been away. Everything around us just seemed virtually the same. Time had stood almost still in our neighbourhood for the last four weeks. 

Rest up Marge. We've had trials and tribulations, laughs, despair, jubilation, tight spots, stresses and strains but we're all stronger for them. For anyone who's interested, information on the internet says you can sit on your toilet whilst your campervan or motorhome is in transit. Didn't mention if this included the driver! Might need to do a risk assessment Marge. 

We hope you've enjoyed travelling with us and Marge and will come along with us on our next journey. Thanks for reading, we hope we and Marge have entertained you.

Milford on Sea

Wardour Castle is described by English Heritage as a 'romantic ruin'. It certainly looked it yesterday evening as the sun slipped west lighting the tops of the crumbling masonry. A Toyota Landcruiser from Switzerland with a roof tent joined us for the night. We were in a secluded part of Wiltshire in total silence with not even the call of a bird or the cry of a wild animal.

After some light rain first thing, the sun broke through just in time for breakfast. John wandered up to the castle which was now open, and was able to take a photograph of it minus the porta loo which obscured the view yesterday evening. A member of staff gave a potted history of the castle and the building. The rain returning, we decided to pack up and begin our onward journey, with Marge having to negotiate some very challenging narrow lanes back to the main road.

As we headed towards Salisbury, we stopped to photograph the Cap Badges carved into the chalk hills of Fovant Down. They were constructed by regiments as they passed this way en-route to the front in the first world war. Originally there were twenty, but only eight remain now. More rain as we arrived in Salisbury, but by the time we'd found a suitable parking space for Marge the weather had settled.

A walk around the town and the cathedral, a place we never tire of took up a couple of hours. At the cathedral we looked through the lens of a spotting scope at the peregrine falcon and kestrel that sat high up on the stonework. 

Our plan was to stay overnight at Old Sarum on the edge of the city, but after twenty minutes of listening to loud music from a car nearby Angela knew it was not the place for her, so we drove on for an hour to Milford on Sea, hoping to be able to park after reading thirty plus vans had stayed there last night. Result, plenty of room, around twenty vans here tonight.

Marge is parked in pole position with views across Keyhaven marshes towards Hurst Castle and beyond to the Isle of Wight. The sun is shining, but a keen wind is blowing. We are on home territory now about an hour's drive from our home in Poole where we have now been living for a year. In that time, we have spent about six months away on adventures. Live a little why don't you? We will Marge.

Tisbury, Waldour Castle.

Despite a beautiful evening yesterday the wind whipped up the canal finding its way under tarpaulin covers and into open windows. Our park up for the night was perfect. Alongside the canal with the police station behind us. Little chance of boy racers coming in during the night, (which they did not).

The morning began gently. The canal side waking up to a few dog walkers, narrowboats stopping to pump out their waste and a handful of kayakers who slipped by virtually unnoticed. We were in no need to leave Devizes too early, so walked into the nearby town to visit the Sunday market in the shambles market hall.

 The market hall is ear marked for change by the local council, who want to turn it into a food market to appeal to younger people. We'll watch and wait to see what is decided on its future.

Lunch bought we decided to walk along the tow path to the Caen locks. A flight of twenty-nine locks which take five to six hours to pass through. As we sat at a picnic table near one of the locks, we thought we might like to cycle alongside the Kennet and Avon canal. A ride of eighty-seven miles between Reading and Bristol. We calculated we'd need four or five days taking it nice and slowly, camping along the way. Another trip to try and accommodate this year. 

Just before four o' clock, a little too late to be setting off really, we fired up Marge, pleased we'd had the opportunity to empty our toilet at the boat facilities. Our drive took us across Salisbury Plain to the large and pretty village of Tisbury.

Then onto a narrow, no, very narrow road with worryingly, just a couple of passing places to tonight's stop. The car park at Wardour Castle.

Wow! That was worth the drive wasn't it, Marge? Wardour castle as a location in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves dates back to the fourteenth century, It sits beside a pretty fishing lake adorned with pink and yellow water lilies.

The backdrop to the castle, tall trees of oak and fir which stretch skyward towards a vibrant blue summer sky. What a beautiful English setting. Looks like it might be just us here tonight, Marge? Hope the castle ruins aren't haunted.

Devizes

The parking area at Penn Woods was busy this morning with dog walkers and walkers. Stretching exercises using your Nordic walking poles, a new one for to us. But the group we watched seemed to enjoy it before click clacking across the loose gravel to return to their vehicles.

John was up early, venturing into the woods returning with his bounty. A large bag of oyster mushrooms. The park up in the woods seemed a good spot to take a shower in Marge. Why does someone always park next to me when you do this? Perverts! Enough of that Marge. But we agree. Look at all the space available they could have chosen. 

Today we needed to travel to Chippenham in Wiltshire.

Before leaving we both walked a little way through the woods so it was twelve noon before we eventually left. Vanhaus Customs was our destination where we discussed a new paint job for Marge. Just need to set a date for the work to be carried out now Marge.

We needed an overnight stop. Devizes was not too far away and after some testing hills we found a nice spot behind the police station alongside the Kennet and Avon canal. 

Despite a little rain along the way the evening was beautiful. We walked into town for a drink, too tired to explore too far. But before we leave tomorrow we will take more of a look around the area. 

Where we will stay tomorrow, who knows? We must make our way home in the next couple of days though, jobs to do, relatives to host. Life is an adventure, and as soon as we can we'll be off somewhere again.

Penn Street

Today has been all about Marge! She's been fitted with new front brake pads, had a new oil filter and fresh oil, and the nice young mechanic even adjusted her hand brake. And, dare we say, John appears to have sorted out her immobiliser problem. Right Marge, we've done right by you, treat us kindly now please. 

It was early afternoon by the time we got around to calling on some more people we needed to catch up with whilst in the area. We were tired from two late nights and two early starts coupled with our worries about Marge, but didn't let this spoil our day.

Tomorrow we will once again be focused on Marge. We are off to Chippenham to discuss her having a paint job. Any particular colour Marge?

Tonight, though we are staying at Penn Wood in the heart of the Chilterns. The pretty village of Penn Street is nearby. The area is classed as one of outstanding natural beauty. That natural beauty is sadly being invaded by the construction of HS2, the largest rail infrastructure project in Europe. All around the landscape is scarred. Trees have been felled and homes demolished. The effect is devastating. Horrendous. The spiralling cost obscene. 

Before we leave tomorrow we will make time to take a walk through some of the beautiful woodland behind us. The area is protected thankfully from the excavatours that tear up the land nearby. You never know, we may even come across a chicken of the woods fungi. Now that really would make John's day!

Askett

The sunset last night, fifty shades of pink, just went on and on whipping the clouds into it.  Spectacular. Thank you, West Kirby, for this brilliant light show and for welcoming the vans to stay a night for free. In return we made sure we spent money in the town. Easy isn't it local councils, we stay, and the local businesses gain! We spoke with a lady in one of the other four vans and with a local man, both keen to hear about Marge and her travels. She never stops drawing a crowd. Meeting and talking to so many different people are one of the joys of our travels. The night air warm, many local people walked out along the promenade until quite late. We ended up retiring to bed a lot later than intended, sitting with Marge's side door open enjoying the warmth of the evening whilst we looked across the river Dee to a thousand Christmas lights twinkling over on the coast of north Wales. 

Early next morning we were awoken by the refuse collectors and workmen working on the sea defence. Walkers and joggers passed by their pounding feet sounding out. We caught snippets of conversations. 'You'll be alright'. 'In September'. 'And I said to her'. 'Huff, puff, puff'. What does that mean? It's the sound of exercise Marge. 

Our drive south to Buckinghamshire was long but without too much traffic. We stopped for lunch at a service area on the M5 where many of the people looked like Glastonbury suspects.

We were glad when we finally arrived at Askett where we would once again spend a night in Marge on John's sister's driveway, but not until after we'd enjoyed a lovely home-cooked meal whilst catching up. Good food, and good company. You can't beat it. 

West Kirby

Last night as darkness fell the bats came out to feed, flicking and flapping their wings as they darted back and forth across the lake.

We could smell the blue-green algae around the edge of the water and wondered why there were no warning signs that it was present in the water.

This morning the white domestic geese sat near to the road, rising in unison as the sun filtered through the branches of the trees. Everywhere is looking tired, the water levels are down and the soil dry and cracked. A storm is forecast for tomorrow, but not everywhere. 

Today we had a surprise visit planned. Our drive across the Peak District was for a reason, to cross to the west coast so we could visit John's daughter who'd had a fall recently. Surprise, it's just the rellies come to visit! After spending a pleasant afternoon catching up, we took the short drive to the West Kirby on the coast of the Wirral.

It has once again been a very hot day, so we walked out around the marine lake in the hope of catching a breeze, but there was none. Tired from travelling and trying to diagnose Marge's electrical problem, we treated ourselves to a Chinese take-away. Yes, Marge, another one. 

Tomorrow we will take the long drive down to Buckinghamshire. Marge is booked in a garage in Aylesbury on Friday to have new brake pads fitted, and hopefully an oil change. Meanwhile this evening, the temperature around 20c we sit and take in the view across the water towards north Wales. There will be a sunset, and we know it will be spectacular!