Exmouth

The rain arrived in the early hours of this morning, the first since we can't remember when. By the time we left Lyme Regis it had already passed through, and the sun fought with the cloud to break through. Just a short trip for Marge today to Exmouth, gateway to the Jurassic coast. Marge coped well, easily plateauing the tops of the hills. She seemed comfortable all the way and is now settled in an allocated motorhome spot with a sea view.

We are very happy with this spot, the car park will be secured from eight o' clock tonight so there's no risk of any boy racers arriving, or the idiot we had turn at 10.30 pm last night revving his motorbike engine.

At lunchtime, although the wind blew cold,  we walked along the seafront to the marina and in to the town to buy some lunch and more WD40, our secret weapon we 'think' to easing Marge's ills. Then a trip to the bank for more cash to cover our overnight parking fees.

We walked back through Manor Gardens where we stopped to watch the squirrels raking over the ground in search for food before running to a couple who fed them nuts from their hands. 

Back at Marge, who is sharing the parking area with a covid test/vaccination centre a lorry arrived to empty the porta loos on site. 'Hey mate, have you got room for a little one?' More vans have arrived during the afternoon, and the area has become reminiscent of a French aire. Hopefully it wont be too long now before we can return to France.

Meanwhile we study our map and guide books, both windows into our adventure. 

 Lyme Regis

This morning Marge decided to play up, taking three attempts to start. It looked like we might be in for another eventful day. All those thousands of miles spent travelling around France, Spain, Italy and Portugal with barely a murmur from Marge, then take her on a staycation, and well what can we say.

After checking the tide times for Poole harbour, and seeing it was a spring tide so it would be no good for us to go out kayaking this morning, we decided to set off further west. As we passed through Wareham, we decided to stop at Kombi Kampers as they specialise in V.W.'s. Yes, they could accommodate Marge for a few days and sort out her turbo, and also take a look at her bodywork and sort that out to. Age comes to us all Marge.

After crossing everything, we took Marge over the Dorset hills and all went well, until, Marge decided to pull her usual stunt. Luckily, we managed to get off to the side of the dual carriageway, turn the ignition on and straight back on, and resume our journey.

Our lunchtime stop was picturesque West Bay, where the television programme Broadchurch was filmed. 

We couldn't resist the enticing smell of Cornish pasties, buying a couple and sitting on the shingle beach in the spring sunshine to eat them whilst monitoring the circling seagulls.

Further down the beach a seal sunbathed, flicking its head up every time the sea water splashed its face. It was more than happy to lay there and be photographed, too happy in fact, not even the dogs barking and scampering nearby caused it any alarm. We wondered if it may have been unwell. At the entrance to the harbour a sailing boat had run aground on the sand bar. The three crew and their dog were all sat at the bow end, but their combined weight could not stop the stern from rising up and down hitting the sand bar with a worryingly loud bang. The skipper of the yacht consoled himself with a bottle of beer, all they could do was sit it out until the tide turned. 

West Bay is on the south west coast path. Angela is reading a book at the moment called 'The Salt Path' which is about this very path. She walked the section from Minehead to Croyde bay when she was nineteen, now at sixty-one she found the steep ascent from the beach a little challenging. However, she would not be beaten, and enjoyed the view back over the village and across the sea blue to the horizon.

The last leg of today's journey was going to be a test for Marge, but we're pleased to say she coped well and happily rested with her fellow vans whilst we took a walk down to the sea front, stopping by the old hotel that years ago John tried to save from being turned into apartments, sadly that is exactly what has happened.

Lyme Regis is known as the Pearl of Dorset. It forms part of the Jurassic coast and hosts a fantastic coastline as well as interesting architecture. 

Back at Marge, we wanted to check with our fellow nomads if they were staying overnight, as the car park sign stated parking was free for all vehicles, but overnight sleeping was not allowed. Knocking on the door of a nearby van, the woman who greeted Angela was a little nervy and suspicious. She made a point of saying the couple in the van next to her were friends. She's probably even more worried now we've moved Marge in right next to them! 

Tomorrow our adventure continues. A few days ago, we thought about knocking this trip on the head, but it is said that 'the greatest danger in life is not to take the adventure', so Devon here we come.

 Norden

This morning we awoke to a still life painting of the new forest.

The ponies were rummaging the dry and exhausted ground, whilst birds fretted in the dust. Despite the sunshine, the morning air was fresh, cleansing out lungs. We realised how lucky we were to be away in such a beautiful place.

Our trip over to Poole was productive. We met with the owners of the house we are buying, and then took Marge to the garage. Diagnosis, new turbo required, but not to worry we could continue on our trip with not too much to worry about, just the inconvenience of Marge's engine might go into safe mode for a minute or two. As you get older, problems seem to become more of a worry. We'd travelled around Scotland with Marge unhappy at times, and that didn't stop us from continuing, so why worry now?

Late afternoon we took a walk from Ham Common to the beach at Rockley Park. The sea water sparkled like diamonds in the afternoon sun and the trees lightly waved in the breeze. Amongst the heathland a welcome splash of colour from the gorse punctuated the landscape. 

Tonight, we are staying once again at the Halfway House pub at Norden.

Upon our arrival we were greeted by a herd of young reindeer in an area at the rear of the car park. Their curiosity satisfied, they skipped off into the nearby woodland.

By now the heat of the day had slipped away, and as we sat in the pub garden enjoying a pre-dinner drink, we planned our onward trip. Tomorrow, before heading west, we hope to return to Poole to kayak at Hamworthy beach. The sun now, is just slipping towards the horizon, the sky alight. Hopefully, we will enjoy many more sunsets whilst we are away.

 Brockenhurst

The opening up of campsites was good news for us. Some people may say it is too early, and will have the same effect as the eat out scheme, except this time it will be known as 'camp out, to spread it about!'.

But Marge thoroughly cleaned, is ready to go and enjoy some fresh air. Tuesday April 20th, our destination, Brockenhurst in the new forest. But little did we know, that our destination would actually be a refuge area alongside the M3 motorway.

Marge was not happy on the journey, three times her engine went into safe mode, and on the third occasion her engine management light came on, so that meant Stop! After a couple of hours, a very nice man from the RAC checked Marge over. His cure, hit her EGR valve with a hammer. Sorry, Marge, no pain, no gain. Problem, still not solved, a, recovery vehicle was called. Whilst we waited for nearly two hours for it arrive, we watched campervans and motorhomes speed by heading south. Sad that our trip had been curtailed. 

Marge safely attached to the recovery vehicle at a worryingly acute angle, oh dear, we'd both used the chemical toilet whilst waiting for assistance, and us comfortable on the rear seats of a taxi provided by the RAC, we all set off bound for home, with Marge already booked into our local garage.

The gungy old valve was replaced by a shiny new EGR valve fitted, and a new rubber pipe linking the turbo charger to the intercooler, we hoped Marge was cured. So this morning we set off once again, if a little apprehensive. Marge seemed happy, cruising up hill and down dale, and then, just before the Sutton Scotney service area, the dreaded light came on on the dashboard, Marge was in safe mode! As the engine management light did not come on, after a brief stop, we restarted Marge and continued, and she was fine all the way to the Hollands Wood campsite.

Leaving Marge to reflect, we took a walk down to the village, sitting a while in the afternoon sunshine by the ford, before walking across the road to St. Saviours church.

In the church grounds an Easter cross had been erected from some of the rubbish found in the nearby forest. The sight saddened us, and we hoped visitors to the area would see the cross and think twice about their actions with regard to disposing of their drink's cans, water bottles etc. 

Back at Marge, the sun was beginning to sink in the watery blue sky, casting shadows across the forest. In the distance the ponies happily grazed whilst slowly retreating towards the shelter of the trees.

We had been warned upon our arrival at the site, that the ponies were a little nervous, especially last years foals, as they'd had contact with so few people this last year.

Our new gas grill lit, we put sausages on to sizzle whilst we took in the view, and enjoyed the tranquillity of the setting. There are just 22 units on the site, three are tents. As the facilities are closed, you must have your own chemical toilet to stay here.

Tomorrow we will head over to Poole, where, we will take Marge to a garage that cured a problem with our car last year. Hopefully she will soon be cured. We will also introduce her to the house that will hopefully soon be our, new home, after we have sold our house in Longwick. Meanwhile, we will just enjoy our, new found freedom, and raise a glass to the return of normality.