On The Road Again

Once again internet is dire, so this post is late. 

We finally left our friends Pete and Kath in peace on July 22 after more than 3 months. We could hear the champagne corks popping as the back wheels crossed the cattle grid. (Actually, they were walking in the Alps at the time, but I’m sure they were glad to get home and find an empty house.)

Caernarvon Castle

Our first stop was Porthmadog, still in Wales (we loved the weather so much), so we could do our last steam train trip to Caernarvon on the Welsh Highland Railway. Of course we wandered around the Norman castle and found a lovely pub for lunch.

We had thought that we would spend some time in Ireland visiting friends, but honestly we just couldn’t stand anymore of this terrible summer. I need some sun and warm weather, we need some summer before it’s over.  I think I’m suffering from S.A.D.

Next stop was Shrewsbury, chosen for the fact that it was on the way to where we needed to be to have some more work done the new (old!) motorhome. What a surprise find this town was, really lovely with loads of Tudor architecture. This is where I did my first bike ride since the accident. I was really nervous and made Lawrence ride my bike first to make sure it was going to behave. I made it to the shops and back without mishap. It’s amazing what you’ll do to buy wine.

Pretty shrewsbury

Whilst the van was having some bits done – including a smart new trailer for Mojo, we spent 3 days in Oxford with Hilary and Alun and then back to Spratton in Northamptonshire with Stephanie and Mark.

Our introduction to Oxford was a Chilean wine tasting in the Great Hall at Oriel College – simply wonderful! Oxford is a real architectural feast for the eyes – everywhere you look is another stunning college, church, tower, pub…  We also popped over to lovely Bury St Edmund’s for a day to catch up with Lawrence’s sister Helen who was staying with a friend there.

Lawrence, Helen and Karen in
Bury St Edmunds

We left UK shores on August 3, ferried to Calais and drove south. Spent one night in Normandy and made it to Brittany the next day. We are now in the beautiful (post-war rebuilt) walled city of St Malo. I finally feel like we are back in Europe and have restarted what was rudely interrupted than 4 months ago.

The ankle is OK but still swollen, stiff and numb. I can walk for more than an hour but am a bit slow and need to rest often. Frankly I’m sick to death of it!

We new home is slowly coming together. There is not as much storage space as the Mog, which was very well designed to maximise space. We accumulated too much stuff as I kept finding places to put things. Lawrence even found a hidey hole under the wardrobe that we didn’t know about!!! Could have bought more sherry. The new bus is packed to the gunnels and we sent quite a few things to the charity stores in Conwy. No more shopping!!!

St Malo

Off to Jersey tomorrow to stay with our friend Sam’s Mum.