Cheers to the UK!

Cheers to the UK

It is time to

“get back to where we once belonged......................................................”

We fly out of Heathrow in a few days, slightly amazed and dazed that this year is coming to an end but looking forward to being home to see family and friends on the other side of the world. It has been a fantastic adventure where we have travelled over 31,000 kilometres, used approximately 2700 litres of diesel, visited 13 countries, replaced a windscreen, stayed in over 100 campsites and learnt that there are over 100 ways to turn on a shower! Those showers where we needed to put the token in the machine in the communal dressing area and then dash for the shower cubicle were probably the worst! Washing machines with instructions that could be used as part of a Mensa test! The stand out memories are all to do with the kindness of people who helped us by providing hospitality, help with directions and advice, sharing their knowledge of their countries and the stories about their lives. 

Earlier this month we arrived in Dover in sunshine and were pleased to see all the signs of spring. English villages seem to have a competition to see who can plant the most daffodils because they are everywhere. We decided to have a little look at the South east-coast as it is an area that was new to us. We found a village called Stourmouth with a pub called The Rising Sun! Wandered around the ancient town of Rye (one of the cinque ports) where the local council have recently cleaned 25 tons of pigeon poo out of the old tower by the town gate.

A swathe or a confetti of spring crocuses welcoming us back to England.

Another beaut sunset scene from our van!

Oast houses near Dover, historically used for hop drying, many have been converted into quality houses today (Grand Designs?).

Town gate at Rye gate with 25 tons of guano having been  removed!!!

A Cinque Port town, one of five(!),with appropriate Street name!

Door number in Rye, oddly enough next to #44........(JK Rowling was here Platform 9 3/4??)

We stayed at the park like campsite in Brighton that we were lucky to get into as Caravan club members are already on the move and the site was booked solid. Brighton has a real Cuba Street (Wellington) feel with interesting boutiques, yummy coffee shops along with a large gay community. We had a good wander around, seeing the Royal Pavilion and walking out on Brighton Pier. What a huge sandy beach, so rare in the UK.

Wondered what Henry Holland and John Nash were smoking as they designed this party palace!

Gorse as a conserved plant in the gardens of the Royal Pavilion!!!

Cool sunset over Brighton campsite.

Brighton Pier and......…sand!!

Being a vitamin D sponge time on Brighton pier with  free deck-chair.

Note light clothing for summer temps.........NOT!!

Unique approach to beach grooming in Folkstone where millions of tonnes are moved regularly.

Next stop was in the New Forest at another park like campsite built on the site of an old WWII airfield. Came across another old WWII airfield with memorial and the runway remains still visible in the midst of a farm.
The weather was a bit changeable but we wrapped up and had a couple of days walking in the forest often seeing the wild ponies which the area is famous for.  We couldn't get over how extensive this area is.

Famous New Forest ponies, similar to Kaimanawa horses

South Holmsley, New Forest Airfield memorial.

Horses everywhere.

New Forest walk, in two months it will be all green

One of 12 airfields in the area.

There were a couple of places just south of London we had not got around to seeing earlier in the trip so our next stop was near Redhills. From here we spent a delightful day visiting Churchill's home at Chartwell. Unlike many of the other houses we have visited this one has a real feel of a family home. It is 50 years since Churchill's death and there was a special exhibition commemorating this. We enjoyed this on a lovely sunny day and we had a good look around the grounds seeing the brick wall that Churchill built for relaxation. While in the grounds we were talking to another visitor from Liverpool who could remember the bombing attacks in WWII. During our conversation a small plane flew overhead and we realised that it was a Spitfire. His eyes clouded over with many and became tearful at the memory of this unique Rolls Royce Merlin engine sound ….it was really special for all of us. We spent a day at the RHS gardens at Wisley, a beautiful place just coming into all its Spring flowers. Family and friends who we stayed with in December joined us. We enjoyed a good catch up and their knowledge of how to make the most of our visit was invaluable.

An alert Robin Redbreast visiting at Wisley.

Winnie and Clemmy's Chartwell

Some of the gardens at Chartwell.

Beautiful Chartwell plantings.

Colin with friends!

Heard it then caught a glimpse of this magnificent machine.

Part of Winstone's wall

We drove north through Gloustershire as Colin wanted to visit the small village of Overbury where some of his mother's family were from. We had visited several years ago but problems with the camera meant we lost the photos of the gravestones fixed on the inside of the church walls. The family story goes that in the 1600's an ancestor was so angry with what the vicar over some issue or what was being preached, that he filled a blunderbuss with pig's entrails and ‘shot’ the vicar while he was giving a sermon. Our last campsite was in Warwick and it was one of the most unusual. 

Overbury church dates back to Norman times.

Some of Colin's maternal ancestors in Overbury.

The site is in the middle of the racecourse with planks that are placed across the track for camper vans etc to drive over. It was good to be within walking distance of Warwick Castle where we spent a wonderful day. This castle is privately owned. The owners have gone all out to recreate medieval life. We saw excellent displays of archery, falconry and the firing of a war machine called a trebuchet which fires flaming balls…..missiles!! The birds of prey display was particularly impressive with everything from bald eagles to vultures being put through their paces. 

Welcome to Warrick castle

Warrick Castle where very popular teacher training courses are run!!! This session based on communications, digital!!

The mighty Trebuchet and team readying.

The inner central courtyard from one of the high towers.

Predacious birds  display.

Hungry Bald eagle feeding on a young chicken!

Back to the van with the eagle.

A Magnificent 11Kg of flying,  fighting fury.

A magnificent bird and a really happy trainer.

Who's worried about angles in Warrick town??

We headed north to Harrogate having a great catch up with some friends over from New Zealand on the way. Arriving in Harrogate is now like

Farewell to the van, now on board the good ship Tijuca heading for home.

coming home for us and it was great to see all the family. We had a couple of days to empty the van before we needed to drive it back to Newark to be made ready for shipping home. Hard to believe all the things we had fitted into the van and serious downsizing of stuff took us a few days. We said au revoir to Peedie Charlie until we pick it up in Auckland in early May. 

We returned to Harrogate for a few days to work through the organisations we needed to contact to extract ourselves from living on this side of the world. We also enjoyed a fine week with several walks and time with the family. We are very grateful for having this base and we know that having this family support made our adventure possible.

Our week in Harrogate was also the week of the lunar eclipse. We were lucky that the clouds parted at the time the eclipse was at its most complete. A really eerie light developed, which was a pale mauve colour unlike anything we have seen at dawn or dusk. The birds stopped flying and sat in the trees. Around the same time the Northern Lights were on display, Colin spotted the colours just as he was going to bed.

A stroll on the Stray in Harrogate.

The great eclipse on March 20 that we were so fortunate to see through the clouds that parted at the right time. 

A glimpse of Midnight Northern lights from Harrogate about 12:15am. Just a wall of red!

We had a couple of weeks before flying home so we hired a car and booked into a YHA hostel in the Wye Valley on the Welsh border. The hostel was right on the river with a hair-raising drive to get to it. The building was an old Victorian vicarage that was comfortable and warm (we are still wearing layers of merino, jackets and hats when we are outside). Right below the hostel is the Wye Valley walkway so we spent a couple of days walking downstream to Symonds Yat, Colin's mother lived in this wee village as a child. Also did a circular walk upstream to Goodrich Castle. An amazing castle probably from 1100's which has moats and drawbridges not to mention towers and a barbican. 

Towards Symonds Yat on the river Wye.

Wye Valley, part of the walk over disused rail bridge, now in severe need of an upgrade!

Magnificent Goodrich castle built after the Norman invasion by Godrich of Mappestone.

Goodrich castle with a very interesting building approach to the towers. Partially rebuilt in the 12th century.
We took a side trip to see Hay-on-Wye that is famous for its second hand book shops. Pity we are already up to our baggage weight limit for flying home.

Hay-on-Wye a very early shopping 'mall'. Modern shops were on the other side. Many free book exchange places were around the town.

Books, of course, at Hay-on-Wye!!

Next, for a bit of luxury, we hired a cottage in the Cotwolds and enjoyed all the mod cons including an enormous collection of DVDs. In Broadwell we spent time relaxing while using narrow roads and public footpaths for great walks to nearby villages through the mud and daffodils. The main town in the area is Stow-on-the-Wold where every car is either a BMW or a Range Rover. This was the area where the last of the English Civil War battles was enacted. The town has a great coffee shop where Colin swears that the taste is as good as any in Wellington.

Market square at Stow-on-the-Wold.

In Stow.......next car should have been advertising 'www.Puck'!!

Shop in Stow 'square'!

Over this year we have really appreciated the opportunity to get to know the UK better. We have been blown away by all the kindness and interest in what we are doing. So many people have given us advice, directions and shared their stories. So many Brits have been to New Zealand or have family and friends over there! The first question we are asked, after revealing that we are Kiwis, is “which part are you from?”

So it is now time to say goodbye to our adventure. Thanks for staying with us and reading our blog. It has been really special to have your interest and to get your feedback. It now provides us with a wonderful record of our year as nomads. 

Now’s the time to yield a sigh

Now’s the time to say goodbye.

(Cook and Moore, 1965)

Until next time,

Hadet

Slán go fóill

'Slán leat'

'hwyl fawr

Dha wélez árta!

Adieu Au revoir

Hasta la proxima

Adios

Agur

Tchau

Tschüs

Adieu Ade

Tschuss

Ciao

Vaarwel

Tot ziens

Adjö  hej då

Hej hej

Farvel
Ka kite ano