Brockenhurst, New Forest (Day 2)

Of course we're still at Brockenhurst, not quite ready to return home yet. After a damp start the morning blossomed and the day warmed. Summer at last. Angela took a walk down to Brockenhurst village to purchase venison burgers from the butchers. Planning ahead she bought two extra to freeze at home ready for our next outing in Marge. We feel it won't be too far away.

Upon her return to the campsite she smiled at the sight of a large herd of cows invading the cricket pitch. Someone will have fun clearing up after them before the next match. The sight of these large bovines also made her realise that our whole time away has been spent in and around nature.

Flora, fauna and wildlife. We've loved all and every minute of it. Returning tomorrow to the large town we live in will be difficult. Fingers crossed our house there will soon sell. We've just received news from the agent that we have a viewing on Friday. We are forever hopeful of a positive outcome. Eighty people left the campsite this morning, and only twenty are due in today, which will be nice. Spending the last night of our trip here has given us a chance to reset. As we enjoy the afternoon sunshine and look forward to our barbecue this evening we think of the Dutch cycle tourists we spoke to yesterday evening. They should have arrived in Salisbury by now. We wish them a safe and enjoyable journey to their destination York.

Brockenhurst, New Forest

You didn't really think we'd return home just yet did you? No. There's always time for another night away. And there really was only one place to return Muddy Marge to.

 The Holland's Wood campsite at Brockenhurst, where we took her for a trial night before setting off to Scotland. The summer school holidays are just beginning, so the site is a little busier now. But the weather warm we were able to sit out and cook outside. This evening after our walk we stopped to talk to some Dutch cycle tourists. We won't have time for a cycling trip this year sadly, but we'll be back on our bicycles for a trip next year. God willing. 

Being back on our home turf feels a little strange, and the thought of returning home a little daunting. But we know the weeks will pass by quickly and that there is much to do to prepare Marge for her next trip. She needs a little mechanical attention and a few tweaks. For now we will enjoy this stunning area. The ancient oak trees and the free roaming animals who retreat into the trees at night and who will be back on the site early in the morning. Scotland seems a million miles away now.

Brockenhurst, the New Forest day 4

This morning Marge, we must move you, around thirty paces. Why leave this beautiful place? Our leisure batteries were struggling, our solar panels had been in the shade of the trees too long so we moved the van into the sun to boost our amps. Another day, another cycle trip.

This time to Burley. Mostly off road along the old railway line the Castleman Trail. A round trip of twenty miles. The visitors of the weekend long gone we barely saw another soul, which suited us just fine. We know how lucky we are to be able to go away anytime and avoid the crowds.

Burley a traditional new forest village, famous for its witchcraft, always amazes us as to why it draws the crowds. Saying that, we were drawn to a property that was for sale right in its centre. A charming cottage with two commercial buildings. £900,000, seemed cheap to us.

Luckily, we don't have the funds or John would have put in an offer. Whilst we've been in the forest, we have come to realise that we would like to live here in the forest. Detached house please, small garden with grass. Best make a plan? 

Sadly, tomorrow we must return home, but not before we cycle out again. We need the practice, and time is now limited. We are already making plans for another trip away soon, hopefully to Symonds Yat on the Wye to scout out a packrafting adventure later in the summer. Meanwhile our message to you all is, don't stay at home', get out there. Nature is a wonderful drug. 

Brockenhurst, the New Forest day 3

Puff, puff, puff. We thought we were cyclists. Today we decided to take a circular cycle route out from the campsite, through the forest to Lyndhurst. The first gradient was more than a little challenging. All the fitness we had built up from our cycle trip late summer last year, gone. Oh well, we have about three weeks to do something about it before we set off to Europe. 

We'd forgotten just how beautiful the New Forest was. The shrill sound of birdsong filled the air. Pond skaters skimmed across the waters of the streams. The sun was up, the people out. Lyndhurst was busy, as always on a nice day. We treated ourselves to hot drinks from the cafe at Woods Cyclery, before firing up our legs for the return trip. 

John later visited the Cyclery to size up parts for his bike, they have some really tasty parts for bike fanatics like John.

This evening it is the final of the Eurovision song contest. We met a couple walking into Brockenhurst to attend a Eurovision party, their outfits were brilliant. Back at Marge larger groups of people had arrived and the air was filled with the aroma from meat cooking on barbecue grills.

We'd bought venison burgers in Brockenhurst village and couldn't wait to get them on our grill. The weather looks good for the next couple of days, so we'll probably stay away in Marge a little longer. Why not?

Brockenhurst, the New Forest day 2

We stayed up late last night to watch the results of the Eurovision song contest. Well, that was a waste of time. Buoyed by last year's success, we had high hopes of a decent score. Well how wrong were we?

This morning as we raised the window blinds on our beautiful vista, we spotted a grey squirrel scuttling up a nearby tree before disappearing into the green canopy. Followed closely by a treecreeper. Small and active it explored the crevices in the bark for insects who thought they were safely hidden. All around us on the site campers packed up. We booked in for another night. Yesterday had been fantastic. Despite our aches and pains, we'd really enjoyed our cycle out. Today we planned to do it all again. 

Our sit bones were complaining a little, but we soon settled in to our ride. The forest much quieter today meant we could take in our surroundings at our leisure. Violet blue bluebells bathed in the sunlight that penetrated through the trees. Their heady scent permeating the air. We stopped to 'Forest Bathe'. Which effectively is taking in the forest atmosphere which supposedly will improve sleep quality, mood and the ability to focus whilst reducing stress. Sounds good to us. We plan to do more. 

This evening, our plan of a Chinese take-away or fish and chips were scuppered, so we fired up the grill and cooked sausages' once again. While they cooked, we reflected on our day.

This morning the couple camped across from us gave John an adaptor for the new gas burner that we'd bought for tent camping. It meant we could use gas cylinders as well as cartridges. As we bid them farewell, their classic Triumph Spitfire roared into life, a lasting flash of red as they drove through the trees. The kindness of strangers, we've experienced it so many times whilst travelling, and it lifts our hearts. 

Where to tomorrow, Marge? A couple we spoke to before going cycling this morning were from Romsey, around a thirty-minute drive down the road. We all agreed that you don't need to travel far from home to find a beautiful stop in your van. So, we'll probably drive just a little way from here tomorrow, not needing to be home until Tuesday. Maybe we'll slot in a spot of forest bathing before we leave here.

Brockenhurst, the New Forest.

Are you here for the Beaulieu? Pardon? No, we're here for the view. It happens that there is a auto jumble on at the nearby National Motor Museum, Beaulieu this weekend. We can expect the campsite to be busy tomorrow. 

After being home three nights, we couldn't stand it anymore and decided we needed to move back into Marge. This happens every year, once we start going away in her.

Marge is waiting to go. The forecast good for the weekend, we decided to travel to the New Forest, a drive of around one hour, stopping on the way to check out some dry clothing at a canoe shop for when we go packrafting.

Marge, what a view. Arriving at the campsite early we had our pick of some of the best's spots. Looking out across the forest towards trees, all a slightly different shade of green, all beautiful. Nearby the ponies grazed, the lush grass more interesting than us. A mother kept close to her foal, which clumsily followed her around. She made us smile. She all legs and excitement. 

Tomorrow we will cycle out into the forest. We desperately need to improve our fitness ready for our cycling trip across Europe at the beginning of June. Back on the campsite, one member of staff decided it was easier to ride on a motorised lawnmower to the toilet and showers rather than walk.  We have legs for what reason?