Poole, Dorset

With a few hours to kill before setting off to Cherbourg we once again walked along the beach. The pebbles massaged our feet as our eyes scanned the tide line for sea glass. The nearby church bells rung each quarter of an hour, ticking off our time left in France. At three o' clock we decided to begin our final journey. Marge had gotten us this far, and we didn't want to leave it to chance that she'd easily make it to Cherbourg, so we left earlier than was necessary.

Surprisingly, when we arrived at the port there were quite a few vehicles already waiting to check-in. All English. Apart from Bordeaux, we've hardly seen any other English vehicles whilst we'd been in France. The weather was overcast, which we didn't mind. It made it easier to accept we would now be back home in a few hours. Angela made the mistake of checking the weather on the Ile de Re. 19 c and sunny for ten next ten days. Turn around Marge! If only we could. As Marge was directed into place on the car ferry, it was with a heavy heart we accepted our time in France was over.

It had been a different holiday to the one we planned. Marge had tested us. But at the same time, we'd been able to spend over eight weeks in this fantastic country.

Even if we wanted to, we had no time to dwell. At eleven the next morning we had visitors arriving. As for Marge. Once she's been MOT'd, she'll undergo some work that will hopefully be minimal, not too expensive and effective, and we'll be able to report more of her antics to you again shortly.

For now, it's back to miserable, gloomy, cold, damp days and foraging. Yes, it's that time of the year again. Today John managed to fill his basket with hedgehog mushrooms, the first bounty of many this autumn. 

Poole

Back home in Poole we walked down to the Quay for the car enthusiasts night, and to listen to the Vintage Dogs playing on the Quay.

We explored Hell Lane, near North Chideock

St John the Baptists Church Symonsbury

Symondsbury Estate Shops

Hobby Farm, Whitchurch Canonicorum (day 2)

We visited Lyme Regis

Then Charmouth

Hobby Farm, Whitchurch Canonicorum

Andrew and Trudy's Toyota Alphard campervan

Sheperds huts available for Glampers.

Toilets, showers and washing up facilities.

Burgers and griddled peppers in pitta bread for our evening meal.

Poole

We are finding it hard to settle back at home. But we have jobs that need our attention. But there was no rush to return, and once again the day was warm so we decided to seek shade once again in another garden. This one just two miles down the road from the campsite. Bennet's Water Garden at Chickerell.

Set in eight acres, the water garden displays a collection of national and international water lilies. Also a replica of the famous bridge as featured at Claude Monet's garden in Giverny, France. Despite the garden being small, we found much shade amongst the trees and in the gazebos dotted around the site. The colours of the lilies were beautiful. We were definitely getting into these gardens.

But we couldn't hold off our return home. We unloaded, and took a walk down to Poole quay to take a look at the replica Spanish galleon Andalusia. It was also motorbike night, so chaotic. But we didn't mind. We bought fish and chips, drinks from the Weatherspoon's and found a space amongst the holiday makers to sit. A duo played music and all in all we enjoyed a pleasant evening. But we must address the attire of the holiday makers. We'd never seen the like. Honestly madam, you really are a little too old to be showing your midriff. Apologies if we sound ageist. Girls in cowboy boots, men in shirts 'only worn on holiday's, and dyed hair of every colour, including men, who Angela thinks should just grow old gracefully. The temperature was a wopping 29 c. So we returned home and sat on our balcony until late. The last few days had been fun, but we'd eaten far too much. Diet starts tomorrow.