Trinity (Day 3)

Today is Angela's birthday. Lunch packed we decided to visit nearby Jersey Zoo, opened in 1959 and founded by naturalist Gerald Durrell. Today we would become a statistic. Each year approximately 169,000 people visit the zoo each year.

After an unsettled start the day brightened and France was easily visible across the channel. 

Being early in the season the zoo was quiet, so we were easily able to walk around and take in the animals, well the ones that weren't having a lie in. The cold wind meant some of the animals were not allowed outside, but those that were provided us with much entertainment. Particularly the meerkats who posed for photographs, and the orangutans who entertained us by swinging on ropes and branches using their long and powerful arms. Poisonous miniature frogs of metallic blue, luminous orange and yellow were Angela's favourite creature of the day.  Her least, the boa constrictor.

Time flew by, and after lunch we walked around the grounds again, lucky to catch the sleeping sloths now out in their compound after a ten-fifteen-hour sleep. And the highlight, the gorillas, who this morning were not in the mood for visitors now allowing us to photograph them whilst they sat with a look of 'whatever' on their faces. The silverback, Badongo, was particularly stunning.

This evening a meal at the local pub, The Trinity Arms. What a great day.

Trinity (Day 2)

We are loving our AirBnB accommodation. What's not to like about a self contained flat, with kitchen/lounge/diner, large shower room and a bedroom with a super-king, yes super-king sized bed. Most of the houses we've seen on the island are large. For sale at the moment, a five bedroom new build at £22 million. Or something a little cheaper, a one bed flat at £330,000. Bargains!

Today we decided to walk along the coastal bath from nearby Bouley Bay to Rozel, a round trip of around five miles. Five miles of up and down, with fantastic views along the coast. With a few other people around we took our time enjoying the spring flowers that pushed their way up through the wilted and bronzed fronds of last year's ferns.

 John's eagle eye spotted jelly ear, also known as monkey's ear growing on dead elderberry branches. They went straight in a bag for tomorrow's breakfast omelette. For those of you not familiar with these gelatinous ear shaped fungi, they may be something you've eaten at a Chinese restaurant in a mixed vegetable dish. As disgusting as they sound, they are actually quite tasty. 

Having stopped at Rozel yesterday we knew refreshments awaited us at The Hungry Man on the harbour. Once again we watched a brave soul take to the water, if only for five minutes. Is it worth it, taking off your warm clothes for five minutes of torture in cold water. Apparently, if you want to improve your circulation, reduce blood pressure and increase your libido!

Today's conversation with some local people was the charge of 70 pence for a reusable bag in the shops on the islands. A fine of £1,000 is imposed on retailers who do not uphold this. Makes you think, time to stop hoarding bags for life in the kitchen drawer.

Trinity, Jersey (Day 1 &2)

  

March, time to travel. Because of the ninety-day ruling for travelling in Europe, we couldn't go to France as we have plans for a rather adventurous European trip in June. So, we decided on Jersey, fourteen miles off the coast of France. Marge isn't with us, the roads here are too narrow, so we brought 'Madge', our new car. She's a Peugeot Rifter, with all the room Wee Margie had, and younger. Our blog is Marge the VW, but being able to write about all our trips using all our vehicles is a way of keeping a memory log for us both in later life. So Madge, buckle up, it'll be fun1

After a bumpy ferry crossing from Poole, we arrived early evening at our airbnb accommodation, a self contained flat in the village of Trinity. This morning, we were able to fully appreciate our surroundings. peaceful, beautiful countryside, with a view of the sea and France.

Keen to explore we set off early soon stopping at the pretty fishing village of Rozel. For the first time in ages, we felt warm outside, and enjoyed taking a walk around. People swam in the harbour whilst others gathered for a catch up over coffee and bacon baps. We mingled with the locals and everyone was very friendly. High on the hill, the upvc cloches covering the vegetables growing in the wild area caught the watery sunlight as they rippled in a light breeze. Our first morning on the island, and it felt very laid back.

Then a walk through St. Catherines Woods, roaming through the trees, hopping across stepping stones, and then washing our boots that had sucked into the mud along the path, in the gently flowing stream took us to lunchtime, after which we took the coast road to Gorey to view the 800 year old castle that cast a shadow over the exposed seaweed marbled sands of the harbour. 

  The weather forecast this week is mixed, and by late afternoon the wind had picked up and rain fell in sheets. Once again, the ferry from Poole has been cancelled, as it was Friday. How lucky were we to be able to cross on Saturday? Fingers crossed for our return sailing this Saturday. We don't want to be away too long, Marge might miss us.

Devizes

It's three weeks since we returned from France. After spending last week decorating our bedroom, we decided it was time for a night away in Marge. We've had some bad news to cope with over the last couple of weeks and decided Marge was just the tonic we needed to perk us up, so we headed back to Devizes, a couple of hours drive from us. A Chinese takeaway and some cycling were our treat.

This morning the weather dry and bright, we saddled up and cycled out on our Brompton bicycles alongside the kennet and avon canal. A sharp, clear blue autumnal sky lit the carpet of gold under our wheels. Canal boats basked in the morning light and a family of swans glided by. It was a perfect autumn day. We have not cycled since returning from our cycling trip to Switzerland, so today we would find out if we had retained the fitness level we achieved whilst cycling the euro velo 6. Our ride took us downhill past the Caen locks flight, 29 locks which rise over 237 feet with a 1 in 44 gradient. A gentle yawning wind blew leaves from the trees as we passed under them. The fine weather had brought people out, boaters and walkers alike.

After an hour and a half cycling over a rough path on a small wheeled bicycle we sat by a lock to eat lunch. We felt we could cycle further, but that would have to wait until another day. There was the small matter of cycling up the 1 in 44 gradient alongside the locks. See you at the top! First one there buys the ice creams at the cafe. We're pleased to say we are still fit. We both made it and yes, the ice-cream was delish. Back at Marge the car park suddenly became a hive of activity as two canal boats arrived on low loaders. We watched as they were craned into the water, swiftly and efficiently.

O.K. Marge. Home now. Hopefully if the weather holds, we'll manage another night out in you soon. 

For our grandson Elliot coming this weekend for a Halloween party!

Poole

 

What a terrible night! We'd decided against a cabin at a cost of nearly one hundred pounds in favour of reclining chairs at five pounds each. Wrong move. Some of the other occupants in the saloon talked until late, ate their way noisily through packets of crisps and biscuits, snored, coughed etc. Angela noticed for a couple of hours the ferry was not moving, anything to kill time on a crossing that in the daytime takes five hours. Consequently we were tired, very tired this morning as we disembarked at 7 am. John wanted to photograph the sunrise, but was shouted at not to by an official as we were in a restricted area, probably because of the nearby marines base. But John being John, duped the official and took the photo. By 8 am we were home and tucked up in our own bed until mid-day. Four weeks two days ago we'd set off on our adventure. We've met some pleasant and interesting people along the way, and we wonder where some of our fellow travellers are now, especially the young French couple from Vannes. Our journey took us through the beautiful Loire and into eastern France. To start with the temperature was in the low thirties, too hot. By the end we'd experienced night time temperatures close to freezing and copious amounts of rain. But here we were, home, safe, tired but pleased we'd achieved our goal to cross the Swiss border. We are already thinking about another cycling trip next May. Yes we're sad to be home, but you have to return so you can set off again. 

Barfleur Ferry

 

Today we had to kill time in Cherbourg. Our car ferry did not leave until 21.45 pm. Oh Joy. We decided to have lunch at a restaurant by the harbour, Angela trying Marmite au Pecheur, (fish pot), which was delicious, and John the house vegetarian pizza, a pizza like no other, with no cheese and a topping of lots of green beans amongst other veg. Time spent in the supermarket resulted in the purchase of two bottles of Bordeaux wine from Chateau La Virou for Christmas and new year consumption. Angela can always make room for wine!

Cherbourg

What a day! Because we only had nine minutes to make our connection at Strasbourg John decided we'd catch a train from Mulhouse an hour before the one we were booked on, and boy were we glad we did. Next stop Paris. Five in the afternoon and we had to change stations in the rain. Busy didn't even describe the city, manic more like and we had to navigate using our phone. But we made it onto the 17.59 pm to Cherbourg. All downhill now, stress over. No. Shortly after leaving we were informed the train would be an hour late. Arriving now at 10.30 pm instead of 9.30 pm. After many announcements we found the cause of our delay was a fault at a level crossing. By the time we arrived at Cherbourg we were passed caring. We had the code to access the barrier at the campsite and we knew where it was having stayed there on our first night. As we left the station and rode into the dark of night the rain began to fall heavily. Of course it did! We'd spent ten hours travelling on trains and now the tent had to be put up in the rain. We were at a low point. We survived the night, despite a strong wind and lashing rain and the next day dawned settled, so we were able to pack the tent away dry.