Longwick (Home)

A huge ivory moon last night, with ribbons of cloud gliding in front of it.

This morning after a dreary start, the weather improved slightly, so we took a short walk along the river Arun.

Moored on the river next to Marge, was a boat called Queen Sardine, for some reason this made us smile. As we sorted out the van for the off, the leaves were falling fast from the trees, spinning to the ground, and chasing to the corners of the car park in an autumn frenzy.

Our journey home, took us close by Arundel castle, then onwards into Surrey, where the weather deteriorated a little more. By early afternoon, we were near to home, and decided to stop at Marlow on the Thames for a short while.

The access to the town, is via a narrow bridge, so a little tight for Marge, but we know she has negotiated her way in and out of tight spots before!

We took a short walk, passed the slipway, where two swans were preening themselves at the waters edge, oblivious of us and the roar of the weir behind them. But after a while, we could see the rain clouds gathering, so headed back to Marge.

We are now home, and already our thoughts are of more travels, looking at blogs of other travelers on the internet. Hopefully, Marge will be on her travels again soon.

Arundel

A bright, breezy morning, with a sharp chill in the air, greeted us this morning. The price to pay for such a gorgeous warm sunny day yesterday. Along the coast we can see Brighton, a slate blue sky hanging over the town.

We took a walk out along the cliff top, we are enjoying our time at the coast, there's something relaxing and freeing about being by the sea. Our walk took us to a nearby campervan sales centre (we know), but it was purely to look. After a couple of hours of viewing one particular van, and having Marge valued, we decided to go across to Brighton for lunch.

We stopped at Brighton Marina. A few years ago we sold a boat we owned on the Thames (after it was broken into, and it never felt the same again), to a young man who had it transported here to live on. Despite taking a walk around, we couldn't see it, perhaps that was for the best, they say never go back!

We'd had our lunch at Pizza Express, sat outside, along with many other people, who couldn't believe that it was the third week of October and here we were soaking up the sun beside the boats basking in the marina. During lunch, we discussed buying another van, but as we were not both in agreement on this particular one we decided to give it a miss.

Tomorrow we must return home, so late this afternoon we retraced our journey back to the lovely Sussex town of Arundel.

Tonight's stop is in the pub car park of the Black Rabbit (please google it), alongside the river Arun. It is a beautiful setting, and the price to stay here is a donation into the charity collection box on the bar, but besides this we had a couple of drinks as normal. Tomorrow morning we hope the weather will be fine, as at the end of the river we can see Arundel castle, and we know it will make a great photograph.

Tonight, all cosy in the van, with toasted cheese and onion sandwiches and a glass of red wine, what's not to like! We are already thinking about a trip away with Marge in November, weather permitting.

Peacehaven.

A great start to the day this morning. After a warmer night, the sun was already bright and the outside temperature a respectable 15c.

Although we were close to Chichester , we opted this morning to visit Dell Quay, a small port within Chichester harbour. The harbour itself is the smallest area of outstanding natural beauty in England, but despite this, it is home to 55,000 birds, 10,000 boats and 8,500 residents.

We have been here before many years ago, but never the less, we enjoyed taking a walk along the shingle beach, the glassy surface of the sea dazzling in the bright sunlight. The sea so still, the flotsam too lazy to move.

The heat of the autumn morning, a respectable 25c, brought beads of sweat to our foreheads. The continuing fine weather, makes us want to fire up Marge and just travel, travel, travel! To us, being away in Marge is a real tonic, we just can't get enough of.

Leaving the tranquility of Dell Quay behind, we journeyed towards Newhaven. We couldn't believe it was already nearly three weeks since we returned there on the ferry from France.

Looking for somewhere to stop for lunch, we noticed a field full of pumpkins, as we waited for the traffic lights to change at a road junction. We diverted into the car park adjacent, already busy with parents and children enjoying a half term activity of picking their own pumpkins at the 'Pumpkin Patch'. After a look around to marvel at the different variety of pumpkins on offer, we settled back into the van for our lunch.

This afternoon we went to view another campervan, which was the reason for our visit to this area. As nice as it was, and would really have suited us, we felt the corrosion on the underside, and a bit too much 'touching up', made it a no go. Further research into past MOT's did not prove to be reassuring reading. Back in Marge, we appreciated her finer qualities.

Tonight, we are staying behind the The Tavern public house, Telscombe Cliffs, Peacehaven. There is another van here. The couple are booked on tomorrows early ferry to France. They are heading to Spain for the winter, flying home for Christmas. Then back to catch a ferry to Morocco. We could only be envious.

Before going into the pub for a drink (the requirement for parking overnight in the carpark), we took a walk out along the coast road to the supermarket.

On our return, we were wowed by the dramatic sunset over nearby Brighton, promising a fine day tomorrow.

Hunston

This morning, we were greeted by a group of mature cyclists, gathered in the pub car park. As they left, wrapped up in a rainbow of colours against the early morning chill, we wondered where they were headed.

On route to tonight's stop, we called in at Poole, to check on our rental properties.

We took a walk along the seafront to the quay, where we stopped for a while to watch the dredger in the marina, then off to the High Street, to visit the charity shops, to see if they had any Ercol furniture. (Not today).

After a quick look in the estate agents windows to check the house prices, and then a stop for a coffee, it was back to Marge for lunch.

From the van we enjoyed the views across the harbour, in the distance Corfe castle, barely visible in the watery light. On the beach, the oyster catchers with their vibrant orange bills were poking about in the crevices between the pebbles.

This afternoon, we joined the throngs of motorists, all in a hurry to be somewhere. For those stuck behind Marge it was a frustratingly, slow journey!

We are now at our overnight stop, behind The Spotted Cow public house at Hunston near Chichester, East Sussex. So another evening of drinks in the pub before dinner.

Tomorrow we will head nearer to Brighton, where we are going to look at a campervan (don't tell Marge).

(She's 16 years old, and the same price as Marge).

It is purely to see if we need a larger van, or whether Marge is ideal for us. We'll let you know.

Norden

Marge is on the road again!

This morning after topping up Marge's fluids, coolant for the engine, water in the tank and wine in the cupboard, we hastily packed a few clothes, our warmer duvet and essential food items, and set off for the south coast of England.

On route we passed a field of sheep, naked without their warm fleeces. We were also surprised to see lambs at this time of year.

After leaving the A34 at Newbury, we crossed country towards Andover, forgetting that Marge would have to negotiate the hill out of Hurstbourne Tarrant. The first time she climbed this hill, smoke emitted from her steering column, but today, toughened up by the mountains of Spain, the hill seemed little more than a bump in the road.

Heading towards our beloved Dorset, we bathed in the bright sunlight, and soaked up the afternoon heat. As we passed through Corfe Castle, the spectacular ruined castle, (thanks to Oliver Cromwell and a lot of gunpowder) showcase by a bright blue sky, stood proud over the village.

Late afternoon, we arrived in Swanage, a town we return to again and again. Across the bay, we could see the seamless cliffs of the Isle of Wight blending into a sky of uninterrupted blue. After a walk around the town and along the seafront, the invading sea drove us to an upper level, where across the bay we could see the first signs of the sun dipping.

As we drove back towards our overnight stop, the opaque light, cast by the late afternoon sun, lit the heathland across Studland.

The sight of vibrant orange pumpkins along the way, and with Corfe castle now bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun, we could tell the night would be cold.

Tonight we are at The Halfway Inn at Norden, just outside Corfe Castle.

It is a lovely, thatched, olde worlde pub, and a couple of drinks in their cosy bar were most welcome. We stayed here earlier this year in July, and we know we will return many times more in the future.

Tomorrow we will travel Eastwards along the south coast, our destination at the end of the week should be somewhere around Brighton.