Hotel A Side, Manavgat, Turkey (day 2)

The high light of yesterday's flight to Turkey was the spectacular view of the alps as we flew over them. It was amazing!  Today our first 'proper day' in Turkey meant we needed to walk out locally, source a supermarket, meet our travel rep, and complain about the very noisy couple in the room next to us who we have to suffer for another night until we can be moved to another room.

A long walk out took us along the seafront to the old town. We were surprised at just how busy it was.

Melting into the crowd we made our way to the site of the ancient Roman ruins which bizarely sat amongst modern day shops and flats. There was lots for us to see, but as the heat of the day built we began to flag a little deciding to return tomorrow to continue exploring. Why did we decide to visit Turkey you may ask. Purely because it is one of the destinations we can fly to from our local airport and we fancied some warm sunny weather. Oh, and they do nice kebabs here! 

Hotel A Side, Manavgat, Turkey

We're on our travels again. Margery isn't with us, but we've plans to take her somewhere soon.

An early start this morning, and as always with an early drive to the airport we didn't sleep well last night.

So this evening we're whacked, and even though it's only eight forty five in the evening at home, to us it feels later, which of course it is here, three hours later.

So here we are in Turkey, it's very warm, which of course is why we're here. After our shuttle bus dropped us in the dark at our hotel, our hearts sank. Where had we booked? The faces of our fellow travellers didn't reassure us. But no worries, once inside we were happy, it is a very nice hotel.

A walk into town this evening for some food and we soon felt settled. After hopefully a good night's sleep we are very much looking to walking out and exploring the area tomorrow.

Poole, Dorset

We couldn't go home without stopping for another walk out and more coffee and cake. So we took the short drive from our campsite down the coast to Hengisbury Head.

Autumn has well and truly established itself now, and as we walked among the trees the leaves of fiery orange, reds and purple looked beautiful. Sadly though our walk over, it was time to return home. Time to plan another holiday we think!

Setthorns Campsite New Forest. (Day 4)

Our few days staying in the new forest are flying by. Today we once again walked to Brockenhurst. We love the village, and never tire of it.  We also love the scones baked fresh every morning in one of the tea rooms.

(Last time stayed at Holland's Wood was in our Landy Muddy Marge)

(The same spot today with the campsite shut)

And another pastime we love, is walking around the closed Holland's Wood campsite. It's very tranquil, and with many grey squirrels for company, we gathered mushrooms, whilst they gathered acorns. Everyone was happy.

(Orange Oak Boletes, slightly toxic so cook well!)

Especially John who left with quite a haul. As we made our way out of the village we stopped at the wilting brambles to pick the very last of the blackberries before walking back along the disused railway line back to Margery, stopping once for Angela to dive into the bushes, scrutinised by a judgemental cow who paused from eating fallen acorns to check she abided by the countryside code with regard to relieving oneself in the wild.

This evening as the sun sat on the horizon the sky was ablaze with colours of red, orange and purple. What a stunning sunset. If the weather holds, and it doesn't become too cold, we hope to return to the Setthorns campsite for a few days in November. Walking is beneficial to your mental health, it allows you to process the junk in your head. With so much going on in our lives at the moment we think some processing will probably be in order again soon.

Steps: 27,500

Setthorns Campsite New Forest. (Day 3)

Oh dear, Angela's Hen of the Woods find didn't make it to the frying pan this morning, the maggots had got to it first. But no matter, by the end of today John would forage a good crop of edible fungi (Beech Boletes and Cauliflower Fungi).

Burley was our destination today, a round walk of twelve miles, of which a short distance involved walking alongside the edge of a busy road which was a little unerving.

But as they say ' no pain no gain'. The gain most definitely delicious dorset apple cake and a cream tree upon our arrival at the popular little New Forest village of Burley.

Popular because most of the shops appeal to lovers of witchcraft, sorcery, crystals and of course tea rooms.

Not wanting to have to walk too much alongside the busy road on the return leg, John consulted O.S. maps and we found a route that ran alongside the road, albeit over some boggy ground at times. Tired from a second day of walking twelve miles we were glad to set up our outside gas grill, cook our venison burgers purchased yesterday, and sit out.

As darkness fell, not a sound could be heard. We could get used to this, where we live in Poole it is so noisy. Some good news there though. Our house went up for sale today. Now another adventure begins for us.

Steps 29,500