Thame, Oxfordshire

Yesterday had been a difficult day. John was exhausted from the long drive from Oban to Kendal. With a few hundred miles to drive again today we left this morning at nine, stopping at the Lancaster services for a Greggs breakfast. Fortunately the roads were running freely. At the service area on the M6 toll Angela took over the driving. She had not driven the landrover for two years, and was now used to driving our VW camper with an automatic gearbox. After a couple of hiccups, John telling her with urgency to put her foot on the clutch as she nearly took out the barrier at the toll booth. After that all went well. She just needed a little practice. Our drive home today had turned into a mission. Angela had dislodged a large filling whilst eating chicken yesterday evening. Her dentist in High Wycombe had an appointment available just before five this afternoon so we pressed on making the appointment with half an hour to spare. Back at home Margery was unresponsive. Her vehicle battery totally dead. Fortunately we could unlock her manually. So it was Muddy Marge to the rescue with a jump start. And then a run out. She seems fine for now, but we have the battery charge connected just to be sure, and this morning we ordered an AA 13 watt solar battery charger to sit on her dashboard to keep her battery topped up whilst we're away. There's a saying. 'Events happen in life for a reason'. Our Scotland trip curtailed means we now have the opportunity to go on another even bigger adventure! Sorry Margery, you're not coming along with us on this one either. Morocco, requires Muddy Marge! So followers, stay with us. Our trip begins early next week.

Kendal, Lake District

Hang on, you might well ask. Why are you tonight in the Lake District, and last night you were out on the Outer Hebridean island of Vatersay. Well, we think Margery may be a little put out that we've left her at home and gone  away in Muddy Marge. Late yesterday afternoon her vehicle alarm set off for around twenty minutes. Because of the intermittent mobile signal out on the islands, we didn't see the message from our next door neighbour to tell us until around nine in the evening. Long story short, we are in possession of the vehicle keys, a spare set wasn't accessible for Angela's son to take a look. At this moment in time she hasn't thrown another wobbly, but we couldn't risk it happening again. Our neighbours were probably not best pleased. So late last night we managed to book ourselves on the early morning sailing from Barra back to Oban. And early it certainly was.

We were up at four-thirty, away by five-thirty with only the sheep to see us off.

As we drove along the narrow roads we felt sad our Scottish adventure had been curtailed. Last check in for the ferry was five to six, we couldn't be late. So as the sun rose over Castlebay, the vessel slipped its berth and we began the start of what would be a very long day.

Fortunately, despite spending six hours on board the trip across was calm, unlike our journey over. The wind of the last few days had abated, the sky once again postcard blue.

On the approach to Oban we were informed there would be a lifeboat practice, which we watched, glad it wasn't a real evacuation. Marge second vehicle off the ferry at Oban headed south with a purpose. The road wound through the mountains, pine trees carpeted their slopes with a pallet of greens, and then the waters of Loch Lomond, sparkling and dancing in the sunlight. We stopped for lunch at The Green Welly Stop at Tyndrum where we bought hot scotch pies, John's dad would have loved them as they were his favourites. We needed comfort food in abundance.

Our original plan was to stop overnight at the Corner Campsite near to Dumfries, but on reflection John thought it best not to divert and carry on down to the Lake District.

We made sure we stopped regularly, it being many hours since we got up after only a few hours sleep.

Eventually we arrived at Kendal around seven. It was now fourteen hours since we'd set off.

So here we are at Kendal Cricket club, a favourite stopover of ours. A chinese take away purchased we reflected on the last twenty four hours. This is the third time now something has happened whilst we've been away and we've had to return early. Let's hope it will be the last. Hopefully Margery's problem will be just a low battery and can be easily rectified, so we can pack up and set off again in a few days. As inconvenient as this all is, it is what it is. That's life for you!

Pickering Arms, Thelwall, Warrington

Pack your kilt Muddy Marge. No not the one that's like a pelmet, something more respectable please. We don't want to be shocking the Scots.

The past nine months have been so busy for us. Three rental houses to make good, and a house move from Poole to Oxfordshire. We are whacked, both physically & mentally, but the thought of this Scottish road trip has powered us through. 

A later start than expected, we decided to head to Thelwall, just off the M6 to The Pickering Arms, a charming pub where we overnighted enroute to Scotland in Marge II three years ago. As always when heading north, a stop at Stafford services to break the journey where we were surprised to see a RAF helicopter in mid transportation. Since our last visit to The Pickering Arms, ownership has changed.

We enjoyed a delicious meal whilst being entertained by two women dining opposite. 'Those, black bins. What are they all about?' Then straight into a conversation about truffles. Angela loves these characters.

A few more characters in the form of comic tiles from the 1970's in the gents loo!

Tomorrow we will cross into Scotland. And we can't wait!

The Cottage Loaf, Thurstaston, Wirral

Today is December 27th. Although the Christmas holiday runs into the weekend this year many people like ourselves were back on the road. Mindful of the possibility of heavy slow moving traffic ahead we left Thame by mid morning. Not far into our journey traffic slowed as we approached the exit for Bicester village outlet shopping area. From then on the traffic moved, albeit steadily. Mindful of possible traffic delays on the M6 we decided to cut across country at Birmingham.

Our destination The Cottage Loaf public house at Thurstaston on the Wirral. Near to the Wirral country park this characterful pub is popular, especially with camper vans and motorhomes as overnight stay is allowed in the large flat car park for ten pounds a night, or free if eating in the pub. John's daughter lives around twenty minutes away so we arranged to meet her and her husband for a meal and a catch up. A Saturday on Christmas weekend, we expected the pub to be busy, but it was not. So our family time was relaxed and unhurried as well as enjoyable. Four other vans kept Margery company. As followers of our blog may remember, we always like to take a little holiday over the new year. This year we have booked an Airbnb on Anglesey, North Wales. We are around two hours drive away so no need to rush off early on the morning.

Setthorns Campsite, New Forest

Well here we are again Margery. Setthorns is the only new forest campsite open now. It's back to basics here though. No toilets or showers, so you can't book on to the site unless you have your own loo. Our reason for being here is not that we're some sort of crazy people who would rather sleep in a van in the woods as temperatures plummet, but because today is the day a kilo, or thereabouts, of new forest venison is purchased from a local butcher. Christmas may have begun in retail, but to us it doesn't begin until the venison is bought. Last night was very cold. Tonight slightly warmer. But we should be all cosy in Margery. Chilli con carne for dinner. Ginger wine, another Christmas tradition for Angela, and new teddy bear bedding should keep us well snuggly. This afternoon John discovered some large hedgehog mushrooms.

The carpeting of the surrounding ground by the large brown fallen leaves of the sweet chestnut trees makes it difficult to spot the mushrooms. We know they are out there somewhere. A week ago we were in Turkey wearing shorts and t-shirts. Today warm coats and hats. That aside, for us being away somewhere makes us happy. 

Footnote: The teddy bear bedding was a success, we were well warm.

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