Thame, Oxfordshire, England

Upton upon Severn is a pretty town. Black and white houses and historical buildings add to its charm. The River Severn, Great Britain's longest river silently flows by, willow and alder trees lining its banks. This morning Marge all packed up, Angela once again walked around the pretty riverside town whilst John visited the VW T3 Bus Meet where he hoped to view and collect information on the vehicles.

Marge's days might be numbered it seems. The two nights we've spent here near the Malvern hills has proved that a full blown adventure covering many weeks may be great, but a micro adventure can be fun also. We enjoyed returning to this area, forgetting how charming it was.

For now, time to return home and  carry out all the tasks and attend all the appointments we allocate to the month of August. Roll on September, when we will embark on another trip. Who will accompany us? Will it be Marge, Margery or someone new?

Thame, Oxfordshire, England

Oh what a night! Angela was suffering from indigestion after eating fish and chips on the car ferry which disturbed her sleep until the nocturnal leg cramps started. As day broke she closed her eyes in submission to her tiredness only to be awoken by John saying something about a six thirty alarm. Surely it wasn't time to rise! The check in desks for the ferry open at that time, and it's best to be up, sorted out and away by 7.15pm before someone charges you the fifteen pound fee to park at the port overnight. A fee we dispute, because we had just paid two hundred and twenty seven pounds for a return ferry ticket. Feeling groggy she packed up a few items then walked down to the nearby public toilet wondering why the alarm on her phone hadn't gone off. Glancing at her watch in the half light she thought the time was five forty. She asked John what time it was. His reply, an hour later. We were now back on BST, John it seemed wasn't! So before seven we were headed for breakfast at the nearby McDonald's before leaving Poole, stopping again for refreshments on the A34 before returning home to Thame, where we arrived home around midday.

Seeing our home after sixty three days away we were shocked! The grass, brown and long. Cobwebs inside and out. Roses rambling, and the neighbours shrubs making an escape over the fence and along the tops of our wheelie bins. And Margery, poor Margery dirty and dusty looking very sad. The sight was too much. So before unpacking, weeds were pulled and the lawnmower was run across the dry cracked soiled that supported the gangly weeds and dried grass. What must the neighbours think? So here we are back home.

 After a walk out with the family, and take away food, we thought it time to tot up the cost of our latest adventure. Firstly mileage. Marge had carried us safely and reliably for 5,358 miles. Her fuel had cost us £1,293.00. Our overnight stops, sixty two in total, £495.96. That equates to an average cost of £8.00 a night. Over the last nine weeks Marge has carried us along the open roads, through scenic backdrops and jaw dropping scenery, towering mountains and striking coastlines. It's been a blast Marg. Let's do it all again soon!

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.

Thame, Oxfordshire

We decided to leave Wales this morning just after nine, and boy were we glad we did. The gritting lorries had been out and on the dual carriageway the inside lane was fairly clear, the outer not so. White knuckled hands clung to the steering wheel, eyes were fixed firmly on the road and nerves were steadied. Let's do this.

As we approached Conwy we drove through a winter wonderland and just to heighten tensions large hailstones fell onto a freezing road surface. Oh dear. Steady as you go Margery. After an hour and a half of driving, the worst of the weather behind us we stopped for a breather. A couple of hours after we read the road we'd just driven had been closed. We'd made it back to England in one piece. From then on beautiful sunshine and dry clear roads. Well done Margery.

Tonight a cozy night in a Travelodge in Thame. Tomorrow dentist for Angela. And then home. A couple of busy days, and then time to get on with planning. We are hoping to go away again mid January. This time in Muddy Marge. One thing's for sure, snow and hailstones won't bother here. As for Margery, there's adventures to be planed for her as well. So happy new year all. Enjoy moving forward with your journey and embrace the choices you've made for 2026.

Thame, Oxfordshire

Today we leave our little cabin. It served us well. But with more relatives to visit we were away early. For some reason we always seem to be the ones who have to do the rounds at Christmas. But needs must. The weather today cold. The wind blowing from the north east. But we managed a walk out to move along the excesses of the season before settling down to Christmas television, buffet food and good company. Tomorrow, we pack up and drive to the Wirral. We feel tired now. That's Christmas time for you. Our bodies, not used to slowing and eating to excess become a little confused.

Kingston Blount, Oxfordshire ( Day 3)

Christmas Day. While some families are up before day break we start the day leisurely. Opening stocking presents before breakfast, the main ones waiting under the tree for opening upon our return, at that time of the day when  at some family gatherings stomachs are full, tiredness from an early start is setting in, and some family members are becoming a little annoying.

Not at all envious we packed some lunch and drove over to Henley on Thames for a Christmas Day walk. And it seems we weren't to be alone. It was a clear cold day, the sky picture postcard blue.

The river Thames ran high and fast, but as always it pleased us to walk beside it. We've lost count how many times we've visited Henley and walked alongside the river. Overhead the red kites circled low. Were they aware it was Christmas Day? Did they expect remnants of Christmas lunch to be place out in gardens for them to swoop down to?  If you've ever watched these beautiful birds of prey you'll know how keen an eye they have and how quickly they move. We find them mesmerizing.

As for our own Christmas meal, it was to be a challenge. In our little cabin there was no oven, just a two ring electric job, microwave and air fryer. Our first time using an air fryer. How would our meal turn out. Very well as it happened. And yes it was delicious!

Kingston Blount, Oxfordshire (Day 2)

Christmas Eve. The best day of Christmas according to Angela. A day of joy, excitement and anticipation, and a dash around the family to drop off presents for grandchildren. The excitement of younger children infectious. The laying out of refreshments for Santa and Rudolph (still the other reindeer don't get a look in), still brings a smile to us adults with memories of Christmas as a child fresh in our minds. An evening family meal of new Forest venison casserole a great start to the many indulgent days that lay ahead. As Johns father would say. 'There's no calories in sweet treats gifted to you'. Bring them on!

Kingston Blount, Oxfordshire

There's something about the Christmas getaway. All those jobs that needed to be done somehow don't matter anymore. They can wait until the new year. For the next two weeks life's all about family, relaxation and enjoyment, and driving. Yes, Margery is taking the trip with us. 

Christmas, a time for families, tends to be complicated. Who do you visit on Christmas Day? We like to be obliging, and tend to spend the day just the two of us. And this year we've rented a very nice cabin overlooking a pond in the countryside near to the relatives. Perfect!

Thame, Oxfordshire

Our last morning in Yorkshire, and it rained, a lot. It makes packing up a little more difficult, but not as difficult as it will be for the people with tents. Especially very large tents which will need erecting back at home to ensure they are totally dry before storing away. For them, camping may have just lost the fun factor. The weather conditions made for a miserable slow drive across country to Bradford. Now there's a depressing place. Blackened limestone damp looking Victorian houses, dual carriageways and lots of sets of traffic lights, and some of the worst driving ever. As soon as we reached the M1 we couldn't wait to stop at a service area and take a break. The unrelenting rain made for a slow onward drive, but eventually as we crossed the border into Buckinghamshire the sky brightened. Our time in Yorkshire had been spent at a leisurely pace, but today we needed to arrive at Tingewick by five o' clock to pick up our Facebook purchase, so the pressure had been on to keep driving without too many breaks. Our overnight arrangements also needed to be hastily changed as we were planning to return to Fir Tree camping at Warmington, where we stayed on the way up. So, after some rearranging of vehicles we spent the night on Angela's son's drive at Thame.

The fair was in town and we took a walk up, stopping to chat with old acquaintances and buy a chippy tea.

Although we were glad to be back in this area, The Yorkshire dales suddenly seemed a very long way away. Angela thinks it's time to plan another trip, so the research has begun!

Thame, Oxfordshire

The campsite around the fishing lakes near Banbury turned out to be a real find. We think we'll definitely stop there again one day. Being so close to the M40 motorway, meant our drive down to Thame would only take around an hour and a half.

At Thame we layed flowers on John's parents grave before visiting Angela's son Chris and his family. It was nice to be able to sit out in their garden which had undergone a makeover, and catch up. That is the one problem with us travelling, we don't get to see our family so much. Staying overnight in a 'proper bed' seemed strange after so long. And sitting inside seemed even stranger. Now the weather has settled we just want to keep on travelling, but alas we must return home for a few weeks now.