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.

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.