Fir Tree Farm, Warmington, Warwickshire

The last month has been eventful. We have spent time with our family, which was nice, and not so nice we've had to prepare a house for new tenants after it was left in a right state by the outgoing tenants, who didn't think they needed to tell us they'd heard scratching from the attic during the winter. All that aside, we had our late summer holiday to look forward to. Scotland was our plan, but the forecast changed in the weather and the nights drawing in, we decided to leave Scotland for next spring and return to France. Fortunately, just as we were about to book our ferry we had the presence of mind to check how long we had left of our 90 days in Europe. Just five days! Oh dear. So plan B was put in place and we decided we might like to visit the Yorkshire dales, moors and the coast around Whitby. We are only able to be away from home for three weeks as we have another rental property to work on at the end of September. Hopefully Roland and his family haven't moved in to that one! Despite the change in the weather after a glorious summer. we are already thinking about adventures for next year.

Today we stopped enroute for John to purchase a lightweight tent which we will use when we return to walk a little more of the southwest coast path. It's always nice to be away in the van, and this evening despite the miserable weather fish fingers sandwiches and salad were the comfort food we needed. Tomorrow we will head to Yorkshire where we are hoping to be able to walk a lot and see some beautiful scenery. Fingers crossed the weather will be kind to us.

Fir Tree Campsite, Warmington, nr: Banbury

Ten weeks ago we set off on our trip. We expected to be home last weekend, but as you can see we aren't. We are now aiming for this Sunday, or Monday or maybe Tuesday. We definitely have the travelling bug. Our stay at Coco's wild camping was great. The weather beautiful and the vista stunning. We asked the son and daughter of the owners  who collected the money what the weather was like in the winter. 'Christ, it's bloody awful'. O.K. The site is open 365 days a year and is popular on New Year's Eve. They even have a sited caravan here, (with no services), called the 'Love Shack'. Sleeps six. How does that work then? Across the way as night fell the young lady continued to fascinate one of the men. By now she was fully covered. His wife commenting, 'do you feel more comfortable now'?

We were expecting a beautiful sunset yesterday evening, but it didn't materialise, however a spherical moon glowed in the sky, it's normal milky white tinged by the last colours of a sunset far away. This morning around four o'clock clock Angela was up for the toilet. A marshmallow pink sun tinged the marshmallow white clouds. It was beautiful. But Angela doesn't sleep well and couldn't risk missing the few hours sleep on offer before morning to watch the sun rise fully. 

This morning whilst we packed up to leave a Liverpudlian lady asked if she could photograph Marge. Well there's a surprise. Right Marge no shenanigans we've dipped your wheels into Wales, time to head back to England. Angela had found a small campsite in the country near to Henley in Arden and close to the M40 motorway.  It was beautiful. A large Victorian house at its centre. We were directed under some apple trees in the shade which was perfect as the temperature was 28 c. It reminded us of a French campsite. Angela went off for a shower, managing to lock herself in! After a lot of tugging at the door she was free. Back at Marge John announced we were leaving, and he went off to the reception to ask for our twenty pounds payment to be returned. A group of 6 teenage girls (celebrating finishing school), with a ton of stuff and three large tents were setting up (how many more were expected?). We know how this goes, having experienced this situation before.

Tired we headed into Stratford upon Avon to make a plan and John found a site at some fishing lakes near Banbury. Result.

The site is perfect. Marge is parked in the adult section right by the lake. The children in an area a little further away from the water. The lady managing the site loves Marge. She owns a left hand drive VW T25, which was the vehicle John expected to buy to replace our crafter van. Fir Tree Campsite was a great find. Beautiful views, tranquillity and wildlife. On the hill the sheep bleat. There's just something missing, oh the oyster catchers.