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

Setthorns Campsite, New Forest. (Day 2)

Yesterday evening as we cooked fish fingers an unexpected guest flew inside Margery. A large beetle almost fried itself alive by landing on our gas hob.

Fish will do us just fine thanks. As darkness fell, the owls began calling, and continued to do so all through the night. But Angela was awake anyway. Our new thermal pop top wrap around cover is very efficient. She felt as if she was trapped in a sauna, with none of the other pampering included. Tonight, less clothing in bed. This morning we decided we would spend all of our four nights away at the Setthorns campsite. Why move?

It's beautiful here amongst the fungi, amongst the trees, some gnarled by the wind. Beneath our feet a carpet of brown and gold. The leaves falling slow and steady like a light snowfall. The autumn light played tricks on our eyes in the early evening when we went in search of ceps. No luck there, but Angela did find a huge Hen of the Woods fungi at the base of a tree.

Beat that John! Today has been a lovely day. We took a walk along the old disused railway bed to Brockenhurst.

7

Treated ourselves to coffee and scones, before stocking up on supplies, including venison burgers from the butcher for tomorrow evenings dinner.

Outside Tesco the donkeys gathered by the door, their expressions serious. Who was supposed to bring the Tesco clubcard? Twelve miles later we were reunited with Margery. Next spring we plan to walk the West Highland Way in Scotland. It is just under one hundred miles. Training and planning has begun, so another long walk tomorrow.

One of the Pannage pigs clearing up the acorns in Brockenhurst.

Steps 27,600

Setthorns Campsite, New Forest, Hants.

The last three weeks have been manic. Angela had the remains of her broken tooth extracted, then she contracted COVID and was very unwell for over a week, which meant she couldn't help John clean and decorate our bungalow in readiness for new tenants. But as always, everything just happens and as a reward we are taking Margery away for four nights.

So here we are, in the stunningly beautiful New Forest. Autumn is one of our favourite seasons to walk in the forest. The crowds of summer long gone, quieter more genteel folk are here, and us! Only one forest campsite is open all year, it has no facilities, which doesn't bother us, we have our sink and trusty boxio loo.

John as you know is keen on foraging mushrooms, and within five minutes of siting Margery he discovered a large Cep or Penny Bun plus a Hedgehog mushroom. They'll be in tomorrow's omelette!

What's great about the new forest is you can just park up and walk out, which is just what we did this afternoon. There's something peaceful about wandering amongst the trees.

Our life is busy at the moment, but we always find time to get away, and are already planning next year's trips. We are very conscious that you must 'go for it' in life and not leave plans until later. Later is not guaranteed!

Poole, Dorset

Our last night away, and it was the coldest. The night sky lit by diamonds. Fortunately we'd purchased the thermal wrap around cover for our pop top.

This morning as the first light of daybreak spread across the grass we were not surprised to see the first frost of autumn. Today was a big day for Angela. She was having her broken front tooth extracted. Which despite her nerves went well. Now she's going to really look the part for Halloween. The day we return home from our holiday is always a sad one. But today's our spirits were lifted as we stopped off at Thame to view a house. It's time for us to make plans, life won't wait.

First though, we have another rental house to prepare for a new tenant, luckily the outlay required won't be as expensive as the last time we did this. As for our holiday, our overnight costs for the last twenty three nights were £251.90. And we stayed at some wonderful spots didn't we Margery.

The Old Fisherman, Shabbington, Buckinghamshire

And breath! After yesterday's manic drive we spent today winding down. A walk and lunch out, a drive by of a house in Princes Risborough and a Chinese takeaway.

Our overnight stop, The Old Fisherman Pub alongside the River Thame at Shabbington, a village on the border with Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Looking back on our Yorkshire trip we compare life down south to that in the north. Everything suddenly now seems frantic and hectic. Gone is the laid back, friendly quiet life. And as for 'cash only', it's now, 'card only'. The pub stop at The Old Fisherman is very convenient for us, and tonight Margery is the only van here tucked in a nice little spot away from the noise of the pub.

And unusually, we do not need to buy a drink, or eat a meal in the pub to stay here. Just put ten pounds in the donation box for Macmillan Cancer Support. We're happy with that, it's nice to know our money is going to a good cause. We are also pleased to have discovered this pub stop, as it's only three miles away from Angela's son in Thame, and as we don't stay with him on school nights, usually booking into the Travelodge, we have no need now. Margery tonight is all cosy with the thermal cover on we bought off Facebook, it's made a big difference now the nights are a little cooler, a real game changer.