Hurtlin' through Holyhead

a 1 horse power motor for the canal boat
see all photos »

Lazin’ about in London – Not!

Our return to the UK was basically uneventful. I still don’t like boats and the fast cat from Dublin may have only taken a couple of hours across a millpond but I have found that cats don’t like side winds or waves. They rock.

Welcome back to Wales

It took a day before the queasy sensations were gone.

LLangollen rapids
see all photos »

But Marg had planned a route into the Snowdonia National park and down into North Wales. That was a wonderful trip. What a blessing to be greeted by such different, spectacularly quiet and majestic lakes and mountains. I loved it. I could have taken my backpack and tent and gone out with the many parties we saw. But I’m older, unable to carry the weights I used to when I walked the Eastern Arthurs in Tassy, didn’t have any gear anyway and am more comfortable just looking. But…….

We arrived in Llangollen (scene of eisteddfods and stuff) to be blown away by such a lovely valley. We took to the water in a narrow, horse-drawn boat, ate ice cream beside a white-water course of young, screaming fit people, bought out a shop or two for gifts and souvenirs and walked across a 70m high, 200yr old cast-iron-on-limestone pillars viaduct that carries water that ends up in the Thames. You can hire boats to go on these canals for an arm and a leg in the summer and pay 5quid a night to moor them in marinas in towns along the way. They are over 10m long and fitted out magnificently. One owner told me his boat was worth “1000 quid a foot” for a basic fit-out. He wouldn’t be drawn on a plush one as the sky was the limit but they exist.

Marg and a new friend in Snowdonia
see all photos »

Last night’s sleep was in a B&B in 35 acres (3 around the house in gardens, grass tennis court and gravel drives). The part of the house we were in was only 100 yrs old and the owners are in constant renovation (they have owned the place for 12 months). Their section is over 300 yrs old. I asked if I could look at what was involved in renovating an old building and I had a wonderful look at 1m thick rock walls that had been lined with rendered plaster, then plywood, then 25mm chipboard and wallpaper covering. All that removed to the original rock walls and rough sawn timbers. What a challenge. I’d love to have stayed longer. The owners were talking of taking out some walls, building new alcoves to house bathroom facilities, ripping timbers and cleaning bricks. But Marg took me out to the car and pointed the nose south.

The canal boats go over this
see all photos »

We then hit the motorways and drove for 5 – 6 hours and are spending a 2 nights and a day in R&R at a lovely B&B in England. We crossed the line and left Wales behind. We really needed a rest from travel and sight seeing. Last night we drove in to the “Whole Hog” for a lovely meal and saw a beautiful village with all the amenities one would need.

It was to Sussex that we drove next.  Well not really.  What we did was to take the car back to Gatwick airport and take a train just 1 station.  An inspector tried to charge us over 16 pounds for the 1 station ride.  Apparently our pre-purchased tickets did not extend to the area we were entering.  Marg was very quiet as I negotiated it down to 8.  She knew that it was so but left me alone to see what happened.  John and Jan Munroe met us and drove us to West Watch which is the property they manage for Operation Mobilisation as a mini-conference and accommodation centre.  They are well, they are happy and pass on their best to all those who know them.  It was a great night with good friends.  Frank came down to colloect us and we worked out how to put an extra 2 people into a Peugot 207 (like the one we handed back).  That was fun.  After a "hint" from Marg we managed to visit somewhere I thought was near Edinburgh and way outside our trip.

a farmhouse in Snowdonia
see all photos »

Leeds Castle: great place to go. Day one in London. Sunshine and rain, wind and calm, jackets on, jackets off. Sounds like Melbourne doesn’t it! We had an afternoon in the best presented castle that we have seen. They made visitors feel welcome. The entry ticket is valid for a year. Friendly staff who are quietly in the background are at points of interest. Frank will deliver us to the airport on Thursday. So we are with Angela and him in Orpington (I thought that was a breed of chook) somewhere near London but I have not seen a map yet.

I still find that the sun is not where I expect it to be in the sky and that is very disorienting to me. North, South, East and West are still the same but being in this hemisphere, I find it very hard to get my bearings. Ah well, we will be in Alaska in a few weeks I am sure that will feel weird too.

It is Sunday 23^rd and we are having a (Marg’s) family get-together in a restaurant in London, a trip on the London eye and a look at London by night. That should be fun.

We have just heard about the Myers fire in Hobart. The Mercury had a good coverage on their internet site (thanks Deb for pointing us there). I am now able to get good internet access. Frank has unlimited broadband and his son-in-law Pierre spent some time last night repairing my access protocols that had been screwed in Florence when I had to install different software to access the hotel’s Wifi. Never mind. All is well, I can get and send Emails and do the blog bit more easily for the rest of the trip.

It has not been a bind (other than the weight) to have the laptop. I have been able to organise things and write my diary with ease. Sometimes it is good to be forced into a quiet time of sorting photos and words. It is too easy to be caught in the “I must go here and see that” busyness of travel.

I am surprised though on how much I have enjoyed so far. Like the narrow country lane in Kent yesterday, tall hedgerows and no view that led to “The Green Man” pub and a beer called “The Speckled Hen”. A very nice drop too. I talked the manager into selling me one of his place mats. I should get coasters, mats will be too heavy.

Serviettes would be even better. Why didn’t I think of that a few countries ago?

I wonder what other people do for souvenirs?