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| Last night on the road in Ardleigh |
I think I am really in “end of
holiday” mode, no blog for 5 days!!! For the fourth time we had a really calm
crossing of the channel, for which I am really grateful. It is a 6 ½ trip with
the clocks going back one hour. Everything went to clockwork, we were one of
the first off the ferry, through customs and within half an hour were parked up
at our usual campsite in Ardleigh….and Ian kept on the left hand side of the
road, and concentrating hard at the first few roundabouts we went through. After
driving on the right hand side for the past 4 months, they seem to be the most
difficult thing to remember.
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| Farewell Holland... |
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| ...and welcome to England. |
We had a really warm day on
Friday, ideal for cleaning and sorting out the van. Surprising what you gather
after over 4 months on the road. Couldn’t believe it late afternoon when we
heard thunder in the distance, so packed the chairs away, pulled in the awning
and in no time at all there was a hail storm, that really thundered on the roof
of Ruakiwi. It didn’t last too long, and then the sun came out again. Guess
this is English weather!
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| Quite a hail storm |
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| ..followed by a dramatic sunset. |
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| Drive by shots of Sussex on a beautiful morning. |
Saturday we were back on the road
for the 3 hour drive north up the motorway to Kathy and Steve’s in Boston, and
a very warm welcome….except for the sign that was on their front door “CAMPING
NZ$25 A NIGHT – Call at the house”!!! They took us up to the new house to see
the progress since we last visited on April 28th, and what a huge
difference, with the roof on, windows in and wall board up and getting
plastered, and hopeful of being in it by Christmas. It is really impressive,
can’t wait to see it all completed next year when we return.
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| Huge progress on the renovation. |
Sunday afternoon was a drive into
the country for what is becoming our traditional farewell at The Brownlow Arms,
Hough on the Hill for Sunday lunch. Just love the place with its atmosphere and
really good traditional English food.
Kathy and Steve left yesterday
morning for a four day get together with other Aston Martin owners from Sweden
visiting the AM factory and museums in Buckinghamshire, leaving us to look
after the house! Got all our bags packed after sorting through what we would
leave in the van, and this time I took photos of the clothes – maybe I won’t
bring so much next trip!!! Today we drove to the storage yard and settled
Ruakiwi in for the winter. They are so helpful and even got one of the lads to
drive us home, rather than getting a taxi. Great service.
So, a quiet time this evening, and
a good chance to catch up on the blog. We are getting collected by a shuttle in
the morning to take us to the Hotel at Heathrow, all ready for our Thursday
morning flight with a stopover in Singapore before arriving in Auckland on
Saturday. And just looked at the forecast and appears to be a cold wet weekend
for our arrival – hoped to be returning for some spring weather but guess not
to be! But really looking forward to catching up with all the family.
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| Farewell lunch with Kathy and Steve |
Comments
travel home safe, don't mind the rain, it's what keeps our country green.
Lots of love
Vicki n Ed