Thomas Becket got a raw deal

On Wednesday 19th February we travelled south over the Thames at the Dartford Bridge which carries the M25 traffic south while the northbound M25 goes through the Dartford Tunnel.

We soon reached Canterbury and parked at the New Dover Road Park and ride which has excellent facilities for campervans and costs £3 for 24 hours including unlimited bus rides in and out of the City Centre.

When we got to the Cathedral Ann gave the receptionist her  usual line about being on a pilgrimage from York to Canterbury and we got in free yet again!

It is a very impressive cathedral but I think I prefer Ely.

Thomas Becket, an Archbishop of Canterbury in the 13th Century was murdered in the Cathedral by Knights acting on behalf of the King. Apparently Thomas didn't even want the job in the first place but the King persuaded him to take it! 300 years later a future king ordered his shrine in the cathedral to be destroyed.

  

Today 20th February dawned wet and dismal. We travelled to visit Ann's daughter Kerry and her partner Gareth and son Henry further to the west in Kent.

Going home

We left Kerry and Gareth's on Friday 21st February after a mega cooked breakfast. We then visited Bodiam Castle in Sussex which is owned by the National Trust.

Ann climbed up one of the towers to take this photo.

Later in the day we visited Sheffield Park Garden also in Sussex and also National Trust. We stayed the night in the village car Park at Horstead Keynes in West Sussex.

On Saturday 22nd February we continued west to the New Forest in Hampshire but we found it to be "hostile territory" with officious no overnight parking signs in all the car parks. We therefore moved on to the town of Fordingbridge and parked in the local authority long stay car park. We went for a walk around to see the floods.

Fordingbridge had obviously been quite seriously flooded - lots of sandbags still in doorways.

Today Sunday 23rd February we returned home to Widecombe. There had obviously been more flooding while we were away but the house is fine if a little bit cold.

Our journey lasted 19 days and we covered 1242 miles (equivalent to 2000 kilometres).

Atheists' pilgrimage continues

On Saturday 15th February we visited Lincoln Cathedral. Got in free again as Ann told the person taking the money that we were on a pilgrimage from York to Canterbury! The cathedral was founded by St Hugh in AD 1077. He was the first Norman Bishop in Britain.

On 16th February we visited Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire (National Trust). Beautiful Sunny day - quite a change! Found a nice parking place for the night in a forest near Sandringham in Norfolk. Didn't see the Queen.

On 17th February we visited Ely Cathedral. The most impressive one yet! Ann's pilgrimage line got us in free yet again.

As this sign in the Cathedral explains it was founded by St Etheldreda in AD 673. Unfortunately the unenlighted bishop in charge in 1541 destroyed her shrine, smashed all the medieval stained glass and effigies in the cathedral!

Today, 18th February we went to look at Ann's old home, Lyons Hall, near Great Leighs in Essex. It was not totally as she remembered it from 40 years ago - some bits knocked down and some new bits built.

Tonight we are parked at Hockley Woods in Essex. Earlier this afternoon we went for a very muddy walk in the these woods which are apparently the largest remaining ancient wild wood in Essex.

We're off at last

On Wednesday 5th February we left home in our campervan and travelled to Exbridge on Exmoor stopping the night in the car park of the Anchor Inn right next to the very swollen River Exe. Really nasty rainy weather.Nice meal in the Pub.

On Thursday 6th February we travelled to the Cotswolds and stopped for the night at a viewpoint's car park with great views down to the Severn Estuary - though we didn't see much when we first arrived as the visibility was poor and it was pouring with rain. However on Friday 7th morning the views opened up!

Here's another view looking west towards Wales.

The Nympsfield neolithic long barrow was only a few metres away from our parking place.

Later that day we moved on and visited Charlcote Park National Trust Property near Stratford on Avon.

The River Avon which flows through the grounds at Charlcote was very flooded and most of the park was therefore inaccessible. We stopped for the night at a layby near Welford in Northamptonshire.

On Saturday 8th February we continued north and stopped for the night at a car park at Sherwood Heath in Nottinghamshire. The Heath is a very pleasant wild area and we went for a good work only returning to our van seconds before a violent rain storm.

On Sunday 9th February we visited Sherwood Forest - famous as the home of the legendary Robin Hood. The tree above is The Major Oak, thought to be about 1,100 years old and propped up with metal supports these days.

Later we moved on to Cresswell Crags, just over the border in Derbyshire. Many early human and animal remains have been found in the caves here and quite recently extensive prehistoric rock art has been found.

We stopped for the night at Hatfield Moor National Nature Reserve near Doncaster. This is a beautiful wetland area which is now recovering from many years of peat extraction.

The next morning, Monday 10th February we had a good walk around the reserve. We saw numerous ducks, geese and other birds but no adders which are supposed to be very common at Hatfield Moors. Maybe too early in the year?

That night we stopped at a car park next to the Selby Canal in Yorkshire - really nice spot as you can see from the picture above.

On Tuesday 11th February we visited York Minster.

We got in free because Ann told the person on the door that we were on a pilgrimage to Canterbury and could we have a reduced rate? We stayed the night in a car park in Malton, Yorkshire.

On Wednesday 12th February we stayed the night at the car park of the RSPB Reserve near Flamborough Head. The weather got worse and worse with driving rain and extremely strong wind. It was quite difficult to sleep as the van was rocking and the wind very noisy. In the morning of Thursday 13th February we went for a walk around the Reserve. Still very cold wind but sunshine rather than rain. Saw Fulmars, Gannets and a Peregrine Falcon. Ver impressive limestone cliffs.

We stayed in a car park just outside of Beverly last night and today 14th February we visited Beverly Minster. Impressive but not as impressive as York. 

Later today we came south over the Humber Bridge into Lincolnshire and on to the town of Caistor on the Wolds where we will stay tonight. We are in the (free) car park next to the Town Hall and can pick up their excellent wifi with our new aerial - hence this post. Another major storm is brewing up as I write.

Atheists in the Cathedral?

We haven't been away in our campervan for some time but we're now thinking about setting off. We have a new wifi aerial, seen above stuck on the side of our van, which will hopefully allow us to blog while we're travelling without too much inconvenience.