Saturday 22nd November 2025

It was rainy this morning and it rained on and off throughout the day. We set off east. After a while our windscreen wipers started to malfunction, locking up in the middle of the windscreen. After this had happened a few times we stopped at a parking place on the A303 and called out the AA. The AA person examined the problem but said as it was intermittent it could be caused by anything. We carried on as best we could and managed to get to Ann's daughter Kerry's place in Kent where we stopped for the day. On arrival we realised that our dipped beam headlights were intermittently not working either. It took us no time at all to decide that we couldn't continue with the journey and that the best thing we could do was to try to get back to Widecombe. We are so so sad and disappointed. 

Kerry and her husband Gareth were very sympathetic and helped us to cheer up a bit.

Ann and Kerry.

Gareth cooked us a really nice evening meal and we all drank beer to drown our sorrows.

We had a very nice beef pie followed by sticky toffee pudding.

Today we travelled 128 miles (206 kilometres).

Friday 21st November 2025 

A beautiful sunny frosty day! We left Widecombe at about 13.00 and took on diesel at Trago Mills before travelling east to Amesbury in Wiltshire and stopping for the day at a service area. We had stopped here previously on 2.5.25 - please see this link for what we posted then: 2.5.25

There is a choice of eateries at this service station - Subway.....

Greggs.....

Or Burger King. I have spent years trying to avoid these kind of places but I felt we ought to try one once! 

We foolishly opted for Burger King. You order on one of these terminals. Ann had a chicken burger and I had a vegan burger. Absolutely vile! Why would anyone want to eat at one of these places!?

Back at the van we had cherries with broken ginger biscuits and cream for afters, Really nice after our horrific main course.

Today we travelled 116 miles (187 kilometres). We are at: N51.1788 W1.7796

Amesbury      Street View

Thursday 20th November 2025

We're getting ready to set off travelling in our campervan. It has been in and out of the garage recently for work on the electrics, resealing the rear skylight and having a new front skylight fitted! Very expensive. This pair of pheasants seem to spend most of their time under our bird feeders these days. The male is quite magnificent - pity he's lost his tail feathers.

Tuesday 24th June 2025

Before leaving the Blue Bell we had what they describe as a small breakfast. It was enormous! We had great difficulty starting the van when we were leaving.

We had a hold up free trip back to our house in Devon. We had done "No Mow May" but No Mow May and most of June looks a bit daunting. Many thanks to Steve and Margaret over the road for keeping an eye on our house and post while we were away.

Now it's  just a question of unpacking the van and going through the post.

The lawn can wait a bit longer.

Today we travelled 187 miles (301 Kilometres).

Our total journey lasted 54 days, we visited France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Spain. We travelled 3362 miles (5413 kilometres) plus however far we travelled on the ferry crossings from Dover to Calais and Santander to Portsmouth. 

Thanks to anyone who took an interest in our travels. That's all for now. Roger.

Monday 23rd June 2025

There was a lot of rain in the night and when we got up we found that the front skylight in the van had leaked quite a lot of rainwater. Ann mopped it up. We made a long journey south west and then west stopping along the way at a service area.

For a cup of tea.

We stopped for the day at the Blue Bell Cider House at Hockley Heath near Birmingham.

It's quite rural here. This is the view from the side door of our van.

The Blue Bell is beside a canal.

We decided it was a bit chilly to eat out here.

So we had some food inside.

The man with a beard on the left here is the boss at the Blue Bell. He is a Britstops Host and so well disposed towards campervanners. We are planning to try to get to our house in Devon tomorrow.

Today we travelled 183 miles (295 kilometres). We are at: N52.3658 W1.8131

The Blue Bell      Street View

 

Sunday 22nd June 2025

This morning we rode/walked the short distance to Jake and Julia'a house and spent a few hours chatting and so forth.

It seems that quite a few things around here are owned by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. We are parked next to their public toilets!

This is their information trailer. Closed this evening.

This is their pub.

We went there for a meal this evening.

We had a very nice meal and everyone got very full up. Julia got a text from her new airb&b guest to the effect that she'd let her dog off the lead and it had chased one of Julia's chickens out of the garden and she knew not where!! Julia had to leave the meal a bit early to try to recover the chicken!

We've really enjoyed staying here. Thanks to Jake and Julia and to Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

Today we didn't go anywhere in our van.

 Saturday 21st June 2025

This morning, after leaving Broom, we stopped at the Sainsbury's supermarket at Biggleswade.

Someone drove their vehicle into the rear right bumper of our van and drove off without stopping - disgraceful! You can see the damage here.

We made the, much more pleasant than yesterday journey, north east and stopped for the day at Hickling. Here's the view from the front of our van.

There are plenty of waterfowl around.

Our parking place is a few hundred metres from Ann's son Jake's house. We met up with Jake, his son Joshua and his partner Julia and went to the pub next to our parking place for a couple of drinks. Later on we went to Jake's house.

Ann got to Jake's house on her scooter.

Here's Jake in his garden with a can of beer.

Ann looks a bit tired!

Here's Joshua.

We had a very nice picnic tea. Many thanks for your hospitality Jake and Joshi.

Later we went indoors as it was threatening to rain.

Joshua can do the cube in no time!

Jake has a dog.

And at least two cats.

Jake is a very laid back character.

Ann and Jake had a good catch-up with each other.

As darkness approached we made our way back to our van.

Today we travelled 117 miles (188 kilometres). We are at: N52.7470 E1.5677

Hickling    Street View

 

Friday 20th June 2025

We were parked next to this converted bus at Port Solent. They soon set off and we left shortly afterwards.

From Port Solent we had a nasty long journey north east. The worst bit being the notorious M25 which was seriously snarled up. We eventually arrived at our destination area. We visited the Jordan's Mill where our favourite breakfast serial is manufactured.

 Ann used to visit here when she lived nearby many years ago.

This is the old mill building.

Here's the new eatery area. We bought some of our favourite cereal at their shop.

We stopped for the day at the nearby Cock Inn at Broom. They have a camping field out the back of the pub.

It's been very hot today but it's much cooler this evening.

We went for a meal in the pub which was very nice. The Cock Inn is a member of the Britstops scheme which allows member motorhomes and campervans to stay for up to 24 hours for free.

Today we travelled 127 miles (204 kilometres). We are at: N52.0731 W0.2932

Broom   Street View