2012/1 Round and About London and out West.

Well here we are in Bath at the end of April as we write the first phase of our journey 2012.  What to talk about in Britain if it isn’t the weather.  On April the 6th a drought and a hose pipe was announced, on the 7th it started to rain and apart from a couple of days in Hastings it hasn't stopped since for more than half a day at a time. The rain, with low temperatures and a wind makes that raw wet cold so typical of England.  We arrived with Malaysian Airways but were disappointed by the lack of Malaysian meals, although departing at midnight and arriving late afternoon is ideal for jet lag.

First problem was Stan sunk in the Maureen’s ‘drought stricken’ lawn while turning round, others like the water taps and the heater (again) were solved, Maureen having already organised the insurance and WOF etc.   

The start of our trip 2012 was to visit family and friends mostly around London. We parked in a street in Wandsworth to see Joanna’s niece Laura, Tane and little Bella-Rose. Also went to the musical - Jersey Boys in Soho, rode on the Regents Canal, had a view of David’s University College (the first sight since 1958), the British Museum to see lots of old stuff; and speaking of old stuff also saw Kylie Minogue on her comeback trail doing a photo shoot in Soho trying to look half her age in hot pants and bikie jacket, 40 something going on 20. We saw David’s nieces and nephew in Tunbridge Wells and Essex, cousin in Banbury, godson near Cambridge and then old house mates from (1960) in Horsham.  Ever on to see expats from Lesotho (1988) in Wycombe and Cairo (1990) near Bedford. Then something different, chez friends who stayed with us during the Rugby World Cup on a Narrow Boat in Leicester. Always great meals and local sights plus plenty of reminiscing with suitable wine and or beer in the local pub etc.  All this was conceived as a once round London but it turned out to be a twice round London.

However in spite of the rain the English countryside came to life turning green in the two weeks and daffodils everywhere  plus tulips in gardens and the blossoms incredible (a great year for them in seems).  We were impressed by the villages where our friends and residents take a great part in village activities and even make sure there is a local store and pub by buying it and running it themselves.

Our sightseeing continued with two days in the Cotswolds walking from Bourton on the Water to the Slaughters, across muddy fields and then overnighting in a muddy field.

Now at Bath staying in a smart camping ground (24 pounds a night compared with 4 pounds in the field).  However very well located with a park and ride at the gate, and a pub 5 minutes away next to the river and canal, another 15 minutes the other way also on the canal plus plug in TV – the first time our new TV has actually worked as any thing except a DVD.  Bath was a revelation, such a distinguished centre and with a choir practising in the Abbey, afternoon tea in the Pump Room followed by a rushed walk round the town as the next day (today) was correctly forecast with gale force winds and heavy rain.  However we managed a walk to the pub and this afternoon -  there has been a few gaps in the rain.

Next moves depend on the weather, Cheddar Gorge if we can walk, Bristol for the Clifton Bridge and perhaps some Puffins in Pembrokeshire. Now for a drink at the ‘other’ pub.

Joanna has had a bit of a thing about puffins for years. She has teatowels, bags, a pegbag and even some puffin socks from Alaska, but wanted to see the real thing. David does not share the passion and was pretty hard to convince that a puffin tour would be a good idea. That is until we discovered Skomer Island and its puffin colony in Pembrokeshire, right on the tip of south-west Wales. David’s ears pricked up when he realised that this is the area of the famed Pembrokeshire Coastal Path.

Made the long trek along the M4, through the pouring rain (just for something different.) As we arrived at Martin’s Haven the sun came out – brilliant. It stayed that way for the next day and a half that we spent in this beautiful spot.  Overnighted in the car park, probably not allowed, and lawn mowers arrived at 5am! Divine retribution.

What a brilliant day. Blue skies, calm seas, great walking and huge numbers of a variety of birds – the most important being the manx shearwaters and puffins, both burrowing birds. The shearwaters only come out at night, but the puffins are very obliging and go about their business all around you – in and out of their burrows, taking off landing, building nests etc. So close you can almost touch them. They seem completely unperturbed by humans gawking and clicking away on cameras. They are so engaging and I could have watched for hours. Did in fact.

The plan was to do some of the coastal walk over the next couple of days, but the weather gods intervened again and we resorted to visiting a few coastal villages and towns, togged up in all our wet weather gear, then on to The Valleys. The old Welsh mining valleys which we had read so much about. We were given all sorts of advice, but never really found the essence of it, besides a night in a pub car park to compensate. Saw some beautiful countryside though – every now and then through the pouring rain!

Back to Bristol for a quick view of the SS Great Britain, (impressive) then onto the Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, where the cheese supposedly originated. Found a lovely campsite that didn’t seem to be based on a million rules, like so many British campsites are. Us ignorant colonials are always getting into trouble for breaking rules we didn’t know about. They were friendly and helpful and set us off on a couple of interesting and rigorous walks around the Mendip Heights and down into the gorges – and up again of course so sore muscles the next day.

A bit of culture with Wells and Salisbury Cathedrals – (Pillars of the Earth has done wonders for our knowledge of cathedrals) and Stonehenge. The on to visit friends, Frans and Cynthia Sandberg in Somerset – fellow NZ motorhomers, whom we met at Oberammergau two years ago. It was great to catch up and compare adventures.

Now back in Hastings, van all ready to cross to France tomorrow. Let’s hope for better weather across the channel. April in the UK has been the wettest since records began and the coldest in 23 years.