Brixham to Portsmouth - Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
Sunday the 8th of September – Up early, we arrived at the dining room 15 minutes early. In spite of the fact that another couple were already seated and eating (pre-booked), the young waitress, with a look that could kill, all but turned us away. Just following rules I guess. The five minute early diners didn't get that treatment!
We had planned on taking the tube to Victoria to catch the Mega bus we had booked to take us close to Brixham. Pete checked the City Mapper on his phone just before leaving and found work was being done on two of our our lines causing severe delays so we taxied instead. The City Mapper said a taxi would be 20 pounds but it was 15, so that was a saving. We arrived there in good time and were given a cup cake each to celebrate Mega Bus' 10th birthday. Sun, cloud and heavy downpours during the trip, it was a good run through to Exeter where we changed buses for a double decker going to Paignton which is where we were met by Jan and Jeremy.
The Pucketts took us for a little tour of Brixham, a working fishing port of immense charm and character. Pete just said “God its a beautiful little place”. We might have to let the photos do the talking again. It has a huge marina and Jeremy has a boat there. The shops are gently up hill and down dale, all within walking distance to the Puckett house as is the marina, and the salt water baths they swim in pretty much every morning they are in residence until it gets too cold and dark. Sadly we didn't pack our togs.
After the short tour we arrived at their house, a very charming three storied terrace house with superb views. Jeremy has a cunning device, a flying fox arrangement which he used for ferrying our luggage from their car park to the third floor of the house - about 20-25 metres. Once our washing was done, we discovered this also doubled as a clothes line. What an excellent and practical invention. We had a walking tour with Jeremy to see the fortifications, the lighthouse where you could see for miles and their salt water baths - followed by drinks at the Berryhead Hotel where Jan joined us. Jan had cooked a delicious dinner and the aroma met us at the door. Fairly early to bed.
Monday the 9th of September - A typical Puckett cooked breakfast after which Jan walked with us into town. As might be guessed, communications failed in Ireland and somethings failed to come back on once back in Britain. Consequently Pete needed some work done on his computer and phone and Jan knew just the person to do it. This was sorted within a couple of hours. The shops are wonderful, not expensive at all, just delightful.
After another Puckett meal, Jeremy took us out on his yacht for a couple of hours. Good brisk sailing conditions with blue skies – great fun. We arrived back in the marina just as the wind was really picking up.
Dinner at the Yacht Club, very appropriate after an afternoon sail. Fabulous spot with fantastic view, superb steaks and lovely waitresses. So nice to be able to walk to and from.
Tuesday the 10th September – While Jan and Jeremy went off for their swim, we showered and started organising things to take in their camper for our tiki tour around the south of England. Jeremy ferried most of these things in his flying fox up to the camper after he cooked another of his delicious breakfasts.
Jeremy showed Pete how everything worked in the camper and away we went.
Brixham has very windy narrow streets and before we even got out we came to a detour which the GPS didn't approve of – the detour forced us down into the town centre. All went well.
We were heading East when we saw a sign that sad Whimple – this is where Ali's parents live. We had planned to visit them next week but when we saw how close it was we thought we would pay them a preliminary visit. The village is charming but we found no-one home. We phoned Craig and he said they were currently in Switzerland.
I then noticed just how close Chard was – my mother's family came from Chard Manor many years ago and we decided to try and find it. I knew it was now a rest home but there was no street number, just the road name, so we drove through a lot of very narrow but charming streets all over the place with no luck. We will have another go tomorrow and also go the museum.
We are over-nighting in a farm camp ground at Chard with fantastic views of rich farmland all around.
It is dark now, quarter past eight, and Pete is about to set up our beds in what he calls Baby Berty. It is quite windy but it has been another warm sunny day. We are so lucky, so far.
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Wednesday the 11th of September – After a quiet night at a toilet and power only site at eight pounds a night, we wandered around Chard waiting for the museum to open – we thought this a good starting point for finding Mum's family home. My great, great grandmother was Sophie Chard. We called into the tourist centre and they were very helpful then to the museum after a pub morning tea. The museum people were very helpful also and the museum excellent but it wasn't until an old gentleman came out of an office that we got any real help. He said Chard Manor was right behind St Mary's Anglican Church in Tatworth Road and that is where we went next. It was a special feeling to find Mum's family home – I know she would have liked that we did find it. St Mary's next door is very old and quite stunning with crumbling door frames and fabulous stained glass. Heaps of photos. Chard itself is quaintly villagey but is spread out and I think has a population of around 18000.
From there we carried on West – Pete's wants to go to Sammy Miller's Motor Cycle Museum in New Milton – we are overnighting nearby at Holmsley, Bransgore after a pleasant drive through the New Forrest and other picturesque villages and countryside. Lots of thatched cottages and country pubs – we love it. For 17 pounds a night, we have a concrete pad for Baby Berty, and stones to walk on, toilets and showers. No cell phone reception or wireless, and it is quietly raining. It is 7.30pm, nearly dark and nearly bed-time.
Thursday the 12th of September – A quiet night, a shower, breakfast and on the road. Cloudy, sunny, some rain – warm. First stop Sammy Miller's Museum. Pete did the museum tour while I checked out the little shops and the little farm zoo. We had coffee and Pete went back for another go. He enjoyed every minute of it. On the road again we headed for Portsmouth – we thought we might check out the old ships and visit Pauline, Sam and Irene's daughter. We had a lovely cup of tea and chat with Pauline – Max the dog didn't take kindly to us and young Georgia was asleep after a hard day at day-care. Pauline kindly asked us to stay but with limited time, we really needed to move on, deciding to forego the historic ships as well at this stage. We checked out Porchester Castle on Pauline's recommendation, sprinted to the top, about seven flights of stairs, a lot of them narrow, spiral steps – we then took a series of photos and back down again. Richard the second had a palace built inside the castle walls while he waited to sail to France! Probably a bit more to it than that. Fabulous spot with incredible views of the water including the Solent.
Our hostess for this night was lovely older lady, married in 58, husband died in the late 70's, she had a mobile shop which she gave up and they built a shop on their land instead – always had campers staying and carried on with it after her husband died. A chatty lady. This just north of a delightful village called Wickham. Lovely quiet night with power, dump station but no toilet or shower – 12 pounds.
Friday the 13th of September – I didn't realise it was Friday the 13th until I started typing this. Interesting. After breakfast we drove to Wickham and wandered around getting the feel of the place – lovely. Half a pastie each for morning tea. We carried on to Christchurch, another very large villagey place with narrow streets, interesting shops and pretty waterways. Onwards and Westwards, we set off for Bournmouth and wished we had more time to spend. The city centre seemed to be at the bottom of hills, quite spacious, but with lots of narrow hilly streets leading to and from. We hoped to stay at a park over place at Corfe Castle and check out the castle whilst there – the book said open until September but when we phoned they said they were closed so, after a quick shop for dinner at Wareham, we followed a camping sign just up the road from there and here we are – it a very large holiday complex and we have a little piece of it for the night for 18 pounds. It has been gently raining off and on all day – still very warm. They have Bingo and live entertainment happening on the complex. Not sure whether we are going or not – still a bit wet outside.