Trip to the boat and the walking holiday and return in the car

We decided to take a drive to the boat this time mainly due to the fact that we'd bought an electric outboard and the battery meant we couldn't fly it over - great excuse for a road trip!

Portsmouth - Le Havre and then down through France, stopped at Rouen to see Neil and Yvonne before heading on south, eventually stopping at Barjac to see Graham and Brigid at their Gite. After that we swung west heading for Spain and eventually Alicante and the boat.  We arrived in Alicante to biblical rains - with severe flooding along the coast.

Last walk before we got on the ferry for Le Have

Rouen town centre

Graham, Brigid and Dave

Last swim at the Gite before we left for Spain.

Boy, did it rain!

And lightning striking the castle.

Walking holiday - our 10th Trip and a return to Mallorca.  I flew there from Alicante to meet up with the boys - fabulous weather and it was good to do some old and some new walks from Soller.

View from the hotel - not bad eh!

They never grow up.

High mountains in the north of Mallorca

Soller town centre tram joining the town to the port.

Our last walk to the top of the second highest mountain in Mallorca - we can't do the highest as its a military area

Motley crew

Carole came to Mallorca for a week after the boys left.  We did some of the walks and also spent a few days exploring Palma before flying back to Alicante.

Nice hotel in Palma!

We did a walk from Soller to Cala Torrent, good one way walk with a ferry trip back, beautiful, isolated and peaceful valley

Weird bull shaped olive tree

waiting for the ferry

The next walk was around Soller to the port, good lunch where we were bizarrely serenaded by a group that was motoring around the harbour.

Very picturesque Mallorca

Carole's hero! But a bit of a strange "museum"

Spanish farm accommodation with a picnic on the terrace.

Rest and recuperation on the boat with a few days gentle sailing and generally chilling out.

Wild flowers on Tabarca

Last cockpit party before we head off - on Alan and Pauline's new power boat.

Sadly, before long we were setting off back home in the car.  For the return trip we stayed west, going due north across the Pyrenees, into France, taking 4 days to get up north where we nearly mutinied due to the weather and turned around.

Teruin - lovely old Spanish town close to the Pyrenees

Heading north we fell across Azay-le-Rideau by accident, twinned with Croston - lovely old town with a picture perfect chateau.

Croston's old telephone box now used as a book swap in Azay's town square.

Finally we had to get to Le Havre but couldn't resist a pitstop in Honfleur

Last oysters before the ferry at a harbourside restaurant in Honfleur

Back in time to help GM sort out her house purchase in Durham and start to sort out her bungalow in Croston.  The loft contained many, many, varied and unusual items; as well as two cases of toilet rolls...

Camper van tour 2019

Birmingham first stop to celebrate Jens birthday -what an afternoon tea! Followed by expert Tenpin  bowling night (was going to be indoor crazy golf but there was a power cut!)

New Forrest

Camping in the New Forest is always good. Complete with cycle trip to the Isle of Wight with Alan Jenks as our guide.  Quick stop at a yacht club, where Jenks and Carole went for a swim - crazy people!

An ice cream van came around the site - couldn't resist a Mr Whippy!

South Downs

Beautiful view - briefly, before the weather came in and obliterated it.

Windsor and the rugby

We stopped at a B&B in Windsor and met up with Geoff and Sue for the England v. Ireland "friendly", not the best match but top seats and also a good weekend with the Taggs.

Shepperton Lock

We camped in our boating friends garden, their barge is Barton B - Carlos and Katie who we met on the French canals - fabulous house with river frontage.  They took us for a Thames river trip on their Gentlemans launch - great fun. Carole and Katie went for a swim.  The next day we borrowed their canoe and paddled the canal, including the strange experience of going down a lock in a Canadian canoe.

Newark

Newark was our next stop to see Danny and Libby (they have Why Knot at Alicante, as well as a wide beam barge at Newark). Another boat trip, but this time on their wide beam through Newark. The Wetherspoons there does a great breakfast - amazing clientele, partaking in several pints at 09.30!

A quick stop in Durham to see Ian and Elaine before heading back home after our two week sojourn.