Day 118 Tuesday 14^th September:

Checked out by 10.00 am. Headed to the city with the first stop being a visited to the Victoria and Albert museum – another quality museum. Spent more time here than planned but worthwhile. Had lunch at Leister Square and then headed back to collect our bags, say good bye to Jim and then headed to Heathrow – in rush hour! Negotiated the tube with large cases – and terminal 3 at Heathrow. Headed back to Oz via Dubai!

Day 117 Monday 13^th September:

Woke before 5.00 am and left for Ely by 5.30am. We made good time through London at this hour of the morning, stopping at lay-by north of Cambridge for breakfast. Another stop at a camp ground to do the final cleaning etc of the van.

Arranged to meet Chris before 11.00 am. Everything satisfactory, the deal was settled and Chris dropped us off at the railway station to return to London.

Arrived back in London by 2.00 pm. Checked in to our accommodation, walked down to the London Museum before meeting Jim  for the evening meal and the musical “Grease”. Lovely evening but very tired – been up since before 5 this morning.

Day 116 Sunday 12^th September:

Woke early, breakfast and then started to pack cases for home! Left for Camden market mid morning, arriving to find crowds and crowds of people! Fascinating – people continually “spewing” from the Underground!

Had lunch beside the canal, looked around before heading out to the Strand and Somerset House and the Courtland gallery, then to Hertford House and the

Wallace Collection – wow! .. one of the best collections around Europe.

Returned to packing and the evening at Baltic Street. Delivered our cases to Cromwell Tower and readied the van for the sale tomorrow. Tired!

Day 115 Saturday 11^th September:

Off to Osterley Park (London) – TT took us in the back driveway much to the surprise of the workers! Breakfast and showered here before visiting the House and property.

After lunch we set TT for Fann St in London – took us through Piccadilly Circus , Shaftsbury Ave and Oxford St.! Parked in Baltic Street . James came around and later we went out for the evening to Brick Lane. Afterwards we walked the City and the Embankment until late in the evening. A drink at “10 Bells” – the Ripper pub. Home by 12.30 am.

Day 114 Friday 10^th September:

Overcast morning but still quite pleasant – temperature expected to get to 21 today. Left for Guilfiord and Woking. After these we headed for Runnymede for lunch and the afternoon. Walked the ground where the nobles forced king John to sign Magna Carta in 1215.

The hill over looking Runnymede is Cooper’s Hill at Englefield Green – we stayed here for the night – great area to stay for a motorhome! (N51 -26 -221 E0 – 34 -167)

Day 113 Thursday 9^th September:

Woke, breakfasted and then to Fran’s for an early morning coffee. Departed for Up-Park for lunch and the afternoon. Near Henley for the evening.

Day 112 Wednesday 8^th September:

Woke early and away before 8.00 am. To Lacock for breakfast and a visit to the Abbey and the delightful village. Raining!

Lovely village with mellow limestone houses lining the streets. Many films and TV series are shot here.

On to Tilshead for lunch, before moving on to Stonehenge. Looked around the stones and then showered etc before Andover to visit Fran – and for the night. Parked at the community Hall at Upper Clapford – the village with thatched rooves where Fran lives. Spent the evening with Fran.

Day 111 Tuesday 7^th September:

Away by 9.20 am – after it rained over night.

Still heading south, stopping at Hailes Abbey, a Cistercian Monastery destroyed during the English Reformation under Henry VIII. Beautiful surrounds in the Cotswold hills. Spent a lot of time touring the site.

Had coffee and continued on through the Cotswold Hills to the Roman Villa at Chedworth. Had lunch and then spent time wandering the old Roman Villa.

Drove to Chippingham for the night. (Park area in the town – locals around to 1.00 am.

Day 110 Monday 6^th September:

Woke to another fine morning at Langar, showered, ate and away by 9.30 am.

Took in some countryside around Nottingham before venturing to Bosworth Historic Centre at Sutton Cheney. The battle of Bosworth is one pof the famous battles in British history. Henry VII defeated Richard III and thus starting the Tudor dynasty. Spent the day here before moving on to Alcester for the evening.

Day 109 Sunday 5^th September:

Langar all day! James did some more jumps today – finishing at around 7.30 pm. He and mark then headed back to London while we spent the night again at Langar.

Day 108 Saturday 4^th September:

Sunny morning at Langar, the British Sky Diving Centre – James, Mark and Stephen arrived from London by

9.00 am. Great to see them. Spent the day learning and watching sky diving. Fascinating!

Fed the lads during the day before going out for a lovely meal in the evening. Jim and Mark kicked on. Jim slept

on the other bed in the van.

Day 107 Friday 3^rd September:

Awake early and found “Coffee Jen” very close by! Moved on by 7.00 am. First stop was at Eyam – for breakfast and a look around this famous old medieval town – famous for the village experience during the great plague.

Drove to the Mill near Hardwick Hall, and later to Hardwick Hall for the rest of the afternoon. Hardwick Hall – why wasn’t there a revolution in England?

Later off to Nottingham and then to Langar fo the night.

Day 106 Thursday 2^nd September:

Woke to a beautiful sunny morning over the Dales. How good is this!

Drove onto Skipton – the colours attacking the senses. Shopped, emailed, phoned and Skype! Explored the place and then moved onto Knightly, and Hebden Bridge for lunch.

On to Gossit for the evening.

Day 105 Wednesday 1^st September:

Showered and away by 9.30 am. Off to the Yorkshire Dales via Sedbergh, Arysgarth and Kidstone. Beautiful Summers day.

Stopped for lunch at Upper Wharfedale near Buckden - such stunning vistas that we decided to stay for the afternoon and evening. Spitfires and modern jets were around all day – 70^th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Day 104 Tuesday 31^st August:

Market day at Wigton! Checked this out before heading further into Cumbria – Cockermouth (where the floods were last year), Keswick, Ambleside, Town Head (very pretty), Windermere, Kendall and Sczergh Castle.

This castle was the home of the Strickland family for over 400 years ( one of them was the governor in Tasmania in the early 1900s). Stayed the night near the castle.

Day 103 Monday 30^th August:

Left Biggars before 9.00 am – Scottish schools started this morning – even though there was a bank holiday! Drove through the beautiful upper Clyde Valley and then made our way to the University town of Dumfries. Visited the national Costume Museum at New Abbey.

Then drove on around the Solway Firth to Ecclefeehan and visited Thomas Carlisle house, on to to Carlisle and Wigton in the Lakes District for the night.

Day 102 Sunday 29^th August:

Breakfast and then to find some wifi, a supermarket – been a few days since taking food on board! A very cold wind was blowing as we followed “Elizabeth Yates” footsteps from Fox Street, South Leith, to Edinburgh and to the Union Canal at Hermiston. Traffic in Edinburgh was horrendous – with road closures etc.

Had lunch by Bridge 12 at Hermiston – 100m from where EY changed the course of her life and then found herself in Oz! A very sad story – to be found elsewhere.

The day brightened as we took a guided tour of the House of Binns, overlooking the Firth of Forth.

Then drove south to Biggars for the night. Sun still shining.

Day 101 Saturday 28^th August:

Off to Edinburgh again – National gallery of Scotland, The Fringe – all great and a very full day. Back to the van by 5.00 pm – very tired.

Day 100 Friday 27^th August:

Some housekeeping early and then off to Edinburgh by 11.00 am. Took in more of the Fringe, checked out the original High Court of Scotland where Elizabeth Yates stood trial. It had previously been the Scottish parliament until the new one was built, visited and Georgian House in the “new city”.

We went to an outstanding performance by a German comedian before heading back to the van.

Day 99 Thursday 26^th August:

To Edinburgh on the No 48 bus. Met Chris and Jill at the Scot Memorial at 10.00 am. C & J took us exploring the Castle, Princess St, and the Golden Mile.

Took in three shows of the Fringe Festival.

Great day – back to 

the van by 8.00 pm.

Day 98 Wednesday 25^th August:

Awoke and away early – by 7.00 am. Drove north to Hadrians Wall – through Durham Dales, Teeside – beautiful vistas over the dales. Visited the wall and then moved on to Wallingham – a beautiful house and garden. Lunch.

Drove on to Rothbury and Craigside House – an awesome setting for a home! An industrialist and shipping magnate from Newcastle built this house in a remote location in Northumberland.

Then on to Edinburgh for the night at the Sheffield Hall Park and Ride.

Day 97 Tuesday 24^th August:

Woke to a beautiful chilly sunny morning. The central heating used for the first time in months – still very effective. On to Lincoln to meet Radek for lunch. Great to catch up again over a lovely lunch.

Later in the day we left on our northward travels, pass Scotch Corner to Summerhouse for the evening. Parked near the community hall.

Day 90 Tuesday 17^th August:

Still raining a little. Did a final shop to rid us of some Euros. Read a little and then caught the evening ferry to Dover. Parked on the Esplanade for the evening. The French allowed us onto the earlier ferry because they had a space – this suited us rather than getting into Dover at midnight.

So ends our European part of our adventure. Feeling a little tired, but looking forward to having a final few great weeks in the UK.

Day 89 Monday 6^th August:

Rained all night .. and and has poured all morning. Finally been able to talk with Maddie .. she’s fine!

Went to view Dunkirk beaches etc but was far too wet and windy to get very close at all ... really bucketing down. Drove to our Aire but it has been reclaimed so we moved onto Calais where we knew we could get a camping spot.

“Cite Europe” proved to be a beaut place to stay, along with other vans.

Day 88 Sunday 15^th August:

Overcast again this morning. Headed for Oostende – the Belgium Surfers! But such a miserable day, we felt sorry for the holidayers. Washing day too. Found a laundrette and then onto Veurne for the evening – lovely spot near the canal, but still raining and windy.

Day 87 Saturday 14^th August:

Left a little late for Bruges, parked near the railway station and caught the bus into the centre – crowds everywhere – a very popular destination and I can see why! Had a very good look around, took the important boat cruise of the canals – one of the best cruises you can take anywhere , climbed the Belfor, and had lunch just off the Market Square. We returned to the van just when the heavens opened up again.

Drove on to Gisten for the evening – lovely spot , but Bruges was great.

Day 86 Friday 13^th August:

Up early (6.10 am) and away to vote – it better be worth it Julia! Into Brussels and parked outside the Australian Embassy by 7.10 am. Had breakfast etc and ready to vote at 9 am. A little disappointed in the Aust Embassy in Brussels – security one sided – handbag placed in a locker outside the office without a key, kept waiting for over 30 minutes, no explanation as to how to access the building, and no up to date info on Aust – just a silly doco on how good the Aussie passport is! Not a welcoming place at all.

Later moved on to Ghent for lunch – still raining – and then to Beernem for the evening. Stayed by the canal and had “Cote de los” at the local “t’boothuis” for dinner, plus a beautiful Belgium beer. Very delightful way to end Friday 13^th!

Day 85 Tuesday 12^th August:

Rained overnight! Very quiet camp area- Stellplatze. Away by 9.30 and off to Aachen. Toured the magnificent Town Hall and St Mary’s Church – all connected to Charlemagne and other German kings. Over thirty of them were crowned here. Very historic and exquisite. The cathedral and Town Hall date back to the 700s. Charlemagne was buried here in 814 AD.

And .. only 10kms from Belgium and their chocolates. We left for Belgium and stopped at Eugin.

Checked the Aust Gov Embassy site in Brussels and found that they were closed on Monday as it is a public holiday in Belgium – needing to vote we decided to change plans and headed for Brussels to vote tomorrow (Friday) reaching there at about 6 pm. Got involved in another traffic snarl, still the rain was pouring down, before arriving at Grimbergen for our overnight stop. Grimbergen was about 14 kms from Brussels .. and they have the most delicious chips!

Day 84 Wednesday 11th August:

Rained over night but the sun is peeking through this morning. The Rhine was still very busy as I guess it has been for the past thousands of years!

Spent the morning in Bacharach -

trying to pay bills, reading email etc. Had lunch ... and still fascinated with the river traffic.

Left for Koblenz and beyond .. ended up in a lovely place, Poffendorf, for the night.