Begin Again

Begin Again – May 12 Travel Day 88

Ummm-so umm – here we are – in the ferry queue at Portsmouth.  A beautiful Spring evening, acres of asphalt and a sun setting over the massed ships of the self-styled “Waterside City”. Home of the British Navy.

ON board we go.

 

The ferry was great fun. With Adventure in the air we sailed out of the day and out of the UK. The sun disappearing behind us. I had Breton cider with my dinner. 

Taran was called on stage as Magician’s assistant in the cabaret and 

we all slept well. 

We sailed into St Malo on a beautiful spring morning, a castellated seaside delight.

We walked the ramparts above a glittering sea. And the croissant and coffee, pain and confiture were (bien sur) superior to anything in the UK. Long may we (and they) REMAIN.

 And now here we are in a campsite in The Loire.  A mere 36 hours later.  It is going to be hard to get this blog running again – camping is a busy business and we are all beginners.  We had the pop-top up and down 5 times last night as we kept needing things in the back and you cant put up the pop top and then lift the back tail gate with the bikes on the bike rack.  We will learn.

Jo just made the observation that she can see why it is a popular past time for retired folk as it keeps you very busy.  It is true that off-season there is a lot of grey hair and early nights here. Us too.

I just have to mention even in this rush to catch up:

How beautiful Wales was, flush with blue bells and early spring green foliage and how happy I was to be able to spend some time with Paul.

How pleased Jo was to catch up with all her friends (breakfast party host and everything) and how easy for all of us the transition was back to home life as compared to the struggle to get ourselves in order for a 9 week camping adventure.

What a delight it was to be welcomed back so fulsomely by Oxford.  I revelled in recounting our upcoming plans to the surrounding circle at Lucy and Chris’ post Town and Gown 10 K party.  It was sooo affiriming.  Thank you.

I racked the bikes three times before they cosied up just so with the firewok and Step ladder.  I took a photo so that I could remember how they go (for reference only).

There are a lot of rather awkward peas in our pod.

How extremely hard it was for Taran to get his head around going away again and how brave he was to summon up good spirits at the end of it all.

Taran has decided to pick a bunch of flowers for Jo every day.  We have a place in the van to display them.

This is written in a rush from the car. Because we are driving through chocolate box rural France and I keep missing out on the chocolates.  Oops - there goes another rose and sweet chestnut bedecked Chateau set in an ancient hilltop village romantically perched above a bend in the river. 

Sometimes you just have to put your head down though.

I have always wanted to drive to Istanbul and back.