After a quiet night we slept till the cows came home. After looking at the Turner Contemporary website we realised we wouldn't be going today as it was closed on Mondays. Our last chance tomorrow.
The sun was shining so we decided to have another day at Birchwood Vale. It was a day of planning. I asked a couple of the online groups I am a member of for a route from Calais to Benicasim and got a couple of very good replies including one from Ian Curtis who is the author of the searchforsites.co.uk website. We also got a call from our letting agent saying there is a chance we will have somebody moving in next weekend, fingers crossed.
In the afternoon we had a ride into Birchington to do a bit of shopping and to check out the Railway Station as we intend to leave our bikes there on Wednesday when we go to London. Today was the first day I put my gloves on for cycling and I'm glad I did, I was nice and cozy.
A night in front of the fire with a fish pie and a couple of glasses of the red stuff and a little bit of TV, tickety boo.
11 October 2016
After a rainy night we woke to a sunny morning. We were still of the mind that we need to move to a warmer climate. Only a week before we catch the ferry to Calais and start to gradually head south.
We made for Margate and managed to get a parking spot about 5 minutes walk from The Turner Contemporary. There was more than 100 of Turner's on what turned out to be a brilliant display. The place was heaving as the entrance was free. We only had an hours parking and made full use of our time.
The next stop was a shopping complex. Whilst Val spent a couple of hours looking for a bargain, I switched the gas on in the van and cooked lunch. She was gone that long I even had time to finish my book.
We then headed for Hawk Place campsite on Plumb Pudding Island, where we are spending the night and storing the van for a few days whilst we are in London.
Hawk Place CCC CS: 51°22′33" - N 01°15′54″E
Val had cooked a delicious Ham joint this morning which we had this evening and I had a couple of nips of Glen Morangie, the sweetest whisky I've ever tasted. I watched the England game which was frenetic and enjoyable. Quick flowing football littered with mistakes on both sides. It could have gone either way and in the end a draw was a fair result. Val made use of Zendogs Mifi. She was on the net for a good couple of hours and didn't seem to use that much data if the Three website is accurate. Then we got the bed set up and settled down with a book. In no time at all we were ready to push out some zzzzz's. Happy campers.
12 October 2016
We were up with the alarm at 08:00 and on our toes packing for our trip and preparing the van so that when we get back we can just drive away and head to Dover where we intend to spend the night before our ferry to Calais. There seems to be some trouble there at the moment with The Jungle Camp about to be dismantled. Let's hope things have settled down by next Tuesday.
We cycled up to Birchington on Sea station in a break between the showers and arrived in plenty of time for our train to London. Our only concern about leaving the van was that the ground becomes too wet and we have to be towed off the site. We are on a working farm so that shouldn't be a problem if the need arises.
We arrived in Crouch End via tube from Victoria to Highgate and a 20 minute walk. We had a couple of hours before Madeleine needed picking up fro nursery. I took advantage of the spare time to collect my prescription that had been sent from my local Doctor's, magic.
After collecting Madeleine we picked up the boys from school. You forget how much energy is needed to cope with the three of them when you haven't seen them for a while, especially when their excited. The evening went by in a flash as we had dinner time, bath time and play time. They were all in bed by 7:30 giving us time to unwind and spend some time with Solene.
13, 14, 15, 16 October 2016
We spent the next four days looking after the grand kids. It's less than a month since we last saw them but they are growing and developing fast. The time went by in a flash as we took them to school and nursery and to after school activities. We played games and read stories and did all the things that grandparents get to do.
At the weekend there was a party for Louis and on Saturday I got to take Theodore to the Emirates to watch Arsenal play Swansea City.
A great few days and we also got to sleep in a real bed. Happy campers.
No comments:
Post a Comment