J and P explore Europe with Reggie: 2023

 New ducklings and swans in the pond near our flat. And at the other end of life P's brother Mike died in a motorcycle accident yesterday. It is never good news when you get a phone call a 5.45 am from the other side of the world and this was the worst possible news and so soon after his dad died. P's dad and brother.

I got to work on Friday to find bon voyage and farewell banner around my desk and at lunch time my workmates surprised me with a farewell lunch and presents. And I will be back in October for more..... Such nice people. It has been an expensive weekend as we but things for the van from gas to an electric bike for me so I can keep up with Perry long legs. I drove the van today along country roads and through towns, it take a bit of getting used to the width and keeping left. The swans at the end of our close have had 6 babies.

We got the train to wales and collected the van and headed off. minimal practice basically a quick trip to the garage for fuel and away we went. After a while is did seem we were going the wrong way for a 39 minute trip up Wales to the campsite I had  chosen for our first night away. Once we got to the bridge to Bristol were were sure the Satnav was going crazy. Turns out on this one clicking motor ways means only use motorways not avoid them . Reset and on our way at right angles to the way we were heading. Found the campsite and set up for the first night. The van is in really good order with new upholstery that we will need to look after... We went for a walk in the sun then sat in the van a read for a while then walked up to the local pub for very average dinner. First night was ok although it is not the king size bed we are used to but we both slept. next morning we had a really nice breakfast t the local cafe ( voted best rural cafe in Wales in 2016) which we were ...

Hi all We are now ready to move. we had planned to settle here and buy a house but have now decided to retire in NZ in a couple of year but before then to do a lot more travel. On our last trip our car blew a head gasket on the autostrada in Italy and we had to scrap it over there, we have had no vehicle for 10 months but really haven't missed it. we commute on the train to work. and take a taxi home from the station if it rains. We have looked at a car staying in hotels, or using our tent or buying a campervan or a motorhome. We looked at every option and went to two camper/motorhome shows. what we  found was that P is too tall to see out the windscreen and too long for the beds...... Until we came across the Hymer, the bed is always made up and drops down from above the drivers seats and the view from the windscreen is panoramic. It looks big but is only 6m long so the same as a long wheel base van and doesn't add extra cost for ferries and the chunnel. It had th...