29/07-05/08/2023

A bit of a big drive from Dalbeatie to Bristol, but no traffic issues … yay. Just rain.

Our normal free overnight parking site near the Severn Bridges was inaccessible as the Environmental Agency is building flood defences. Fortunately, we have previously used a 5 pitch very close by. Good for us, but not for the owners, all the campsites are under booked so have space.

I should have cycled to have lunch with Mark in Bristol. Actually, given the rain, I’d downloaded the Uber app! Unfortunately, he was poorly, so we had an easy morning and headed off to near Taunton to meet up with Robyn and Glen … a pretty free parking spot along the Sedgemoor Drain. Robyn’s birthday, so we had cake with candles.

Another big meal the next night. Chez Lin in Exford. Actually, it was extremely boozy too! I reckon I was just keeping Craig, Lin’s son, company. J had the good sense to bail before me …I made it to bed at 2.20. Poor Corrie really wasn’t happy with Evie who is a young and bouncy Cypriot Hound and doesn’t give up.

Leaving Lin and Craig we dropped into one of our houses and collected a few items from the shed. Thence onto Totnes to meet with Brian and Zoa. We always thought Zoa very bouncy. But after Evie, Zoa is positively calm. Brian keeps odd hours and had us walking at 0600hrs. I remember doing something similar last year. I really should have had my ‘I need my beauty sleep’ argument ready.

Our next big meal was with Frances and Edward in the New Forest. And we parked on their drive, which meant we got to use their loo … ours was getting rather full after several nights free camping. Now, we do have a spare cassette, but it’s still in its virgin state, and we’d like to keep it that way. Again, we over ate!

A couple of hours drive and we were back to Chichester. J took the car and the crochet blanket to meet Sinead and baby Kylie for a late lunch. I shopped and took the van to Woodlands Farm. Filled with water and emptied the now full toilet … I don’t usually have to do this job, thank you J! Aged Ps came for an easy supper.

Two of my oldest friends turn middle aged this coming September, so 4 of us lunched on Friday in Teddington. Lots of gossip! Love it!!

Then Saturday was the joint family BBQ and slightly early 21st celebration for my niece Zozo. Rain fortunately meant we stayed indoors so we didn’t have to freeze outside!