Category Archives: England

Day 1 – We’re definitely off.

Posted on by

The alarm was set for 5.00 am but it wasn’t needed as we were both awake at 4.30.

First off was coffee, followed by breakfast and then loading the bikes.

The ferry leaves around 8.15 and we have to be at the port by 7.30. Google has told us we have a 25 min cycle ride.  Heading off at 6.00 should be enough time for us hopefully as we won’t be the fastest bikes on the road.

As it was we did arrive in plenty of time arriving at 6.45.

There were a few motorcycles and one other pair of cyclists waiting to board along with a load of frustrated drivers all coped up in their cars.

We pulled away from the dock at 8.15 and gently glided through the harbour passing Brownsea Island, millionaires Row at Sandbanks and finally the chain link ferry at the harbour entrance.

After passing Old Harry with Swanage in the background it was then out to the open sea if the English Channel.

The crossing was very smooth, just a very slight roll that you didn’t even notice. Within no time we were docked and wait to jump ship onto French soil.

Just a quick stop at Frech border and we were on our way riding around the centre of Cherbourg looking for water.

Finally at my wits end I said we would find somewhere if we got away from the centre. True to my word we hadn’t gone 500 mtrs and we found a grocery shop.

Getting out of Cherbourg was a bit of a grind, as it’s all uphill. None too steep if you’re fit, but we’re not quite there yet.

We had a couple of stops for minor adjustments. I had noticed Jo’s fro the wheel had been put in the wrong way round, which I corrected while in Bournemouth, unfortunately I forgot to re-adjust her brakes, so they were rubbing. This most certainly didn’t help with the up hills.

We finally arrived at our camping spot at Camping Minicipal de Clairefontain around 5.00. This is the first time of using our tent a d the pretty pictures showing how to erect it weren’t very helpful.

But in the end we nanaged it, now time to relax in the sun and decide what’s for tea.

A week in Bournemouth

Posted on by

We have a week in Bournemouth to get our bikes ready for our tour.

The day after arriving from NZ we walked to Poole to pick up our bikes from our storage along with anything else we have there that we need.

To our delight we both find a pair of shoes we had forgotten about. On the downside however there is no camping stuff to be found.

We are now realising just how much we haven’t brought with us.

Things that we thought we had left in storage aren’t there.

Jo soon find Amazon Prime has the answer to our prayers and promptly tells us if we order within the next 52mins we can have our items before 10.00 pm today. What a service and also what a dangerous temptation to put at Jo’s disposal.

Flights and things

Posted on by

Usually our trips back to the UK go without any events to talk of, not this one.

It all started off when we arrived at the airport.

Being a little early, and with international flights just starting back up, we arrived to find that the premium check-in desk wasn’t open. Perhaps 6hrs before the flight us perhaps a shade too early.

We were directed to a baggage drop off area.

This was no cause for concern as there was no queues and we promptly served. We provided our passports and Jo was promptly informed that there wasn’t an ESTA on her’s. I’m not sure what happened but I know I submitted the details of both her passports when I applied for the ESTA’s last month.

We presented the AirNZ rep with her NZ passport, luckily this did have an ESTA assigned to it. Phew we can transit via the USA after all. Now we have to work out how to enter and leave the USA and still be able to get into the UK without any problems.

The flight to LA went without any further surprises, the meals as usual were a delight, if a bit fancy. Having said that the breakfast choice was a little disappointing and the scrambled eggs felt gritty so went uneaten.

We landed early in LA and had just over 2 hrs until our 2nd flight. Hopefully this would allow us enough time to get through both immigration and customs.

First stop immigration. The queue wasn’t too bad and we were soon staying in front of a scary immigration officer. Jo presented her NZ passport which cleared ok. We then asked if she could leave using her UK passport as she needed that one at Heathrow.

The officer took both passports and studied them both clearly. Then said “It’s very confusing having two passports you need to get rid of one.” The look of shock on Jo’s face was unbelievable. The officer then looked up with a broad smile on his face and said “Just joking, you’re good to go on either passport”

Next challenge was customs.

At customs along with everyone else we removed our electronics from our bags and deposited them into tray to be scanned. Our bags in another tray and then our shoes, belts before we ourselves went through an xray machine.

On the other side we then collected all our items, except for one. My bum bag was missing. I waited a short time while putting all the items back into my backpack and putting on my shoes. Still no bumbag. Jo went off to find someone.

Finding someone then wasn’t the difficult part, trying to get them to understand English was, that is until Jo remembered that the Americans call them a fanny pack.

Four bags later mine is eventually found. Now it’s off to find our plane for the second half of our trip.

Finding a departure board amongst all the shops was beyond both of us and we had to resort to asking for help only to be show a massive screen high up on the wall.

Number found it was a quick walk to the gate.

Our seats had not been allocated so Jo went to the attendant to arrange them. As she waited in line there was a large notice “We over book our flights”.

On checking our tickets the attendant informed Jo that the flight was full and that hardly anyone ever makes it to this flight from the AirNZ flight we were on.

After checking she found two seats unallocated and gave them to us. A little unfortunate for the other couple that were on our flight but hadn’t made it to the gate in time.

So we were going to be OK getting to the UK after all.

Travel day is here?

Posted on by

Finally travel day is here, we have had our pre-departure covid test and all is OK.

Todo list

The todo list is all clear, so it’s off to the airport we go.

Having rushed around, we’ll rushed may be an overstatement, all the tasks completed it was in the car to the airport.

We didn’t have to worry about parking thanks to the taxi service of sister Jenny.

The long wait to get away continued as we arrived 6 hours early for our flight. Thankfully we have lounge access and luckily we both do not drink as all the alcohol on offer would have been too tempting.

There was a large range of beers, wines and bubbles, but only one tap for water although that one tap served hot, cold and sparkling water.

We heard the call for our flight and realised that the lounge had completely emptied out, we were the only ones left.

So it was rush to the boarding area just to join all the other passengers waiting to board.

Camino de Santiago Day 0

Posted on by

Well after waking at 4.30 this morning in anticipation of our flight. It was a leisurely start, as we had to wait for the children to wake up. Not to say good bye to them but to get our cereal as Ems had hidden the spare box in their bedroom.

Finally leaving at 7.15 to give us time to catch out plane at 14.05

The M25 was unusually kind to us and we arrived at Stansted with plenty of time.

Walk into town.

Posted on by

Along with previous trips there are always the last minute things to get. So today was a walk along the seafront to town for those items.

The sooner we get to leave the sooner we will stop buying just in case things.

The Delays

Posted on by

A great band to hear at an Isle of Wight concert, but not so good when the concern your flight.

After hearing the second call for our flight and it being 30 mins to take off and a 15 minute walk to the gate, we left the comfort of the lounge.

Taking our time we arrived at the gate 10 mins later to find that boarding hadn’t started.

After another 10 mins waiting we were told that take off had been delayed until 22.15, 30 mins late.

Bene’s band could have had another hot chocolate (well that’s another story).

Finally seated in the plane, with our pre-flight glass of bubbles, we were informed that there was a discrepancy in the bag count and the pilot didn’t know how long this latest delay would be.

The final delay was when we landed, our gate wasn’t available and so we had another 15 min delay.

So not all Delays are good.

Now to see what happens on the next leg.

A Trial Walk

Posted on by

Before attempting Snowdon we decided to go for a trial walk.

We stopped at a small empty carpark a few miles from where we had been camping. The walk through a the woods also hid several tunnels, now home to bats, that have an interesting past.

The tunnels were formed by the extraction of the stone which was used in building both in Bath the surrounding area and London. During the war these workings were used as a large underground ammunition store.

We found several entrances during our walk but these were all barred and locked.

The walk was pleasant and an easy stroll and it seemed we were all alone. However on return to the carpark we found that it was full with people waiting to park.

I’m not sure if this 2.5Km walk will prepare us for Snowdon but at least it’s a start.

Just a small matter.

Posted on by

Now we have made the decision to cycle to Dover along the NR2 and then onto Northern England or Europe there are just two small things to do.

1. Pack.

This is not going to be easy, shall we take this or leave it behind?

How much more can we pack into the bags?

That can be loaded onto the rack.

Can I move my bike with all that weight?

2. Tidy our room

WIth all the panniers (6), ruck sacks and a various assortment of bags, clothes here, there and everywhere, tidying the room is not going to be a simple job.

Also being at Emma’s there is always another 3 rooms we can spread into while tidying our room.