Not without incident …
We’ve made it to Penkridge (it’s where Bex’s husband comes from and where they married). We’re parked in the same pub carpark we’ve used before, right by the canal. And it’s cost us a couple of drinks. Last night we had a lovely evening with our travelling friends, Hilary and Steven on their beautiful boat. They are away in their narrowboat for an extended time and our paths crossed. I’ve mentioned them before. We met them on our extended European tour in 2014 … us in a camper, them in a caravan. When we bottled it and took the ferry back to Italy from Greece, they took their caravan through Albania. Hats off to them. Anyhow, they now split their time between their house in Hampshire, their lovely boat and taking the caravan to Spain. As such, whenever we meet up with them they are a bit of an inspiration. [Note to self: we’re definitely going to Spain in the Spring.]
Getting here hasn’t been without incident. I hit Doris’s drop-down coach wing mirror as we left Asda having filled up with gas. A small scratch and no damage done. Then, on the way to our first night stop by the Severn (along with Storm Francis, bless him), I ran over a twig which turned out to be a branch. It was soon very clear that we were taking is with us and, on inspection, it had lodged itself in the front fairing, broken through a mesh and was millimetres from the radiator. No harm done – just.
And then yesterday, as we left home again (we’d forgot a couple of things!) and leaving the main roundabout in our town, I had an altercation with an old Landrover Discovery. The man didn’t stop … which was really annoying, so I followed him into the industrial estate and we had a chat. I have to say I was furious. Whilst nothing other than the indicator light was broken, paint had been scraped off and poor old Doris looked a mess. The long and the short of it, the man was old and lovely … and he gave me his details – clearly contrite. The accident wasn’t my fault. There is only a single lane off the roundabout, which looks like two but also includes a bus lane. And he was obviously trying to slip past us at speed. Well, that’ll teach him.
Interestingly, when we got to our current stop I was able to t-cut the damage so it is almost unnoticeable, other than a broken indicator, which I should be able to pick up for just a few quid. It was annoying though, especially as the guy deliberately didn’t stop.
[image error]before
[image error]after
Anyhow … five weeks of editing and writing now. We’re heading to the Peak District tomorrow and then to the Yorkshire coast. We’re going to have to start thinking very clearly about South Korea soon: flights; insurance etc. Going there is not without complication. At the airport the government takes you straight to a government hotel and lock you up for two weeks … for which, you have to pay. You are not allowed to leave your room and your food is brought to you by a guy in a HAZMAT suit. For C and me we could be talking about £2000 for the privilege. It’ll be worth it, though (he says choking on his tea) to be around for the birth of our grandchild.
We’re all good. I’m two-thirds of the way through Of Black Bulls and White Horses and then Sam’s waiting. Hurrah!
[image error]current spot, taken from the canal
