London: The British Museum 30.07.18

Mum and Dad left for Bournemouth. I visited the British Museum. I spent most of my time in the Roman Britain, Sutton Hoo and Parthenon Marble sections. Then I went for a pint in the Museum pub.

Sidcup BBQ 29th July 2018

Fi and Peter hosted a meeting of the clans for a BBQ. The heatwave broke the day before and it was a bit rainy but the food was good and the mood. It was a great meetup! There was music, table football, chess, Fi and I walked the paths of our youth, much feasting, traffic light jelly, Eton mess, delicious cakes by Mum and Sukey. Even Milly the cat enjoyed it.

Bournemouth 27 July 2018

Walked with Mum from Browning Rd to Hengistbury Head Hiker's cafe and on the way back we had a swim though the waves were quite high and the backflow was difficult to stand up to. Mum fell over in the sea, but even so we were proud of ourselves.

Bournemouth 26th July 2018

Walked from Fisherman's Wharf along the seafront to Boscombe beach and then up the zigzag and visited the Russell-Cotes Museum - the house of a Victorian a couple of art collectors and travellers who owned The Royal Bath hotel next door.

London: First cricket match and boating 01.08

We went to watch Jonathan play a district cricket match. I enjoyed watching, chatting, sitting out in the fresh air. Jonathan did a great job.
Later we went boating at Danson Park. We saw herons and rowed around the lake.

London: Tate Modern 31.07

Visited the Tate Modern but forgot phone so no pics. In the evening enjoyed a pub quiz with Fi and John.

Day 4: Ventnor, Bonchurch and the beach

Today was another hot day. We decided to spend it enjoying Ventnor. We walked down one of the footpaths but had to return when it got too steep, and we called in at  the pottery after breakfast though the house number plate wasn't ready. We went for a refreshing swim in the sea and then walked on to Ventnor and hopped on the bus back.
We went for a lovely pot of tea and scones at the Smuggler's Haven and enjoyed the views out over the sea. We saw the steep path down to the beach. Maybe it really had been used by smugglers.
After a siesta we walked to Bonchurch pond and along the seafront to Ventnor where we had cod and chips in the Millbay. We walked back up the steep road towards the Royal Hotel, got stamps and caught the bus again back to the guesthouse.

Day 3: Dinner at The Royal Hotel, Ventnor

We had a reservation for 8.15pm (very Queen Victoria) and by 6.30 we were starving so we ate half our Quarr Abbey cheese to tide us over. We set off at around 7pm so that we had plenty of time to walk to the Hotel and find it in Ventnor. We had a sherry in the bar and then were shown through to our table in the grand dining room. We ordered from the Table d'Hote menu and it was wonderful - each dish was beautifully prepared and presented and was full off flavour and contrasting textures. Mum had the wood pigeon as a starter and I had  the pickled mackerel. We both had the lamb for the main with fantastic vegetables - really intense peas! Then Mum went for the crumble and I had the raspberry and pistachio cake. We then walked home in the moonlight, and had a cup of tea.

Day 3: Quarr Abbey v2

After an early morning swim, and a great breakfast, Mum opened her birthday presents and  then we set off to Quarr Abbey, oasis of quiet and tranquility. We visited the old remains, the modern abbey, teashop, hens and fed the pigs.

Day 2: Osborne House

I had an early morning dip in the pool. After a great English breakfast, Mum and I caught the bus to Newport. We sat on the top deck and had a wonderful view of the sea and countryside. At Newport we caught the bus to Osborne House helped by a nice island couple. We sat next to a group of voluble but very polite Italian teenagers.
At Osborne House we inspected carefully every painting, ornament, piece of furniture and soft furnishing. It was rather crowded but well-managed. The house is a rather intimate glimpse into the family life of Queen Victoria including the royal bath, the nursery with the little table and chairs, the writing desks of Victoria and Albert side by side, as well as showing the grandeur and craftsmanship of the time in the state rooms especially the Durbar Room. We also walked to the Swiss Cottage and the lovely beach where we got the Italians to budge up and make room for us in the alcove that Queen Victoria liked to sit in. We had a lovely ice cream and ate them sitting on wicker chairs on the veranda next to the Royal bathing machine.
Later when we returned and we got off the bus in Ventnor. We walked down to the seafront and spotted people queuing to buy fish and chips at the fish market. We bought some ourselves and a pint each and enjoyed our evening meal outside on a picnic bench overlooking a paddling pool for kids and the sea. Later as we walked back to the guest house, two fishermen pointed out a seal to us in the water.

Day 1: Lymington to Ventnor, Isle of Wight

My first visit to the Isle of Wight. Mum and I are on the ferry at Lymington going across to Yarmouth. The cars loaded onto the ferry and then were winched up to allow more vehicles on below.
We drove to our luxurious guesthouse in Upper Bonchurch. After a nice cup of tea and cake, we walked down to the sea, visited a small pottery workshop, walked along the sea front to Ventnor, saw a cormorant, climbed up the steep roads back to the guesthouse.
In the evening we went for dinner to Bonchurch Inn for a lovely meal. Then we walked back via some wonderful views of the sea. The Isle of Wight is great!

Day 21: Sigueiro to Santiago

Roseanna was determined to walk in to Santiago with us this morning and she managed it. We had a good16km walk - a bit overcast and a brief shower but good walking weather. It was a nice approach through oak forest.
We met one of the pilgrim kids lying on the track with cramps. Her friend had called the carers who came running back to her. I gave her one of my dehydration tablets and we gave her some water.
Santiago is full of arriving pilgrims. I lasted 5 min in the Pilgrim's Office before I left the massive long queue for the Compostela. I had a beer and some delicious Galician cheese instead. I also bumped into Rick and Alexandra.

Now I am in my posh room on Rue de Villar near the cathedral. Quiet, refined, and all mine!

Tomorrow I fly to London. The summer's pilgrimages are over.

Day 20: Bruma to Sigueiro

A lovely walk but was tired by the end as we entered Sigueiro. Roseanna went by bus and saw a doctor in Sigueiro and was waiting for us. She cried as she saw us off in the morning and wished us Buen Camino. 

In the late afternoon we met up with Rick (the American) and Alexandra (the Mexican) in the one cafe bar that was serving food at that time. We had a lot of fun talking to them. It also poured with rain outside. 

Now we are back in our posh albergue with sheets and towels and sachets of shower gel. We are tired but happy. 

Day 19: Invasion of the Dream Snatchers

At the albergue as I sat with Roseanna and Tereza I saw a look of horror appear on their faces as they looked out of the window - from both the Italians and from the American I have been hearing separate tales of woe concerning a children's group travelling the camino - the tales involve noise, water fights, footprints on the toilet seats, sharp words, lack of sleep etc. Guess who got the last beds in our albergue? The Spanish darlings and their carers. Roseanna became particularly animated and began to rave about respect in rapid stacatto and give the new arrivals the Italian version of the stink eye. I said we mustn't let them sleep now in the afternoon so we started a rousing chorus of Yesterday and Yellow Submarine. When the Mexican woman understood our strategy she began to join in by banging two pots together. The children have walked a long way today so my theory is they will sleep like logs later. But I gave Roseanna my spare pair of earplugs in case.

First picture shows the American demonstrating how he was going to shush them. He made one of the carers roar with laughter when she understood.