We are now safely ensconced in Brian and Sylvia’s house in Holbury, as they visit our parents in Calgary ironically enough, and we thought that we’d share our most recent news with you while we have the chance.
We left Colin and Hayley’s in high spirits, glad of our rest and eager to ride forth on our bikes once more. A mile later we were less excited and already moaning for the comforts of Rolls Mills farmhouse. That day I’m afraid we both earned the title of Fearful Voyager. The first day back on the seat of a bike was more painful than the day we left Audrey and Den’s; Colin and Hayley had let us relax too much (yes, that’s it, its their fault) so we had lost whatever biking edge we had developed.
We stopped that first day at a place known as the Badbury Rings, more from exhaustion than any real desire to explore. But it turned out to be a fortuitous stop. The Rings were the defensive fortifications of an ancient town that sat at the cross roads of four major Roman roads. Most intriguingly, for the Fearful Voyager at least, was the fact that the Rings were a candidate for Mount Badon, the place were King Arthur defeated the invading Saxons and united England for a time. Since the Rings could hardly be classified as a mountain the association is unlikely, but it was neat none the less.
We carried on from there to the town of Wimborne, where we found a small, out of the way campground that had, wonder of wonders, a swimming pool. We immediately determined to stay an extra day in the place, our sore bottoms playing only a small role in our decision.
The next day the Fearful Voyager magically transmogrified into Dr. Colin Orman, while Heather, the Brave Traveller, became Mrs. Hayley Orman. Using our new alias’ we gained entry to the National Trust Property of Kingston Lacy, a manor house that would be a little beyond the price range of all our friends…combined I’m afraid.
We toured the inside of the magnificently decorated building, The Fearful Voyager being a bit snobby about the paintings of Greek legends and the Brave Traveller gasping loudly at the paintings she recognised from her years of attentive study. Unfortunately the Velasquez was a copy but the Titian and the Van Dyck were genuine (Don’t worry if that is meaningless to you, it was to me). The Fearful Voyager also found the fact that the dinning room was adorned with paintings all depicting famous cases of sexual assault somewhat suspicious, but who can understand the super rich?
That night we retired to our campground and the pools. Ah yes the pool, how we longed to bath our sore muscles in relaxing warm waters. Warm…like Canadian winters perhaps. The Brave Traveller well earned her title this day by plunging head first into the subzero waters and paddling about like a contented polar bear. The Fearful Voyager earned his title as well, taking a good three quarters of an hour to get into the water up to his knees! What an insane wife the poor Fearful Voyager has!
From Wimborne we biked a long trip through some really twisted, not mentally, roads along the British coast and entered the New Forest, new as in 900 years old. Heather was delighted by the heather and Brendan was …nope shouldn’t say that! The heather was a purple carpet coating everything except the New Forest ponies, and sometimes even them.
After passing Bealieu Heath, possibly the windiest place on earth, we stopped in the small town of Bealieu, near to the birthplace of the Fearful Voyagers grandmother. Here we called Kerry and Simon Topp, who lived nearby in Holbury, to arrange a time to meet them…no answer. We called again…no answer. One ice cream cone later we braved the open heath land of the New Forest once more and pedalled to Holbury where at the first phone we called again, only to have their son, Josh, step of their house and wave us over. Kerry and Simon quickly escorted us to their parents house, hand over nose, so that we could shower, and then proceeded to stuff us with food.
The next day, or soon thereafter (days kind of blur for us) we were taken to Portchester Castle, to see our very first medieval tournament. Heather was enthralled by the archery and falconry displays, while I enjoyed watching idiots on horseback run at each other with long pieces of wood and expect to survive. Our guy won, even if we were only cheering for him because we happened to be standing by his tent, but hey, take your wins were you can. Kerry and Simon became the Bravest Travellers ever by purchasing their three children wooden swords and bows! We took a side trip to Portsmouth Ferry terminal where we were told a trip to Spain would cost around £250, only five times the expected price! After leaving and reading the companies brochure we discovered the price to be £44 so now we must work that out, but it gives us the opportunity to stay for Sam Middleditch’s birthday party, next Saturday.
The next day Heather and I took advantage of significantly lightened bikes (dropping our panniers off at Brian and Syl’s) and biked down to Lepe Beach. For those who are not British I should clarify that anything called a beach in England might qualify as a gravel road at home. The Brave Traveller was delighted to see her tree still standing, the one in the picture titled "Roots" for art enthusiasts and proud print owners.
Today we are being hosted by the Middleditches (I remind Nick that all names are spelt phonetically!), Nick and Maxine, who have kindly excused my eccentricity as I got over to their house and disappeared from sight into the computer room.. I’m not a recluse, really. Maxine, the decorator of our cake by the way, has promised to show me to a photo developer so I can send pictures home (I’m getting pretty anxious to see my fingerprints enlarged fifty times). We have also been promised a visit to the local candy store. I think Nick and Colin have an arrangement on the side. Nick rots our teeth and they split Colin’s dentist fee!
Next on our agenda is Spain, with a week or two rest and argument with P&O ferries first, but at least the ferry terminal is only a bike ride away. So until the next time I can write, hope everyone is well wherever you happen to be, and we will contact you as soon as we can again.
Love
The Brave Traveller and the Fearful Voyager
P.S. If anyone owns a really big yacht could they please ferry us over to Spain? Or maybe we can hook pontoons to the bikes, hmmm……
P.P.S. If anyone see’s Brian and Sylvia while we have switched places, Nick gently reminds Brian that he was given a single, simple, task to do from Canada
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