Last Day In Great Bedwyn

Took Sammie for our morning walk around the surrounding countryside, it wasn't as hot as yesterday, but still very pleasant.

It is a seriously lovely part of the world, and oh so quiet.



I cut through the graveyard on my circular trip, this old boy stands by his wife's grave virtually all day, he is in the pub every night, he suffers from dementia, they make him buy his beer but they feed him for free every night, they are such nice people in MY local! Every now and again he goes missing but they go out searching for him or the local bill bring him back.

I gave the boat yet another good clean up on the inside, getting it ready for the return of the crew.

I had a breather every now and again to have a look at the lovely view. I also rang the local C&RT man thanking them for allowing me to say on the 48hour mooring for over a week!

NB Uccello pulled up two boats down, I went and had a chat with them.

Then it was off to catch the train to Reading to meet the crew, there is Caxton moored behind the sign.

There's  my girl and her trusty side kick, it was really strange when Bombo and Sammie met up again after over a week apart I thought they would be really happy to see each other, but the just circled each other with disdain.

We were going to back to the boat first, but as we were both a bit hungry and Elaine was gagging for a pint or two we went straight to the pub and had dinner and those couple of pints. The doggies had a chat with the landlords dog.

I shook the landlords hand and thanked him for for....being such a nice chap and talking crap to me over the last week, I really could get used to village life!

So that's it our enforced stay is over so tomorrow we will be up and at it very early to try and get as close to Macclesfield as we can get in as quick as time as possible!  

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside.....

I am still at Great Bedwyn but while Elaine has been away I havn't been sitting here twiddling my thumbs.  I finished off the painting that I wanted to get done, then set about giving the interior a good clean as on Saturday brother, Russ, his wife,Tracy, their daughter, Kimberley and her boyfriend, Chris were going to pay me a visit for a couple of days.

They arrived early in the arvo, so we went for a walk and had a drink at the local, before going out to Dinner on Saturday night at Newbury.

Kim and Chris slept on the boat, whilst Russ and Tracy checked themselves into a local hotel.

Sunday morning we were up at sparrows as we were all going to the seaside ... super :)

Off we went to ...


The weather started off a bit dodgy - it had been pouring with rain in the night and there were still a few showers around as we drove south.  I fed Sammie before we left, which was a mistake as he sometimes gets carsick if he hasn't been in one for a while, which he hasn't.  He puked after about 30 mins, but I had a towel underneath him which caught the lot...it was still fresh!!  I made myself a mental note not to rub myself down with that towel on the beach.

We got a parking spot right next to the beach, which was virtually deserted.

Then the sun came out and the crowds started to arrive.

It was like a meeting of the United Nations on the beach.

We were sat at Durley Chine which wasn't as packed, plus it was the dog friendly bit which made Sammie very happy ...

He started to dig a tunnel back to Oz....

But soon gave up ...

We went for a walk down to the pier and back ...

By now it was getting hot....

Brother Russ went for a swim but the water wasn't warm enough for me to venture in!

It was the most fantastic day, we went for a very late lunch at a pub, then went back to the beach.

I took off for a walk with Sammie and ended up at........

Me and brother Russ having a beer on the beach ...

Strewth, there were a lot of Crocs on the beach!

Whilst we were on the beach we could see some white cliffs in the distance so decided that rather than go straight back to the boat we would go hunting white cliffs!  We took the shortcut across Poole Harbour entrance on the Sandbanks chain ferry.  The tide was fair ripping out, they were mighty strong chains keeping the ferry on track.

I have been to Bournemouth before when I was a young lad, chasing the foreign crumpet that used to board there whilst they were learning English, but I have never been across the ferry to Swanage.  What a lovely part of the world, this is the sort of place we are looking forward to exploring in the motorhome part of the great plan, it was stunning.  Unfortunately we overshot the white cliffs but ended up at another lovely spot, Durlston Country Park.

We walked along a part of the cliff path, there were a few yachts returning from their day of sailing back to Poole Harbour.

The lighthouse looked stunning with the sun setting, it was still lovely and warm.  Are we really in the UK?

 

We returned back to the boat via Corfe Castle, another stunning looking place, but it was getting late so we pushed on.  It was a magic sunset ...

On the way back to the boat, we passed the Great Dorset Steam Fair.  I checked it out on Google today. 200,000 visitors and 20,000 camping, it looked spectacular as we passed it, it was a complete mini town.

Check it out here, so that is another one for next year's diary. It goes on for 5 days!

There is just so much to do and see in this fantastic country, where do you start ... on a canal boat I suppose!

So to today...well its been bloody hot, as I type this drivel at 18,00 its still 26 degs! The pub is calling.

I took Sammie for a walk up to the woods earlier, but it was too hot so we returned to the boat where I did the mundane housework type things.

Pics of the earlier walk ...

The woods that we reached before the midday sun drove us back ...

Great Bedwyn Day 5

Five days in Great Bedwyn  today!  Apart from Paddo, where we stayed for nearly a month on and off, I think this is the longest time in one place.  It's certainly a bit different from Paddo - the only thing in common is the trains that speed through the station are coming or going to Paddo!

I am getting to know a few of the locals, especially the landlord of the Cross Keys and his staff! Sammie is trying to shag every dog in the village, boy or girl, he isn't fussy.

Elaine took Bombo to the vets today to get his teeth cleaned.  Apparently they now put Shane Warne's nashers to shame!

Bombo was still a bit sore and was reluctant to flash his tonight !

Elaine will be back soon so we can plan our future cruising plans or whatever!

So to today's happening on the boat ... not a lot really!  I sanded down the rear deck with wet and dry and got another coat on before anyone came past for a chat, it is now acceptable.  Then it was the hoovering, washing clothes etc, riveting stuff!

I did have a quick chat to a couple of Aussies that cruised past on NB Matilda Blue, they have lived on the boat for seven years, the last five touring Europe.

The boat in front is waiting for his brother to join him - he has just flown in from Mexico Melbourne.  Another boat has pulled up behind flying a Aussie flag off the bow but I have't spoken to them yet. Bloody Aussies everywhere!

Now I am sitting down to a 'spag bol' then it's off to the pub ... as long as I don't act like Sammie I should be OK!

Staining, Painting, Eating Better and Cows!!

Forgot to mention yesterday, that I had a chat with the local C&RT man, explaining to him why I was going to overstay on the 48 hour moorings.  He said it was not a problem and to just update once a week!  Yikes, I don't think it will be that long!  Mind you, it is a lovely village to stay in, and in a very broad-well-meaning-statement (IMHO) the southern villages are a lot nicer than their northern counterparts.

So back to today, it rained a fair bit overnight meaning there would be no painting outside for a while, so what to do?  Go back to bed or stain the vanity top thingy in the bathroom?  The vanity won and it came out looking good!  I have no probs with mechanical things but painting, staining and general DIY aren't my forte, so I was a tad worried!


Pretty good I reckon ...

Now to the painting .... I did get a coat on but by the time I  had sanded back the primer it was getting very warm, and it was probably not the best time to paint!  Then again I thought to myself it will be snowing soon so away I went!  I had to work really quickly as it was drying as soon as it was on the brush, even though I had added some additive to make it flow better.

Then a voice from beside me ... "G'Day mate, Aussie are you?!

I replied, F*^k off Im trying to get this paint on, "Sorry old chap, I can't chat at the mo, give me 30 mins and I am all yours!

So, off they went.

Five mins later ..."Excuse me, could you move up a ring so I can get the bum of my boat on the edge of visitor moorings, the missus has got a gammy leg and can't jump off onto the bank".

"FFS I am trying to paint my kin boat".... "No probs", I replied and duly moved the boat back a ring.

Result ... it isn't the best paint job in the world, but it does look better.

The Aussie couple came back down the towpath and we had a good chat.  They were originally poms and went to Oz in 1981.  ( I went in 1980)   They have been back here for one month plus have another month before they head back downunder, they also had a month in Europe before the UK.  They are loving being here and they said that if wasn't for the fact that they had children and grand children back in Oz they would love to settle in the UK again.

After the painting was finished  I made myself a 'ring stinger' of a Chicken and Mushroom Vindaloo.  Well, I started it off and decided I would finish it when I got back from taking Sammie for a walk to the pub ...

It was a lovely warm evening for a walk ...

So I said to Sammie ... "We have to walk through these cows, be a good boy and don't bark".
I don't trust cows, they are big buggers close up! 

And close up we did get!!

Who are you screwing?

Through the nice graveyard...if there is such a thing ...

Lawn mown today ...

Past Manor Farmhouse ...

And into the Cross keys, but the battery had gone flat so no pics of the pub.

A couple of pints of London Pride and back to the good ship to finish off the curry.

Because I moved the boat I have lost the satellite for the TV!  Never mind, I am chilling out to The Cure, Morrisey, Joy Division et al.

Eating Well!!

I had a chat with Elaine today. She is having a nice time with her Dad.  She has seen the Doc and is also going to the Dentist whilst she is up there, plus take Bombo to the vet to have a look at his teeth!  We give him loads of stuff to try and keep his teeth and gums in good nick, but they are looking a bit manky!  We think that he may be older than we think, which generally happens when you get dogs from the pound ... he was supposed to be only 2 years old when we got him back in 2007 but I suspect he was a lot older.

So they should both come back with a clean bill of health and a much lighter wallet!

Meanwhile on the home front, I took Sammie out for a good early morning walk, then got stuck into freshening up the rear deck.

It took longer than I thought to sand it and prime it with undercoat, it was also pretty hot out in the sun all day.

It's looking a lot better.  Tomorrow I will put on the topcoat, although checking the forecast there may be showers. 

I took Sammie for yet another walk then broke out the emergency rations ... Steak and Ale pie, mushy peas and mash....I only had a couple of Jaffa Cakes and coffee for lunch so I was a bit hungry, OK!

I was going to go to the pub quiz night, I think I may just chill with a glass of red!

I Cant Think of a Title.......

........Which is true, because it was a strange day, I think it is because it has always been me that has taken off on business trips, motorcycle trips with my mates etc, this was different, this was Elaine leaving me, it felt odd....but at least she wasnt going the other side of the planet thank god!

We took the dogs for a good walk to tire them out, especially Bombo, as he was up for a four hour train trip with no breaks, no probs really as they go all night easily..

We walked up the hills surrounding Bedwyn


Absolutely gorgeous countryside, I never knew much about Wiltshire, but it is just so pretty with gorgeous little villages, but no tourists, just the locals.

This tree had fallen recently.....

....but it wasnt a complete tree.....

....it was just a very large branch off a huge tree.

This fox was tied up outside the bakery.

Here is Bedwyn railway station with Caxton in the back ground, good spot eh?

I went on the train with Elaine to Reading where she would catch the X Country train to Macclesfield.

Bombo had a rest before his trip, he loves trains, and would much prefer to be with his mum as he is such a mummy's boy.

Off they go.

Going....

....Gone

I had to wait for 30 mins to catch the train back to Bedwyn, once a board a family of two young girls and their mum sat next to me, they were on their way home to Devizes from Sweden, they had been away from their dog for a couple of weeks, so they fussed little Sammie to death.

Not that he complained.

He is smiling not growling.

I think they might have had a few bob, their dad met them at the station in his Rolls convertible, they introduced me to him as he was educated in Brisbane before going to South Africa.

After all the excitement, I thought we had better pop into the pub for a swift couple before returning to the good ship.

Its very unusual for Sammie to crash, but crash he did on the pub floor.

Got back to the boat to a lovely sunset.

The locals raced up for their supper.

Tomorrow it's repaint the worn out bits on the boat.