Oberstdorf and more, 1 June 2022

We decided to have a boat trip on the Königssee this morning, although we were slightly worried about queues and how long we would have to wait if the boats were only every half an hour, but, in fact, they were every few minutes. They had need to be, too, as even though it is mid-week (on the other hand, with public holidays last Thursday and next Monday, I rather think a lot of people are on holiday this week) the boat we got on was very crowded. 

We stayed on it all the way up the lake, to Salet, which is the start of various hiking trails. Part way up, the boat stopped for a few minutes by the "Echo wall", and the MC got out a trumpet - each phrase he blew was answered by its echo! I had never really believed in that sort of echo, although it features in many books, and was amazed! 

The Swan Whisperer wanted to go up to another lake only 15 minutes walk away, so I sat in the shade and read while he did that, and then we got the next boat back to St Bartolomä, which is a very beautiful church, a couple of restaurants and not much else!

We would have liked to have eaten there, but it was still too early for lunch, so we got on the next boat back to Königssee. This took a long time to leave, and was very full by the time it did, so it was well past 13:00 when we arrived back. We lunched at the local Bierkeller - the SW had currywurst and chips and I had Munchner Weisswurst, which came with a ginormous pretzel that I couldn't finish. 

We bought a scoop of ice cream each in a local gelateria - strawberry for me and some kind of cookies for him - and ate them walking back to the van.

The SW decided we should come back to Salzburg for the night, largely, I think, so we could buy diesel at Austrian, rather than German, prices, and right by the border, the prices were a great deal cheaper than in town. We did stop at a shopping centre in Berchtesgaden, where I visited Lidl, ReWe and DM! And then on to Salzburg and a rather slow journey through the city in the rush hour, to the aire here, which is rather nicer than most city aires, having loos and showers and extremely good services. It is not cheap, but you can stay until 17:00 for an extra €5, rather than having to check out at noon. We haven't quite decided whether to spend two nights here or not.... We shall see. 

Oberstdorf and more, 31 May 2022

Yesterday started off badly but ended well; today was the other way around. 

The Swan Whisperer said he was going for a run this morning, but somehow he didn't go and didn't go and didn't go, and it was 09:00 before he finally went, saying he would be about 45 minutes. Well, I was hungry by then, and decided that I wasn't going to hang around for him, so quickly dressed and ate my own breakfast and then headed out for the boat pier once again. This time I knew what time it was due to leave, and knew that I had to hurry, but got to the pier just as the boat came into view and a couple of minutes before it actually stopped! 

It was a lovely run, first to Seespitz and then to Pertisau; it took about 25 minutes, I think, but I still had over half an hour in Pertisau before I had to get the bus back.

I went to the Steinol shop and bought some shower gel, shampoo and conditioner, which was my main reason for going there, and then pottered around the do-the-tourist shops, being very tempted by a handbag, but decided the quality wasn't good enough for the price they were asking. 

The bus back was one of the random buses that go up to Achenkirch and beyond without you having to change in Maurach. Whichever bus you catch goes all round Pertisau, so you get to see a lot of the town.

It stopped for several minutes by the Karwendelbahn (I think the driver went to spend a penny) and then again in Maurach where he got out and proceeded to have either a friendly gossip or a raging argument (difficult to tell from the body language) with the driver of the bus going in the opposite direction! So I was slightly later back to the campsite than I'd planned, expecting to find that the SW had packed up and used the services so we would be ready to go. Only he hadn't, and we had to hurry to do all that and get away before we would owe another day's fees! 

We decided to drive through Austria, but not on the motorways, and it was a lovely drive. But when we got to Bad Reichenhall, it all went pear-shaped. 

I had booked us 3 nights in the campsite - you can do that on the website - and the idea is that you collect a key from the spa which opens the barrier for your reserved place. You also have to pay for parking in the normal way. Well, all well and good, but they do not police it or check that people put the barriers back when they leave, so someone had parked in our space. We parked in someone else's space to go and report to the spa, but they basically said nothing they could do.... Wouldn't you have thought they would have arranged things better? 

So we gave them their key back, and drove down to a car park on the Königsee, which looks as though it will have some lovely things to do in the morning, including a possible boat trip. All the same, I was really looking forward to a couple of days in Bad Reichenhall, and am bitterly disappointed! 

Oberstdorf and more, 30 May 2022

It all went a bit pear-shaped this morning. The Swan Whisperer decided to catch the bus to Achenkirch and walk down to Pertisau via Gaisalm and the dripping rock, and we agreed that I should join him in Pertisau in time for lunch. 

I discovered that there was a steamer at just the perfect time, and what better way to cross the Achensee than on one of the traditional ships? But, sadly, I misread the timetable - quite my own fault - and arrived at the pier just as the boat pulled away! Bother!

The alternative was to catch the bus but, try as I might, I couldn't find the way up to the bus stop, which was on the main road, and the bus went roaring past before I could get there! Expletives rather worse than bother! 

The buses are only one an hour, and although their core routes are the same, some go on to Pertisau, others stop in Maurach, and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason which does what. If you do have to change in Maurach, the connections wait for each other. 

So I rang the Swan Whisperer, and we agreed to meet in Maurach an hour later and have lunch there. Which we duly did. We then decided to catch the bus down to Jenbach, which would have been simply glorious had it not been raining, but as it was the scenery was still magnificent. We didn't have long there - just time for a quick look round the station,

wishing the Achenseebahn was running (only at weekends for a bit), and then got the bus - and, of course, this one had to be going to Pertisau, didn't it? There was another English family on it, I wondered if they were fans, but didn't like to ask. 

Anyway, our plan was to get off at Eben and visit the church and the museum of St Notburga, the local saint. I gather she was basically a farm labourer, but her cult seems to have grown among the locals and various miracles have been attached to her. The church is very ornate, but rather lovely, even if it does display her dressed-up skeleton above the altar! 

Then we came away and got the bus up to Maurach. It was late, but the connection towards Achenkirch had waited for it, so we caught it back to the campsite. Of course, the sun came out, so after a cup of tea and a nap, the SW went for a short walk along the lakeside - similar, I think, to the one I had enjoyed this morning. I just dozed and read and read and dozed....

There are more photos on Facebook. 

Oberstdorf and more, 29 May 2022

I was very, very tired this morning, although I had slept fairly well. So I slept through most of today's drive - a pity, because it was a scenic one - only rousing briefly to have lunch somewhere - I have no idea where - and then coming awake properly when we drove into a terrific rainstorm. 

After that, it was not long before we arrived at our campsite,

where we were warmly welcomed. It didn't take us long to settle in, and we had a cup of tea before the Swan Whisperer went off for a walk. With the terrifying unpredictability of the weather in the mountains, he had only gone about half an hour when it started pouring with rain and visibility decreased to almost zero. The poor man was soaked and, to add insult to injury, the sun came out again once he got back to the van to change! 

I, meanwhile, had got much wetter in a much happier way, as (new since we were last here, I think) there is a big pool and spa complex a couple of minutes walk away. I didn't fancy the saunas, as they are "textile free" zones, which means you have to be naked, and although I don't particularly mind, one does, in the words of a friend in similar circumstances in the Oberstdorf spa, get bored of counting willies! 

Anyway, the pool section of the complex was lovely. There was a 25m pool for lane swimming if you wanted to do that - I didn't - and a huge "family pool" with an indoor and an outdoor section, jacuzzi seats and one of those "lazy rivers" that whirl you round and round, which I always love. I spent a very happy hour there! Almost as nice as the Rupertustherme I hope to visit in a few days, and certainly a lot cheaper. Talking of which, if I go to the spa again tomorrow, which I probably won't, I must remember to claim a discount with the Achensee card - I I forgot earlier. 

The Swan Whisperer, now dry and safe, walked up to meet me, and now we are having a drink and cooking supper. It is not a warm evening, and there is snow on the more distant mountains. 

Oberstdorf and more, 28 May 2022

I really didn't feel like going to the rink to watch skating this morning, but we had various friends skating who we did want to watch. I really think another year I will give myself permission not to watch but to enjoy the town! 

Anyway, we didn't need to be there until 11:30 this morning, so we tidied up and got things ready to leave, gave back our Kurkarten and got our deposit back. Then we went to the rink and basically sat and chatted with friends, and and watched the people we wanted to see, and not really those we didn't. We grabbed a roll from the café during a resurface, and later I had a banana. 

Once the last person we wanted to see had finished, we gathered our stuff and went back to the motor home. I refilled our drinking water containers while the SW emptied and refilled things. 

On our way out of town we called in at the Edeka to shop; I wish we'd gone to Lidl, as the latter's range was better and cheaper, and one can pay by card! Oh well, we'll know for next time. 

We got away at about 16:30, and had a wonderfully scenic drive over to Neuschwanstein

and Hohenschwangau

castles, which we could see and photograph from a local church

car park. 

The Swan Whisperer said, too late, too late, that we should have found an overnight stop on that more southerly route to the Achensee, rather than north again to Peiting, and I wish he had said that earlier, because when we got to Peiting the place was full. We could have squeezed in, but we decided not to as if people take too much advantage of what is offered, the privileges could be removed. 

Park4Night found this aire, about 4km away, in a town called Schongau, which is very nice and all found except electricity for €8 per night. Also very crowded, but there is room for us! 

Oberstdorf and more, 27 May 2022

The thing about walking up and down to the rink is that it boosts one's step count enormously! I have been >5k every day since we arrived. Frightfully good for me - I wish it were as easy at home!

This morning I ended up having breakfast in my dressing-gown as the hot water doesn't heat up on "mix" - I think  that is just for the heating we have  not needed so far this holiday. And the Swan Whisperer had a cold shower, which I was not about to do! But after breakfast the water was nicely hot and I showered and dressed and then went to Norma for milk and stuff. I do love the way hens in Germany lay white eggs.

Then to the rink for the first few classes of the day, and then there was a gap in what we wanted to watch, so the SW went for a walk and I went back to Norma to get rolls and stuff for lunch.

After lunch we went back to the rink, but then there was another gap and I persuaded the SW that he didn't really want another walk so we went back to the van and both fell sound asleep! I have stayed here ever since, reading and drowsing and wishing I wanted to watch the livestream, but I don't, so...

The Wohnmobilstellplatz is rammed for the long weekend - I hope we can get out tomorrow! 

Oberstdorf and more, 26 May 2022

Today is Ascension Day, and a public holiday here in Germany, so all the shops are shut but the tourist attractions reopened - not only the posh new Nebelhornbahn, but also scooter hire, a road train round the town, a horse and carriage ditto, and the hang-gliders were out in force.

As has often been the case on Thursdays at Oberstdorf, there was nothing we really wanted to watch until the afternoon, so we spent a quiet morning doing various chores around the van. The Swan Whisperer could have gone for a long walk with our friends, but he was tired and I'm really glad he didn't as I met them coming home and they were exhausted!

We went out to lunch in a local restaurant. The food was delicious, but spoilt by too many flies. The waitress stuck a piece of tape on the end of the table which killed them, but we were still swatting them away every other mouthful. I should say this was out of doors - the weather has been lovely today and it was much too nice to sit inside.

So we didn't have pudding there but walked into the town to the ice cream stall which does sell lovely ones. Then we wandered back to the van - I did get the bus one stop but the SW didn't have a mask with him so he walked up to the bus stop and waited for me. We had about 15 minutes to organise ourselves before heading on.

And that's when I discovered that my new-found fitness had abandoned me; either that or they had made the road up to the rink steeper overnight! Had to stop three times to get my breath - very unimpressed. And after watching the Gold IV and Silver III women's artistic, I realised I wasn't going to be able to stay to watch the dances, which was a real bummer as it is my favourite discipline. So I went back to the van, stopping quite legitimately to talk to friends en route, and have been watching the dances on live stream, wishing I wasn't quite so tired and aching. Tea and chocolate has helped, but I think paracetamol will help more! ☕🍫🍵🦋

Oberstdorf and more, 25 May 2022

Still wet when we got up. But the clouds gradually cleared during the day,

and the next two days are supposed to be fine and dry. 

We went to the rink to watch a couple of friends skate, and then there was a gap, so the Swan Whisperer came back to the motor home to use the services and I went for a walk through the tourist section of the town, which I had not yet visited. Nothing much has changed, although they have moved the wool shop, and some of the shops look newer. Still lots of do-the-tourist places, though, and I was tempted by some wooden fridge magnets shaped like skated with Oberstdorf on them. But at €3 a pop, a bit dear for tossies! 

I got to the station in good time to catch the bus back - getting out at the right stop this time - and then the Swan Whisperer came with me to Norma as I wanted him to carry beer back. Of course, we met up with our longest-standing skating friends and spent too long catching up with them and missed the first couple of skaters we wanted to see! Oh well.

I stayed in the rink for the rest of the day - we grabbed a sandwich from the cafe for lunch - although the SW went for another walk. We sat with our friends for the big Bronze Women III class, and then the SW and I went and had dinner in Zorans, above the rink, sitting with yet more old friends, one of whom had skated in that class.

After which, I had had enough and came back to the van to watch the really good skaters on the livestream, but the SW stayed on to watch them live.

The Nebelhornbahn doesn't open until tomorrow, but they have been running empty all week. This morning this car was sitting quite still above the road - I suppose to test breakdown procedures. 

Oberstdorf and more, 24 May 2022

Today was the first day of competition. It is really nice this year because it is so much smaller, and it feels like 20 years ago when we were there - in those days at the Mountain Cup - for the friendship and fun as much as for the skating, if not more so. In recent years, Oberstdorf has become so big you don't really get to see people outside of your own little clique, and watching is a marathon!

The competition didn't start until 10:45, so I made a big vegetable stew which will do us at least twice with various accompaniments - pasta, potatoes, chicken, eggs... When we were ready, we headed on up to the rink. I was delighted to find the way there seems a lot less steep than three years ago, and I didn't need to stop for breath - I must be fitter than I thought!

The rink is the same

except that there are no seats in the little café, and the kiss'n'cry has two hard seats instead of the usual sofa. Some people, but not all, wear masks, but it is not compulsory except on public transport and healthcare. 

I took advantage of a lull to head down to Lidl, which is the same only different to at home. They do fresh milk, unlike in France, and also blood orange juice, which the Norma next door doesn't do. I had just missed a bus coming back so pottered around Woolworths until one was due, but stupidly got off a stop too early.

We were late getting back to the rink after lunch as the SW got a phone call and couldn't get off the line. He is far too polite to hang up on her, which I should have done, with the result that we missed some skaters we should have liked to have seen. Ah well. Stayed at the rink until about 4, but then had suddenly had enough, so came back to the motor home and flaked out with the live stream and some YouTube videos (so jealous of the Daughter, who has already been on the Elizabeth Line, as had another of our friends!). 

Oberstdorf and more, 23 May 2022

Lovely to wake up in Oberstdorf this morning! It was a lovely morning, to, and rapidly became very hot.  After breakfast, M came over with her toothbrush, which had discharged itself, and it has been sitting on my portable charger all day.

Then I went round to Norma, the supermarket next door, to get one or two things, including strawberry cakes for lunch; I forgot to take a picture of them, and at €3.10 each, we aren't going to have them very often this week!  I also forgot to buy rolls, but did get some nice bread.  Bumped into a couple of friends, which was nice. 

After lunch, E came round, and it was lovely to see her.  But the SW and I wanted a walk, so when she had gone, we set off in different directions.  I walked into town, as far as the Bahnhof, and then it began to rain, so I got the Ortsbus back as far as the ice rink and said hello to a few people there, and watched some of the ice dancers practising.  Then the rain was (temporarily) away, so I came back to the motor home,

to be joined by the Swan Whisperer.  It has been raining more or less (but mostly more) heavily ever since, so we spent the rest of the afternoon reading and dozing.  Then I got supper - midweek mushroom pasta - although I found I wasn't very hungry, and now M has just come to collect her toothbrush.  It is still raining!

Oberstdorf and more 2022, 22 May

So when I woke up this morning, I suddenly thought, why don't we get our act together and head on, and then stop at Leonberg where we had planned to spend the night, for Church (on livestream) and lunch, and then head on all the way to Oberstdorf, having another night here. 

So that is what we did. Church was a bust, as we couldn't get the livestream to work properly, but we had a good lunch and then headed on. 

There are road closures on the A8, so the satnav took us on the B28 and B10 to rejoin the A7 at Ulm. We stopped somewhere - a random layby full of lorries that aren't allowed to move on Sundays, but there was room for us, for the SW to have coffee, and then we did not stop again until we got here. 

For obvious reasons, it is three years since we were last here; they have poshed up the "sanitaires" and it looks much grander inside. 

The SW went up to the rink to see who he could see, and I got supper. It is very warm here, and  it is supposed to rain soon, as it so often does in the evenings round here! 

Oberstdorf and more 2022, 21 May

I overslept this morning! I woke, as I usually do, around 07:00, took my tablet (which has to be taken at least 30 minutes before a caffeinated drink) turned off the alarm which had been set for 07:30, did the various Wordle puzzles and started to look through Facebook - and the next thing I knew,  it was 09:00! I consoled myself with the knowledge that it was only 08:00 in the UK and it wouldn't matter if today's meals were on UK time rather than European time! 

As, indeed, they turned out to be. The Swan Whisperer booked himself on a tour of the mine for 11:00 - sooner him than me; I don't think you could pay me enough to go down one of those! This didn't finish until nearly 13:00, and then we needed to use the services before we set off. 

Our first port of call was a supermarket, naturally enough, and I was delighted to score some coloured eggs,

which I didn't think they sold in Belgium. I couldn't, however, find any fresh milk, although I did get some cream. Very strange. Thank goodness the Norma in Oberstdorf usually sells it. 

After lunch we set off to drive to this place, Kirchberg, where the aire is behind a motorhome rental place.  The electricity isn't working, so when the proprietor came home, he kindly brought out a cable for our use. We are right behind a large shopping centre, but it has a glorious view.

It was a pleasant drive, although I dozed most of the way. The roads were extraordinarily quiet by German standards. 

Oberstdorf and more 2022; 20 May

Today was always going to be a long and dreary drive across Belgium, and we were not disappointed! As is so often the case, endless traffic jams, road works, accidents (not, thankfully, involving us) and massive thunderstorms! 

While driving through Flanders, and we noticed endless poppies growing on the central reservation, which was not exactly a field, but... 

And eventually we arrived at Blegny Mines,

which is an excellent aire in the car park of a former mine, now a museum. The SW went for a walk and got wet but I had a nap. I am tired today after the excitements of the past week! Germany tomorrow. 

Oberstdorf and more 2022, 19 May

It is three years since the international Adult competition was last held in Oberstdorf, and it has been much missed. But at last it is happening again, and we are on the way. 

We were up early this morning as, we wanted to be away around 09:00. First thing that happened was a text from my brother to ask whether we were going to want the motor home, as there was scaffolding round its garage and he would need to move a pole. Which he did and the Swan Whisperer was able to get the van out with no difficulty. 

He started to load the car and I rushed out to Lidl as soon as it opened as this week's coupons were great and I wanted to redeem them, and it was about 09:15 when we set off. And promptly had to turn round and go back as I had forgotten to put my teeth in! But we were away properly by 09:30, and arrived in Sussex at about 11:15 in good time to load everything into the van and have most of it put away before lunch, which was a delicious venison cottage pie (ghillie's pie?) made by my mother, with vegetables, a followed by strawberries. 

They were to meet the Archdeacon at church at 14:30 (we went past him in the street) so we set off about 14:10. We stopped at Clackett Lane services, and as the SW felt sleepy, he had a nap and a cup of coffee. Even so, we arrived at the terminal in time to get the shuttle before ours (and incidentally saw that there is a disabled lane in the car section, and which I wish we had seen last time).

There was a Spitfire and a biplane flying around for some reason; I did try to get a photograph, but didn't succeed. All the same, but I do rather like the gull on the lamp post! 

The crossing was uneventful, as was the short drive up here to Beaubourg, where we are spending the night. 

The new Northern Line platforms

 I had a dentist appointment in Clapham at 4:00 pm, so, we thought, when we learnt that the Bank branch of the Northern Line was reopening today, we would be able to go up and have a look at it and then come down to Clapham in time for my appointment.  Of course, they thwarted us by opening the branch the previous evenings, so the likes of IanVisits and Geoff Marshall got there first!  We did quite seriously consider going up as soon as we learnt it was open, but it was getting late and I was still very tired, so we decided to stick to plan A.  

So we walked up to Clapham North and got the Bank branch from there.  We only visited the new platforms, as the new links to the Central Line and the DLR have yet to open, and the final part of the upgrade, the shiny new entrance on Cannon Street, won't open until the winter.  But the major part of the work, the creation of a whole new running tunnel for the Southbound branch, and turning what used to be the Southbound platforms into a large corridor, have now finished.

The new corridor/crush hall, where the old Southbound tunnel was.  The tracks were, I think, on the left, and the platform on the right.

The old and the new - the existing Northbound platforms, and the new connection.

Not everything is open yet, nor will be for some time.

The very large new Southbound platforms, such a pleasure after the ghastly overcrowding that was Bank!

And I got back down to Clapham Common in good time for the dentist!

The Metro Marauder - Farewell to Class 455

 

The Class 455s are reaching the end of their natural lives, having entered service in the early 1980s, and transported commuters with greater or lesser efficiency ever since, under Network SouthEast, Connex, SouthCentral and now Southern.  South Western Railway is keeping them in service for a few more months, but today, being the final day before the summer timetable kicks in, is their last day of service under Southern.  And to celebrate, they organised a rail tour, in conjunction with the Branch Line Society . 

It was not an expensive tour, as these things go, but then, they offered no food, and the 455s really only offer rather upright seats, in a 3+2 configuration, with no amenities such as plug sockets, window blinds (we could have done with them at one stage), air-conditioning or even loos!  They did warn us not to drink too much and to be careful how much fluid we took in!  

The tour left Victoria Station at 09:02; we took care to be there in good time, so we could buy a cup of coffee and, if necessary, get rid of it before we went.  There was a huge queue to get through the gateline, so they basically only checked that we actually had tickets (electronic ones) and came through on the train once we were off to check the tickets and issue wrist bands, programmes for the day and souvenir tickets.

The trip was extremely convoluted, with endless changes of direction.  Here is the plan for the day on the back of the programme: 

We first went south from Victoria to Billingshurst, where we were able to get out and stretch our legs for a few minutes, and then, reversing direction, went up the mid-Sussex line to Three Bridges,

where we reversed direction yet again and went to Hove, and then to Brighton, where we had a long break and the Swan Whisperer and I walked down to look at the sea.

  We did take a bus back - it's uphill, and I'm not very good at hills - and then bought sandwiches to eat on the train which went back to Hove, then back to Brighton - this was because they had to be on a different platform at Brighton to get to what I think is the East Causeway line to Lewes.  At Lewes, we reversed again, and went fast to Charing Cross, where there was another pee-break.  Then it did the oddest wiggle from Charing Cross, back over to Clapham Junction, and then round again to Blackfriars, where we again had a 15-minute break.  I got out of the train, but there were seats on the platform, so it was just nice to sit in the fresh air for a bit.  

From Blackfriars, we went down one line to Sevenoaks, where we reversed again, and then back to Victoria.

There was a raffle in aid of Mind in Croydon, and an auction of collectibles.  The SW and I both bought raffle tickets, and, very extraordinary, we both won.  He won a bottle of Cava - Asda's best, but none the worse for that, but I won the 2nd prize which was an hour's simulator experience to "drive a 2000 tonne freight train hauled by a GTRf class 66 locomotive on GBRf's state of the art class 66 Simulator".  Sounds great - although it took ages for the raffle organiser to get the voucher and then the person he gave it to gave it to the wrong person and had to run after her to apologise!  However, I got it in the end, and no harm done.

We had both had more than enough of trains by the time we got back to Victoria, so we took the bus home, and I am very nearly asleep!  All the same, I'm glad we went.  It wasn't the most comfortable railtour, and very far from the luxurious one we are looking forward to as my birthday treat, but it was a grand day out!  And the raffle prizes were the icing on the cake.

A trip to France

We are staying with my mother for a few days while my sister is away, and, when we were planning our visit, I suggested we went to France for the day. My mother leapt at the idea, and so it was arranged.

We set off at 07:00 as we wanted to take plenty of time on the journey. We tried to stop at Clackett Lane services, but the petrol station, which my sister had said was the easiest place to go to the loo, but this was a bust as it was closed due to occupation by Extinction Rebellion or Insulate Britain, or one of those, so we had to stop at Maidstone Services, instead.  This was irritating because for some reason they don't let you go  back on to the motorway southbound from there, but you have to go back up to J7 and turn round there. Quite why, when there are several hundred meters after the exit before Operation Brock begins and you are directed on to the contraflow. This wasn't too bad, although we were limited to 50 mph for about 11 miles. There were very few lorries in their area then, although it was a lot fuller on the way back.

We got to the terminal in time to get a crossing 30 minutes earlier than booked, but also time to pay a quick visit to the terminal, which I haven't done for ages. Don't usually bother when we are in the motor home, but as the SW wanted coffee and was tempted by a bacon roll, as was I, and I got some orange juice, too, it was a good idea. The crossing was uneventful, although it felt odd to have nothing to do but read (I'd brought my Kindle, but the other two had nothing to read and were bored), as we are used to unpacking or packing or even getting ready for bed during the crossing when we are in the motor home.

In France, we went straight to Cité Europe. As we had my mother with us, we could park in the disabled bays near the entrance, and she and I wandered round Carrefour - she had her walker and I had the trolley. The Swan Whisperer, meanwhile, swept out the car, which he should have done before we left but hadn't, and then he cleverly reprogrammed my car  key fob, which had stopped  working. And went to look at the restaurants to see where we could have lunch. He decreed that we should eat tartes flambées, so we walked the entire length of the shopping centre to get to the restaurant he had chosen.

The tartes were delicious, but very filling, and neither my mother nor I could finish ours, but we scraped off the toppings and ate then - and, of course, we tasted each other's!  Mum had a glass of wine, I had fizzy water (I so wanted beer, but I'm on strong antibiotics and can't) and the SW had Coke.

We had about 45 minutes before we had to head back, so drove into Calais and visited the Burghers,

and then back to the terminal via Coquelles. We discovered that at Calais there is a special disabled lane (if there is one at Folkestone we didn't see it) which meant we got to board first! Sadly, this was not to be for awhile, as there was a disruption of some kind (not unusual) so we were half an hour later than planned.

The drive home was non-stop and uneventful. I think both Mum and I slept most of the way until we came off the motorway!

A long way to go to visit a supermarket, but worth it! A most enjoyable day. 

"Why come ye not to court?"

 You don't go on the river for three years, and then two cruises come along at once!  This one was very different from our afternoon tea cruise.  This one was a short cruise between Kingston and Hampton Court, on board the Yarmouth Belle, which, built in 1892 is the oldest surviving passenger vessel on the Thames.  

We started off, however, by going up to Vauxhall to meet the Boys, and then up to Vauxhall Station, where we had just missed a train to Kingston, but they are every 10-15 minutes, so we didn't have long to wait.  The journey to Kingston takes about 30 minutes; the train said it was going to Strawberry Hill, as, indeed, it was, but it then looped round to come back via Hampton and Richmond, so the destination signs on the train said Waterloo, very confusing!  

The Boys had both said they weren't feeling very well, but soon cheered up at the thought of lunch at Five Guys, a favourite of theirs (and given the amount they ate, there can't be much wrong with either of them).  The Swan Whisperer and I had never been to this particular chain, but our expert grandsons showed us the ropes!  I chose a grilled veggie sandwich with cheese,

and very good it was, too, if rather difficult to eat!  The Boys both had burgers - one with bacon and cheese and the other with just cheese - and the most revolting-looking milkshakes topped with whipped cream, which they seemed to enjoy.  The Swan Whisperer ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with onions, and then we ordered a large chips to share between the four of us, which was just a nice amount.  

When we had finished eating, and topping up our water bottles with the free ice cubes provided, it was time to walk down to the river - not the loveliest walk in the world - and await our ship.  I had booked in advance, but in fact, hadn't really needed to, as there were only two other families on the boat with us.  

It is not a long distance between Kingston and Hampton Court, but long enough to be enjoyable.  The weather was rather irritating, as it was too hot with a coat on and not quite warm enough with it off!  The Boys spent some of their time in the interior, and went down the spiral staircase into the lounge - "Very old-fashioned," they told me.  I didn't go down, it looked rather steep for coming up again.  The Swan Whisperer spent all his time on deck, and I spent most of mine, as there was so much to see, from swans to be whispered at, 

St Raphael's Catholic church

Hampton Court park

and, of course, Hampton Court Palace itself.

"Why come ye not to court? To which court? The King's Court, or Hampton Court?"

The Boys were rather tired - I think they may have overdone it playing football the previous day - and so was I, so we didn't linger; we walked across the bridge to Hampton Court station (thus, for the Boys, and later for the Swan Whisperer, who took them home, meaning that they had gone under the river, on the river and over the river all on the same day!) and so a train to Clapham Junction and back to ours for a most welcome cup of tea.  

There are more photos on Facebook, if you are interested.