After a great night last night catching up with old friends we were a bit slow this morning but managed to scoff breakfast in the hotel, pack up, check out and catch the train back to Peterborough by 10am Then collected the car from the ParkatmyHouse location (fantastic service - ask if you want more info) and headed back to Bampton. Because of Alan's commitment to seeing as much of the UK countryside as possible we came back a different way and it took an hour ...

The "Normanville reunion day". Left Bampton at 6.15am and drove to Peterborough to catch a 9.45am train to Edinburgh in Scotland. Arrived at 1.30pm and checked into the Balmoral Hotel next to the station then headed out for the hop on off bus to get a snapshot view of he city and then a wander down the a Royal Mile. Last time we came here in 1987 we found it dull and dismal but to be fair it was a quick visit during a 3 month motor home holiday. This time we wer...

Walking day today to catch up on the walking we couldn't do because of the weather in Wales. So started with a walk to the Downton Abbey filming sites in Bampton (photo is of building used as hospital) then off from Bampton across fields, bridges, stiles and along paths, through paddocks with cattle and to the Thames. Then along the Thames path to locks and watching longboats on the Thames and using the locks. Eventually got to a pub too late for lunch! So headed...

Checked out this morning and drove to Brecon. On the day boat for 3 hours of zig zagging along the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal but piked out on the lock so instead moored the boat and walked to watch people operate it and the walked across the aqueduct. Stunning scenery along the canal and a peaceful ride at a very slow pace. Would love to come back and hire a long canal boat to stay on for a few days. Excellent lunch at a cafe next to the canal then parted w...

Raining steadily this morning and forecast for most of the day. So we cancelled the canal boat and rebooked for a half day Monday instead. Decided to drive to Merthyr Tydfil to go on a steam train ride on the Brecon Mountain Railroad.Was a short but very scenic trip and we then had our picnic lunch in the car because of the rain. Alan prepared the ploughmans plates in the back seat and we all ate well while the car fogged up like the old days at the drive in the...