Mon - September 13, 2004Monday, September 13, 2004 (Heathrow - England)The night before the trip but has the journey
already began? That strange familiarity of seeing where we will be sleeping
tonight. The ritual unpacking. The importance of all those little things tucked
away inside our packs. The enthusiastic guest-house proprietors.
Posted at 11:20 PM Read More Sun - September 12, 2004Sunday, September 12, 2004 (Shoeburyness, England)Work is finally over and it's amazing how fast it
is fading from memory. Trying to come to terms with the last night in this
house. Taking care of Mum & Dad before we leave. Cleaning out the room and
finding surprises. How to live for a year on just a few kilos. Thinking about
the family.
Posted at 11:52 PM Read More Thu - September 9, 2004Thursday, September 9, 2004 (Train from Shoeburyness to London – late for work - again)Still finding new things to organise. How to get
to the airport. Dare I try to pack everything already? Leaving party at
work.
Posted at 09:37 AM Read More Tue - September 7, 2004Tuesday, September 7, 2004 (Train from Shoeburyness to London – late for work)Another milestone point-of-no-return reached -
starting with the anti-Malaria medication. Preparing our gear and what to take.
Winding down at work. Are we really about to leave already? Are we ready? A
plethora of things to organise.
Posted at 10:10 AM Read More Fri - September 3, 2004Friday, September 3, 2004 (Train from Shoeburyness to London)Pre-departure nerves are really starting to kick
in now. Sandy is back from Holland (with lots of luggage). One last major
obstacle to overcome before setting off. My replacements have arrived at work
and are being trained. Have researched a little more about where we will be
going initially. The pros and cons of planning. Re-arranging the schedule before
we've even departed.
Posted at 05:50 PM Read More Thu - July 29, 2004Thursday, July 29, 2004 (Train from Shoeburyness to London)Just over a month to go before we set off again.
The butterflies are starting to form and we are busy with all the necessary
details. Some thoughts about our previous trip and what we've been up to since
we came back.
Posted at 01:29 PM Read More Thu - September 18, 2003Thursday, September 18, 2003 (Stoke-on-Trent - England)A possible job offer but will I be able to land
it? The long haul home. Our African mail awaits us.
Posted at 01:28 PM Read More Wed - September 17, 2003Wednesday, September 17, 2003 (Glasgow - Scotland)Today is our anniversary (or one of them at
least). Another noon start to the day. Tall ships and museums. BMWs as far as
the eye could see.
Posted at 01:27 PM Read More Tue - September 16, 2003Tuesday, September 16, 2003 (Near Glasgow - Scotland)Lasting effects of the flu. Getting good at
getting lost. Spot the Lego man. The dilemma of where to park in the city is
always there. Why is it always
my
turn to do the laundry?
Posted at 01:26 PM Read More Mon - September 15, 2003Monday, September 15, 2003 (Near Ayr - Scotland)Things are brightening up as Scotland offers
promise. Sandy is one step ahead of me and the Isle of Whithorn will be our
first stop of the day. Lots of little places of interest each way we turn. How
many bookshops can just one town contain? Ancient stone circles. Distracted by
butterflies. Plenty of good parking spots but could we agree on
which?
Posted at 01:26 PM Read More Sun - September 14, 2003Sunday, September 14, 2003 (Near Stranrear - Scotland)With my deteriorating health, will we continue to
enjoy ourselves? The remoteness and isolation of he Scottish coast.
Posted at 01:25 PM Read More Sat - September 13, 2003Saturday, September 13, 2003 (Monkstown – Northern Ireland)The splendour that is the Giant's Causeway was
tempered only slightly by the sticker shock of the parking fee. Driving along
the Northern coast of Northern Ireland, taking in all the sites. Onwards to
Belfast and what must be the smallest campsite on the planet. A summary of our
time on the island of Ireland.
Posted at 01:23 PM Read More Fri - September 12, 2003Friday, September 12, 2003 (Near Giant’s Causeway – Northern Ireland)Not knowing the time is sometimes a good thing
but sometimes a bad thing too. Bloody Sunday and the museum and a dose of
painful history. Comparing the South with the North.
Posted at 01:23 PM Read More Thu - September 11, 2003Thursday, September 11, 2003 (Londonderry – Northern Ireland)How difficult is it to get a new exhaust?
Starting to understand Belfast. Every city has its congestion. The dividing
lines of Derry. Pockets of reception makes TV viewing a little
awkward.
Posted at 01:22 PM Read More Wed - September 10, 2003Wednesday, September 10, 2003 (Belfast – Northern Ireland)Never pass a cow by without whipping out the
camera. Polishing off the Star Trek DVDs. Finding a campsite is nothing compared
to leaving one. Some very fine museums in this land. Still needing some repairs.
A supermarket car park is often the last resort.
Posted at 01:22 PM Read More Tue - September 9, 2003Tuesday, September 9, 2003 (Anahilt – Northern Ireland)An engineer in need is a friend indeed. Crossing
over into the
North. The Legonanny Dolmen prehistoric burial
structure. How long does it take to make your way all the way to here? The
possibility of a film crew following us around the world?
Posted at 01:21 PM Read More Mon - September 8, 2003Monday, September 8, 2003 (Kingscourt - Republic of Ireland)Gas heating warms the cockles. Shall we bus it
into the city or risk taking the
brick?
Trinity College
must
be the first thing on everyone's list of attractions in Dublin. The Book of
Kells brings many visitors and deservedly so. Is our lens wide enough? Scuppered
by Irish holidays. Don't break down on us now!
Posted at 01:21 PM Read More Sun - September 7, 2003Sunday, September 7, 2003 (Near Dublin - Republic of Ireland)Last night's bed was definitely
not
flat. Powerscourt is a grand house with an even grander setting. Driving on
fumes.
Posted at 01:20 PM Read More Sat - September 6, 2003Saturday, September 6, 2003 (Roundwood - Republic of Ireland)Worried about nothing in the end but being locked
in was a strange feeling. An enormous eighteenth century mansion. Never seen a
grain store that looked like this. Never a campsite when you need
one.
Posted at 01:19 PM Read More Fri - September 5, 2003Friday, September 5, 2003 (Celbridge - Republic of Ireland)A long haul but we have to cross the country
sometime. Driving towards better weather. The High Crosses of Ireland. In search
of a prehistoric monument but was it really worth it? We now have Dublin in our
sites. Security can sometimes be a concern.
Posted at 01:19 PM Read More Thu - September 4, 2003Thursday, September 4, 2003 (Athenry - Republic of Ireland)Chased away by the weather. Doesn't take much to
make a village. Onwards through the Burren. In search of a dentist. And finally,
I find my DVDs. Glad this wasn't America.
Posted at 01:18 PM Read More Wed - September 3, 2003Wednesday, September 3, 2003 (Doolin - Ireland)Sharing the same spot. Slowly but steadily North.
The Cliffs of Moher versus the Cliffs of Dover. Will Doolin hold our traditional
music? A service wash was very welcome.
Posted at 01:18 PM Read More Tue - September 2, 2003Tuesday, September 2, 2003 (Bunratty - Republic of Ireland)Nap time before a night of Irish music and
dancing. Where do all those sayings come from?
Posted at 01:17 PM Read More Mon - September 1, 2003Monday, September 1, 2003 (Bunratty - Republic of Ireland)A run in with the police gets your heart pumping.
Perhaps a parking spot farther away from a school would have been a better
choice. Must keep track of the pennies when the beach is so fuel hungry. The
prettiest town in all of Ireland? Great entertainment in the great hall of
Bunratty.
Posted at 01:16 PM Read More Sun - August 31, 2003Sunday, August 31, 2003 (Newcastle West - Republic of Ireland)Pub crawling slows you down. Another second night
in the same place. Still looking for those DVDs. Never too far from another
castle. And where shall we go now? Why pay for a campsite when you can
park
for free?
Posted at 01:16 PM Read More Sat - August 30, 2003Saturday, August 30, 2003 (Cahersiveen - Republic of Ireland)It's OK to stop moving for a while. Breakfast
till noon. Basking seals have got the right idea. Still searching for that
elusive traditional music.
Posted at 01:15 PM Read More Saturday, August 30, 2003 (Cahersiveen - Republic of Ireland)The Ring of Kerry. Brief stops along the way.
Keeping in touch is always fun. A nice little hideaway.
Posted at 01:15 PM Read More Thu - August 28, 2003Thursday, August 28, 2003 (Kenmare - Republic of Ireland)We can't fill
every
day with excitement. The weather and our mood are tightly linked. In search of
traditional music.
Posted at 01:14 PM Read More Wed - August 27, 2003Wednesday, August 27, 2003 (Kinsale - Republic of Ireland)Nothing square about it. Kissing the Blarney
Stone. South towards the coast. Star Trek withdrawal symptoms. As ever, we never
really know what tomorrow brings.
Posted at 01:14 PM Read More Tue - August 26, 2003Tuesday, August 26, 2003 (Cork - Republic of Ireland)There is a reason why it's called the
Emerald
Isle. The fast growing pace of the economy.
Some cities are more equal than others. So much for our
follow the
sun policy. Picking up the routine
again.
Posted at 01:13 PM Read More Mon - August 25, 2003Monday, August 25, 2003 (Cork - Republic of Ireland)Out of sight of civilisation brings a welcome
break. Slowly learning the systems of the
brick.
They also use these in wine bottles.
Posted at 01:13 PM Read More Sun - August 24, 2003Sunday, August 24, 2003 (Cahir - Republic of Ireland)A leisurely start to the day. More castles on the
way keep the journey interesting. How many castles? The Swiss family didn't live
here. A perfect spot for the night.
Posted at 01:12 PM Read More Sat - August 23, 2003Saturday, August 23, 2003 (Kilkenny - Republic of Ireland)So much to do here. And off we go again, in some
direction or other. How many pubs does it take to make an Irish town? The cost
of camping in Ireland. One of the jewels of Irish history. Another toilet to add
to our collection.
Posted at 01:12 PM Read More Fri - August 22, 2003Friday, August 22, 2003 (Enniscorthy – Republic of Ireland)Motoring through the countryside. Arrival in the
Emerald Isle.
Posted at 01:11 PM Read More Wed - August 13, 2003Wednesday, August 13, 2003 (Leigh-on-Sea – Essex/England)History comes to life more than it ever did at
school. Finally, some LPG but at a price. A family visit. Back to the cupboard
under the stairs. And there she is, the very reason why we are
travelling.
Posted at 01:11 PM Read More Sun - August 10, 2003Sunday, August 10, 2003 (Kenilworth – Warwickshire/England)Stumbling into a living history event. The
weather turns but an enjoyable day with lots to see and do nevertheless. LPG
isn't so popular in England but we need to fill the tank anyway. If the campsite
is too expensive, just find somewhere to park.
Posted at 01:10 PM Read More Sat - August 9, 2003Saturday, August 9, 2003 (Near Birmingham – Herefordshire/England)There is just
so
much history in this country. Heading into the Forest of Dean and yet more
historic sites of interest. Some campsites are better value than
others.
Posted at 01:10 PM Read More Fri - August 8, 2003Friday, August 8, 2003 (Ross-on-Wye – Herefordshire/England)More castles springing up in surprising places.
What did the Romans ever do for us? Following the trail of English heritage
sites.
Posted at 01:09 PM Read More Thu - August 7, 2003Thursday, August 7, 2003 (Near Bath – Somerset/England)The familiar sounds of a campsite. Pancakes for
breakfast. Not all henges are made from stone. So many castles but they can be
so difficult to reach with the
brick.
And now for a Bath.
Posted at 01:09 PM Read More Wed - August 6, 2003Wednesday, August 6, 2003 (Orcheston [near Stonehenge] – Wiltshire/England)A nice little diversion. Time to get the other
tires checked out. Onwards to parts unknown in a generally aimless direction.
Those student ID cards are still proving useful. There's something about this
particular henge. Oh how pretty the English countryside be.
Posted at 01:09 PM Read More Mon - August 4, 2003Monday, August 4, 2003 (M3 motorway - England)Still got three tires left. Showing of the
brick.
Visiting various family members across the land. Fun on the beach with the kids.
Now was not the best time to join a road recovery service.
Posted at 01:08 PM Read More Thu - July 31, 2003Thursday, July 31, 2003 (Ferry crossing – Holland ‡ England)Do we belong here? All change in the plans. Time
to explore
home
a bit more. A summary of what has happened since I last wrote this
journal.
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