Osterley Park and House

Our overnight stop at Englefield Green was very pleasant, even considering that it was in the flight path to Heathrow Airport. The planes cut out at 11 pm and didn't commence again until about 6.30 this morning, and even then they didn't interrupt our sleep very much. 

Later we slipped away and headed for the dreaded M25 and the notorious tragic jams - but this morning it was plain sailing, even on the M4 all was quiet!

Arriving at Osterley Park and House we tried to park in the shade - not a regular requirement this summer! 

The entrance drive to Osterley House. 

A house has been on the site at Osterley since Tudor times. A working farm has also been here since Tudor times, with three working farms currently attached to the property. 

Charolais, part of the working farm. 

The house has been redesigned and virtually rebuilt over the centuries. The building we see today was design and built by the Child's family who were bankers at No 1 Fleet Street. Interesting to note the bank still operates at No 1 Fleet St although it is now owned by THE RBS. During the bombing of London in WWII the whole bank moved to Osterley House. 

Not like many of these old house  the furniture and decorative items are original, making the story of the house very authentic. 

Osterley was basically a show house for entertaining and impressing. The formal entrance oozes money!

Room decorations - nothing was spared. 

Loved this story of the Eating Room - the sideboard has two urns at either side - the urns are lined with lead to hold the ice to cool water, the pedestals under the  urns are designed to hold chambers pot because  dinners would last a long time and there was a need for these throughout the meal!

We took a walk in extensive gardens and park. But as the day was getting very warm we cut this a little short and headed back to the van for a late lunch. 

Late in the afternoon we met up with Maddie and James at Vitale, Zivile, Eis and Gerda's home for a barbecue.  A lovely evening - bed after midnight. 

French in the UK!

Today was about meeting up with an old colleague and very good friends in Sanderstead, South Croydon. 

Norma and Helene outside Noema's home. 

Not to be outdone, Collin and BJ, in a happy mood!

Whenever we head into or towards London, we always plan our route carefully. Today all was going well until we took an early exit from a very busy roundabout and added twenty miles to our journey! 

Eventually we arrived at Norma and Collins house to a very warm welcome. Caught up with all the gossip before heading off to the French restaurant, Chezvous. 

Sample of the mains.

And, a sample of the desserts. 

A very leisurely afternoon chatting, eating and drinking. A lovely restaurant with very good service with a touch of good humour from the maître-de. 

Interestingly, Chezvous is in Warlingham just across the road from the White Lion, the pub we would always visit when we lived in Purley. 

The White Lion today.

Back to Norma and Colin's before saying our farewells and heading off to the dreaded M25 and our overnight stop in Engelfield Green. 

Leeds Castle

Woke to sunshine streaming in from across the harbour at Dover. What a beautiful morning for this first day back in England. But it didn't last!

On our way to Leeds Castle it started to rain, and here we were,  thinking that we were going to get a day of sunshine at this impressive castle. 

The pictureques setting of the moated Leeds Castle. 

Billed in the UK as one of its best castles, it was advertised in Germany as England's wasserschlösschen! 

There has been a castle here since the 13th century with alterations and additions added over time. This impressive castle is placed in an equally impressive location. 

The connection walkway between the island section and the bulk of the building. 

An aerial view (Leeds Castle Trust Photo). 

The bailey entrance area to the castle. 

The tour of the inside of the castle reflected different periods of the castle's history. 

Some of the interior - the dining room at the bottom. 

The gardens were very extensive - even with a golf course! 

A falconry display was part of the entertainment for the visitor. This was very impressive too, with great commentary. A hedge maze kept people challenged for those with a lot of time on their hands! 

Falconry performance. 

After a very enjoyable day at Leeds Castle we drove onto Sevenoaks and the village of Chipstead where we decided to spend the night.

The attractive Bricklayers Arms in Chipstead. 

More of the Bricklayers Arms. 

Farewell Europe!

Two months on the road across Europe has come to an end. It has all gone so quickly, but with many incredible memories and experiences to look back on. It is a little sad, but at the same time we are looking forward to the next three weeks in Little Britain.

If anything, street flowers sum up an impression of all Europe. 

Poland was our main destination and it was a very good choice. A number of motorhomers we met on the road had a raised eyebrow or two when we said we were traveling for six weeks in Poland. Still a lot of preconceived ideas about the Poles of which none were obvious to us during our travels. 

Memories of Poland. 

Germany is always a pleasure too. So easy for motorhoming, and great villages and cities to visit. And catching with friends always a delight.

Starting to look forward to next year's visit already!

Our last day here has been very leisurely, stocking up on supplies we will need for the rest of our trip - this takes much longer when you go to a super store where the choice is so much greater!

Woke in Bergues this morning - along with about 33 other motorhomers! A few had been added during the night! We stopped to get gas, diesel, booze and food - perhaps in that order of priority!!! This seemed to take most of the day. 

In the large hyper market, a fish display , huge dried legs of pork, sample oysters and brightly coloured loos!

What we were really hanging out for was the purchase of moules (muscles) from the dock in Dunkirk - and as you would have it, they had none for sale today!!! Very disappointed! So had to revert to plan B which was Atlantic Salomon  - not a bad fall back position!

We wandered around the old town of Dunkirk, looked through the Town Hall with its art display - and a lovely young lady acted as a guide for us too. 

An elegant Dunkirk. 

Dunkirk's Église Éloi today, 1916 and 1942. 

Spent the evening enjoying the sunshine across the Dunkirk docks, a short drink and a lovely dinner before heading off to catch the ferry back to Ole Blighty. 

Our final evening by the docks in Dunkirk. A lovely view. 

Interesting to see the new level of security by the French police, army and UK Customs and security at the ferry terminal this evening. They came on board and checked every cupboard and closet including shower and toilet - we even had to get our bed down to be checked. Certainly no photos allowed! But we did get a smile from a very serious outfit. 

Bording the ferry earlier this evening. 

Arrived in Dover just after 11 pm and at our overnight by 11.20pm. All safe and sound in Old Blighty. 

A Three-Country Day

Another long drive today - but had realised that this was going to be on the cards. Aachen to Lillee was the original plan but decided mid-trip to finish in Bergues, a little short of Dunkirk. 

A day on the road - the clouds clearing a little as we entered France. 

A perfect day for traveling west - overcast, cool and without rain! Not what the Europeans were hoping for their summer, though!

Passed through Belgium where summer harvest was in full flight - wheat, hay, potatoes and many other crops were in the harvester's hand. 

Wheat crop already harvested. 

Passing Liege airport and what is dominating the buildings - the Aussie TNT transport company ( if it hasn't already been sold-off!).  

Another cash crop for the Belgium farmers along the motorway - advertising revenue! 

It was a hassle-free trip through Lille  - thought that we could have run into a traffic jam, but just some roadworks along the way. Also, we wondered about the entry into France as to whether some sort of security check may have been in place - but no, not any officialdom to be seen! I wonder if that will be the case at the seaport tomorrow night?

Arrived in Bergues late in the afternoon, beaten to the aire de camping by 25 other motorhomers  - mostly French. Time to have a drink, some dinner and a walk before calling it a day. 

Hilton arriving outside the ramparts of Bergues. 

We hardly saw another motorhome in Poland but here in Bergues, France - a different story!

The Rhine

A delightful day by the Rhine. A leisurely drive this morning from Leichlingen to Monheim au Rhine where we met Dirk and Brigitte. 

View over the Rhine this morning. 

We could not have asked for a better day, bright sunshine with a very cooling breeze from the mighty Rhine. 

The Rhine's embankment, a very popular recreational area. 

Butch loved the freedom of the river bank. 

Took a short walk before lunch, had an enjoyable lunch in the van before taking a longer walk along the Rhine later in the afternoon. A very enjoyable lunch and walk with very pleasant friends. 

A gentle stroll along the Rhine. 

Still a working river even on a Sunday. 

Dirk and Brigitte were off home to Frankfurt while we had a quite a few kms to travel to get near the Belgium-German border. 

Waving goodbye!

A very lovely way to spend a Sunday!

A looming site whilst traveling to Aachen late this afternoon. 

North Rhineland

Traveled towards the Rhine today. This North Rhineland region had been settled long before the Romans brought their version of civilisation in the 1st and 2nd century. 

Still many forested areas throughout the North Rhineland region. 

With a reputation for being a heavily industrial area, there are now great strides being made to revitalise the area into a vital cultural centre. 

Being the most heavily populated region it has a very rural presence once away from the large centres. The drive into the area today, given that it was on an autobahn, presented a very green and rural picture. 

A cut flower farm. 

We settled on the village of Liechlingen - just north of Cologne for our afternoon and overnight.   

Many interesting houses with walls and rooves clad solely in slate. 

More slate being used as a cladding product. 

Paderborn to Arnsberg

We are overnighting on the banks on the Ruhr River in Arnsberg. For those who can remember the Dam Busters movie, Arnsberg was one of the communities in the Ruhr Valley that was decimated/flooded with the destruction of the Möhnesee Dam in 1943. Hope it holds tight tonight!

Arnsberg - a very pictureque old town. 

After a very quite night in Paderborn we set out for the town of Lippstadt. Another town that has been rebuilt after the battles here in 1945, resulting in a very orderly town with many building renovated in their original style. 

Lippstadt with many renovated/reconstructed buildings. 

After wandering a while and doing a little shopping we decided that Arnsberg would be our next stopping point, and our overnight. The drive was very scenic with the crossing of the Möhnesee Reservoir being most interesting. 

A great expanse of the Möhnesee Reservoir. 

Arnsberg is a delightful town - first mentioned in 789. We took a wander around - it rained again in the process - visiting the ruins of the original castle - another castle destroyed during the Seven Years War back in 1769 - perched above the two valleys of the Ruhr. 

The Hilltop setting for Arnsberg. 

Leading to the castle. 

An old sketch, an earlier photo and today. 

Gateway to the castle. 

Very pleasant castle lawns.