OUR TRIP TO UNITED KINGDOM
OUR TRIP TO UNITED KINGDOM 1995
Kathy & Kevin Bolton
Marg & Buddy Kennedy
Kevin’s Diary
Diary of our Trip to United Kingdom 1995
Sunday 24th Sept. Left Melbourne Airport a trifle late. Actual take off 3.00pm on Malaysian Airlines.
Ten minutes after take off Hostess gave us a hot towel to wash our hands prior to a meal. Shrimp cocktail, mixed salad, chicken Kashmiri ( oven baked chicken leg stuffed with sun dried fruits, curry sauce, birijoani sauce, rice and mixed curried vegetables; cheese crackers, chocolate cake, soft roll & butter & coffee/tea. Watched a film with ear phones; very good. News, about 8 cartoons and 2 Mr. Bean films; quite hilarious. A fair bit of turbulence but a fascinating view of Central Australia. Roughly Melb - Canberra - Broome. Read all the reports of Carlton’s big win over North. Coming in to Kuala Lumpur was quite a Kaleidoscope of colors sea, land, sky etc. Tremendous views. A three hour wait which was spent walking around the Duty Free shops but all we bought was lollies and a cup of coffee. Supposed to leave Kuala Lumpur 1.55 am Melb time. 7000 miles to go. (10 hours 50 minutes) Actually left 2.20am.
Hostess gave us a cool cloth, a menu and peanuts. Had supper 3 AM. Pan-fried fillet of local fish, spuds, broccoli & baby carrots. Coconut pudding, wholemeal roll & butter, Coffee/tea and orange juice. Took a sleeping tablet but it didn’t do much good so I had another and woke at 7.30 and listened to music on the earphones until 11.30 at which time breakfast appeared. Menu was orange juice, fruit salad, omelet, sausage, sautéed spuds & vegetables; Roll or croissant, coffee/ tea. E.T.A. is 1.30 am Melbourne time. Still pitch black outside.
Put on our blow-up neck cushions which are very helpful. It is now 12.30 Melbourne time and we have just been given a hot cloth and a glass of orange or pineapple juice. Noticed sunrise at 5.23 London time. Streaks of gold around the clouds; a magnificent sight, then a ribbon of blue and green between 2 different shades of red and behind us as far as I could see were striations of what resembled molten lava. It is now 2.30 Melb time so E.T.A. was way out. Previous figures must have been misconstrued. (12 hours actual travel time)
Monday 25th Sept. Time of arrival in London should be 6.05 am. London time. On our side of the plane the sight is fantastic. Horizon is black, then strips of red, pink, pale pink, pale green, dark green merging into light blue and then dark blue. A few minutes later the sky appears darker because of heavy cloud; probably a typical London fog below. Can now see pockets of fairy lights in the distance.
Touchdown 6.25 am London time
3.30 Melbourne time
Coming in to land here was one of the prettiest sights I’ve seen.
After waiting in a queue for quite some time we boarded a bus for the Hotel Elizabetta where we booked in and then went to Harrods to shop. Bud bought an English Road Atlas. Went to a sandwich shop for lunch after which we went to Buckingham Palace; all via the underground which is fantastic. Tired but happy we are back at the Hotel. (2.45pm) Stayed in our rooms while the girls went to a laundry and a few shops to look. Toasted sandwiches for tea and to bed at 7.00pm.
Tuesday 26th Sept. (I think.) Woke at approx. 7am A continental breakfast; coffee/tea, 2 rolls/croissants with jam and orange juice, then down to the tube station Gloucester Road (about half a mile) and on to the Tower of London which we all thought was fantastic. Had lunch at a little place under the Tower Bridge after which we went to St. Paul’s Cathedral. I have never seen anything like it. Back to the Hotel and out for tea to Garfunkels (very nice). All told it was a very tiring day; we must have walked up and down 500 or so steps. Tired but happy it is bedtime. Prior to this we rang Marty at 5.25 Melb. Time.
Parliament & Westminster
Wednesday 27th Sept. Had breakfast ready to leave at 9am to go to Westminster Abbey and the Changing of the Guard. Walked to Gloucester St. Tube Station to go to Westminster Abbey and the gardens where we saw a squirrel close up (almost tame) The Abbey is absolutely beautiful and also huge. Walked around the altars, pillars, pulpits etc. for about an hour. Statues and stained glass windows are lovely. Restorations and upkeep cost £4,000,000 per year. From there we went to Buckingham Palace to view the Changing of the Guard. It was a long wait but well worth while to get a position near the fence for better viewing. Precision marching, dress and color all fantastic. Then onto the shops via many stairs and had lunch in a large toy emporium cafeteria. Girls did more shopping with us trailing along behind. Kathie bought a blouse and a few oddments for the kids and a pair of jeans for me. Then back to the Hotel via ubiquitous stairs. It is approx. 4pm and I am sitting on the bed. Went to the laundry with Kathie and Fred and his wife from St. Peter Julians walked past. They had been here for one day. What a small world. Later we had a fish and chip tea and bed at 8 pm.Thursday 28th Sept. 8 am. After a good night’s sleep ready to go to breakfast and then on to Madame Tussauds which was very good. Included in this was a little train ride (taxi cabs) called the Spirit of London; a sort of flashback through historical events. Well worth viewing. After lunch onto the Globe Theatre (Shakespearean) which is being rebuilt as it was 400 years ago. Early to bed.
Friday 29th Sept. Arose at 5 am to ensure we were on time for the bus for the Trafalgar European Tour. We had to get 2 taxis. Arrived at 6.30 am. and left on A Glimpse of Europe Tour at 10 past 7. The bus trip to Dover was amazingly beautiful and green. Left England on the Ferry at 9.30 to go to Calais. We had a meal on the ferry. Egg & Bacon, sausages, tomato & coffee. Kathie had Egg & bacon, fried bread & tea. Total cost £6.55 ($14 AD)
Eiffel Tower
Arrived at approx. 11am. The French Police (Gendarmes) collected our passports and gave them back about five minutes later. Left for Paris and arrived art the outskirts at 2.50 pm. We travelled through farming areas with small villages quite close together each with a church and all very beautiful. Passed through two toll gates, under a runway of Charles De Gaulle Airport and saw a Paris Bullet train (up to 500km/h) Averages 350 km/h. Coming into Paris is just like most cities, such as through Footscray to Melb.First night in Paris we stayed in the Ibis Hotel 658 (room 58 on 6th floor). We are going out to visit a shopping centre just over the bridge from here. We bought some goods for tea and came back to our room to eat it. Then at 7 pm. On a bus to a river Seine boat tour. It was fantastic as was the bus tour afterwards. Paris has dozens of memorials and to see them lit up from the boat and also by bus is quite good. The Arc de Triumph was great but the best of them all is the Eiffel Tower. Quite an eyeful 950’ of glittering lights and 1000 radio aerials it dominates the landscape for miles around. We are finding the go. go. go. of the tour tiring but the memories are well worth it. There is so much to see it is hard to take it all in. Another observation is the non-stop traffic day and night like the peak period of Melbourne.
Saturday 30th Sept. Left at 8.00 to go to Notre Dame Cathedral which took 200 years to build and no wonder; the detail in it has to be seen to be believed. There must be hundreds of statues, statuettes, gargoyles, pictures and the stained glass windows are sensational. A small garden adjacent to it is also very impressive.
Just an oddity: We saw a fourth floor apartment’s furniture being removed from the outside. A machine something like a mechanical brick carrier (hod) is winched up to the windows which obviously must be fairly large. This allows furniture which will not fit through doors to be removed and also saves a lot of inside downstairs work.
Around Notre Dame all buildings are very old and magnificent and with the Seine on the outskirts make a really great sight. All are pre 1400, many of which are being continually remodeled, renovated and cleaned but are not allowed to be changed. Just went past the Church of St. Genevieve, (Patron Saint of Paris) Luxembourg Gardens, (contains many statues and fountains) left and right banks of Paris and the Latin Quarter, a 16th Century church which was never finished. The church of St. German is over 1000 years old and the Louvre is the largest art museum in the world. Saw another building upon which the White House in America was designed. A hospital built for wounded soldiers was huge. Apparently 1300 could be treated at any one time. Saw Parliament House and the original Thinker. Another church where Napoleon is buried has 24lbs of gold leaf on the steeple. War College; similar to West Point is large and imposing. A 4 B/room Flat in the centre of Paris costs $4,000,000 US. The Champs de Elyses is a rather elaborate St. Kilda Rd. leading to the Shrine. This one leads to an obelisk (War Memorial) and Maxins Restaurant. (very small) Opera House; we did not visit but it looks old and impressive.
It is now 10.30 and we are on our way to Versailles. We have never seen traffic like it; it looks aimless but all seems to get to where the want to go. According to our guide, Francois, the trip should take 35-40 min. (took 1(hrs.) Once again a beautiful day (weather wise). Once we were out of Paris proper the scenery on both sides was similar to driving through a park. Through tunnel, under bridges; all stone; all different and easy on the eye. Saw Church and Statue of Joan of Arc.
Versailles
Versailles: All old buildings (1400 vintage) and magnificent gardens. Have walked around the Palace of Versailles. There are no superlatives to describe it. Even the gardens and fountains are exquisite. Every room we visited was huge and paintings and tapestries adorn the walls and ceilings. So many of the tapestries, sculptures, furniture and objects of art simply have to be seen to be believed. Louis 14th and his Queen’s bedroom are sensational. On the way home there was an anti nuclear demo in the city which caused a long delay. Went to a party and then to bed.Sunday 1st Oct. Left Paris 8.40 am for Lucerne; a 3 hour trip. The countryside is similar to that around Yea in Victoria and a trifle like parts of Tasmania except for an occasional Castle or other quaint building. Stopped at a comfort station 1045 - 11.00 then on to Besancon for another (hour break, then to Basle on the Swiss border and then on to Lucerne. Crossed the Rhine not far from its source and is 1( times as wide as the Yarra. Basle is very large and on the way the scenery has changed slightly from terrific to fantastic. Went through a tunnel, half a mile long straight through a mountain then 2nd and 3rd tunnels,; then a 4th (3.2km long) and a 5th tunnel about the same. Can now see snow covered Alps. Best scenery so far; another tunnel and then more scenery so beautiful it’s just unbelievable.
Booked into our Hotel at 6.30 pm. Will have tea at 7.30. Kathie and Marg now washing clothes. Tea was at 8.30. (later that expected) Sat with a South African couple. Fanie and AnMarie. Bed at 9.30 pm. Hotel Pilatasblick. Accommodation was very good.
Monday 2nd Oct. Went in the bus to Bucherer for shopping. Famous for watches, cuckoo clocks, Swiss knives, diamonds or whatever. We bought nothing but received a free spoon. After lunch went on a cruise on Lake Lucerne. Very beautiful. Then on a cog wheel railway trip which follows a gradient of 48° 7000’ up to Kulm, the peak of Pilatus. Needless to say views all the way up and then at the top are stupendous. From a lookout we were very fortunate to see a girl take off on a hang glider. It was magnificent to watch and very colorful. Then we went on a cable car (40 capacity) to an interim stop. (Scary but views sensational). Then on to another smaller car (like a ski lift) to where the bus awaited us. Definitely the highlight of the tour so far. Walked across a wooden built-in bridge across the lake which contained over 100 paintings; triangular in shape; all very nice. Returned at 4.30 pm. Walked around until tea time and then to bed.
Tuesday 3rd Oct. Once again scenery is fantastic on both sides of the coach. Grass extremely lush; terrain beginning to level out and resembles a patchwork quilt of small blocks interspersed with small houses but very few, if any, fences. The grass is so prolific that they cut 6 or 7 times each season for hay. Farm houses are large; cattle often underneath. Chocolate brown soil and crops being harvested (a bit like maize) and it makes the scenery even more variable and beautiful. Cows are similar to Murray Greys in color but larger. I was sorry for the others on this part of the bus tour, particularly those in the vicinity of the “Trip Horror”! There was the constant buzzing but I could turn my hearing aid off. One other person who had a tranny plugged in was also fortunate. George asked her if she had paid for her seat as she didn’t use it much.
Have just crossed into Germany and now back to Switzerland and on to Schallfhausen to see a waterfall. Small but pretty. 20 past 10. Left to go to Zurich and now passing through more beautiful patchwork quilts of farms, grazing land and grape vines. Terrain more hilly and getting a bit like Emerald, Cockatoo. Stopped over a stream; very reminiscent of Bright; clear water and then into Germany 11 am. Black Forest very like the Black Spur without ferns. Passed Lake Titisee; quite stunning with a pretty little town on one side and forest on the other. Now raining but does not detract from the beauty. Into more mountainous country. Stopped for lunch at Hofgutsternie and saw an exhibition of carving and cuckoo clocks. Very informative. Dozens of clocks carved from wood. Left 1.20 pm. To go to Heidelberg. Through Freiburg and Donaueschinger (population 178,000) and Karlstrue and on to Heidelberg. Arrived at 3.45. Couldn’t see the ruined church which stands on the Neckar River, a tributary of the Rhine. Left at 5.16 to go to our Hotel at Mainz. Hotel Ibis and arrived 6.45 tired but happy. Tea will be 7.30 and bed 8.30.
Black Forest – Cuckoo Clocks
Wednesday 4th Oct. Left a 7.15 to go on a Rhine cruise at 8.15 am. And then on to Cologne and Amsterdam. E.T.A. 4.30 pm. Today is foggy and raining slightly so cannot see very far. Fog now lifting and can see beautiful Churches of Germania and statues. Now into the Rhine River Gorge; many castles. The Rhine here is about ½ mile wide; barges by the dozen and small towns on the side of the hill. Above these are patchwork quilts of small and large vineyards and further between the road and the river are more vineyards. Following the river we see a tremendous number of barges and once again miles of small vineyards, another castle and small quaint hoses decorated with window boxes of colorful flowers; many hundreds of houses on the hillside looking like castles. A pretty castle in the middle of the river Ptalz looks very odd. Now getting rocky but still plenty of vineyards.
Next stop is St. Goar where we board the boat for a river cruise and meet the bus later downstream. Saw Loreley Rock and three castles in one. Passed a few caravan parks and a beautiful little garden on the opposite side of the river to our embarkation point. Cruise very nice but we had already seen most of it by road. Went to a place specializing in beer steins. Some beauties but not my cup of tea. Left St. Goar at 11 am. To go to Cologne. Road follows the river between the mountains; crossed the River Mozelle at the confluence of it with the Rhine. A short while later we were on the Autobahn; 106kms to Kohn (Cologne). Just passed a large town in a small valley surrounded by vineyards. Have just noticed a strange lack of bird life in general; passed a few orchards with leaves just beginning o turn. Late Autumn; extremely pretty. Marg just came to see us at the back of the bus; a surfeit of Pretty Women.
Now coming to Cologne. 90% was destroyed by bombs in W.W.2 and has been rebuilt. (population 1,000,000) The cathedral was hit 41 times but managed to survive. Began building in 1248 and took 600 years to build. Impressive but dark both inside and out. Saw and heard a Glockenspiel. Left Kohn at 12.55 to go to Hamburg. Starting to rain but we are lucky again since we are in the bus. George from N.Z. gave us a demo of selling (as on TV) quite hilarious. Passed the largest industrial area of Germany where Barnes Wallis Round bouncing bomb blew a hole in the wall of a Hydro Electric Dam (Dambusters). At 20 to 3 we drove into Holland. The scenery is inhibited here because there are many shrubs etc by the roadside. Pastoral scenes are great when it can be seen. Holland’s land is intensively cultivated. (( of Holland is reclaimed from the sea).
Crossed the Marne River; countryside very flat and very beautiful. Saw a few flocks of brown sheep and many small farm houses with huge barns. Arrived in Amsterdam 4.15 pm. Bikes, bikes and more bikes. (Holland has 1.4 million bikes) Went to se a diamond polishing exhibition and display of diamonds. Then on to hotel Doriant where we booked in and went to a party at 7.30 at Modinnekday after which the whole bus went for a walk through the Red Light District. Quite an eye-opener and very sad. Home to bed by 11.30 pm.
Thursday 5th Oct. Scheduled to leave at 7.30 (we got up at 5.15; breakfast at 6.30 onwards) to go to Calais through Belgium. I am still amazed at the amount of open country and water everywhere and so green. Slight drizzle and a bit foggy. Crossed into Belgium and stopped for a break at 8.45. Off again 9.15. Passed Antwerp. Countryside similar to Holland but many more trees and more fenced blocks. Bypassed Gent, through Veune and a checkpoint where our passports were checked, and arrived in Calais at 12.15. Crossed on the ferry and arrived back on English soil at 2pm. Through customs and away through Kent, (market garden of England) very green and beautiful scenery. Approx. 73 kms to London through Greenwich and arrived at Earl’s Court at 4.40. Walked around a bit, had tea and off to bed.
Friday 6th Oct. Breakfast then rang Marty and found out Carlton had won the Grand Final. Buddy, Marg and I went to get the hired car Renault Laguana. 650 miles on the clock. No problems with having Buddy as driver but quite amusing when he couldn’t find reverse. A small collar on the gear lever had to be lifted. Went to get the cases and Buddy had fun trying to open the doors with the electronic key. He overcame that problem and we are now on the way for 46 days or so in England, Scotland and Ireland.
We are now on the A4 driving through Wembley; saw the Stadium and 2 storey houses on both sides of the road for miles. Now on to the M1. Have driven for ½ an hour and the views are of open spaces, very green and very nice in spite of the drizzle. Through Luton and the Midlands, then Northampshire, North Coventry, Birmingham, Luteworth and Nottingham. Arrived in Newcastle Upon Tyne to look for a B & B. The area concerned was like a rabbit warren only worse; particularly as houses are not numbered, streets not clearly marked, roads go one way only and other drivers not courteous. So we went on to Broomaugh Hotel Riding Mill and eventually found an old Manor house renovated B & B. £40 a double but the rooms were beautiful as was breakfast. Our room was huge with large Bay windows and it was large and beautifully appointed. Only a bath but we could have a shower in a vacant room if we so desired. The view from the window was superb. (quite serendipity.)
Saturday 7th Oct. From Northumberland; Left at 9.00 to go to Hadrian’s Wall. Scenery superb on both sides. Hadrian’s Wall is 80 miles long, 5 to 6’ high and 6’ thick with a ditch in front of it. Built in 805. Stopped at Haltwhistle for shopping, a small village hundreds of years old. Filled up with petrol £22.80 then on through Jedburgh. Rock walls by the mile; Weather beautiful; Woodburn, West Woodburn and Byrness and then a few miles of scenery very reminiscent of Bright in Autumn. Crossed into Scotland 11.25am Through Camptown and have just passed Mary Queen of Scot’s house St. Boswells. 2½ miles to Melrose.
Booked into our Hotel at 6.30 pm. Will have tea at 7.30. Kathie and Marg now washing clothes. Tea was at 8.30. (later that expected) Sat with a South African couple. Fanie and AnMarie. Bed at 9.30 pm. Hotel Pilatasblick. Accommodation was very good.
Monday 2nd Oct. Went in the bus to Bucherer for shopping. Famous for watches, cuckoo clocks, Swiss knives, diamonds or whatever. We bought nothing but received a free spoon. After lunch went on a cruise on Lake Lucerne. Very beautiful. Then on a cog wheel railway trip which follows a gradient of 48° 7000’ up to Kulm, the peak of Pilatus. Needless to say views all the way up and then at the top are stupendous. From a lookout we were very fortunate to see a girl take off on a hang glider. It was magnificent to watch and very colorful. Then we went on a cable car (40 capacity) to an interim stop. (Scary but views sensational). Then on to another smaller car (like a ski lift) to where the bus awaited us. Definitely the highlight of the tour so far. Walked across a wooden built-in bridge across the lake which contained over 100 paintings; triangular in shape; all very nice. Returned at 4.30 pm. Walked around until tea time and then to bed.
Tuesday 3rd Oct. Once again scenery is fantastic on both sides of the coach. Grass extremely lush; terrain beginning to level out and resembles a patchwork quilt of small blocks interspersed with small houses but very few, if any, fences. The grass is so prolific that they cut 6 or 7 times each season for hay. Farm houses are large; cattle often underneath. Chocolate brown soil and crops being harvested (a bit like maize) and it makes the scenery even more variable and beautiful. Cows are similar to Murray Greys in color but larger. I was sorry for the others on this part of the bus tour, particularly those in the vicinity of the “Trip Horror”! There was the constant buzzing but I could turn my hearing aid off. One other person who had a tranny plugged in was also fortunate. George asked her if she had paid for her seat as she didn’t use it much.
Have just crossed into Germany and now back to Switzerland and on to Schallfhausen to see a waterfall. Small but pretty. 20 past 10. Left to go to Zurich and now passing through more beautiful patchwork quilts of farms, grazing land and grape vines. Terrain more hilly and getting a bit like Emerald, Cockatoo. Stopped over a stream; very reminiscent of Bright; clear water and then into Germany 11 am. Black Forest very like the Black Spur without ferns. Passed Lake Titisee; quite stunning with a pretty little town on one side and forest on the other. Now raining but does not detract from the beauty. Into more mountainous country. Stopped for lunch at Hofgutsternie and saw an exhibition of carving and cuckoo clocks. Very informative. Dozens of clocks carved from wood. Left 1.20 pm. To go to Heidelberg. Through Freiburg and Donaueschinger (population 178,000) and Karlstrue and on to Heidelberg. Arrived at 3.45. Couldn’t see the ruined church which stands on the Neckar River, a tributary of the Rhine. Left at 5.16 to go to our Hotel at Mainz. Hotel Ibis and arrived 6.45 tired but happy. Tea will be 7.30 and bed 8.30.
Black Forest – Cuckoo Clocks
Wednesday 4th Oct. Left a 7.15 to go on a Rhine cruise at 8.15 am. And then on to Cologne and Amsterdam. E.T.A. 4.30 pm. Today is foggy and raining slightly so cannot see very far. Fog now lifting and can see beautiful Churches of Germania and statues. Now into the Rhine River Gorge; many castles. The Rhine here is about ½ mile wide; barges by the dozen and small towns on the side of the hill. Above these are patchwork quilts of small and large vineyards and further between the road and the river are more vineyards. Following the river we see a tremendous number of barges and once again miles of small vineyards, another castle and small quaint hoses decorated with window boxes of colorful flowers; many hundreds of houses on the hillside looking like castles. A pretty castle in the middle of the river Ptalz looks very odd. Now getting rocky but still plenty of vineyards.Next stop is St. Goar where we board the boat for a river cruise and meet the bus later downstream. Saw Loreley Rock and three castles in one. Passed a few caravan parks and a beautiful little garden on the opposite side of the river to our embarkation point. Cruise very nice but we had already seen most of it by road. Went to a place specializing in beer steins. Some beauties but not my cup of tea. Left St. Goar at 11 am. To go to Cologne. Road follows the river between the mountains; crossed the River Mozelle at the confluence of it with the Rhine. A short while later we were on the Autobahn; 106kms to Kohn (Cologne). Just passed a large town in a small valley surrounded by vineyards. Have just noticed a strange lack of bird life in general; passed a few orchards with leaves just beginning o turn. Late Autumn; extremely pretty. Marg just came to see us at the back of the bus; a surfeit of Pretty Women.
Now coming to Cologne. 90% was destroyed by bombs in W.W.2 and has been rebuilt. (population 1,000,000) The cathedral was hit 41 times but managed to survive. Began building in 1248 and took 600 years to build. Impressive but dark both inside and out. Saw and heard a Glockenspiel. Left Kohn at 12.55 to go to Hamburg. Starting to rain but we are lucky again since we are in the bus. George from N.Z. gave us a demo of selling (as on TV) quite hilarious. Passed the largest industrial area of Germany where Barnes Wallis Round bouncing bomb blew a hole in the wall of a Hydro Electric Dam (Dambusters). At 20 to 3 we drove into Holland. The scenery is inhibited here because there are many shrubs etc by the roadside. Pastoral scenes are great when it can be seen. Holland’s land is intensively cultivated. (( of Holland is reclaimed from the sea).
Crossed the Marne River; countryside very flat and very beautiful. Saw a few flocks of brown sheep and many small farm houses with huge barns. Arrived in Amsterdam 4.15 pm. Bikes, bikes and more bikes. (Holland has 1.4 million bikes) Went to se a diamond polishing exhibition and display of diamonds. Then on to hotel Doriant where we booked in and went to a party at 7.30 at Modinnekday after which the whole bus went for a walk through the Red Light District. Quite an eye-opener and very sad. Home to bed by 11.30 pm.
Thursday 5th Oct. Scheduled to leave at 7.30 (we got up at 5.15; breakfast at 6.30 onwards) to go to Calais through Belgium. I am still amazed at the amount of open country and water everywhere and so green. Slight drizzle and a bit foggy. Crossed into Belgium and stopped for a break at 8.45. Off again 9.15. Passed Antwerp. Countryside similar to Holland but many more trees and more fenced blocks. Bypassed Gent, through Veune and a checkpoint where our passports were checked, and arrived in Calais at 12.15. Crossed on the ferry and arrived back on English soil at 2pm. Through customs and away through Kent, (market garden of England) very green and beautiful scenery. Approx. 73 kms to London through Greenwich and arrived at Earl’s Court at 4.40. Walked around a bit, had tea and off to bed.
Friday 6th Oct. Breakfast then rang Marty and found out Carlton had won the Grand Final. Buddy, Marg and I went to get the hired car Renault Laguana. 650 miles on the clock. No problems with having Buddy as driver but quite amusing when he couldn’t find reverse. A small collar on the gear lever had to be lifted. Went to get the cases and Buddy had fun trying to open the doors with the electronic key. He overcame that problem and we are now on the way for 46 days or so in England, Scotland and Ireland.
We are now on the A4 driving through Wembley; saw the Stadium and 2 storey houses on both sides of the road for miles. Now on to the M1. Have driven for ½ an hour and the views are of open spaces, very green and very nice in spite of the drizzle. Through Luton and the Midlands, then Northampshire, North Coventry, Birmingham, Luteworth and Nottingham. Arrived in Newcastle Upon Tyne to look for a B & B. The area concerned was like a rabbit warren only worse; particularly as houses are not numbered, streets not clearly marked, roads go one way only and other drivers not courteous. So we went on to Broomaugh Hotel Riding Mill and eventually found an old Manor house renovated B & B. £40 a double but the rooms were beautiful as was breakfast. Our room was huge with large Bay windows and it was large and beautifully appointed. Only a bath but we could have a shower in a vacant room if we so desired. The view from the window was superb. (quite serendipity.)
Saturday 7th Oct. From Northumberland; Left at 9.00 to go to Hadrian’s Wall. Scenery superb on both sides. Hadrian’s Wall is 80 miles long, 5 to 6’ high and 6’ thick with a ditch in front of it. Built in 805. Stopped at Haltwhistle for shopping, a small village hundreds of years old. Filled up with petrol £22.80 then on through Jedburgh. Rock walls by the mile; Weather beautiful; Woodburn, West Woodburn and Byrness and then a few miles of scenery very reminiscent of Bright in Autumn. Crossed into Scotland 11.25am Through Camptown and have just passed Mary Queen of Scot’s house St. Boswells. 2½ miles to Melrose.
Hadrian’s Wall
Booked in at YHA £28 or £7 each; left our gear and went to Galashiels (about 2 miles to Tourist Information Centre. Girls had a look at Peter Andersons Woolen shop. I went for a walk around the ruins of an Abbey with a cemetery attached. Walked around Melrose and returned to our room for a cuppa and then to Galashiels for Mass. Had tea at a pub in Melrose; walking distance from YHA. Bed at 9pm.Sunday 8th Oct. After breakfast set off at 9.15 to go to Holy Island via Kelso; saw a few pheasants just off the road. Kelso, a beautiful village of stone houses beside a river; very old. The main street was cobblestone, all other streets very narrow. Floors Castle was not open so we went on. Miles and miles of stone walls and hedges obscuring the views of magnificent countryside. Bingham; a very tiny village with one house back on either side for about ½ mile. Coldstream; a small tree lined village. We are back in England again. Cornhill on Tweed, then to Berwick on Tweed; a walled town (within a town) but still fairly large. Went to a supermarket; Saw the Atlantic (North Sea) for the first time.
Turned off via Beal to go to Holy Island which is only accessible when the tide is out. A drive of about 2 miles to the Priory on a small island which is inhabited. A reasonably sized town. The Priory itself is on the far side of the island and surrounded by a 3’ wall on one side and the sea on the other. Built out of the top of a rock about 200’ high. Worth seeing. Holy Island Bus was a horse drawn covered cart. On another part of the island Lindisfarne Priory is situated but it is old and falling down. Then on to Bamburgh Castle built out of a rock overlooking the sea and town commanding beautiful views. A wonderful display of crockery, arms, painting, furniture and a realistic dungeon.
Now heading for Floors after lunch at Bamburgh. Through Belford, Chatham, Wooler, Milfield, Cornhill and back into Scotland. Coldstream, Bingham to Kelso and Floors Castle.
Floors castle is the home of Lord Roxby and has a very impressive drive leading up to it. In very good order and contains some fantastic collections of stuffed birds, armor, crockery, copperware, prams and carriages (horsedrawn). Spent quite some time there. Back to Melrose; fish and chips for tea; sat in lounge talking to bike riders who gave us a few clues on places to stay. Then off to bed.
Monday 9th Oct. Left about 8.30 after breakfast to go on to Perth. Weather overcast and became a fine drizzle, on winding roads through Clovenfords. Autumnal colors, deep rivers and valleys, stone fences by the mile and pine clad hills on the other side. Stopped at Walkerburn for petrol. On through Interlecthern, Peebles and one magnificent view after another. Elsrickle, Newbegging, Kaimend, Carnworth, Kilncadzow, Carluke (a fairly large town) Airdrie. Stopped for lunch at Cumbernauld not far from Perth which we bypassed to go to Inverness. On the outskirts of Perth we saw many houses more like those in Victoria. Haven’t seen this anywhere else. Mountains are higher and although rainy visibility is better and scenery is beautiful.
Crossed river Tay and the road overlooks the river for miles. Pine clad mountains high up, other trees further down, then ferns and bracken, then plains occupied by many sheep, then the river and on the other side of the road Rocky mountains, bare, then a gap in the mountains and more beautiful valleys in between all their autumn colors. Around Pittocry the scene changes abruptly: Higher mountains, more vividly coloured, a wider river, more houses dotted around, more cattle and sheep and flatter plains nearer the road and Pittocry Castle on the right. Just passed Loch Fascally in a beautiful valley.
Bypassed Town of Fascally. Another break in the mountains on the left reveals another beautiful valley in the distance. Bypassed Blair Athol. Passed another mountain reminiscent of Switzerland. On the Right Hand Side the valleys are longer and more farm houses dot the view. Appear to be bigger farms. Blair Castle looks very white now the rain has stopped. River now on the right hand side after crossing the river Garry. Sun just broke through and gave the entire view a newly washed look. Mountains have flattened out a bit and miles of them are covered with bracken, heather and pine trees. Now mountains are getting higher with a few beautiful lakes glistening in the distance. We topped a hill and are now driving through a huge valley. On the left in the distance is a patchwork of pine forests and on the other heather and bracken with rivers winding through white pebbles. Crossed River Spey, Findhorn river, bypassed Ruthen, Daviot and on into Inverness, a beautiful city on the coast. Drove over a bridge across the inlet to Kessock overlooking the harbour where we are booked in a B&B for two nights. Then back over the bridge to Inverness for lunch and a look around. Then drove to the B&B, a private house beautifully appointed rooms and we received a cuppa on arrival at 4.30. Had tea at a pub in Kessock and then back to B&B to bed.
Inverness – Kessock
Tuesday 10th Oct. Breakfast 8.30. The view from the window at night is terrific with the lights on the bridge curving to the right and the winking of the lights of the town on the opposite side of the harbour and now this morning I can see some sheep in a very green paddock next door, the morning sun glinting off the water trying its best to break free of the clouds and then a flurry of rain drops obscuring the whole scene. Ten minutes later all is clear again. The supports of the bridge glistening like huge spiders webs in the morning sun. In the distance workers driving tractors etc. building a big new sports ground.Left Mr. Mrs. MacFarquar’s at 9.15 to find the Loch Ness Monster. Didn’t find it, but the lake (loch) is huge and pewter colored except when the sun breaks through the clouds. The road winds along beside the Loch for miles with a backdrop of forbidding mountains on the far side. At Drumnadrochit we saw an exhibition of Loch Ness bits and pieces with a short film. Loch is 23 miles long, I mile wide and 230’ deep (average).
Loch Ness Exhibition Centre
Then on to Colloden where we saw a film of the Battle of Colloden which the Jocobites lost to the English. Passed Castle Stuart on the way to a Historic Village. (very small) Ardensen, then Fort George, an old Fort built in 1742 after the Battle of Colloden and now occupied by the army. Houses a museum of Army Medals, weapons etc. (Cameron Regiment) Had lunch at Nairn and went beck to Inverness for shopping and back to Kessock Pub for tea and then to bed.Wednesday 11th Oct. Left at 9am to go to the Isle of Skye after a hearty breakfast. Mrs MacFarquar gave us a bag of apples and filled our newly purchased vacuum thermos with hot water. Quite a lovely couple. Overcast but not raining. Passed through Mulbrie - magnificent scenery with the sea in the distance on the right hand side. Over the River Conon, through Brahan, through a series of small valleys with trees coming right down to the road.
Contin, Rogue Falls, winding roads, heavily forested. Tarvie, Garve, Loch Lurchat, another loch and Achanarilt & Achanasheen. We are now on a single track road; passed a very small loch with 2 small islands in the middle. (very odd & extremely beautiful); back on dual road through more mountainous tree covered hills. Back on a single road, another Loch with a mountain backdrop. Balnacra, Coulays, Lochcarron. Stopped to film a scene of a village on the far side of the loch reminiscent of Switzerland.
An unbelievable sight of villages of villages on the far side of the loch about 2 miles distant. Mountain backdrop, islets, houses resembling castles, forests and a few small boats. Through Kirkton, Kyle of Lochalsh to where we boarded the ferry to Lochalsh on the Isle of Skye. Reached Isle of Skye at 11.20 and on to Broadford (7 miles). Passed the almost completed bridge. Booked into YHA Broadford Hostel overlooking water on more than 180 degrees; very windy. Drove to Portee. Had lunch in the town square and back to Broadford. Kathie and Marg cooked our tea.
Wednesday 12th Oct. Girls cooked eggs and bacon, toast, fruit juice & coffee/tea. 8.000am. Overcast with the sea like a mill pond. To Lochalsh over on the ferry back to the mainland. Through Invergarry. The sun came out and made the views twice as good with the reflections off the lochs. Stopped at a lookout to view a fantastic sight of a lake, with a backdrop of pineclad mountains and Autumn scenery, Stopped again for photographs of a lake (Sth Laggan). The reflection coming right down to the water’s edge gives the impression there was no water. Through Spean Bridge, Fort William, Torlundy & Onich over another bridge and through huge mountains on both sides, very rocky covered with grass, heather or bracken interspersed with waterfalls which glistened with rainbows. Tyndrum, Crianlarich, Invernam and passed Loch Lomond (very pretty, very long). Tarbet, Arden, Dunbarton (a large & beautiful town). Through Clydebank, bypassed Glasgow and on to East Kilbride, Boghead and had lunch at Strathaven, then Auchenheath, Kirkfieldbank and on into Lanark to a YHA Hostel. The hostel is part of a huge old complex formerly a mill. About 5 double storey stone buildings all of which have been refurbished and are now shops etc to cater or tourists. Very nice. We are staying here for two nights.
Friday 13th Oct. Rang home and happened to get both Marty and Fiona at home. We spoke to David as well. Went to Currie Railway station and caught a train to Edinburgh. Whilst in Edinburgh we saw Edinburgh castle, Queen Mary’s castle, Crown jewels and some beautiful gardens. Went on a bus which continues on a definitive route and we were able to pay once and get on and off as often as we liked. Arrived back at Lanark YHA at 6.00pm and after tea which the girls prepared went to bed early
Edinburgh Castle
Saturday 14th Oct. Set off at 8.30 to go to York. Fine with a slight mist, sun trying to peep through the clouds. Pastoral scenes on both sides of the road all the way to distant mountains. Saw a large deer farm. Through Roberton, bypassed Lockerbie where the Jet went down some years ago. Getting very foggy. Bypassed Penrith, Temple, Sowerby, Kirkbythore and Bolton. At 10.35 visibility about 100 - 150 yards before Barhaley Castle. Scotch corner and on to A1. Passed River Swale & River Ouse but so foggy we didn’t see much. Arrived York at 12.10. Went for a walk to some shops and then on to Clifton View. (our lodgings). Watched a few races on Telly because there was a betting shop below the hotel. I had a bet on a horse, Double Blue and went upstairs to watch it. It ran like Geelong (2nd last). Went to Mass after which Kathie and I walked around for an hour or so and then had tea and off to bed.Sunday 15th Oct. Three weeks here so far but we have packed so much into it, it seems like a week. Buddy went to mass at 9.00am. Marg went to the Jori Viking Centre which she said was very good. Kathie and I waited for them by walking around the shops and listening to the cathedral bells which appeared to ring every 15 minutes. Then a Bus Tour (D/Decker) of the city. Quite fascinating. The wall around the city is 2( miles long with towers, gates etc every 200 - 300 yards. Went to a Pub for lunch and visited a museum where we saw a display of nearly every facet of farm life through the centuries. Very, very good.
We are on the way to Castle Howard about 15 miles from York. Beautiful pastoral scenery all the way. Castle Howard is most impressive. An entrance arch about ( a mile in to a big stone monument about 40’ high and beyond that is the Castle. (100 yards) One thousand acres of magnificent gardens, lakes and statues. Collections of crockery, prams, farmware and carriages of bygone years. Back to York and bed and tea.
Monday 16th Oct. Kathie and Marg went to Thomas Cook and back at 9.40. Left at 9.45 to go to Cambridge. Down the A1 to Nottingham. Drove Through Sherwood Forest (Clumber Park) and walked through part of the forest. Then on to Cambridge. Farming scenery, villages and industrial estates now and again. Through Little Ponton and Great Ponton. Stopped for lunch 20 miles out of Cambridge. Sun made an appearance. Arrived at our Hostel Cambridge YHA at 2.00 pm. Went on a bus tour (top deck open) and it was quite windy and hard to hear the speel. Bikes everywhere (3000 approx.) in Cambridge. Mainly students and on to Hostel for tea. Bud went to a pub for tea. Bed at 8.00pm.
Canterbury
Tuesday 17th Oct. Left at 8.15 after breakfast (overcast and misty but no rain) for Canterbury on the M11. Delayed for ( an hour by roadworks. Good view of 1000’s of cars. On to the M25 through Dartford, over a Toll bridge over the Thames (1( miles long) Toll 90p ($1.80 approx.) on to M2 to A28 to Canterbury where we had trouble finding New Dover Road and YHA Hostel. Parked the car but not without amusement. Bought a card in a shop 25p (dry scratchy). Scratch off the “day, month and the hour From: To: “and leave it on the dashboard of the car. Walked around the Town Mall and went to Canterbury Cathedral; quite large and very beautiful. Had lunch and went to Hostel and booked in. Marg, Kathie and I went for a haircut. Went up to our rooms and I mean up. Buddy and Marg in the Aerie, Kathie and I just below in the attic. Kathie and I had tea which Kathie prepared and spent some time talking to some Dutch people and went to bed about 10pm.Wednesday 18th Oct. Overcast but no rain. Set off for Brighton through Godmershaw. Beautiful views. Ashford, Brezett, Rye, Icklesham, Hastings. Stopped for a walk and a drink and then on through Selmeston to Brighton which we reached at 10.20. Quite sunny now. Walked along New Brighton pier. Practically no sand on the beach, but covered with pebbles some of which were quite large. Left Brighton about 11.30. Many beautiful public gardens then on through Coolham, Coneyhurst, Billinghurst, Petworth. Stopped for lunch at Tillington. Lovely scenery including all the small towns and villages. Halfway bridge, Easebourne, Midhurst, Trotton, Rogate Street, Bramdean, Cheriton, Wiltshire, Salisbury. Many tunnels of foliage with autumnal tints. Stayed this night at Rockeby Guest House (Salisbury) a lovely place with a solarium. Had tea at the Pheasant Hotel. Dark and dingy; erected in 1435. Very low ceilings but a very good meal. In bed by 9.00pm
Thursday 19th Oct. Set out for Stonehenge at 9.00am. Fine but slightly overcast. Beautiful scenery. Stonehenge was presented in a fantastic manner. Each visitor is given a mobile phone contraption on which buttons are pressed when occupying a designated spot and the story of Stonehenge is heard. I liked it very much as I heard all of it. Back through Wilton and a few arch bridges so low the trucks have to go straight under the middle of them and many times through miles of roads where the trees meet overhead. Compton Chamberlayne and oddly named place. We saw Fovant badges which are badges cut in the grass and white rock on a hill remote from the highway. A.I.F. was one but all of which were very effective. Through Swallow Cliffe, Donhead, St. Andrew, Ludwell. Quaint villages containing many thatched roof houses some of which had designs incorporated in the thatching. Very interesting. Then through Shaftsbury, Dorset. A particular view after Shaftsbury was a magnificent panorama of surrounding towns, farms, forests and distant hills. Through East Stour, West Stour, Blackburn Vale, Henstridge, Milbourne Port, Obourne, Sherbourne (ruins of castle in the distance), Yeovie West, Coker. East Chinock, Crewkerne, Roundham, Cricket St. Thomas, River Yarty, Yarcombe, Monkton, Clist Honiton. Had lunch at Exeter (2pm) after driving around in circles for a while and then on bypassing Okehampton and Bodmin on the A30 and on to Galant YHA. Stopped to ring and book for the night. Went through Maudlin, Sweetshouse (not Sh-House). Golant is an amazing place. All the lanes and roads are hardly wide enough for one car and extremely winding. Notice reads “Roads flooded at high tide”. The road to Golant YHA is extremely narrow, winding and pot holed but we eventually found it. Then drove back to Fowey to obtain supplies for tea. Drove down a very, very narrow road and had to go to a public car park and walk down to the shops. Gradient of about 1 in 3 for about ( of a mile, dozens and dozens of steps to a few very small shops but the views across the inlet are astonishing. Over the water is an even smaller town reached only by ferry (tiny) called Portui. Dozens of boats, canoes, yachts and to complete the scene the backdrop of hills comes right down to the water. Had to push Kathie back up the hill to the car park. Back to Golant YHA where the girls cooked tea. Sat in the lounge and watch TV and then went to bed. Golant and Fowey are one of the highlights of this part of the trip. I’ve never seen such narrow roads; if a car approaches one has to back up to a layby.
Friday 20th Oct. Set off at 8.55 to go touring. Beautiful sunny morning. Hedges obscuring magnificent views, roads barely wide enough for two cars and very winding. Saw 16 wind operated Electricity generators; then another 12. Down the highway towards Penzance; bypassed Redruth & Cambourne then through Whitecross, Crowless, and Canon Town. Penzance is beautiful. Rang Marty. Left Penzance at 20 to 11 to go back north. Could see Lands End on the next beach but didn’t go there. Drove on to Bath bypassing Bristol. Scenery around Bath very nice through miles of road where foliage, mainly hedges, comes right down to the roads which are barely wide enough for two cars to pass. At 3.30 found a YHA at Bath but no vacancies. Eventually found YMCA which was very good even if the Frenchies fighting kept Buddy and Marg awake half the night.
Roman Baths - Bath
Saturday 21st Oct. Bath is a lovely old city, very clean and very, very old. Roman baths are still operable yet were built in Roman times. We had an earpiece again instead of a guide which is much better. The buildings are nearly all built in a half circle with colonnades and each one is hundreds of yards long and 3 or 4 stories high all white. Bath Cathedral is also beautiful. Went on a bus tour; got on and off a few times. We are now going to Oxford on a lovely day, slightly cold but fine. Went through Wiltshire Box and saw a sign reading Melksham 7 miles (Where Rona next door lived.) Through Corsham, Chippenham and on the M4 to Oxford. Unable to find a Hostel etc. at Oxford but got a B&B at Eynsham.
Sunday 22nd Oct. Went to Laundromat and then on to have a look at Oxford. Drove to Pear Tree Car Park & Ride area and then bussed to Oxford, then a town bus tour around the town. A far better laid out town than most we have seen. Then on to Stratford on Avon on the M4 then the A34 but stopped to see Blenheim Palace. Absolutely fantastic. Then on through Woodstock, Enstone, Shipton on Stour. Arrived at Stratford on Avon YHA at 4.pm where we’ll spend two nights. Drove around for a while; had tea at a small pub. Very nice.
Monday 23rd Oct. Had breakfast and walked around Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, World of Shakespeare and Nash’s house and then onto Warwick castle about 9 miles away. This was very good since most rooms had historical settings in many rooms, statues borrowed from Madame Tussauds. Had lunch at the Castle, returned to the YHA and went to a pub for tea.
Shakespeare Country
Tuesday 24th Oct. Fine and cold; left at 8.10 to go to Chester on the M4, M42, and A45 to M6. Bypassed Birmingham which was a huge city. Transmission towers and gasometers everywhere. Also bypassed Stafford and Newcastle-under-Lime, through Congleton, Windsford and arrived in Cheter YHA at 10.40. Booked in and went to Chester, parked the car and went on a bus tour with commentary. Walked around shops and went to a pub for tea. We are staying here for two nights.
Wednesday 25th Oct. Breakfast 7.45 and left 8.30 en route for Caernarfon and Bangor. Through Broughton and Penn-y-fford. Forested area with autumnal tints. Then onto freeway. Raining heavily and when it stopped about 20 miles from Colwyn the scenery was magnificent on all sides and can now see the ocean. Colwyn Bay is beautiful, right beside the sea and yet beautiful mountain scenery. Outskirts of Bangor is beautiful. Dozens of yachts and other craft. On to Caernarfon Castle (very large and Impressive). Back now to Bangor; drove down main street - barely enough room for two cars and on to Penrhyn castle. A castle and 40000 acres and from the top the views are fantastic as is in the castle. We are now £21 up on our Heritage passes (big deal). Heading back to Conyn to see (guess what) another castle. (It was in ruins anyway.) Returned to Chester YHA (one night) at 4.10 pm. Read for a while, had tea at a pub at 6.00pm and returned to YHA and bed at 8.20.
Thursday 26th Oct. Left at 8.15 after breakfast to go to Stranraer for the ferry (approx. 5 hours on A483 Highway) to go to Ireland. Once clear of the big cities usual beautiful views. Coming into mountainous country near Kendall; beautiful views, now magnificent. 10.08 very cloudy, raining then sunny. Back into Scotland at 10.40 at Gretna. Bypassed Carlisle, Dumfreys, Springholm, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright all beautiful scenery. Passed Gatehouse of Fleet through Panure. Stopped at Minnigaff for lunch then on through Durragit to Stranraer at 1.45 pm. Raining very hard. Went to Bed and Breakfast in Stranraer. Returned at 9.00 after tea at a pub. Huge helpings and none of us ate everything.
Friday 27th Oct. A beautiful morning; Breakfast at 7.45 after which we went for a short drive to Port Patrick, a resort 7 miles along the coast from where Ireland can be seen. Back to Stranraer. Ferry left at 11.30. Two and a half hours to Larne. Arrived at 2.05 and drove on to Irish soil at 2.22. Fine but overcast. Went to Coleraine (20 miles) and onwards to Portrush to find a B&B. Scenery beautiful near Ballyboley Forest. Very windy and saw 10 wind driven electricity generators. Through Moorfield, Ballymena, Bypassed Coleraine in the finish. Found the B&B and booked in at 4.30. Went to a pub for tea and bed at 8.00.
Saturday 28th Oct. Fine weather. Left at 8.30 after Brekky to go to the Giant’s Causeway. Nature at its best. Terrific views, saw a golf course right beside the ocean; went through Ballysally (housing estate) to Coleraine; Limavaddy towards Derry (Londonderry). Views marvellous; mountainous country right down to the see. Limavaddy (quite a large town) then Ballykely. Autumn tinted forest on right. Through Greysteal over a bridge from which we saw a fantastic sight of Londonderry which we bypassed. Passed a checkpoint into Southern Ireland and on through Buncrana, Burnfot where we had a picnic lunch overlooking a magnificent panorama and at 1 pm left for Sligo (112 kms). Through Strandar mountainous country; flattening slightly and then lower mountains in the distance. Through Donegal; very pretty houses in general. Through Ballyshannon, Bundoran with ocean on RHS. Cliffoney Grange, Drumcliff; Rathcormack and arrived in Sligo at approx. 2.30. Traffic a nightmare in the inner city then on through Ballydore, Beltra, and Dromore West and on to Ballina. Stayed the night in (B&B Ballina) beautiful rooms and lovely breakfast. Very nice lady. This B&B was right next door to the Cathedral where we went to Mass (7.30 Sat. Night) after tea at a pub restaurant. Went to bed at 9.00
Sunday 29th Oct. Left Ballina for Galway at approx. 9 am through Rathduff, Knockmore, Lake Conn, Pontoon. Beautiful scenery, very rocky; stones all over the fields. Autumn colors more vivid, very winding roads, light rain began. Through boggy, rock strewn, bracken covered soggy land and yet beautiful country scenes on both sides of the road about ( a mile away. Quite a lot of peat. Rain stopped when we reached Castlebar; quite a sizeable town and on to Ballyheane, Ballintubber. Miles of stone fences. Stopped to ring Stephen) Saw Ballintubber Abbey founded in 1218. Sun appeared and on through Partry, Ballinrobe (smallish town) on towards Cong. Hundreds of small blocks divided by the stone fences. Neale, Ashford Castle (1220 AD). Saw ruins of Cong Abbey and cemetery. Glencorib, Headford, Cloonboo. Countryside hilly once more. Pineforest in the distance, sun shining, rivers very full.
Now on the outskirts of Galway. Very pretty scenes. Had lunch at Galway and left for Limerick (92km). Saw several magnificent views of Galway Bay from the surrounding mountains and went to visit James and Chrissie, friends of Margaret, then back through Ballyvaughan which is on the opposite side of the bay from Galway. We are now driving alongside the bay at ( to 4 and the darker it gets the views of Galway Bay and the surrounding hills are better. On through Fanore and stayed the night at a farmhouse B&B called Rocky View. It is well named - rocks, rocks and more rocks and mountains. Buddy will remember driving in, out, around, up and over potholes on the winding road to Merrijig. Stayed the night at Fanore Farmhouse B&B. (The Burren)
Monday 30th Oct. Breakfast 8.15 and left at 9.10 to go to the Cliffs of Moher via Lisadoonvarna and Doolen. A place of contrasts; now trees and shrubs and not so rocky. Most of the houses are white. So much so that when you see one of another color you look again. Miles and miles of stone walls on both sides of the road. The Cliffs of Moher are awe inspiring (600’ high). Overcast but the sun broke through touching the view with more magic. On through Liscannor, Ennistimon, (a beautiful holiday town and the village much older), Kilnamona, Ennis; bypassed Shannon and on to Bunratty Castle. Visited the castle which was very good particularly the displays of farm life in the yester year.
Cliff’s of Mohr
On to Limerick, views still very pretty. Limerick is a big city. Went to St. John’s Castle and saw films and ruins etc. - all very good. Went to Kildimo B & B (Vera) and went to the local pub for tea. Quite an hilarious evening. (The memorable Fooken dead duck) Bed at 9.00
Tuesday 31st Oct. Fine and sunny. Left Kildimo on through Askeaton, Foynes on the River Shannon (a very beautiful sight), and Loughill. Absolutely magnificent views of the bay. Through Glimm, Tarbert and Listowel. (Parking willy nilly) About 15 kms from Tralee. The views on both sides of the road are beautiful. Farms and farmhouses on faraway mountains. At Tralee we booked for one week a house at Kenmare and are on the way there. Had a picnic lunch. On again at 1pm. Through Castlemaine. Winding roads, leafy lanes, trees meeting overhead, cows and sheep. On both sides of the road a patchwork quilt of hedge-enclosed farms. Autumn colors, sun partly obscured by clouds and blue mountains merging with the sea. Killorgen, Fossa, Killarney, Muckross. A lovely 5 or 6 mile drive through a forested area. Autumn tinted foliage meeting overhead, occasional glimpses of a lake and then around a bend to a fantastic vista of tall rocky mountains. Then through a rock tunnel, moss encrusted rocks, many gnarled trees testifying to the incessant wind. And then to set it off Ladies View over Lake of Killarney where we stopped to take photos. Quite an amazing sight. Mountain passes merging into each other in the distance. Five or six small lakes, rocky protuberances and many trees bent into strange and weird shapes by the ever-present winds. Many sheep calmly eating on either side of the road. Surrounds now like the Burren. On arrival at Kenmare we experienced a lot of trouble locating our place of abode but eventually found it. We will stay here for one week (31st Oct Tues. night to 6th Nov. Mon. night.)
Kenmare Cottage
Wednesday 1st Nov. Had breakfast and ready to go at 9.10 (Buddy had already washed the car). Overcast but fine. Going to Cork. Superb mountain views through Kilgarvan; turned foggy but lifted later at Ballyvournay. Macroon (quite a large town), Lissarda, Farnanes, Ballyincollig then Cork. A very large town on the Harbour. Saw a sign on a café (Get Stuffed Here). Walked around Cork and then on to Blarney. Kathie and Marg went to the sales and then home to Kenmare via Flower, Dripsley, and Coachford through Macroon. Arrived Kenmare 4.05 and had tea at 6.30 after shopping. Bed at 9.00.
Thursday 2nd Nov. Ready to leave early for Dingle but were told not to go if it was at all foggy, so we desisted. The view from our house is really beautiful this morning. A range of mountains with a lake in between. All ready to go after Marg went back for navigational instruments (maps etc.) and Bud went back to lock the door. Drove along a tree lined road for about 5 miles, trees meeting overhead and then on one side is a loch miles long with a backdrop of dozens of mountain ranges in the distance all autumn tinted. Sun just peeped through and painted it all in a different coloured blue and the dappled effect through the trees makes it even more beautiful.
Drove on through Sneem and we are driving through a huge amphitheatre of mountains and within their peaks. Some are pine clad, some in shade and others sunlit and with the sun glinting off the water; a village in the distance, houses dotting the foreground, sheep here and there, white encrusted rocks. Now the sun is blinding off the lake and around the bend we can see what looks like a small port with a few boats. (Caher Daniel). Now a new vista of rocky mountains with less vegetation, rocky protuberances many dotted with limestone.
Passed Carrols Cove with a lovely little beach and a finger of rock jutting out into the sea and a pretty little inlet. Stopped to take snaps of an even better view around the bend. This morning I have seen the most beautiful views ever. Impossible to describe them adequately. I am standing on a rock overlooking a faraway range of mountains merging with the sea, a smaller range jutting out into it, a village just below, 4 or 5 varying sized islands. Back into the car and around a bend and an even more beautiful view awaited us. Sheep sit on, or eat anywhere even in the middle of the road and all the roads are barely wide enough for two cars.
Waterville, a beautiful little village on the shores of a bay. Cahirciveen. Just saw a view of faraway mountains dipping into the see and has about 6 different shades of blue. (fantastic) Around another bend and the vista varies again. Glenbeigh and Killorglen where we had a picnic lunch beside the river; then on to Killarney; still beautiful but vastly different scenery. The girls went shopping and we bought a few books.
Went to Muckross House and on a Horse Jaunt to the waterfall and Muckross House both of which were well worth the trip. Muckross House itself was beautifully appointed and the views from every room are sensational. There are 11,000 acres of what is now a National Park and even in the grounds themselves the views are superb. Returned to Kenmare by the route we had travelled before via Ladies View and with daylight waning the view was even better than the last time.
Muckross House Jaunting Cart
Stopped at Avoca and Molls Gap for the girls to go shopping. Back to Kenmare after a lovely day had by all. Went out to tea to a pub in Kenmare. Good meal and back home to bed at 9.00.
Friday 3rd Nov. Breakfasted and ready to go to Cashel by 8.20 am. Fine and cloudy and slightly foggy. Heading into Barraduff the sun came out painting the scenes more vividly beautiful. Through Rathmore still foggy and drove through miles of forested tunnels. Very foggy near Mallow, then Kildorrery; nearly all grazing land. Micheltown, Kilbehenly, Kilcoran with mountains on the left hand side containing many large pine forests. New Inn, Cashel. Saw Cashel Rock, a castle built out of and on top of the rock. Magnificent views again. On to Tipperary, Through Golden Kilfeacle. Had lunch at a secluded picnic spot (3 cars & trucks each way per minute). Then went on a scenic drive through Bancha, Mitchelltown and back to Kenmare. Collected our photographs most of which turned out OK. Back to the house at 4 for tea and bed.
Saturday 4th Nov. A day of rest. Girls went shopping and we watched T.V. in the afternoon. Girls cooked a roast for tea. Lovely meal. Watched T.V. Diamonds are Forever. Fairly wet but we were inside.
Thursday 19th Oct. Set out for Stonehenge at 9.00am. Fine but slightly overcast. Beautiful scenery. Stonehenge was presented in a fantastic manner. Each visitor is given a mobile phone contraption on which buttons are pressed when occupying a designated spot and the story of Stonehenge is heard. I liked it very much as I heard all of it. Back through Wilton and a few arch bridges so low the trucks have to go straight under the middle of them and many times through miles of roads where the trees meet overhead. Compton Chamberlayne and oddly named place. We saw Fovant badges which are badges cut in the grass and white rock on a hill remote from the highway. A.I.F. was one but all of which were very effective. Through Swallow Cliffe, Donhead, St. Andrew, Ludwell. Quaint villages containing many thatched roof houses some of which had designs incorporated in the thatching. Very interesting. Then through Shaftsbury, Dorset. A particular view after Shaftsbury was a magnificent panorama of surrounding towns, farms, forests and distant hills. Through East Stour, West Stour, Blackburn Vale, Henstridge, Milbourne Port, Obourne, Sherbourne (ruins of castle in the distance), Yeovie West, Coker. East Chinock, Crewkerne, Roundham, Cricket St. Thomas, River Yarty, Yarcombe, Monkton, Clist Honiton. Had lunch at Exeter (2pm) after driving around in circles for a while and then on bypassing Okehampton and Bodmin on the A30 and on to Galant YHA. Stopped to ring and book for the night. Went through Maudlin, Sweetshouse (not Sh-House). Golant is an amazing place. All the lanes and roads are hardly wide enough for one car and extremely winding. Notice reads “Roads flooded at high tide”. The road to Golant YHA is extremely narrow, winding and pot holed but we eventually found it. Then drove back to Fowey to obtain supplies for tea. Drove down a very, very narrow road and had to go to a public car park and walk down to the shops. Gradient of about 1 in 3 for about ( of a mile, dozens and dozens of steps to a few very small shops but the views across the inlet are astonishing. Over the water is an even smaller town reached only by ferry (tiny) called Portui. Dozens of boats, canoes, yachts and to complete the scene the backdrop of hills comes right down to the water. Had to push Kathie back up the hill to the car park. Back to Golant YHA where the girls cooked tea. Sat in the lounge and watch TV and then went to bed. Golant and Fowey are one of the highlights of this part of the trip. I’ve never seen such narrow roads; if a car approaches one has to back up to a layby.
Friday 20th Oct. Set off at 8.55 to go touring. Beautiful sunny morning. Hedges obscuring magnificent views, roads barely wide enough for two cars and very winding. Saw 16 wind operated Electricity generators; then another 12. Down the highway towards Penzance; bypassed Redruth & Cambourne then through Whitecross, Crowless, and Canon Town. Penzance is beautiful. Rang Marty. Left Penzance at 20 to 11 to go back north. Could see Lands End on the next beach but didn’t go there. Drove on to Bath bypassing Bristol. Scenery around Bath very nice through miles of road where foliage, mainly hedges, comes right down to the roads which are barely wide enough for two cars to pass. At 3.30 found a YHA at Bath but no vacancies. Eventually found YMCA which was very good even if the Frenchies fighting kept Buddy and Marg awake half the night.
Roman Baths - Bath
Saturday 21st Oct. Bath is a lovely old city, very clean and very, very old. Roman baths are still operable yet were built in Roman times. We had an earpiece again instead of a guide which is much better. The buildings are nearly all built in a half circle with colonnades and each one is hundreds of yards long and 3 or 4 stories high all white. Bath Cathedral is also beautiful. Went on a bus tour; got on and off a few times. We are now going to Oxford on a lovely day, slightly cold but fine. Went through Wiltshire Box and saw a sign reading Melksham 7 miles (Where Rona next door lived.) Through Corsham, Chippenham and on the M4 to Oxford. Unable to find a Hostel etc. at Oxford but got a B&B at Eynsham.Sunday 22nd Oct. Went to Laundromat and then on to have a look at Oxford. Drove to Pear Tree Car Park & Ride area and then bussed to Oxford, then a town bus tour around the town. A far better laid out town than most we have seen. Then on to Stratford on Avon on the M4 then the A34 but stopped to see Blenheim Palace. Absolutely fantastic. Then on through Woodstock, Enstone, Shipton on Stour. Arrived at Stratford on Avon YHA at 4.pm where we’ll spend two nights. Drove around for a while; had tea at a small pub. Very nice.
Monday 23rd Oct. Had breakfast and walked around Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, World of Shakespeare and Nash’s house and then onto Warwick castle about 9 miles away. This was very good since most rooms had historical settings in many rooms, statues borrowed from Madame Tussauds. Had lunch at the Castle, returned to the YHA and went to a pub for tea.
Shakespeare Country
Tuesday 24th Oct. Fine and cold; left at 8.10 to go to Chester on the M4, M42, and A45 to M6. Bypassed Birmingham which was a huge city. Transmission towers and gasometers everywhere. Also bypassed Stafford and Newcastle-under-Lime, through Congleton, Windsford and arrived in Cheter YHA at 10.40. Booked in and went to Chester, parked the car and went on a bus tour with commentary. Walked around shops and went to a pub for tea. We are staying here for two nights.Wednesday 25th Oct. Breakfast 7.45 and left 8.30 en route for Caernarfon and Bangor. Through Broughton and Penn-y-fford. Forested area with autumnal tints. Then onto freeway. Raining heavily and when it stopped about 20 miles from Colwyn the scenery was magnificent on all sides and can now see the ocean. Colwyn Bay is beautiful, right beside the sea and yet beautiful mountain scenery. Outskirts of Bangor is beautiful. Dozens of yachts and other craft. On to Caernarfon Castle (very large and Impressive). Back now to Bangor; drove down main street - barely enough room for two cars and on to Penrhyn castle. A castle and 40000 acres and from the top the views are fantastic as is in the castle. We are now £21 up on our Heritage passes (big deal). Heading back to Conyn to see (guess what) another castle. (It was in ruins anyway.) Returned to Chester YHA (one night) at 4.10 pm. Read for a while, had tea at a pub at 6.00pm and returned to YHA and bed at 8.20.
Thursday 26th Oct. Left at 8.15 after breakfast to go to Stranraer for the ferry (approx. 5 hours on A483 Highway) to go to Ireland. Once clear of the big cities usual beautiful views. Coming into mountainous country near Kendall; beautiful views, now magnificent. 10.08 very cloudy, raining then sunny. Back into Scotland at 10.40 at Gretna. Bypassed Carlisle, Dumfreys, Springholm, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright all beautiful scenery. Passed Gatehouse of Fleet through Panure. Stopped at Minnigaff for lunch then on through Durragit to Stranraer at 1.45 pm. Raining very hard. Went to Bed and Breakfast in Stranraer. Returned at 9.00 after tea at a pub. Huge helpings and none of us ate everything.
Friday 27th Oct. A beautiful morning; Breakfast at 7.45 after which we went for a short drive to Port Patrick, a resort 7 miles along the coast from where Ireland can be seen. Back to Stranraer. Ferry left at 11.30. Two and a half hours to Larne. Arrived at 2.05 and drove on to Irish soil at 2.22. Fine but overcast. Went to Coleraine (20 miles) and onwards to Portrush to find a B&B. Scenery beautiful near Ballyboley Forest. Very windy and saw 10 wind driven electricity generators. Through Moorfield, Ballymena, Bypassed Coleraine in the finish. Found the B&B and booked in at 4.30. Went to a pub for tea and bed at 8.00.
Saturday 28th Oct. Fine weather. Left at 8.30 after Brekky to go to the Giant’s Causeway. Nature at its best. Terrific views, saw a golf course right beside the ocean; went through Ballysally (housing estate) to Coleraine; Limavaddy towards Derry (Londonderry). Views marvellous; mountainous country right down to the see. Limavaddy (quite a large town) then Ballykely. Autumn tinted forest on right. Through Greysteal over a bridge from which we saw a fantastic sight of Londonderry which we bypassed. Passed a checkpoint into Southern Ireland and on through Buncrana, Burnfot where we had a picnic lunch overlooking a magnificent panorama and at 1 pm left for Sligo (112 kms). Through Strandar mountainous country; flattening slightly and then lower mountains in the distance. Through Donegal; very pretty houses in general. Through Ballyshannon, Bundoran with ocean on RHS. Cliffoney Grange, Drumcliff; Rathcormack and arrived in Sligo at approx. 2.30. Traffic a nightmare in the inner city then on through Ballydore, Beltra, and Dromore West and on to Ballina. Stayed the night in (B&B Ballina) beautiful rooms and lovely breakfast. Very nice lady. This B&B was right next door to the Cathedral where we went to Mass (7.30 Sat. Night) after tea at a pub restaurant. Went to bed at 9.00
Sunday 29th Oct. Left Ballina for Galway at approx. 9 am through Rathduff, Knockmore, Lake Conn, Pontoon. Beautiful scenery, very rocky; stones all over the fields. Autumn colors more vivid, very winding roads, light rain began. Through boggy, rock strewn, bracken covered soggy land and yet beautiful country scenes on both sides of the road about ( a mile away. Quite a lot of peat. Rain stopped when we reached Castlebar; quite a sizeable town and on to Ballyheane, Ballintubber. Miles of stone fences. Stopped to ring Stephen) Saw Ballintubber Abbey founded in 1218. Sun appeared and on through Partry, Ballinrobe (smallish town) on towards Cong. Hundreds of small blocks divided by the stone fences. Neale, Ashford Castle (1220 AD). Saw ruins of Cong Abbey and cemetery. Glencorib, Headford, Cloonboo. Countryside hilly once more. Pineforest in the distance, sun shining, rivers very full.
Now on the outskirts of Galway. Very pretty scenes. Had lunch at Galway and left for Limerick (92km). Saw several magnificent views of Galway Bay from the surrounding mountains and went to visit James and Chrissie, friends of Margaret, then back through Ballyvaughan which is on the opposite side of the bay from Galway. We are now driving alongside the bay at ( to 4 and the darker it gets the views of Galway Bay and the surrounding hills are better. On through Fanore and stayed the night at a farmhouse B&B called Rocky View. It is well named - rocks, rocks and more rocks and mountains. Buddy will remember driving in, out, around, up and over potholes on the winding road to Merrijig. Stayed the night at Fanore Farmhouse B&B. (The Burren)
Monday 30th Oct. Breakfast 8.15 and left at 9.10 to go to the Cliffs of Moher via Lisadoonvarna and Doolen. A place of contrasts; now trees and shrubs and not so rocky. Most of the houses are white. So much so that when you see one of another color you look again. Miles and miles of stone walls on both sides of the road. The Cliffs of Moher are awe inspiring (600’ high). Overcast but the sun broke through touching the view with more magic. On through Liscannor, Ennistimon, (a beautiful holiday town and the village much older), Kilnamona, Ennis; bypassed Shannon and on to Bunratty Castle. Visited the castle which was very good particularly the displays of farm life in the yester year.
Cliff’s of Mohr
On to Limerick, views still very pretty. Limerick is a big city. Went to St. John’s Castle and saw films and ruins etc. - all very good. Went to Kildimo B & B (Vera) and went to the local pub for tea. Quite an hilarious evening. (The memorable Fooken dead duck) Bed at 9.00Tuesday 31st Oct. Fine and sunny. Left Kildimo on through Askeaton, Foynes on the River Shannon (a very beautiful sight), and Loughill. Absolutely magnificent views of the bay. Through Glimm, Tarbert and Listowel. (Parking willy nilly) About 15 kms from Tralee. The views on both sides of the road are beautiful. Farms and farmhouses on faraway mountains. At Tralee we booked for one week a house at Kenmare and are on the way there. Had a picnic lunch. On again at 1pm. Through Castlemaine. Winding roads, leafy lanes, trees meeting overhead, cows and sheep. On both sides of the road a patchwork quilt of hedge-enclosed farms. Autumn colors, sun partly obscured by clouds and blue mountains merging with the sea. Killorgen, Fossa, Killarney, Muckross. A lovely 5 or 6 mile drive through a forested area. Autumn tinted foliage meeting overhead, occasional glimpses of a lake and then around a bend to a fantastic vista of tall rocky mountains. Then through a rock tunnel, moss encrusted rocks, many gnarled trees testifying to the incessant wind. And then to set it off Ladies View over Lake of Killarney where we stopped to take photos. Quite an amazing sight. Mountain passes merging into each other in the distance. Five or six small lakes, rocky protuberances and many trees bent into strange and weird shapes by the ever-present winds. Many sheep calmly eating on either side of the road. Surrounds now like the Burren. On arrival at Kenmare we experienced a lot of trouble locating our place of abode but eventually found it. We will stay here for one week (31st Oct Tues. night to 6th Nov. Mon. night.)
Kenmare Cottage
Wednesday 1st Nov. Had breakfast and ready to go at 9.10 (Buddy had already washed the car). Overcast but fine. Going to Cork. Superb mountain views through Kilgarvan; turned foggy but lifted later at Ballyvournay. Macroon (quite a large town), Lissarda, Farnanes, Ballyincollig then Cork. A very large town on the Harbour. Saw a sign on a café (Get Stuffed Here). Walked around Cork and then on to Blarney. Kathie and Marg went to the sales and then home to Kenmare via Flower, Dripsley, and Coachford through Macroon. Arrived Kenmare 4.05 and had tea at 6.30 after shopping. Bed at 9.00.Thursday 2nd Nov. Ready to leave early for Dingle but were told not to go if it was at all foggy, so we desisted. The view from our house is really beautiful this morning. A range of mountains with a lake in between. All ready to go after Marg went back for navigational instruments (maps etc.) and Bud went back to lock the door. Drove along a tree lined road for about 5 miles, trees meeting overhead and then on one side is a loch miles long with a backdrop of dozens of mountain ranges in the distance all autumn tinted. Sun just peeped through and painted it all in a different coloured blue and the dappled effect through the trees makes it even more beautiful.
Drove on through Sneem and we are driving through a huge amphitheatre of mountains and within their peaks. Some are pine clad, some in shade and others sunlit and with the sun glinting off the water; a village in the distance, houses dotting the foreground, sheep here and there, white encrusted rocks. Now the sun is blinding off the lake and around the bend we can see what looks like a small port with a few boats. (Caher Daniel). Now a new vista of rocky mountains with less vegetation, rocky protuberances many dotted with limestone.
Passed Carrols Cove with a lovely little beach and a finger of rock jutting out into the sea and a pretty little inlet. Stopped to take snaps of an even better view around the bend. This morning I have seen the most beautiful views ever. Impossible to describe them adequately. I am standing on a rock overlooking a faraway range of mountains merging with the sea, a smaller range jutting out into it, a village just below, 4 or 5 varying sized islands. Back into the car and around a bend and an even more beautiful view awaited us. Sheep sit on, or eat anywhere even in the middle of the road and all the roads are barely wide enough for two cars.
Waterville, a beautiful little village on the shores of a bay. Cahirciveen. Just saw a view of faraway mountains dipping into the see and has about 6 different shades of blue. (fantastic) Around another bend and the vista varies again. Glenbeigh and Killorglen where we had a picnic lunch beside the river; then on to Killarney; still beautiful but vastly different scenery. The girls went shopping and we bought a few books.
Went to Muckross House and on a Horse Jaunt to the waterfall and Muckross House both of which were well worth the trip. Muckross House itself was beautifully appointed and the views from every room are sensational. There are 11,000 acres of what is now a National Park and even in the grounds themselves the views are superb. Returned to Kenmare by the route we had travelled before via Ladies View and with daylight waning the view was even better than the last time.
Muckross House Jaunting Cart
Stopped at Avoca and Molls Gap for the girls to go shopping. Back to Kenmare after a lovely day had by all. Went out to tea to a pub in Kenmare. Good meal and back home to bed at 9.00.Friday 3rd Nov. Breakfasted and ready to go to Cashel by 8.20 am. Fine and cloudy and slightly foggy. Heading into Barraduff the sun came out painting the scenes more vividly beautiful. Through Rathmore still foggy and drove through miles of forested tunnels. Very foggy near Mallow, then Kildorrery; nearly all grazing land. Micheltown, Kilbehenly, Kilcoran with mountains on the left hand side containing many large pine forests. New Inn, Cashel. Saw Cashel Rock, a castle built out of and on top of the rock. Magnificent views again. On to Tipperary, Through Golden Kilfeacle. Had lunch at a secluded picnic spot (3 cars & trucks each way per minute). Then went on a scenic drive through Bancha, Mitchelltown and back to Kenmare. Collected our photographs most of which turned out OK. Back to the house at 4 for tea and bed.
Saturday 4th Nov. A day of rest. Girls went shopping and we watched T.V. in the afternoon. Girls cooked a roast for tea. Lovely meal. Watched T.V. Diamonds are Forever. Fairly wet but we were inside.
Sunday 5th Nov. Mass at 10.00 in Kenmare. Beautiful church; lovely stained glass windows. Had lunch and went for a drive through Bonane; through a series of rock tunnels; although overcast the views are magnificent. Saw a lake high up in the mountains a few miles away, then a sight of the sea with a few small islands off the shore and all the while driving through autumn tinted leafy lanes sometimes with the trees meeting overhead. The height of the mountains we have just traversed is 2170’ and there are dozens of peaks in the distance on all sides. Through Glengarriff, Seal Harbour. It seems astonishing to see so many houses dotted around miles and miles apart and to imagine the logistics of building them. Through Rise of Beard, Healy’s Pass with a white Crucifixion scene on the side of the road. Girls just took photos of a mountain lake higher up, just after Healy’s Pass. An absolutely magnificent scene and the wind blowing a gale.
Monday 6th Nov. Rest Day. Girls did our washing and we all read or watched T.V. Had tea at a Pub with Ron & Gloria who we met there. In bed by 9.30.
Tuesday 7th Nov. Left at 9.10 after Breakfast to go to Kilkenny. Raining and overcast, Usual beautiful views and more autumn scenes. Through Ballyvourney, Macroon and Cork. Stopped raining for a while. Leaving Cork to go to Kilkenny via Waterford. Low hills on both sides, patchwork quilt of forests, ploughed paddocks. Crops all bordered by hedges and dotted with cows and sheep. Castlemartyr, Killeagh, Youghal; a beautiful town in a walled port.
Picnic at Youghal
Had a picnic lunch outside Youghal. Mountains further away, larger paddocks, more cattle. Through a cutting and the view of the ocean, several fingers of land jutting into it. Mountainous background and green paddocks with hedges was magnificent. Bypassed Dungarvan, passing through forested areas, more higher mountains ahead, winding roads, broader valleys and lovely views for the last few miles into Waterford. Visited Waterford Crystal works. Very beautiful and expensive. Drove past the port. Many ships around, then on to Kilkenny via Mullinavat, BallyPhale, Stony Forest, Knocktopher. View coming into Kilkenny quite pretty. After a bit of walking and talking found Paul Hales. Spoke to Paul at his new shop and arranged to go to his place after he finished work. Walked around a bit, tea at a pub and back to Guest House. Then out to Paul’s house. Had a good night with Caroline and Stephanie and at 10.15 or so went to a Sing-a-long at a Pub and back to John Brennan’s Guest House which Buddy will remember. (Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive.)
Wednesday 8th Nov. Breakfast at 8.30, left at 9.00 to go to Tullow to see the nuns. Good views and a bit foggy way out in the distance. Paulstown. Rolling hills with big acreages on one side and on the other the usual patchwork quilts. On the far horizon and nearer at hand a forested area surrounded by bracken and gorse and it all manages to look beautiful with the sun shining on parts of it. Carlow. Beautiful scenery obscured by hedges. Tullow. Had morning tea with the nuns at the Bridgidine convent. At Ratvilly discovered I had lost my hearing aid and went back to the nuns; not there so Kathie rang Brennan’s Guest House where we spent the previous night. Luckily it was there. The proprietors will send it on to Brendan at Bruneii. On again through Baltinglass, Ballytore. Miles and miles of beautiful autumn tinted lanes. Through Nurney and on to Kildare. Had lunch at a café and then on to a horse stud and Japanese garden. Both well worth a visit. Passed Kildare racecourse; very large and very nice. Becoming overcast. Bypassed Swords, Naul, Lusth and on to Balbuggan to Droghedra. Raining. Went into town to get some money from the bank then on to find a B & B at Dundalk.
Thursday 9th Nov. Breakfast at 7.30 and set off at 8.10 to go to Larne. Very cold. Ice on the car which Bud hosed off. Out of Dundalk into winding roads, forested area, autumn tints. Going into higher mountains, a few pine plantations and distant mountains on both sides. Passed Buttercrane shopping centre (like Northland); passed through a disused Barrier between North and Southern Ireland into Newry 15 miles from Armagh. Green countryside, crops, pockets of frost like a white Christmas. Gosford Forest, Armagh, Moy, Dingammon. Sun came out and it’s now a beautiful day. Turned off to Stewartstown before Coagh. Small holdings bordered by hedges. Through Ballinderry, just sighted Lough Neagh (very pretty), Toome, Randalstown, Ballymena and on to Larne. Booked into a B & B at Larne (Derrin House) and had tea at a pub.
Friday 10th Nov. Had breakfast and went to the Ferry to Stranraer in Scotland but the 9.30 ferry was cancelled and we went on the 11.30 one.
On the move again in Scotland. 1.50pm going to Dumfries (74miles) through Dunraget; bypassed Glenluce, Kirkcowan. Beautiful grazing land with mountains in the distance on both sides. Bypassed Newton, Stewart and can now see pine forests and other forested mountains autumn tinted. Bypassed Creetown, Gatehouse of Fleet, Springholm. Reached Dumphries at 3.20. Stopped for 5 minutes and then reached the English border at 4.20 and on to Carlisle and later Penrith where we stopped to find a B & B at 5.35. Penrith B & B proprietors John & Valarie Bolton. Very comfortable.
Monday 6th Nov. Rest Day. Girls did our washing and we all read or watched T.V. Had tea at a Pub with Ron & Gloria who we met there. In bed by 9.30.
Tuesday 7th Nov. Left at 9.10 after Breakfast to go to Kilkenny. Raining and overcast, Usual beautiful views and more autumn scenes. Through Ballyvourney, Macroon and Cork. Stopped raining for a while. Leaving Cork to go to Kilkenny via Waterford. Low hills on both sides, patchwork quilt of forests, ploughed paddocks. Crops all bordered by hedges and dotted with cows and sheep. Castlemartyr, Killeagh, Youghal; a beautiful town in a walled port.
Picnic at Youghal
Had a picnic lunch outside Youghal. Mountains further away, larger paddocks, more cattle. Through a cutting and the view of the ocean, several fingers of land jutting into it. Mountainous background and green paddocks with hedges was magnificent. Bypassed Dungarvan, passing through forested areas, more higher mountains ahead, winding roads, broader valleys and lovely views for the last few miles into Waterford. Visited Waterford Crystal works. Very beautiful and expensive. Drove past the port. Many ships around, then on to Kilkenny via Mullinavat, BallyPhale, Stony Forest, Knocktopher. View coming into Kilkenny quite pretty. After a bit of walking and talking found Paul Hales. Spoke to Paul at his new shop and arranged to go to his place after he finished work. Walked around a bit, tea at a pub and back to Guest House. Then out to Paul’s house. Had a good night with Caroline and Stephanie and at 10.15 or so went to a Sing-a-long at a Pub and back to John Brennan’s Guest House which Buddy will remember. (Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive.)Wednesday 8th Nov. Breakfast at 8.30, left at 9.00 to go to Tullow to see the nuns. Good views and a bit foggy way out in the distance. Paulstown. Rolling hills with big acreages on one side and on the other the usual patchwork quilts. On the far horizon and nearer at hand a forested area surrounded by bracken and gorse and it all manages to look beautiful with the sun shining on parts of it. Carlow. Beautiful scenery obscured by hedges. Tullow. Had morning tea with the nuns at the Bridgidine convent. At Ratvilly discovered I had lost my hearing aid and went back to the nuns; not there so Kathie rang Brennan’s Guest House where we spent the previous night. Luckily it was there. The proprietors will send it on to Brendan at Bruneii. On again through Baltinglass, Ballytore. Miles and miles of beautiful autumn tinted lanes. Through Nurney and on to Kildare. Had lunch at a café and then on to a horse stud and Japanese garden. Both well worth a visit. Passed Kildare racecourse; very large and very nice. Becoming overcast. Bypassed Swords, Naul, Lusth and on to Balbuggan to Droghedra. Raining. Went into town to get some money from the bank then on to find a B & B at Dundalk.
Thursday 9th Nov. Breakfast at 7.30 and set off at 8.10 to go to Larne. Very cold. Ice on the car which Bud hosed off. Out of Dundalk into winding roads, forested area, autumn tints. Going into higher mountains, a few pine plantations and distant mountains on both sides. Passed Buttercrane shopping centre (like Northland); passed through a disused Barrier between North and Southern Ireland into Newry 15 miles from Armagh. Green countryside, crops, pockets of frost like a white Christmas. Gosford Forest, Armagh, Moy, Dingammon. Sun came out and it’s now a beautiful day. Turned off to Stewartstown before Coagh. Small holdings bordered by hedges. Through Ballinderry, just sighted Lough Neagh (very pretty), Toome, Randalstown, Ballymena and on to Larne. Booked into a B & B at Larne (Derrin House) and had tea at a pub.
Friday 10th Nov. Had breakfast and went to the Ferry to Stranraer in Scotland but the 9.30 ferry was cancelled and we went on the 11.30 one.
On the move again in Scotland. 1.50pm going to Dumfries (74miles) through Dunraget; bypassed Glenluce, Kirkcowan. Beautiful grazing land with mountains in the distance on both sides. Bypassed Newton, Stewart and can now see pine forests and other forested mountains autumn tinted. Bypassed Creetown, Gatehouse of Fleet, Springholm. Reached Dumphries at 3.20. Stopped for 5 minutes and then reached the English border at 4.20 and on to Carlisle and later Penrith where we stopped to find a B & B at 5.35. Penrith B & B proprietors John & Valarie Bolton. Very comfortable.
Saturday 11th Nov. Breakfast at 8 and left at 8.40 for Lancaster and beyond down the M6. Fine, overcast and slightly foggy. Very green pine forests on both sides through the mountains with beautiful views on both sides. Stone fences cutting the green into variously shaped and sized segments interspersed with clumps of trees. Then hedges replacing stone fences. Stopped at Lancaster and booked a thatched cottage in Kent for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Will get a B & B for tonight. Had lunch at an overhead Little Chef. Down the M6 bypassing Birmingham. Raining slightly and visibility poor. Onto M1 and onto Toddington the Dunstable where we booked a B & B. Had tea at a pub and in bed by 8.30.
Sunday 12th Nov. Breakfast 8.30; set off at 9.10. Markgate on to Dartford over toll Bridge (90p) bypassed Gravesend then to Kent. Through Longfield, Meophan, Hope Hill, Culverstone Green, Wrothan and Maidstone. A magnificent drive with autumnal colors particularly around Hopehill.
Found our cute little thatched cottage, had lunch at a pub and then moved into Ivy Dew Cottage, which was really quaint. All outside doors are in two parts. Open the top with a key and the bottom with a latch. Very low doors. Step-down into the lounge which is split level; a huge old fashioned fireplace with a somewhat incongruous gas heater. Ceiling is Wooden Beams (Black) and Wallboard (white). Beautifully appointed. T.V. and floral couches, chairs and an old fashioned dressing table.
Ivy Cottage
Plates and other decorations around the walls and above the fireplace and a lovely display of clay pipes on the side of the beams. (Buddy hit his head a few times). Bedrooms are upstairs and the stairs themselves are very steep and the left hand wall slopes two ways and the slope of the stairway roof is such that you must stay on the right hand side or you bump your head. Our bedroom has a sloping floor and the wardrobe is on block. 3” difference in height from one end to the other. When in bed looking up the wall slopes up to the rest of the ceiling. Quaint but beautiful.
From the lounge a top and bottom door leads to the kitchen. Walls white with black beams similar to the ceiling in three levels. Windows are lead light and one is stained glass. Well appointed kitchen including washing machine and dryer, electric range, double sink and microwave. Back door is top/bottom and step up to door level. Tiled floor. Ceiling beams across the kitchen have hooks and clips from which jugs and plates form decorations. Sunday lunch at Cricketer’s Arms Pub about 100 yards away and tea at home. Bed at 9.00
Monday 13th Nov. Got up fairly late and after lunch Kathie and I went to see mum’s cousin, Molly and her husband Harry (MBE). We had lunch (again) with them and afternoon tea and quite a talk and returned by train where Buddy picked us up. Girls cooked tea and after tea watched T.V. We are now staying here another night which helps a bit. Bed at 9.00
Tuesday 14th Nov. Buddy went to see a quack! Took ages to get in but the doctor was helpful. He was crook with the Flu. We had a day of rest. Kathie and I went for a walk. Wrote a few cards etc.; watched T.V. Had tea at a pub, (Buddy stayed home as he still wasn’t feeling well). Watched T.V. for a while and went to bed at 9.00
Wednesday 15th Nov. After breakfast went to Longfield station and left the car. Went by train and underground to London. Girls bought some crockery. Kathie completed her set and Marg bought an 8 set Johnson Bros. Dinner set. Had lunch at a toy shop café and returned to the cottage after walking around London shops.
Thursday 16th Nov. Left Ivy Dew Cottage, Kent to go to Heathrow where we left the car and we saw Buddy and Marg off to Hawaii.
We put our heavy cases in the store at the airport and got a bus to Kensington Hotel. (Just a Hotel), had tea and went to bed.
Friday 17th Nov. Had breakfast at 8.30 and went to the airport by bus. Walked around the airport shops and after usual formalities boarded a plane to Kuala Lumpur at 12.25. Left England at 12.55. Airport surrounds look beautiful from the air. Arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 9.10 am. Local time and had to wait until 3.35 for Bruneii flight which actually left at 4.10. Arrived in Bruneii about an hour or so later and were picked up at the airport by Brendan and Nadine. After tea and a long talk went to bed at 11.45.
Map of Bunei
Sunday 19th Nov. Went to Bandar Serai Begawan for shopping (about 40 km). Bought swimming togs and sandals, then on to Royal Bruneii Yacht Club at Serasa (20km); had lunch and a swim in a pool (warm). Went to mass at 5.30 and home to Tutong where we had tea and were in bed at 9.00.
Monday 20th Nov. Nadine and Brendan went to work. Another beautiful day. Kathie and I had breakfast and I went walking along the beach and Kathie sat under the fan and rested. The workers returned at lunch time and after eating Brendan took me for a drive while the girls talked. Then we went on a Hash which is a glorified paper chase through the jungle, ending with drinks and tea. Very nice and very good company. Returned home at 8.00, had sweets and in bed by 9.00.
Sunday 12th Nov. Breakfast 8.30; set off at 9.10. Markgate on to Dartford over toll Bridge (90p) bypassed Gravesend then to Kent. Through Longfield, Meophan, Hope Hill, Culverstone Green, Wrothan and Maidstone. A magnificent drive with autumnal colors particularly around Hopehill.
Found our cute little thatched cottage, had lunch at a pub and then moved into Ivy Dew Cottage, which was really quaint. All outside doors are in two parts. Open the top with a key and the bottom with a latch. Very low doors. Step-down into the lounge which is split level; a huge old fashioned fireplace with a somewhat incongruous gas heater. Ceiling is Wooden Beams (Black) and Wallboard (white). Beautifully appointed. T.V. and floral couches, chairs and an old fashioned dressing table.
Ivy Cottage
Plates and other decorations around the walls and above the fireplace and a lovely display of clay pipes on the side of the beams. (Buddy hit his head a few times). Bedrooms are upstairs and the stairs themselves are very steep and the left hand wall slopes two ways and the slope of the stairway roof is such that you must stay on the right hand side or you bump your head. Our bedroom has a sloping floor and the wardrobe is on block. 3” difference in height from one end to the other. When in bed looking up the wall slopes up to the rest of the ceiling. Quaint but beautiful. From the lounge a top and bottom door leads to the kitchen. Walls white with black beams similar to the ceiling in three levels. Windows are lead light and one is stained glass. Well appointed kitchen including washing machine and dryer, electric range, double sink and microwave. Back door is top/bottom and step up to door level. Tiled floor. Ceiling beams across the kitchen have hooks and clips from which jugs and plates form decorations. Sunday lunch at Cricketer’s Arms Pub about 100 yards away and tea at home. Bed at 9.00
Monday 13th Nov. Got up fairly late and after lunch Kathie and I went to see mum’s cousin, Molly and her husband Harry (MBE). We had lunch (again) with them and afternoon tea and quite a talk and returned by train where Buddy picked us up. Girls cooked tea and after tea watched T.V. We are now staying here another night which helps a bit. Bed at 9.00
Tuesday 14th Nov. Buddy went to see a quack! Took ages to get in but the doctor was helpful. He was crook with the Flu. We had a day of rest. Kathie and I went for a walk. Wrote a few cards etc.; watched T.V. Had tea at a pub, (Buddy stayed home as he still wasn’t feeling well). Watched T.V. for a while and went to bed at 9.00
Wednesday 15th Nov. After breakfast went to Longfield station and left the car. Went by train and underground to London. Girls bought some crockery. Kathie completed her set and Marg bought an 8 set Johnson Bros. Dinner set. Had lunch at a toy shop café and returned to the cottage after walking around London shops.
Thursday 16th Nov. Left Ivy Dew Cottage, Kent to go to Heathrow where we left the car and we saw Buddy and Marg off to Hawaii.
We put our heavy cases in the store at the airport and got a bus to Kensington Hotel. (Just a Hotel), had tea and went to bed.
Friday 17th Nov. Had breakfast at 8.30 and went to the airport by bus. Walked around the airport shops and after usual formalities boarded a plane to Kuala Lumpur at 12.25. Left England at 12.55. Airport surrounds look beautiful from the air. Arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 9.10 am. Local time and had to wait until 3.35 for Bruneii flight which actually left at 4.10. Arrived in Bruneii about an hour or so later and were picked up at the airport by Brendan and Nadine. After tea and a long talk went to bed at 11.45.
Map of Bunei
Sunday 19th Nov. Went to Bandar Serai Begawan for shopping (about 40 km). Bought swimming togs and sandals, then on to Royal Bruneii Yacht Club at Serasa (20km); had lunch and a swim in a pool (warm). Went to mass at 5.30 and home to Tutong where we had tea and were in bed at 9.00.Monday 20th Nov. Nadine and Brendan went to work. Another beautiful day. Kathie and I had breakfast and I went walking along the beach and Kathie sat under the fan and rested. The workers returned at lunch time and after eating Brendan took me for a drive while the girls talked. Then we went on a Hash which is a glorified paper chase through the jungle, ending with drinks and tea. Very nice and very good company. Returned home at 8.00, had sweets and in bed by 9.00.
Tuesday 21st Nov. Had breakfast after Nadine and Brendan had gone to work. After showers etc. Kathie did the washing and I cleaned the outside drains. No spouting here. Water just runs into concrete drains and down to the beach. We read and rested until the workers returned at lunchtime (1.00) After lunch we dressed up. Nadine and Kathie in dresses and Brendan and I in long pants and shirts to visit the Mosque. Well worth the visit. Mostly marble, huge and beautiful with magnificent gardens surrounding it. We then went on a motor boat tour to see the water village. Thirty thousand people live in small houses built out from the land and over the water all connected by landing. Quite astonishing. Then on to the market place where the water village people buy their fruit, vegies, eggs etc. Smelly but fascinating. Visited some friends of B & N and had tea at a European café. In bed by 10.00
Wednesday 22nd Nov. Brendan and Nadine went to school. We had breakfast at 8.30 and lazed around reading etc. until B & N returned for lunch. I went for a walk along the beach. B & N went for a siesta. Kathie and I lazed around and then went for a walk along the beach into a beautiful sunset. Had tea, played Scrabble and bed at 10.00.
Thursday 23rd Nov. We woke up after B & N had gone to work. We were ready to get up when the bed collapsed. Quite hilarious. Had a restful morning which we needed after our sea trip. When B & N returned we had lunch and went by boat to Temburong and stayed the night at Pat’s (friends of Bren.) house. Passed the Water village again and through the jungle via a river which is extremely long and dirty but the views of the impenetrable jungle are very good and scary. (45 min trip by a small motorboat). Used Pat’s car to look around and played cards and went to bed.
Friday 24th Nov. Had breakfast and idled around. Visited Emma who had a new baby. B & N had a present for her. Then went past Bangor for a picnic lunch and a walk up stairs to see the real jungle. Went up 400 steps but did not get right to the top. Kathie got tired. I thought it was wonderful. Lianas, and huge trees. On our return to Temburong we left the car for Pat to pick up and returned by the river motorboat to Bandar Seri Begawan. This time we went much faster and consequently was much bumpier than the trip over. The boat accommodated about twelve people and is driven by an outboard motor. Did some shopping. Returned to Tutong, played a few games of Five Hundred and went to bed at 10.00. Nadine and I walked along the beach for more than an hour before tea.
Saturday 25th Nov. Once more did not wake up until N & B had gone to work. Had breakfast and I walked along the beach to the river about 1( miles. Saw a dead stonefish (deadly poisonous). On my return had a shower and Fiona rang. Sat around reading while Kathie cleaned up and did the washing. Had a shower and B & N returned from work and at 5 or so took us to the airport at Bandar Serai Begawan. B & N left us at 6.00 but the plane supposed to leave at 6.30 didn’t leave until 7.30. Arrived at our hotel “The Park Royal” quiet swanky at 11.00 and went straight to bed. From the window we had a beautiful view of the town lights of Kuala Lumpur.
Sultan’s palace, Kuala Lumpur
Wednesday 22nd Nov. Brendan and Nadine went to school. We had breakfast at 8.30 and lazed around reading etc. until B & N returned for lunch. I went for a walk along the beach. B & N went for a siesta. Kathie and I lazed around and then went for a walk along the beach into a beautiful sunset. Had tea, played Scrabble and bed at 10.00.
Thursday 23rd Nov. We woke up after B & N had gone to work. We were ready to get up when the bed collapsed. Quite hilarious. Had a restful morning which we needed after our sea trip. When B & N returned we had lunch and went by boat to Temburong and stayed the night at Pat’s (friends of Bren.) house. Passed the Water village again and through the jungle via a river which is extremely long and dirty but the views of the impenetrable jungle are very good and scary. (45 min trip by a small motorboat). Used Pat’s car to look around and played cards and went to bed.
Friday 24th Nov. Had breakfast and idled around. Visited Emma who had a new baby. B & N had a present for her. Then went past Bangor for a picnic lunch and a walk up stairs to see the real jungle. Went up 400 steps but did not get right to the top. Kathie got tired. I thought it was wonderful. Lianas, and huge trees. On our return to Temburong we left the car for Pat to pick up and returned by the river motorboat to Bandar Seri Begawan. This time we went much faster and consequently was much bumpier than the trip over. The boat accommodated about twelve people and is driven by an outboard motor. Did some shopping. Returned to Tutong, played a few games of Five Hundred and went to bed at 10.00. Nadine and I walked along the beach for more than an hour before tea.
Saturday 25th Nov. Once more did not wake up until N & B had gone to work. Had breakfast and I walked along the beach to the river about 1( miles. Saw a dead stonefish (deadly poisonous). On my return had a shower and Fiona rang. Sat around reading while Kathie cleaned up and did the washing. Had a shower and B & N returned from work and at 5 or so took us to the airport at Bandar Serai Begawan. B & N left us at 6.00 but the plane supposed to leave at 6.30 didn’t leave until 7.30. Arrived at our hotel “The Park Royal” quiet swanky at 11.00 and went straight to bed. From the window we had a beautiful view of the town lights of Kuala Lumpur.
Sultan’s palace, Kuala Lumpur
Sunday 26th Nov. The view from the window wasn’t so good in the daylight but the hotel was luxurious. Had breakfast and went shopping for a few hours. Kathie had a ball. Returned to the hotel and I went to the hotel pool for a swim, then a Sauna bath and then watched the cases while Kathie had her hair cut. Pottered around until 6.00 when we were picked up to go to the airport. Plane was late, left at 9.30 instead of 9.00 and arrived in Melbourne at 7.20 am. Local time and were picked up by Fiona, Marty, David and Laura.
posted by Kevin Bolton @ 8:28 PM
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