Back on the Road and Three Months Behind!

For family and friends following this blog, and those who know me well, may realize that I’m about three months behind writing this and trying to catch up to the present day!  Since the last post was written we left Arizona on the 4th May and have driven just over 5,000 miles from Tucson, through New Mexico, Kansas and Nebraska to South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana, where we are now parked in a very pleasant RV Park in Missoula in the northern Rocky Mountains. 

I’m including some photos of our 5th wheel home.   Here are several that I’ve taken of our RV (recreational vehicle) and one of “Rex”, the name we chose for our 1 ton Ford F350 tow truck.

The following entries will show you some of the highlights that we enjoyed during these months and give you an idea of why we love to travel, why we live as we do and why we chose this way of life.  It’s nearly always about the journey; the people we meet, the small town curiosities, the vast expanses of countryside, the variety of landscapes, the places we stay and the freedom that makes this possible.  

Until I catch up, I’ll try to omit the happenings of our daily activities and focus on where we’ve been, but it’s often in the details of the unexpected or conversations with strangers we meet that are a source of delight to us.  I hope that you will find the meanderings enjoyable too and please comment either way.  I’m open to constructive criticism and helpful advice.

Pashley Manor Gardens

The best time to visit this beautiful, award winning garden in East Sussex is probably summer when the borders are filled with a mass of perennials of all colours, but we were there during their tulip festival and it was still a delight.  The property was originally a moated Manor house, but this family home which we see today, was built in the Tudor style during the mid 1500’s and is not open to the public.

We loved wandering through the various gardens hidden behind walls and sitting on the terrace eating lunch under the magnolias while ducks from the lake below walked through the flower beds hoping to be given tidbits, which of course some people did. Some were not amused by the ducks' antics! 

We strolled down the hill to the lake with it’s black swans and uphill again to come upon the unexpected, like the lovely pool shown in the photo.  

Visitors can amble anywhere around the gardens and admire the intricate bronzes and abstract sculptures that are dotted throughout the grounds. Many were outstanding, such as the bird on the gate post we saw when looking through the arch into the open fields beyond.  

There are hundreds of gardens, Manor homes, castles and even historic villages to be found all over Great Britain and we feel privileged to be able to visit them when  we’re there.  We’re also thankful that so many buildings have been saved from falling into ruins or from demolition for future generations to admire.

Eastbourne, Sussex

Our last few days in England were spent on the south coast with our very good friends, Chris and Dave.  Here they are with Howard on the waterfront at Eastbourne harbour. 

The marina's impressive with four inner basins and one outer tidal harbour for the many sleek boats and large yachts, some that can easily cross the Channel to Europe. 

Numerous flats (apartment buildings) overlook the area with its constant flow of activity. The waterfront offers a variety of shops and restaurants including a very good chippy (fish and chip shop). 

A stone’s throw between the footpath and water’s edge, a mute swan had built her nest and was guarding her eggs protectively until her partner came to take her place so that she could waddle off to find food until it was her turn to take over again. They weren’t at all fazed  by the proximity of humans gawping at them.

We couldn’t have visited Eastbourne without a tour of the famous Victorian Pier built in 1870, but now sadly in need of restoration.  It still has a tea room,  kiosks and domed ballroom. This was probably once very attractive in its heyday but has now been converted to a typical amusement arcade for present day tourists. 

This day was overcast and windy but we could still admire the meticulously manicured gardens between the pier and popular bandstand along the Parade.

One of the most well-known white chalk headlands of Britain is Beachy Head, a paradise for walkers, kite fliers and para-gliding - not for the faint-hearted!