Milton Keynes 14-17 Mar 14

Another combination of boat, bike and bus over a beautiful spring weekend in Buckinghamshire.

I arrived at lunchtime on Friday at the Camping and Caravanning Club (C&CC) site in time for the gates to open for the first time this season. The site is quite pretty and the staff incredibly friendly, but the toilets and showers are probably 2/3 the size of normal ones! Despite our anger at the C&CC new improved (ha!) pricing structure, the site is very handy for where Martin moored his narrowboat on the Grand Union Canal.

Once I plugged in I cycled over to the boat and we then had a pootle around the area, stopping at the "cathedral of trees" (disappointing) before heading to a nice local pub for a pint or three of Doom Bar. We then cycled into MK (I didn't realise it is so hilly) to meet Debs at the station and then cycled the 3 miles back again, got changed and repaired to the pub for dinner.

Saturday was written off by watching the 6 Nations Rugby on the boat then the first BBQ of the season back at the bus, but we did manage a 4 mile cycle along the towpath to the Rohan outlet store.

On Sunday we had another long ride up the steep hill into town, had lunch in the pub and then settled down for a long afternoon relaxing, drinking wine and eating cheese on the boat. With the glorious weather, and great company, it was a memorable weekend.

Crystal Palace 27 Feb - 4 Mar 14

A long stay this time - 6 nights in London. How decadent!

I know this route now and the journey was uneventful, setting up in a different area of the site from our usual favourite spot. Then it was the walk down the hill to meet Debs at the station and a nice meal and relaxing glass of wine back in our second home, On Thursday Debs went to work and I took the train to Victoria, wandered around Buckingham Palace and then hired a Boris Bike to pootle around the royal parks, finally ending up in the Victoria and Albert Museum.  On Friday I did a bit of admin in the bus, then wandered around the local area. Penge is not a very nice area to wander around. Saturday it was off to Twickenham, a big breakfast and then the game (Quins v Worcester - a pretty dire game all round). We then met up for a coffee with Barry before heading back to CP and a relaxing night's kip.

By Boris Bike around the Albert Memorial

Off to work

Sunday saw us on the bus to the Mother in Law's for lunch and then on Monday it was up early for Debs to go to work and me to accompany my Mum to have her cataract removed. On Tuesday I had a nice breakfast in the café at the station and an uneventful journey home.

View of London from the top of Gypsy Hill

In summary - a nice run out, but it would be good to go somewhere other than London for a bit of peace and quiet!

We visited the mother in law