11, 12 & 13 September 2012

Getting ready to leave for home.

After packing all our goodies up Karen & I caught a cab to Felixstowe while the boys rode the bikes.  We spent an enjoyable night at the Blue Naan Indian restaurant with Dave and a couple of the other riders.

The next day the boys rode the bikes, to the shipping terminal.  It was the last time they would get to ride them for a couple of months.

Make sure they clean under those guards Dave.

Our baby ready for the long trip home in the container.

'Get Routed'
Dave & his disciples preparing Kev's bike.

Panniers all nice & snug on the pallet ready to go.

After the bikes were all tucked away the four of us headed for London and our last night away.  Our flight didn't leave until late in the evening so there was nothing else to do but shop!
On Park Lane of course.

All that was left for us to do was cross our fingers we weren't over our baggage allowances.  

Our ride home.

Thanks to all the wonderful people we have met along the way.
Thanks to family and friends for looking after things while we were away and for the smiling faces when we got back.

This would normally be the end of the blog but I will make one last entry in a few weeks time when we go to pick up the bike.

9 & 10 September 2012

Caldicot to Shenfield, England via the Ace Cafe

Tania has kindly been collecting and storing all our parcels so we have come to stay for a couple of days to collect & pack them as well as have a good catch up with her.

On the way we stopped at the Ace Cafe where there were thousands of bikes gathered for the start of their annual Brighton Burn. 

Rolling in for the run to Brighton.

Everyone of those heads have a bike!

Nice Cafe Furniture.

No not a wine, just coffee.

4,5,6,7 & 8 September 2012

Caldicot, Newport, Risca & Cardiff

This week has been great catching up with all the Staunton family over here.  We never seem to have enough time and never get to see every one.

Terry (the Handsome devil) & Judith at home in Caldicot.

Big thank you to Judith & Terry for letting us stay with them.

John & I out the front of Judith & Terry's in Caldicot.

Thanks to John for taking the time to come in to see us from Bridgewater.

Suazanne, Ashley, Kiera, Josie & Pete at the Ship & Pilot, Newport.

Thanks to Pete, Josie & Suzanne for a great night & morning out .

Having fun at the Ship & Pilot.

Earlier in the evening Josie & I
on the new foot bridge.

A nice catch up with some of the cousins.

My cousins Stephen & Jeanette.

Thanks for the Yummy Curry!

 Curry night at Billa's.

Little Paige the youngest of Judith's 9 Great-Granchild.

I would need a separate blog to show all the photo's of all the relatives, especially since every one seems to have had babies since our last visit.
Thanks to everyone for making our visit special.xx

3 September 2012

Cardiff, Wales

Not happy this morning!  We had a nice day out planned in Cardiff and when we went to leave the bike wouldn't start :( 

Maurice hadn't been happy with the last service from the time he got on the bike and noticed the Mechanic had left it dirty, he was less happy when he noticed that they had broken a bit of the oil cap thingy and now he was even less happy.

Thankfully the guys at Riders BMW Cardiff were very helpful, professional and understanding of our situation.  They looked at it as soon as they could and fixed all the problems.

So a BIG BIG thankyou to Craig & Bart.
Our baby is running like a Swiss watch!

We didn't get to see much of Cardiff but we did manage to make it to the Ship & Pilot to see Brother Peter, Suzanne & Co.

30 & 31 August and 1 & 2 September 2012

Caldicot, Wales

It has been seven years since we visited the family in Wales and boy have things changed.  Small children and babies every where!  The day after we arrived it was Terry's 83rd birthday and all the Children, Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren came in at one time or another during the day so the house was full.

The birthday boy & birthday girl Lillie-Grace.

We have had a few days out, one to Bristol and one to London, and have spent time catching up with every one, it's been great.

Pictures of Bristol

Pictures of London 

27, 28 & 29 August 2012

Scotland to Wales via the Packet Boat Pub.

The canal between the hotel we stayed at, the Royal,
and the Packet boat.

We try not to go back to the same place twice but in the Packet Boats case we had to make an exception to the the rule. We felt so at home last time we decided that it would make a good half way stopping point on our way down to Wales.

Apart from a few drinks we had to have Maurice's favourite, Pickled Eggs.

We found out that Ann-Marie is also the bouncer.  Gypsy's beware!

After a good night at the pub we travelled down to Wales and through Snowdonia and down a bit of the coast.  Thankfully the weather was a bit nicer and we got to enjoy the scenery.

Just in case you have forgotten what we look like.

You wouldn't believe it was Wales if we didn't put at least one photo of a Castle.

The evening stop.

 Then it was off again to make our way to Caldicot through more beautiful country side and pretty towns.