Two Dogs and an Awning

Category: Travel

  • Crosby’s Birthday

    Crosby’s Birthday

    Crosby is two today. So he gets to choose what we do for the day! Not surprisingly he wants to go for a long walk. Lyn’s not so keen, but reluctantly agrees to join her three boys. So the picnic is prepared, whilst I do the daily check of the awning and do all the other outside jobs.

    We park at the Hilltop car park near Cocking. A clue to the type of walk we are in for is in the name of the car park. Joining the South Downs Way we head westward into the low cloud that has encased the downs. I bet there would be cracking views on a clear day. After passing a group of youngsters on a Duke of Edinburgh walk we come to Devils Jump.

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  • They Know Your There

    They Know Your There

    After subjecting Lyn to a few steep hills on the Sussex Downs yesterday there is a plea for a walk that does not include any inclines. So a glance at the map and we are off to walk around Thorney Island.

    This peninsula juts into Chichester Harbour and has an airfield that was built by the RAF in 1938, it was thereafter used by the Royal Navy and in 1984 it was transferred to the Royal Artillery. Now known as Baker Barracks it is only a short distance from the start until you become aware of the military presence, but more of that later.

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  • Canine Partners

    Canine Partners

    We awake after our first full day on the road and the immediate priority is to check if the awning has survived another night. Whilst I had little doubt in my engineering ability it is still refreshing to see it standing in all it’s regal splendor.

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  • Off we go …..

    Off we go …..

    After months of planning our journey and four weeks of constant packing we have finally reached the day of departure.

    Over the years I have always thought the process of packing up the contents of a house and moving to another location a very straightforward activity. Every time we have embarked on the venture, four times in the same village and once when we went “off” to Taunton for a few years, the reality has proved that there is a distinct difference between packing and loading the car for two weeks holiday in the sun and emptying a house.

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  • Reminiscing

    Reminiscing

    A couple of days left before we kick off on our travels and the sun comes out to help us with our final preparations. Whilst we do another sift of the items that have found their way into the Unicorn, half of which we are sure not to need but still feel essential at this juncture, Dexter takes a relaxed approach and enjoys the spring sun from one of his favourite vantage points.

    Meanwhile Crosby continues to vigilantly stand guard, there is no apparent threat, but in Crosby’s world you can never be sure who might want to venture into his designated zone and there is always the distinct possibility that they will have a biscuit in their pocket. Indeed, soon after the picture was taken Crosby’s friend Amber came visiting with her Mum and the anticipated biscuit arrived!

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  • Frost and Sun

    Frost and Sun

    We have just spent our first night in the Unicorn after moving more of our possessions out of our home. We moved the van onto the site during the afternoon and then returned for a few more hours of packing.

    Returning to the Unicorn at 23.30 to find it very cold. Thankfully the heating system soon kicks in to take the chill off and we climb into bed, albeit with thick socks on! A reminder of a childhood with no central heating and tiled floors, waking to frost on the inside of windows. Something that our children find hard to believe, but gives an indication that we were both born in the 1950’s.

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