Due to continued frustration with the speed of uploading photos I have moved to a new site.

You can continue to read all about my travels with Him'n'Her

here

(http://harveydiamond.wordpress.com/)

Twenty: Dorset, Somerset & The Cotswolds: Part Five (21/07/09)

And it goes on, and on, and on - to point where my rain shelter (or sun canopy if the weather is right!) tries to divorce itself from me. Just as well He remembered to peg it down. After a while they get up, unhook me, roll up my rain shelter and off we go - leaving the bikes and my lovely pitch-marker/bird feeder behind - must mean their memories are really getting bad now, or that we are coming back later today.

20 miles or so through the pouring rain and we pull into a car park near Abbotsbury and they go off for a stroll along Chesil Beach, another place they are excited about visiting. They couldn't go too far along it's 17 miles, however, as most of it is closed to human's between April and October due to sea-birds laying their eggs on the pebbles.

Still, they agree that it is a fantastic place and they really enjoyed lying on the pebbles in the drizzle (yes, the rain had softened to a drizzle at this point).

They could see the swannery at Abbotsbury from Chesil Beach and we went there to have a closer look at the swans, but when they saw the size of the entrance fee (£9 each) they decided that it wasn't worth it - after all they have seen lots of swans all over the place - and so they went for a wander around the quaint village of Abbotsbury instead. Mind you, everything seems to be expensive round here - including their lunch of baked potatoes - must be where all the rich folk from Sandbanks come for a day out ;-)

On the way to Abbotsbury, He had spotted a viewpoint that gave a view right along Chesil Beach and we agreed to stop there on the way back so that He could take some snaps but no dice...it was that misty I had to get her to turn my fog lamps on.

Still raining, we called into Bridport to do some shopping before returning to Bingham Grange. Despite the rain, they seem as if they had a good day and that's all that matters, bless 'em.

Twenty: Dorset, Somerset & The Cotswolds: Part Four (20/07/09)

9.00am and He's got into Her seat, pulled me forward a few feet on the drive and then got out again. What's he up to now? Call that a test drive?! Ah! - making enough room to get his pudgy tummy between me and the hedge while He fills my water tank - must mean we're away and I'll have to say a fond farewell to the dogs and my holiday home. About 30 minutes later, She's in the driving seat and we are, indeed, off.

After about 40 minutes we pull into a grassy, sloping car park at Lulworth Cove and He's getting all excited, bouncing up and down and saying that He can't believe He's finally gotten here. Turns out He'd wanted to come here since He was knee-high to a leek (well He is Welsh!!).

They leave me with a lovely view of a hedge while they go off and enjoy fandabbydozey views of the cove. Apparently, they not only went to the beach at the bottom of the cove, but also climbed the path on the eastern edge and came up over the top of it, where they saw, and He photographed, a Kestrel hovering over the cliff top searching for prey.

This was followed by a short jaunt to Stair Hole, a lovely blow-hole caused by sea water eating its way through the rock, a cuppa in the cafe near the car park and then they walked right past me without so much as a nod to a blind bat on their way to Durdle Door - a natural arch. This was, apparently, even more fandabbydozey than the cove, and far more impressive in real life than when they had seen it on Coast, and I think I agree with them having seen their piccies.

They especially enjoyed their tramp along the beach to Butter Rock, a small stack that seems to merge with the headland of Bat's Head behind it. Incidentally, Bat's Head also contains a small natural arch called Bat's Hole (what else?).

On their return, He arrived back first and stood next to me until She arrived and they then put their bags on board and then went off for food and mucky beer in the pub, before we set off again.

After about an hour we arrived at Bingham Grange Touring and Camping Park just off the road between Melplash and Bridport. I'm shown to a large hard-standing pitch up in the corner of the site, tucked away nicely with hedges on 3 sides - tidy! They quickly get me hooked up, cook some tea and then settle in for a night of reading and chilling. That night, however, the rain returns, accompanied by quite high winds.

Twenty: Dorset, Somerset & The Cotswolds: Part Three (19/07/09)

10.00am, after a very hearty breakfast, they set off again in Her brother's car for a day around Poole - which is full of people doing watersports, Sandbanks (where all the rich people live - He was very disappointed not to be able to find Harry Redknapp's house and persuade him that he didn't really want to sigh Crouchy for Spurs) and then over to Studland Bay via the remarkable chain ferry. I'd have been a bit dubious about getting on such a vessel until they told me that they saw a double-decker bus on it...and a tasty Morgan.

A quick stop off for Him to get some photos of the stacks known as Old Harry's Rocks and the a delightful trip to Corfe village which started off with a cuppa and some delicious cake at a garden tea party. They didn't know whose garden it was, having been invited/accosted to attend by some bloke in the street, but they enjoyed the refreshments and the 1930's style disco nonetheless.

This was followed by a great visit to Corfe Castle and then it was back to the house for a lovely meal and a very nice evening of chilling and chatting.

Me, I had a very restful day watching over the house and the dogs - and very well-behaved they all were as well.

Twenty: Dorset, Somerset & The Cotswolds: Part Two (18/07/09)

The following morning we're up early, a glass of juice each and by 8.00am we're away. Back to the M1 and south, stopping off for brekkie at Tibshelf Services after a few miles. Then it's south again to the M40 and then the A34, by-passing Newbury on the Newbury By-pass (what else would you call it). Newbury, She informs us, is where Swampy was from, whoever he is! He then gets a phone call from my first stalker, sorry follower, Big Pete, and tells him what we are up to...so I finally get to find out that we are heading for Dorset. Can't wait to get there.

But, what with Him being contrary and everything, He tells Her to ignore the Sat Nav cos He knows a better way - which involves a traffic jam which adds an hour to their journey - but I did manage to give them a good view of Stonehenge to compensate.

Shortly after, and an hour late, we arrive in Blandford Forum where they have relations - Her brother and his family, not that sort, you dirty-minded reader, you ;-)

After a very nice lunch with their relations they go off in Her brother's car to Shaftesbury to see the street from the Hovis ad, leaving me hooked up and watching over the house and the four dogs, the 2 girls having gone out somewhere else.

They round off the day by taking the dogs for a walk (and one for a quick dip) and calling in for a pint of mucky beer followed up by a very nice crispy duck in black bean sauce takeaway and go off to sleep in the house, leaving me to keep guard on the driveway. Guess I'm on holiday too!

Twenty: Dorset, Somerset & The Cotswolds: Part One (17/07/09)

It's the day after my MOT and it's been persisting down for about 10 hours non-stop when He comes out, plugs me in to cool the fridge and starts loading me up with clothes, food, a few (Yeah, right!) bottles of wine and then, about 2.00pm they both get in, Her driving, naturally, and off we go. He's forgotten to fill up my water tank again, but I'm sure they'll be ok if it's only a short trip.

31/2 hours of driving south down the A1 through dreadful even more persistent rain and really heavy, very slow-moving traffic and we arrive at Pleasley Park Farmhouse CCC site. He gets out, still in the rain and goes in search of the owner and, after the owner has rigged up an electricity supply, wrapped up in a plastic bag to keep the connections dry, they level me off, hook me up and settle down for tea. One meal and a Sopranos later and they're off to bed. I keep them warm and dry until it eventually stops raining some time around 4.00am - which means I've been persisted on for about 26 consecutive hours - just as well I wasn't on a parade.

Nineteen: MOT (16/07/09)

What have I done?

He's got in first thing in the morning, no loading up, no topping up my water tank, and driven me a few miles to a motorhome dealer...and left me!!! Looks like I'm going to get some new people - shame, cos I was really getting used to Him'n'Her and their forgetful little ways.

Sure enough, about 10 minutes later a new man gets in and drives me away - to a garage where another new man does things to me like testing my brakes, putting a sensor up my exhaust (ooo-er, missus), checking all my lights are working and so on.

About an hour or so later I'm back at the motorhome dealer's and He gets back in and takes me home, explaining that now that I'm 3 years old I had to have an MOT, just to make sure I'm all okey-dokey and I am. So, it looks like I'll be keeping Him'n'Her a bit longer - Tidy :-) It's also nice that they think enough of me to get me a check-up - what do you mean they only did it cos it's the law - I'm sure they would have done it anyway - if they'd remembered ;-)