"It's not a real boat unless it's made of Wood!"

Today we rode back all the way from our hotel near Portsmouth to my home near Manchester.

It was a long one so we took plenty of rest breaks, including the first at 8am before we had even set off, having the lovely swim & spa session we should have had the previous night had the spa not closed early. This was closely followed by another stop only 10 minutes into the journey (as you do!) at a location I used to see on TV in the late '80s headed by its theme tune "Always There"

Remember Howards Way? Well here's the Jolly Sailor pub where Jack Rolf used to continue consuming large measures of Scotch & the other characters - Avril Rolf, Ken Masters, Jan & Tom Howard, et al - often did their dealings too.

We were dressed in motorcycle garb rather than 'House of Howard' couture but I don't think anyone would mind!

Further on in Thatcham we went Lion Foundry Bandstand hunting for a refreshing change and nibbled on our remaining two Cookies from Woodhall Spa (they don't normally survive that long but we were good all week) before taking stops at motorway services. An exception to this rule was a quick hop off the M6 to Gailey Marina just north of Birmingham but it was closed unfortunately so we just meditated on the breeze for 10 minutes before carrying on.

Extras are in the carpark, about to leave Portsmouth having loaded up Biscuit & Fidra again after their day of rest, and Ms.Arell & I having just rocked up here and in need of a well earned cuppa.

Thank you so so much for a lovely week Gal, lots of shared memories, peace, tranquility & time spent well Xx