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A 60-day adventure by Eric Read more

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Trip start
June 27, 2023
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Day 1
Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 6:17 PM
🌙 17 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Brisbane airport
June 27, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
The only part of the journey that lies ahead, that I had any part of organising, was the Uber to the airport. My job was successfully undertaken.
TravelerWell done Ec!
6/28/23Reply
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Day 2
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 7:00 AM
☁️ 33 °C
Altitude: 41 m
United Arab Emirates Dubailand 25.0731, 55.29825°4’23” N 55°17’53” E
Dubai International Airport
June 28, 2023 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C
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Day 2
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 12:34 PM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 11 m
England Westminster Abbey 51.4964, -0.122451°29’47” N 0°7’21” W
Dubai to London
June 28, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
TravelerHi jenny, looking a bit comfortable there
6/29/23Reply
TravelerLiving the dream!
6/29/23Reply
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Day 3
Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 7:54 AM
☁️ 14 °C
Altitude: 41 m
England River Kennet 51.463333, -0.94833351°27’48” N 0°56’54” W
1 1 2
First full day UK. Caversham Marina
June 29, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
TravelerThis Jet-lag thing. OMG, how real it is!
6/29/23Reply
Traveler:(
6/29/23Reply
Traveler Quack Quack :)
6/29/23Reply
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Day 4
Friday, June 30, 2023 at 9:42 AM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 38 m
England River Kennet 51.463479, -0.94838351°27’49” N 0°56’54” W
Jet-lag, what jet-lag?
June 30, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Not much happening today. Rain expected, and we're readying the boat to head off on the Thames tomorrow. Did a bit of local shopping in Reading and catching up with relatives tonight.

Spotted a "Banksy" on the wall of the now disused Reading Jail once occupied by Oscar Wilde (hence the typewriter). The Banksy has been covered by perspex for protection. This, coupled with me taking the photo from a moving car, has resulted in a blurred image, sorry!Read more
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Day 5
Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 6:47 PM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 52 m
England Wallingford Castle 51.601667, -1.12166751°36’6” N 1°7’18” W
1 1 1
On To The Thames Proper
July 1, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Ok. What a day! After being waved off by Rascal on a neighbouring boat, and Jenny feeding the wildlife one last time, we left the marina and hit the Thames proper.

Five locks and unbelievable countryside, 2hrs of chugging under an overcast sky; followed by 4hrs of warm sunshine and we've parked up under the trees on the western bank of the Thames in Wallingford.

Fantastic day. Narrow boating is literally the fastest way to slow down.

Passed a beautiful pub about a mile back, and we're about to walk the dogs (Millie and Milo) there for dinner.

Tomorrow, another day on the Thames.Read more
Traveler Stunning
7/1/23Reply
TravelerI wonder how the blue boat got its name?
7/1/23Reply
Traveler Looks a bit cold.
7/1/23Reply
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Day 6
Sunday, July 2, 2023 at 9:58 AM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 63 m
England River Thame 51.635, -1.16333351°38’6” N 1°9’48” W
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The Thames is getting narrow
July 2, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Up early today (Sunday) to make sure we got through the 1st of 4 locks before the other weekend boaties. Turned out we had the river mostly to ourselves for the 5 hour trip to Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Abingdon is England's oldest, continuously inhabited settlement. A very compact town in that everything orbits the original market square. Some pubs (and there are many) even share an adjoyning wall or courtyard.

Sadly, for Jenny and I, this is where we leave Wine Away the Hours. It's been a terrific start to our UK holiday, but Stuart and Jayne have to hit the canals from here to get the boat to Stone, Staffordshire, moored and settled in time for their August wedding.

Tomorrow, I pick up our hire car and we head to Wigan, Lancashire my father's birth place.Read more
TravelerLooks like the boat trip was so peaceful and just what the doctor ordered for both of you. 🥰
7/2/23Reply
TravelerWould the English be big drinkers by any chance ? Seems to be lots of pubs around the river.
7/2/23Reply
Traveler Lizzys pub
7/3/23Reply
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Day 9
Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at 10:18 AM
☁️ 15 °C
Altitude: 164 m
England Andoversford 51.877462, -1.9691151°52’39” N 1°58’9” W
Nothing but rain and driving
July 5, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Our last 2 days have seen rain and M6 traffic. Nothing of interest and zero photo opportunities.
For the next 7 days, we're in the Cotswold village of Andoversford, Glostershire, so watch this space.
TravelerSo we are not only ones having rain last 2 days. You haven’t missed any sunny weather.
7/5/23Reply
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Day 9
Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at 4:26 PM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 43 m
England Shottery 52.19, -1.73166752°11’24” N 1°43’54” W
1 1 2
Shakespeare' Birthplace
July 5, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Today, we spent time wandering the streets of Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire having a gander at the Bard's house (outside only as Jenny and I went through it in 2009); and then onto the centuries-old family home of Anne Hatthaway, Shakespeare's wife.Read more
Traveler Ned Kelly
7/5/23Reply
Traveler Wow!!
7/5/23Reply
TravelerWonderful pics. Keep them coming.
7/5/23Reply
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Day 10
Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 12:46 PM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 167 m
England Andoversford 51.877507, -1.96901951°52’39” N 1°58’8” W
2 1 1 1 1
It's an Oxford thing...
July 6, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Fantastic day. We meandered, tramped and traipsed around Oxford for a full day.
The history of this place was everywhere we looked. The buildings, footpaths and alleys just oozed old and the languages we heard as we walked, informed us that we shared our day with travellers from all over the world!Read more
Traveler Haha :)
7/6/23ReplyTranslate
Traveler I thought the previous photo looked a bit Hogwarty.
7/6/23Reply
Traveler 🍻
7/6/23Reply
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Day 11
Friday, July 7, 2023 at 11:22 AM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 126 m
England Bourton on the Water 51.885868, -1.75543251°53’9” N 1°45’20” W
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Bourton-on-the Water, Cotswolds
July 7, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
There has been a human settlement at Bourton for over 6,000 years! The word 'Bourton' is of Saxon origin, derived from 'burgh' meaning fortification or camp and 'ton' meaning estate, enclosure or village. Taken together, you have 'the village beside the camp'.Read more
Traveler Not true :)
7/8/23Reply
TravelerBeautiful village.
7/8/23Reply
Traveler Gorgeous flowers 💐
7/8/23Reply
Traveler What did you do, Eric?
7/12/23Reply
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Day 11
Friday, July 7, 2023 at 12:51 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 245 m
England Stow on the Wold 51.93, -1.72333351°55’48” N 1°43’24” W
1 1
Stow-on-the-Wold, Cotswolds
July 7, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Jenny and I last visited Stow-on-the-Wold in early 2019. We went back today primarily to go inside St. Edward's Church, which was closed on the day of our last visit. Unfortunately, we arrived today to find a private memorial service underway and our entry naturally barred. When we returned after lunch, the Church was closed for cleaning...must have been a messy service!Read more
TravelerThe positive out of this is it wasn’t your service lol
7/7/23Reply
Traveler Aren't they worried the trees will damage the buildings?
7/8/23Reply
Traveler Awww poor pup. :(
7/8/23Reply
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Day 12
Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 8:40 PM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 164 m
England Andoversford 51.87749, -1.96908851°52’39” N 1°58’9” W
2 2
Andoversford, Cotswold
July 8, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
I've managed to catch a cold, so I haven't been anywhere today. Our B&B is in Andoversford, so here's a few photos of this small village.
Traveler How true
7/8/23Reply
TravelerGet better soon. Xox
7/8/23Reply
Traveler I see an owl!!
7/9/23Reply
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Day 14
Monday, July 10, 2023 at 10:42 AM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 164 m
England Andoversford 51.877495, -1.96908451°52’39” N 1°58’9” W
1
Bath, Somerset
July 10, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Again, a pleasant, though coolish day. We'd been to Bath on previous trips though each time in the cold of winter.
Today, we had crowds and tour groups by the coach load.
Traveler Ready to take an other good shot
7/11/23Reply
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Day 15
Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 10:30 AM
☁️ 17 °C
Altitude: 90 m
England Winchcombe 51.953333, -1.96551°57’12” N 1°57’54” W
Winchcombe, Gloucestershire
July 11, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Another little market town steeped in history. Very narrow streets, but unfortunately, there were work crews digging up the main street to lay fibre optic cable for high-speed Internet. Seems inevitable, I guess, but a shame all the same.Read more
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Day 16
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 20 m
England Earls Court 51.494446, -0.19740851°29’40” N 0°11’51” W
1 1
Cotswold to London
July 12, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Said goodbye to our friends from Denver and Brisbane. They journeyed to Heathrow and home; we journeyed to London via Didcot, where we returned our hire car.
Boarded the high-speed train to Paddington Station, London; and having left Andersford at 9am, we checked into our hotel in Kensington at 1pm.
Our (new) friend from our canal boat trip, Jo, a Police Constable with the London Metropolitan Mounted Police, had invited us to have a tour of the old Scotland Yard, Police stables if we could be there by 2:15pm...gotta love the Underground Rail. Got there at 2:13pm!Read more
TravelerDid you forget to take your riding boots with you.
7/12/23Reply
Traveler 🤩😍
7/13/23Reply
Traveler Wow. That’s impressive!!
7/16/23Reply
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Day 17
Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 10:29 AM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 33 m
England Westbourne 51.524162, -0.20156251°31’27” N 0°12’6” W
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1 1 1
Greenwich, London
July 13, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Met up with two friends from the Sunshine Coast whose travel plans crossed our perfectly today.
We boarded a boat bound for Greenwich and had a day of laughs and exploration.

Didn't take many photos
Traveler Great day🙂
7/14/23Reply
Traveler Good beer 🙂
7/14/23Reply
Traveler Nice looking couple, hahaha
7/14/23Reply
Traveler The girls💕
7/14/23Reply
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Day 18
Friday, July 14, 2023 at 9:00 AM
☁️ 17 °C
Altitude: 13 m
England Tower Pier 51.50808, -0.07936351°30’29” N 0°4’46” W
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Rain, rain, go away
July 14, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
It's raining. Caught a bus and stayed on it for an hour to Hampstead. Located the house where Jenny's Aunty Ruth lived back in the 70s.

Caught another bus for an hour's ride and wound up at the Victoria and Albert Museum along with every other wet tourist that London owned that day.

Do I like Museums? 👎Read more
TravelerYou really are enjoying your holiday. Think of the beers every evening
7/16/23Reply
Traveler Ghastly. Imagine the mess if the chain broke.
7/19/23Reply
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Day 19
Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 9:19 AM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 19 m
England Earls Court 51.494222, -0.19741351°29’39” N 0°11’51” W
2 1
Much ado about nothing...
July 15, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Took the 'Tube' to Tower Hill. 9am and it was standing room only! Got to the entrance to Tower Bridge to be advised we can't get up to the viewing platform walks until 11:30am.

Went walking the back alleys and streets of Southwark. Not a blade of grass to be seen.

Fascinating viewing of the bridge, its build, and workings (see Jenny's FB post). Later that day, we walked the streets of the 7 Dials district (Covent Garden and Soho).

Dinner in a Burmese restaurant (OMG!!) And then onto see Agatha Christie's "Mousetrap" at St. Martin's Theatre (now in its 70th year of continuous showing.Read more
TravelerAll the walking is good. You can eat and drink more knowing you will be exercising later.
7/16/23Reply
Traveler Beautiful bridge!
7/19/23Reply
Traveler Monopoly comes to life!
7/19/23Reply
Traveler Don't know if true or not, the yank who bought London Bridge way back when, actually thought he was buying this bridge! I like to think it's true haha
7/19/23Reply
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Day 20
Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 9:00 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 20 m
England Earls Court 51.494462, -0.19744251°29’40” N 0°11’51” W
1 1
London, our last day (thanks be to God)
July 16, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
I'm over London. Nice. But no thanks. It's a Mecca for a lot of people but for me...too much, and too crowded!
Walked for miles and saw a lot but give me the rural surroundings and market villages over this.Read more
TravelerJen and I could wander around while you and Brian sit.
7/16/23Reply
TravelerLike the Christmas markets?
7/17/23Reply
Traveler 😍
7/16/23Reply
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Day 23
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 10:52 AM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 63 m
England Whaddon Road 51.903645, -2.06241251°54’13” N 2°3’45” W
1 1
Some nice knockers!
July 19, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Walking the streets of villages, you find that the brits love a nice knocker!
TravelerDid they look better through the strings of 🎾 ?
7/19/23Reply
TravelerHaha. These knockers didn't make it into the Sunday Sport pages.
7/19/23Reply
Traveler Haha, I saw only an owl until I read your comment. Now I see it from your perspective. :)
7/21/23Reply
Traveler My favourite!
7/27/23Reply
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Day 23
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 12:30 PM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 63 m
England Whaddon Road 51.903645, -2.06241251°54’13” N 2°3’45” W
1 1 1
English village of Clun.
July 19, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Travelling from Wigan to Cheltenham we zigzagged our way in and out of Wales. We had lunch in the English village of Clun. What a find!
TravelerGorgeous village, imagine living there
7/20/23Reply
Traveler I would have been fine with cheese and pickles. ;)
7/21/23Reply
Traveler Nice ruin in the backdrop.
7/21/23Reply
Traveler 🤔 over 1 m?
7/21/23Reply
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Day 24
Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 8:06 PM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 85 m
England Tintagel Head 50.663333, -4.75166750°39’48” N 4°45’6” W
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Tintagel, Cornwall
July 20, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
According to ledgend, King Arthur (round table and sword from a stone) was born here, in a cave, inhabited by Merlin his number 1 wizard, BFF, and bodyguard!
As these photos are self-explanatory (castle, caves, headland etc) I've not captioned any (other than the last two)Read more
Traveler I wonder what the water temperature is, did you take your bathers Eric?
7/20/23Reply
TravelerYes. But left them back in the room
7/21/23Reply
Traveler Nice. :)
7/21/23Reply
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Day 25
Friday, July 21, 2023 at 9:40 AM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 51 m
England RNAS Culdrose 50.100219, -5.25886550°6’1” N 5°15’32” W
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Port Issac, Cornwall
July 21, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Port Issac, or Port Wen, in the Doc Martin series, was everything we expected it to be...quaint with very steep streets.
It's also where they filmed Fishermen's Friends.
Traveler Where's the Doc's dog? ;)
7/22/23Reply
TravelerI love this! Have always wanted to go there. 🥰
7/27/23Reply
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Day 25
Friday, July 21, 2023 at 1:00 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 51 m
England RNAS Culdrose 50.100225, -5.25886450°6’1” N 5°15’32” W
Penzance, Cornwall
July 21, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Seagulls rule this place. Crowded!
TravelerGood name for a town 😇
7/27/23Reply
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