And we're off.

 Sunday 9th

At last, we have made our great escape. Up early, showered and breakfasted hopes were high on leaving before 9 am. Well, we failed miserably because I still had to defrost the fridge and freezer, disinfect the rubbish bins, do a quick hoover through, clean the loo and empty the cassette. Ian was busy filling MB with water, topping up the screen wash, checking oil and gathering the last bits and pieces which we had forgotten to put in yesterday (dongle, leads, tablets, wash kit etc) so in the end it was way past 10.30 am before we set off.

Destination today was Malvern. Ian's brother Alan lives near Upton upon Severn and a long anticipated visit was on the cards. Last time we saw them other than Zoom calls, was November 2019! But that was for tomorrow as today was a slow leisurely drive to the Swan Inn.

After a slight detour to say farewell to daughter Christine and Son in Law Kevin and a welcome hug from grandchildren (we had all tested negative for COVID-19 today) we finally arrived at our destination, a wiki camp pub stop near Newlands.

Not the nicest of places to stop, right by a skip, and after all that rain on Saturday, I'm glad we managed to stop on the only bit of gravel that could accommodate two vehicles (it would have been on the very soaky field otherwise with the possibility of being bogged)

To park there for the night was free of charge, so it was only right that we should put some money behind the bar for that privilege. Of course, it was all outside seating and sods law said it would rain whilst there but just as we resigned ourselves to getting drenched, a table became available under the lean to. I shot over to grab it quick much to Ian's surprise. One minute he was talking to me and the next I'd gone!

Dark clouds approaching.

So let the adventure begin and how long we are away for is all down to the present COVID situation and whether Boris does another lock down. Here's hoping that now most of us oldies have now been vaccinated, that won't happen.

And on leaving the Mill, 5 new Cygnets on the water, one just hatched on the nest and 3 eggs still to hatch.