Fast cars, a stolen Mercury and a surprise dragon.

 There are times (very few, I might add) when wild camping isn't all it's cracked up to be. Last night, as the sun was setting, several cars raced up to the car park and all with what I call 'boy racer' cars. As MB was the only motorhome in the car park, we did feel slightly vulnerable.  The side blinds were pulled down, but we deliberately left the front cabin side window and front windscreen bare in case a quick getaway was necessary. Fears unfounded though because after a good hour of playing music, laughing and chatting, they all left.

This morning, Ian walked up to the Danebury Iron Age Hill Fort. I could have gone but had a splitting headache so left it up to him to take photos.  What he took made me glad I stayed behind. There didn't appear to be much to see but there again, he doesn't take as many photos as me, so there could have been a lot more of interest. Still, my fault for not making the effort.

Not many miles from the car park was Houghton Lodge and Gardens. As English Heritage members we get in free and although the lodge was only open to the public at weekends, the gardens and surrounding walks meant we spent a good 3 hours wandering around. Unfortunately, part of the grounds were waterlogged from all the recent flooding in the area, which meant trying to get to see the Alpacas meant a bit of a route march. The shortest way, which was by a small bridge across the stream, was still submerged!

Houghton Lodge

Japanese Garden

Orchid House

Below is the figure of Mercury. Made of Iron, thieves tried to steal it by sawing off his legs.

The saga of what happened next was written in the map given to us by English Heritage. 

We came across a topiary Dragon guarding her eggs, something children would probably delight in seeing. You can make out it's a dragon...just, and anyone walking across a sensor nearby set of a jet of steam from its nostrils, I can imagine the screams of delight from the kiddies.

You need some imagination to see this was a dragon.

 

Well, it's a bit of fun for the children

Does anyone remember the TV drama Buccaneers? It first aired in 1979 and a 2023 version is now on Apple TV. Apparently, the BBC built a landing stage for one of the scenes next to the River Test.

Tonight we booked into a CC site. Room for no more than 7 motorhomes, it was rural and had all the amenities we wanted. No shower or toilets but water and elsan disposal, what more does one want! Not sure about tomorrow yet, we may have to change the starter battery because it's still not right. The charge drops overnight even though the solar panel is putting amps in. Luckily, MB starts first time at the moment, but one day I can see our luck running out.