General Chat

Well, we left my house, and the M3 going South was at a standstill.
Got to the A34, and there were queues going South on that road. Then a gap - then a very recent accident, (just a few shunted cars) so goodness knows how long the tail back went

We ended up (via a pub for refreshments) going on virtually empty roads to the canal by the Crofton Beam Engine in Great Bedwyn.
Saw a couple of Red Kites, and watched swallows flitting around.

Next weekend there's a Steaming weekend so we may go there again.

Foggy,
We usually come back from the Forest the Romsey way. Burley is nice, but friend and I usually go for long strolls across the Forest looking out for newts, snakes, Dartford Warblers and evidence of nuthatches etc, then drive to the Royal Oak at Fritham.
Friend was brought up in Brockenhurst, but lives in Marchwood now, and can see the traffic heading south/west on his way to pick me up. I lived in Fawley for a few formative years - and found out 40 years after leaving the place that my ancestors had lived there for decades!!

Sharon - My sister lives in Midhurst


:-D :-D

I WOULD LOVE THE CHOICE,I BEEN IN BACK GARDEN BORED ALL DAY.
OH GONE OUT AND WILL BE TOMORROW EVENING,,,,,
IM SO BORED

Most people live within striking distance of some 'tourist' place.

But without the tourists in the summer many places just would not survive.

we live just off the dreaded A 21 , summer weekends are a nightmere trying to get anywhere, it takes us up to 10 minutes to get across it (in a car). :-( :-(

Where we live isn't a tourist destination, but the towns north and south of us are.

We rarely leave town from November to March, because the main roads are a nightmare!

Top that off with several "music festivals".......... arrrrrrrrrgh :-( :-( and the "Mardi Grass"....... I did spell that correctly........... look on the internet for Nimbin!

Elizabeth, I am just a bit jealous, we love the New Forest...........and would love to live there one day.

Never going to be able to afford it, but it's good to have a dream :-D :-D

Foggy, to avoid the queues into Lyndhurst, we exit at junction 2 and follow the lorry route when we are towing the caravan...................don't tell anyone though or everyone will use it too :-D :-D

Burley cider barn do wonderful food <3

For tourists, try the Lake District. Ok we are tourists there this week but daughter lives here so we are family visitors too. And don't we dread meeting a local on the narrow roads! :-D

We can't even get out of the end of the road when there is a hot week-end so we don't even consider the possibility but have, for many years, worked freelance so we can have our outings during the week.

Midhurst is not a bad place to visit. There is a ruin and a canal turning pond full of ducks and things.

You might even see all your mates on the polo ground.

Hi Maggie,

You can cut across towards Romsey and take the side route to the New Forest.

Try Burley, a lovely village, good restaurants there for lunch.

Foggy

'Proper' black pudding..........yum!

Northerners do yummy porky scratchings too :-D
I bought some when we were camping in Shrewsbury (yes I know it's not 'proper' North). I had a few, looking forward to finishing them the next day.
We were woken by a sniffling and rummaging. A hedgehog was in the tent, stealing my scratchings.

Elizabeth, the race could be quite interesting around Lepe.
They appear to be laying a new underwater cable from Gypsy Lane over to the Isle of Wight. Love to see the yachts avoiding that! :-D

Now I'm jealous :-| :-|

When I lived in the UK, I really enjoyed the Yorkshire Dales :-D :-D

Be a slow "round the Island " today-no wind !

Am escaping from the New Forest and going to the Yorkshire Dales next month :-)

:-D :-D :-D,@Maggie

Sorry for us 'Northerners' hijacking your thread :-D :-D

Whitby, many happy memories, but now a world away :-(

Oooh Allan an Island -not THAT far North! Just Marlborough way - it's a day out, not a weekend.
I'm desperately trying to persuade my sister that we ought to go on a holiday further north than Shrewsbury. There are some beautiful paces oop North :-D

I've nearly persuaded her that we can get a train to Whitby so she wouldn't have to drive :-D

Hope you find somewhere nice Maggie.

I've just returned from a week long trip touring the Western Isles and although there were a good number tourists ( just like us) it was actually pretty quiet.
Most were older people in caravans and motor homes, and we kept seeing the same people wherever we went.

Locals and hoteliers told us that the previous couple of weeks had been "chokka" but our week was noticeably quieter, in spite of the glorious weather

The World Cup is taking it's toll on tourism!

Enjoy, Island :-D :-D

Wearing an Upperthong? :-D :-D

The sun's shining, Meme has showed up, I'm of out to enjoy RL. :-D :-D

It all depends on how you ride the Black Puddings :-D :-D

Don't you mean Saddlesore? :-D

I had forgotten about that one, Island. :-(

If I'm not mistaken, Upperthong was just outsideSaddleworth :-D :-D :-D