John's Travel Blogs

Category: UK

United Kingdom

  • Day 1, Southampton to Caen

    I am on the Brittany Ferries ship Guillaume de Normandie half way across the English Channel.

    This is a very new ship (2024) and i am very impressed. Everything is clean and bright, there is plenty of room aboard and the food excellent, and is not expensive. I have had Breton fish stew, a raspberry and blackcurrant dessert and a Pepsi for less than 20€.

    I haven’t seen any small dinghies full of people going the other way yet 🫣.

    I should arrive in Caen around 3pm and plan to drive toward Amsterdam. I will probably camp roadside close to Amsterdam, ready to pick Patty up from Schipol airport Around 10am tomorrow. She is flying in from Cordoba Argentina, via Madrid, she is probably in the air by now.

  • Preparing to go

    Preparing to go

    Hi everyone, and welcome back to my travel blog. I am preparing for a 4 week trip in the camper van, leaving in 2 days time.

    Patty will be joining me on this trip and we will be blogging here with notifications going to my facebook page.

    The itinery is:

    • Ferry Portsmouth (UK) to Caen (France)
    • Drive France, Belgium and Netherlands to Amsterdam
    • Shipol airport to pick up Patty
    • Drive Germany and Denmark to Frederikshavn
    • Ferry Frederikshavn (Denmark) to Gottenburg (Sweden)
    • Drive through Sweden, Norway, Sweden, Finland to Lapland
    • Drive South through Finland to Helsinki
    • Ferry Helsinki to Tallin (Estonia)
    • Drive through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, France back to Caen
    • Ferry Caen (France) to Portsmouth (UK)

  • Day 82: Home

    My first sight of the UK was the Isle of Wight in the distance. I am from Southampton so I know the area well. It was a real homecoming feel to sailing around the island and into Portsmouth Harbour.

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  • Day 81: Ferry Home

    Day 81: Ferry Home

    I am on the ferry from Santander in Spain to Portsmouth in the UK. The boat seems to be full of bikers who have been riding the Pyranees. You can tell they are bikers because they are all over the aged of 50, have beards and black t-shirts. Strangely many have Yorkshire accents.

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  • Day 52: Back to Ghana

    Day 52: Back to Ghana

    After saying goodbye to Amy amd the boys at Cardiff, the flights were uneventful. It was nice flying over Spain and Africa and seeing the same scenery I had seen at ground level.  When i get home i want to do a side by side gallery of shots i have from both air and ground.

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  • Days 48-51: At home with Amy

    Having spent the last few days relaxing at home with my future wife Amy, it is with mixed feelings that I start my journey back to Ghana to pick up my bike.

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  • Day 47: Deception Revealed

    First off.. I am in the UK and have been planning this for the last two weeks. Don’t worry I fly back to Ghana next Friday to continue my journey.
    Why? I hear you ask? …

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  • Day 2: Isle of Wight and ferry to France

    Distance: 40km, Start Southampton, end Porstmouth.
    I had a great day today with Amy and the boys. We took the ferry from Southampton to the Isle of Wight and back.

    image

    This afternoon we went to my daughter Gemmas house and had a great time with my grandson Timothy in the garden.

    I am now on the ferry from Portsmouth to Caen in France. Very tired.

  • Day 1: The Journey Begins

    Day 1: The Journey Begins

    Start: West Wales, End: Southampton, Distance: 240 miles. One refuel: £17.41

    After a year of planning I am finally on my way to Cape Town. The journey was mostly along motorways and the weather was kind to me with no rain. The bike was a little twitchy at the front end at low speeds but felt really good at high speeds. Totally the opposite of the unloaded bike. The shift in the centre of gravity from high in the middle to lower and further back is the cause. This evening i went to visit my old Scout group the 14th Eastleigh. It was great to see faces I have not seen for many years and to explain about the trip to the Cubs.

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  • Draiglas Explorer Scouts

    Draiglas Explorer Scouts

    One of the objectives I have set myself is to meet with as many Scouts as I can along the way.  It is only fitting that first on the list is my local Explorer Scout unit here in Teifi district, Ceredigion

    I have heard from several Scouts in Africa now including The Gambia, Morocco and Ghana. I hope to meet them all.