Russell Hotel Weymouth

So this is it. In a week we will start our great adventure, so we thought we would write a lil goodbye message whilst in Bournemouth.<br><br>Obviously we have nothing to write about at the moment because our lives are dull in England. But make sure you keep checking up with us ...

Bournemouth has a very funny layout.. the two main streets of the town go up both sides of the hills that lead down to the park and eventually to the famous Pier.<br><br>I was a bit down in the dumps this day.. I think because I was watching all the families and couples having some fun. It was mid term break so there were heaps of kids around and the entrance to the Pier was packed with amusements and ...

... is not really a speed demon, but the slower pace suits us fine as we are in no hurry... it also conserves fuel which is important considering the distance we will be covering over the next few months. So we don't really go faster than 50 mile/hr (80km/h for the aussies at home) and we avoid the motorways as there generally is ...

... 8!! We were quite a large group, about 4 families I think and their kids!<br><br>We had dinner at the park. This is no ordinary park.. its huge and the entertainment was great. They have a huge complex in the middle, with an indoor and outdoor pool, kids play area with a climbing wall and trampolines, putt putt golf, amusement room (massive) dinning room and club.. HUGE..<br><br>I had a steak but it was a bit rubbery.. lol. Say a lot rubbery ...

After a lovely couple of days with Art &amp; Thurza Comben when on Sunday the drive over from Christchurch was fine and sunny we found a Vintage Motor Cycle run from Britbits in Iford with a Wurzal lookalike group playing live and singing "Drink up thee Cider Garge", gorgeous and in beautiful weather we got to Crewkerne in time for a late lunch.<br><br>Monday Lona &amp; Thurza were dropped off in Yeovil to shop while Art ...

... in the future. Our son and family left us on the Monday to return home as they both had work on the Tuesday but next time we shall plan it better so we can spend more time together. How quiet and strange it was after they had left we missed them terribly. We took to our bikes on the Tuesday, first time we had ridden for 5 weeks, and yes it was tough going. We thought we would cycle to "Tyneham" to visit the deserted village there. Well ...

... ve got 3 signs printed in the last 24 hours. Luckily one of the specials is a printer by trade (police specials rather than the 80's pop group) and he was able to produce them promptly. We have a band to play tonight. The Four Quits will be in attendance. Never heard them play, but I like the name. There would appear to be a fair number of people planning to be at The Dog tonight to see us off. That still seems to be a long way off as I have a ...

... to find out he was also going on the trip, even if it wasn't for the entire trip. Oh, I've also been promised 30 Dorchester football shirts, to go with my Weymouth FC shirts. I can now host a match between the two Dorset rivals under African skies. The Premiership big boys have been stopped from playing their matches abroad, but I'll get my game between Dorchester and Weymouth in Addis Ababa. In your face, Sepp Blatter !

... br><br>Since that visit we have always dreamed that we would one day return, hopefully more able to avail ourselves of the different forms of transport. During those years a chap came into my little shop and chatted about having lived in Switzerland and about what we had missed! He invited me to borrow his videos showing the Swiss Railways systems in all their glory. From then on we were compelled one day to go back !<br><br>So this is the travelog of our return to Switzerland ...

... and return via<br>Netherlands. Unfortunately the Grimsel and Furka, even in mid June were<br>both still blocked by snow and we had to detour to Montigny and thence<br>over the St Bernard Pass and down to Aolta. <br> Of that whole journey, which I will one day, if time permits relate to you, we were<br>most impressed by Switzerland. At the time it was the most expensive<br>place in Europe ...