The Limes Maldon

We arrive at Stansted at about 8pm and proceed to have a, probably, day old burger somewhere in the airport. Yum. Turns out that all the shops, in the departure lounge and outside, close at about 9pm so we have to sit around for 4 hours before our flight boards with nada to do.

Finally we get on the flight with a load of other backpacker types and head to Malaysia!

Yes folks,
If you have received this message its because you are lucky (or unlucky) enough to be included in the group email I am writing about my time in South America, starting with Brazil.
This is just a test.... check 1,2,3...... just to make sure that this site and format is all working correctly. The travelblog 'proper' will will begin on the 22nd October.
Cya ....
T.xx

So Im back in the UK at long last, after 8 amazing months away its time to get back to the real world!!

Ive been away for 238 days, visited 16 countries (and another 2 in transit). I've taken 20 flights and been to 20 different airports, and have 41 stamps/visas in my ...

... home made arcade games, many of which were very amusing and taking the **** out of all sorts of things - old people, artists,the superstitious.

From there we detoured to our very good friends, The Phillips, down in Southend; and played with the greatest kid the world has ever seen. From there it was a quick trip over the QE2 bridge into the land of milk and honey - Kent.

... br>...arriving at Heathrow from Singapore, I didn't want my fun to end, so in the car home myself and Helly hatched a plan. We would tour the British Isles on a whim. No plan, no real ideas, just throw the bikes and tent in the car and go, just see the country we had grown up in.

This is the story of that idea...

This is the last entry for this year and it will end as we started all those event-filled days ago, in getting the boat ready, but this time, adventuring done, its' preparing her for her winter's rest. Dear thing, she deserves a break. The yard team were up and ready to take us to the hoist at around high water. Rather than using my engine with its nice new oil, they towed us round to the lifting point, just by the entrance sill. The hoist they have in ...

... with the fuel and oil filters, Julie to carry on sorting and tidying and the marina staff to take our mast down. I want some work done on the wiring and other bits and pieces during the winter so we'd decided to have it taken down. All tasks were achieved with relatively little angst and that evening, we celebrated a successful end of trip by having a meal in Tollesbury cruising club, together with an excellent Chablis.

... came back and we were able to explore West Mersea island a little. At least, enough to get Julie the 'Times' ( she really is an addict) and we bought two home made steak pasties to have back on board (they were truly dire, if we'd have made them we'd have thrown them away as failures), James running us back as soon as we arrived. We slipped him a few ££'s as a thank you and he was quite surprised, the free service didn't even normally require ...

At 5 a.m. it was windy and rain was threatening, so I announced to all and sundry that it was plan 'b'. By 7 a.m., the wind had slackened and I was starting to question my decision. By 10:00, the wind was back and we now had a new plan. Rather than leaving the boat in Bradwell's marina, we would travel about 7 miles up-river to Heybridge Lock. This is where the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation terminates (strange name, but basically it's a 17 mile canal ...

... were off by 2:30. It was a breezy ( F6) afternoon but the wind was warm, so walking was a pleasure. We did catch a few drops of rain as the clouds scudded by, but in general, it was a bright sunny afternoon. Blackberries abounded and we sampled dozens as we walked out to St Peter's Chapel. The chapel dates back to round about 660 A.D. and was founded by St Cedd upon the invitation of King Sigbert of the East Saxons ...