Day 3 - 3 July

First night in UK and a very satisfactory B and B in New Milton amongst the Old People. I say they without distaste because the town is full of rest homes, retirement homes aged care and every other round about way of saying old people. Lots and lots of them. They are everywhere. The unusual thing about small town UK is the main street has shops. Not just phone companies in fact not one, and cafes, they are hard to find. It is odd, People are out shopping it seems. I did go to the Super store, Tesco's to buy a SIM card for 10pounds. I have a number 07 470 604423 and can be called or txt on that. I can't call back using the number but I will get a message. So off to collect the bike and the reality of the limitations of memory. There were things I had forgotten I had and things I thought I had and did not. So as usual far too may clothes, so many, that I will bring back more than I brought up.... So I packed the bike and bade my bike carer Alan thank you and goodbye and off I went on a huge bike loaded with gear most of which I will not use. I forgot the age old wisdom of travellers, throw out half what you packed and put in double the money. So as I was to leave Alan reminded me of the slow leak in the front tyre. It has had a bit of a hard life. Even a flat spot on the rim which is a concern. The good news was that the mechanic got on to it, took it off, could not find a leak so replaced the valve and charged me $40 which in the light of other costs, was reasonable. So after an unexpected delay I left at 4.30 thinking I was in trouble with my agenda. Wrong, after a delightful drive down the A31 and others and numerous delightful small towns and the wonderful English countryside and decent roads with 120km speed limits with few cops pestering motorists to collect fines it was a delight to get lost and find myself at the Dart river, waiting for a ferry. How fantastic. This is the third time having got lost and needed a ferry to escape. Once in Russia, once in France and now in England. It is wonderful being able to really get lost and find a ferry. Dartmouth is a real town in an estuary. Waterfont hotels and boats everywhere and with boats sailors from the USA France and no doubt every other sailing nation. I had not expected to find beach communities with hotels side by side and the beachside atmosphere including changing sheds lined along the waterfront. They must have councils that respect people here because our domineering Councils would have had them removed along with the character and identity of English seaside. The thing that sets the UK apart from either Australia or NZ is mainly the architecture. Well built attractive houses in wood, stone, brick and mixtures, and with roof lines that accommodated thatching (steep pitches which looks good) which is still being used and maintained. Many of them having been built while the occupants of New Zealand were living in grass huts. It creates such charm and character. Even the narrow streets are not a problem. No one parks on main thoroughfares and everyone gets along at a far greater speed than we can achieve, but the drivers seem to be rather more considerate. No horns no shouting no 1 finger salutes and I have not seen an accident or a car that has run off the road, an everyday event where I live. It is only day one but no lowered suspension wrecks hooning round in a life threatening manner (yet) and no aggressive revenue gathering cops (yet at least). So I bypassed Torquay where I had expected to have been and instead happenstance took me into Dartmouth, mainly due to a conversation in a Garage getting fuel. I love the conversations that I seem to stumble into. Away from home (judgementalism) I speak freely with all I meet and it is wonderful. I learn so much. I get humour in unusual places and people generally want to extend friendship enjoy communication and interested in why am I here and what am I doing. The bike attracts interest everywhere. That is one of the things that makes travel so enjoyable. So the number again after the UK prefix is 07 470 604423 Oh yes the flight with Malaysia Airlines was pretty good. It is a long trip to the UK but two legs of 11 and 12 hours is manageable.