Dover,Brugges,Gent, Amsterdam

Stayed 2 nights in a lovely caravan park outside Dover and found a lovely village called Deal to do some more shopping. Discovered the difficulty of navigating narrow streets in a wide vehicle when the large passenger side mirror met a similar mirror of a parked van. No damage to us, not so sure of the other van. Spent half a day in Dover Castle, very interesting history.
Ferry to Dunkirk only 2 hours but some trouble finding the correct road to Belgium. Camped in a site for motorhomes, (a paid 24 hour carpark with electricity outlets) a 5 minute walk through parkland to the centre of the old town of Brugges. Beautiful medieval city with cobblestone roads, waterways, old Cathedrals, narrow lanes, lots of chocolate shops and streetside cafes/bars.

Then on to Gent, similar to Brugges, then Amsterdam. Saw the marijuana seed shops and bong shops, but did not stay late enough to see the ladies advertising their wares in the windows.

London stay

After an uneventful overnight in Tokyo, arrived in London Sunday night. Homestay is a large old English house run by a lovely couple. There are 6 rooms for guests with people coming and going,  many travel tales to talk about. Breakfast each day has been a very long drawn out affair, but good fun. A very friendly place to stay. Each morning breakfast is in a sunny room overlooking the rear garden with a resident squirrel and beautiful spring bulbs flowering. So pretty.  Have been doing the tourist bit, Covent Garden, Victoria & Albert and British Museums , National Gallery, went into Westminster Abbey, lots of walking and undergound travel. Today been to Notting Hill and Portobello Rd Markets then onto the South bank for the London Eye. Very nice day good weather.  Have picked up Skippy last Monday morning and negotiated our way back to the B&B, visited a couple of shopping centres without any hassles so far.Sunday we will go to Dover to catch the ferry to Dunkirk 

Almost there

House contents almost packed away, house sitters have moved in so lots of boxes lying around. Ours to be filled, theirs to be unpacked. At least we now have a motor home to move into. We have bought a 1995 Mercedes diesel, 4 berth, with shower & toilet, and most importantly, a gas heater. Have bought from a Townsville couple who are coming home after 11 months away. Only concern now is our overnight stop in Tokyo. The water may be contaminated so will have to drink beer & wine only.

Getting ready

Busy packing personal belongings to rent out the house to help cover living expenses o/seas. Have emailed a couple of  motorhome dealers in the UK and an early 90's diesel with shwr & toilet  will cost between GBP 8500 and 9500 with crockery, cutlery, pots & pans. They will buy back at 60% after 6 months, so much cheaper than renting. Still hoping for a private buy around 6500. In 3 weeks from now should be landing at Heathrow.