Monday 1st April (Day 1)
Well a quick trip to get the habitation service. We left for the motorhome at just after 9.00am and then from Braintree by 10.30am. An easy trip to Redbridge Park and Ride just outside of Oxford where we intended to spend the afternoon. By 1.00pm we were strolling around the University City. We opted for a walking tour and were the only two people on it! We spent 90 minutes strolling around the streets and visiting Exeter College grounds. Many interesting, and some less so, facts were told to us. A lot of university colleges are named after, it would appear, cities - Exeter, Lincoln, Christchurch, Hertford etc.These are actually named after the Bishop of the area who had pots of money ad the need to maintain the church in their area with priests. These bishops founded a lot of the colleges. They would then send 'promising boys' to be educated in the hope that they would return to their home towns and become priests. Not all studied theology but about 50% did. Many famous people were educated here. Oscar Wilde, Stephen Hawkins, Bob Hawke, Bill Clinton, Margeret Thatcher, Tony Blair to name but a few. Indeed two out of every four Prime Ministers were educated here and one of every four in Cambridge. (So three out of four were Oxbridge educated!) We saw the normal sights like the 'Bridge of Sighs' (Hetfgord Bridge) allowing students to move from one part of their college building to another without going on the street. This was a fairly recent addition to Oxford (early 1900's). Then there was the Turf Inn, a 'den of iniquity'. Many of the famous got drunk here and.probably the future famous still do. Bon Hawkes, the Australian Prime Minister entered the Guinness Book of Record here by drinking a yard of ale in under 11 seconds. After the tour we walked to the church of St Mary the Virgin which was fairly uninspiring.This was followed by great views across Oxford from the top of its tower (122 steps). Next a stroll to the Megdelen Bridge to watch the brave punting- not any to be honest. Back for a much needed tea in the Vaults Cafe attached to St Mary's church. By now, foot weary we retuned by bus to the motorhome and drove the half hour to our stop for the night the Stratton Arms. No food being cooked tonight so we ate in the motorhome before a couple of pints in the pub. As usual it did not disappoint as the locals were welcoming (and the landlord). These,coupled with a couple from the motorhome next to us from Australia made it lively. Brad and heavily pregnant wife, , were good company. Although Brad was very loud and gregarious. His introduction to one lady in her early seventies was "Hi, if I was twenty years younger I would love to shag you!" (He was forty). She took it in good sprit and they had a good chat. Bed called after an episode of 'Lost'. A good day in glorious sunshine.
Tuesday 2nd April (Day 2)
A prompt start to be at Elite Motorhomes, just outside Banbury,about half an hour away. Then a bus into Banbury on a very different day, grey overcast and showers, oh and quite cold. Banbury was very pleasant and would have been better in good weather. We had a tea and bacon sandwich and then went to Castle Key shopping centre to escape the cold and wet. Then the Museum before a walk to St Mary's Church which was unusual in shape (round) and history. Then a quick visit to see Banbury Cross before the return bus journey. Here we waited for the van to be finished to get the unhappy news that in a motorhome less than a year old we had damp in the garage area (60%+). Quite serious. A return to here would be needed. The two and a half hour journey home was somber. Not just because of the news we had received but because of a half our delay on the M40 with a rolling road block to start, and an hour on the M25 junctions 23 to 27. We ducted of the M25 and finished the journey through Loughton, Chigwell Rise and Collier Row. In addition to this we had hailstones large and noisy for half an hour on the M40. A four hour journey home.
