Well, at least the heater waited until after our New Forest commitments were over.  We then stayed two nights near Savernake Forest where the heater gave up the ghost, requiring an urgent search for a repairer.  We found a good one to the west at Bristol, although parts were scarce.  So we left the heater there and got on the phone to see if the most critical part was sitting in another repairer's parts store.  (It was, and we got hold of it, but it is still looking like a two week exercise.)

So that scuppered our plans to drive to Budapest before meeting Jenny and David in Holland in early May.  

Spent six days in the New Forest before the Tandem Club's Easter Rally in the Forest.  It's hardly pristine wilderness, with a history of man's involvement and management extending back at least as far as King Canute and William the Conquerer.  But it's quite a place, nonetheless, with its history, ponies and other wildlife, and the commoners' rights still in existence.  Great cycling, running and walking and proximity to quaint coastal and near-coastal villages.

For more information about the National Park click here and for a more extensive history, click here.

We cycled past Gilpin Hill and Gilpin Place and heard reference - in a film about New Forest history - that William Gilpin was a noted resident of the Forest.  From John's father's genealogical research we knew of William, one of the originators of the idea of the picturesque.  Click here for more information.

John recalls his late father saying that we are descended from William's brother Sawrey, but we'll need to go through Dad's extensive research material on our next trip to Australia to confirm this.  See here for more information about Sawrey.  William and Sawrey and their father were artists of note, but as far as we can tell these talents have not been passed down through the generations!

We've enjoyed house-sitting this lovely Roehampton residence for the last eight weeks and we'll miss the familiar sights of Richmond Park (see below).

We were delighted that Brenda and Tony entrusted us to look after their house and possessions. It's been nice though to get back in the motorhome and off to the New Forest for some tandem cycling.

It was lovely having our "fourth child" (great nephew) Mitch and girlfriend Kendra stay with us for their last few days before leaving for good for New Zealand, via the Middle East and Australia.