It’s now Monday 29th July and Joes ribs are hurting. A lot. Plus there’s a spectacular amount of bruising appearing. No more cycle riding in the near future – a gentle walk (lunch at a local farm shop / vineyard) into Brockenhurst and dinner at the Snake Catcher.

Tuesday was another rainy day and we decided to head to the cinema. Just on the outskirsts of Brockenhurst and the TPMS started alerting with a burst tyre – a large piece of granite had lodged itself through the tyre. Joe couldn’t lift the spare wheel nor operate the scissor jack but a young chap loading his tools into a pick-up truck helped out with the wheel change.

Restores ones faith in human nature!

A new tyre was purchased at New Milton Tyres – I’d highly recommend them. Quick turnaround and they popped the old spare onto the burst wheel (the spare wheel, despite being full size doesn’t have a pressure monitor in it) and then the new tyre onto the spare.

Wednesday we caught the train to Totton, near Southampton to visit the country’s only working Tidal Mill at Eling. In the end, Joe’s ribs were such that an Uber ride to Southampton General hospital was the order of the day. No broken ribs and everything else appeared to check out ok. Only took an hour and a half, including X-Rays, much prodding and a few other tests so felt lucky not to be too badly hurt but also didn’t spend many hours at A&E.

Thursday was a visit to Applecourt Gardens. Some nice features in what is only about an acre, including a Japanese garden with some huge Koi carp.

Friday was a full-on day, and a drive to Norden, close to Wareham. Here we would take a trip on the Swanage Steam Railway, stopping at Corfe castle on the way to Swanage.

Swanage railway station is a railway station located in Swanage, on the Isle of Purbeck in the English county of Dorset. Originally the terminus of a London and South Western Railway (L&SWR) branch line from Wareham, the line and station were closed by British Rail in 1972. It has since reopened as a station on the Swanage Railway, a heritage railway that currently runs from Norden station just north of Corfe Castle to Swanage station. It now also runs to Wareham on certain services, but not on regular services due to signalling problems.

On the way back from the Swanage railway, a slight detour to the Cuckoo Inn at Hamptworth on the northern edge of the New Forest and Friday evening is the return of Tony’s Fish’n’chips.

Stunning location and proper traditional pub.

Saturday and we returned to the Eling Tidal mill. Eling Tide Mill has stood at the centre of life in Eling for centuries. For 900 years millers have been harnessing the power of the tides in Eling Creek to grind wheat into flour. Today the Grade II* listed tide mill (c. 1785), surrounding riverside walks and adjacent visitor centre and cafe form The Eling Tide Mill Experience

Sunday was clearing up day ready for the drive back to East Devon tomorrow.

It’s Monday the 22nd July and a relatively short drive from Bladon Chains near Woodstock to Black Knowl in the New Forest. The Bladon Chains site could ideally benefit from some capital investment but we understand that the site is only leased from Blenheim Estates on a short-term basis.

However, what small limitations existed on the site were totally made up for by the two sets of wardens. Probably the friendliest site we’ve ever stayed on. Nothing was too much trouble – from our early arrival and the help assisting us to choose an absolutely stunning pitch to dealing with our parcel deliveries and any queries. Absolutely the best!

No such investment dilemmas have faced Black Knowl over recent years – the facilities are literally stunning and the location is perfect for exploring the New Forest on the bike or on foot.

Same can’t be said for some of the site kommandants – the friendly wardens at Bladon Chains are nowhere to be seen here at Black Knowl!

We’d mostly set up on arrival and the new Isabella awning is performing well and easy to erect. Tuesday night was witness to a massive thunder and lightning show with some large hailstones intermingled with the waves of rain.

We also needed a visit home so little to report on until the weekend. Other than the fact a baby seagull has decided to make our porch its home. And the parents are ultra aggressive in attacking us when we chase the chick away.

Saturday was a trip to Bucklers Hard near Beaulieu.

Buckler’s Hard, originally called Montagu Town, was built by the second Duke of Montagu, and was intended to be a free port for trade with the West Indies. Its geography also favoured the development of shipbuilding, as the hamlet possessed access to a sheltered but navigable waterway with gravel banks capable of supporting slipways for vessel construction and launch. Timber for hulls was also readily available from the surrounding New Forest.

Shipbuilding at Buckler’s Hard commenced in the early eighteenth century. A private shipyard adjoining the hamlet was established by James Wyatt, a local entrepreneur and timber merchant from Hythe on Southampton Water. Wyatt & Co. won a contract to build the Navy ship HMS Surprise in 1744, and subsequently another, HMS Scorpion, at Buckler’s Hard. Henry Adams, a master shipwright, was sent from Deptford Dockyard to Buckler’s Hard in 1744 by the Admiralty to oversee the building of these ships by Wyatt & Co.

After the completion of the initial ships by James Wyatt (HMS Surprise and HMS Scorpion), Buckler’s Hard grew to national prominence under Henry Adams and won subsequent Royal Navy contracts. Over the following sixty years, Adams would supervise the building of 43 Royal Navy ships at Buckler’s Hard, including three that fought at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805: HMS Euryalus, HMS Swiftsure, and HMS Agamemnon.

There is also a pleasant short cruise along the river.

Evening was a cycle ride to the Royal Oak at Fritham and take-away fish and chips from Tony’s Frying machine. The fish are as as good as any we’ve sampled!

An eventful cycle home with Joe falling off his bike at low speed – landing on the side of his rib cage. Ouch!!

It’s not easy to keep the blog up-to-date every day, particulary after a busy couple of weeks here in Oxfordshire. Tomorrow we head to pastures new so this is the final Blog post wrapping up our ramblings from Bladon, Woodstock. It contains a summary and highlights from the visit not specifically listed.

We started out at the Cornbury Music festival which seems like an eternity ago.

The 12th July was Joe’s birthday and what better way than to end the day watching Morris Dancers at the Cock, Combe. This bunch had travelled all the way from Romney Marsh, apparently not because of the lack of quintessential English pubs at Romney Marsh but because their dances are steeped in the history of the local Cotswold Villages (eg Eynsham).

I think it was just an organised pub crawl in fancy dress with a bit of exercise thrown-in…

They even arrived with a wooden mascot of a sheep. There probably aren’t many of them on Romney Marsh either!!

Later, after we had feasted upon the spectacle of our future promised land post leaving the EU, we hosted a BBQ with Bob and Mandy back at Bladon Chains.

Sunday, Chris and Alison arrived from “Dragstalgia” for a few days in the Costwolds.

Highlights, apart from details in specific postings, were a cycle ride to the Trout Inn, on the outskirts of Oxford, a very nice Indian meal at “Da Ba” in Woodstock and a customary few pints at various local hostelries.

Moe found time to visit Blenheim Palace Gardens, via the public footpath located on the far side of Woodstock.

Saturday was a BBQ at the country retreat of the “Naked Chef” and his partner Mandy. Excellent day out and the food “slow-cooked” to perfection. No need to ask the waitor here to hold back the main courses…

Our neighbours on site appeared with an African Grey parrot. Friendly little chap although I wouldn’t want him to “nibble” my fingers.

He made the loveliest whistling and chirping noises and talked with quite a large vocabulary.

Here he is.

A ukulele band greeted our return to Combe steam mill and the steam engine is in full flow on the third Sunday of each month. We had extended our day pass to be an annual one such that we might return and see everything working. Browse below a selection of photos and videos from today’s visit.

It’s been a hectic few days and this morning we said cheerio to Chris and Alison. The usual walk into Woodstock this afternoon but this time across the meadow adjoining Bladon Chains campsite.

It was another warm and basically dry day.

A couple of photgraphs below of the site and our pitch in the distance. BBQ for tea in the evening.

A morning trip to Combe Steam Mill. We knew in advance that today wasn’t a steaming day but decided to visit nevertheless. Our ticket though allows for repeat visits so if we have time on Sunday, the beam engine should be operating.

Combe Mill is a historic sawmill adjacent to the River Evenlode and close to Combe railway station, between the villages of Combe and Long Hanborough in Oxfordshire A Grade II listed building, it was restored in the early 1970s and is open to the public.

The steam mill and building were part of the original workshops for the Blenheim estate. A watermill originally applied the power to the sawmill but this was supplemented later in time with a Steam Beam Engine such that the sawmill could operate during times of low water volumes.

This working museum is relatively inexpensive and there are many enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers on hand to explain the workings of the undershot waterwheel, the beam engine and the various exhibits.