Day 36: Wednesday 23 April - Wavenhoe, by Ken

Following breakfast at John and Ruth’s we drove Smarty to Coventry where we visited Go Outdoors – a large store selling an enormous selection of everything needed for camping. There we purchased two camp stretchers and self-inflating mattresses which we are planning to use to sleep outdoors once we reach warmer climes. More immediately, they are for our use at Phil and Kerry’s house where we will be moving tonight. We also liked the look of a folding recliner which we need to replace the rigid version bought in France for Jane to lie on when she had a bad back. The latter took up a lot of room in Myrtle’s garage and we are looking to have much better storage arrangements in Mabel this trip.

From Coventry we set a course to Wavenhoe in Northamptonshire where we had arranged to meet my cousin Deborah (Karen’s sister) and her parents Sheila and John. Wavenhoe is one of those chocolate box English villages with a pub at its centre flanked by old stone houses, many with thatched roofs. We had arranged to meet at the pub, the Kings Head, for lunch.

The King's Head

King's Head Pub Sign

Sheila and John are in their 80s, both are very sprightly and quick witted. John has a very dry sense of humour which really appeals to me. He spent a lot of time over lunch chatting up one of the barmaids, even managing to get her phone number. As Jane said afterwards there aren’t many men in their 80s that can still pull a barmaid! The food was good English pub food. I had bangers and mash followed by a cheeseboard while Jane had gammon, egg and chips with a sticky chocolate pudding to follow.

The Lunch Party - Left to Right Sheila, John, Deborah, Ken and Jane (Taken By John's Barmaid Friend)

After saying goodbye to Sheila, John and Deborah Jane and I took a walk down to the River Nene which flows past the pub’s garden and then walked through the village. 

Jane By The River Nene

Not Quite A Giant Redwood

Thatched Cottages In Wavenhoe

Back at the pub car park I phoned Down Under Insurance, we needed to renew cover for Smarty and I wanted a quote for Mabel. The UK is a very difficult place in which to get motor insurance cover unless you have a permanent UK address and have lived here for three years. In fact, Down Under were the only company that would cover Myrtle and Smarty. To my horror, Francesca at Down Under said Mabel’s value was greater than that they would provide cover for! She suggested I try Walkabout who provide a similar service to Down Under.

Back in Knowle I phoned Walkabout whose cover limit was even lower than Down Under’s! Oh dear it appears we might have bought a motorhome that is uninsurable!