11th August. Back in Australia.

Arrived home in Melbourne about 6.30 am. Customs checked out the tent and decided to wash the tent pegs and ground sheet otherwise no problems. Felicity collected us from the airport and we stayed the night in Melbourne to catch up with James and have a family dinner. Wet, windy and cold. Bit of a shock to actually see that we had missed a whole season, autumn, and that all the trees had lost their leaves. Arrived home on the 12th.

Just a bit in closing the blog. If we weren't walking with the packs on Annette had me walking without them. Just how far did we walk with the packs on? Hard to say with all the up and down hills but a rough guess would be 900 kilometres. How long did we spend sitting doing nothing? Felt like zero and wasn't very often.

Would we do it again? Of course and we plan to be off for another 3 months next year. What would we change? Lighten the packs a bit and try to plan the walking better so we could walk less per day. What did we get out of the trip besides three months off work? We both lost a bit of weight, ate hundreds of chunky kitkats, found that the midges are bloody annoying and that people everywhere were fascinated with what we were doing and really friendly and helpful. The larger Macpacs definitely set us aside from the other walkers. We walked, trained and bused through some lovely country and towns in both France and the UK.

I can't say the trip was easy as most days it was hard work walking with the packs but we definitely got to see more of the country and talk to more people than we would have otherwise. Annette found that she had an inner strength to keep going when it got tough and I am very proud of her. I know there were lots of days when she finished the day in better shape than me.

We are still talking to each other and Annette has forgiven me for some of the comments I put on the blog. I hope you all enjoyed what was suppose to be a honest, light hearted day by day commentary of our journey. Until next year.

Annette and Graeme.

10th August. Lost on the plane.

Flew out of Heathrow and landed in Singapore about 5.30 pm their time. During flight read a book, whilst Annette watched movies and then tried to sleep. Hard to do on the plane but plenty of other passengers finding no problem sleeping. Enough to eat and if you were still awake you were supplied with food and drink regularly. Still a long flight. Singapore airport huge and clean and this time everything open. Had a shower and it turned out to be a really good idea and I would put it down on the must list if you are flying. Left Singapore about 9 pm. Felt like one day completely lost.

August 9th Last day in the UK.

Fly out at 10 pm tonight so we decided to spend the last day visiting the British Museum, Somerset House and the National Portrait Gallery. This is one of the many old buildings in the area where we were staying near Russell Square.

Into the Museum and so much to see. Crowd not bad to start with but by lunch time is was getting too much.

This was part of the Greece Parthenon. Beautiful stone work.

One had to wonder why they had their heads knocked off. It really did look like they had see through clothes. Such vandalism and to think we are still letting it go on today.

These blokes didn't look like they would have had much of a sense of humour.

Something for everyone. They were just beautiful to look at.

Except in this section. Annette wasn't feeling very well after a good look around the Egyptian section. This poor soul look like they must have removed the legs to fit them in.

 Who said sun glasses were new? They came in all shapes and sizes.

Lunch and off to Somerset House famous for Impressionist masterpieces. Botticelli, Monet and Van Gogh and such. I liked this one. All done with dots. It looked like you were in front of it no matter where you were in the room. Painted by Georges Seurat, 'Young Woman Powdering Herself'.

Van Gogh himself. Just imagine actually seeing the painting with your own eyes.

Though, one had to wonder sometimes.

Could have stayed longer but time was ticking on so off to the National Portrait Gallery. Arrived there and it looked like hallways of very smug old men, most beautifully painted. May be a bit harsh but this on really stood out. Just absolutely wonderful to see.

Back on the underground and when you come out at Russell Square you take a lift up to the street and it is normally packed. Because we had stayed on the platform to check out two trains running to the airport to see which carriages had spare seats when we got to the lift it was empty.

Collect our packs and back onto the train and off to Heathrow Airport. Arrived and able to check in our packs straight away so in through customs we went. All very quick and hassle free with Singapore Airlines. Off to the boarding gates and soon to be leaving the UK. Holiday really finished now and no going back.

Boo ho. Not really sure whether we want to go or not.

August 8th Shopping in London

Cold and cough worse and not a good nights sleep. Off to Oxford Street to have a look around and Annette shopping for a dress. Didn't bother to check shop hours and they didn't open until lunch. Had a look at the shop windows at Harrods. (only photo for the day)

Left Annette to shop and I went back to the hostel and updated the blog. Annette arrived back with a nice dress. At least she will be able to take something new home from the trip. Annette refused to wear the new dress out for dinner with the walking boots. Dinner at a local pub then back and bed. Strange not doing very much in one day. Unreal that we will be going home tomorrow.

7th August. Arrived in London.

Train to London and left our packs at the hostel where we are staying at for the last two days. Off to visit Porttabello Road where they have the antique markets. Just crowded with people and not what we expected. Just too many people and too hot and humid in any of the shops. Gave up and off on the train to visit Kew Gardens. Another one on the must list. View in one of the hot houses where you can walk around up the top.

Just what Annette is doing.

One of yours truly.

The famous large water lilies.

Annette went off to visit Kew Palace in the gardens.

Another hot house.

Back to the hostel and after dinner went for a walk to check out the British Museum near us. When we got there the guard said we could go inside and have a look around a bit of it tonight.  This was the glass roof.

Leave her alone for just a minute.

Boy did these two remind me of a couple of my work mates. Funny Annette said the same thing.

The guard told us to come back Monday morning as Sunday would be just too crowded. Back to the hostel and Annette went off to bed and I put some more photos on the blog. That cough and cold is back. Not going to make for an easy flight home. Tomorrow a rest day for me and a shopping day for Annette.

6th August. Last day walking.

Above, the only time we were discriminated against. We were not allowed to pitch here but had to pitch there (below).

Off and on our last walking day of our holidays with our packs. Just seems unbelievable that it has been three months. Found this along the way and reminded me of home. My work mates will know why.

A pub for Garrie.

It has been black berries for morning, lunch and afternoon tea.

Arrived in Hampton Court and lashed out and stayed at a pub near by. Even had twin beds so Annette could get away from me.What more could a girl want?

Paid a visit to Hampton Court. Huge place and we both got lost and only saw about half of it in the time we had.

This was a bath room.

Nice gardens.

The grass in the park was just like home. Dry.

Back to the pub and dinner and off to bed. Very nice after the tent and sleeping on the ground. Tomorrow, train to London.

5th August. Along the Thames.

Continued walking along the Thames and under the road next to the caravan park. We could hear the noise of the traffic but as it was constant and we were knackered it didn't worry us. The underside of the bridge was interesting. Again tent wet when we packed it up so we have to pitch it in the wind and sun (if possible) during one of our breaks for it to dry.

First view of Windsor Castle. Walked into town leaving Annette at a coffee shop. Interesting town and Annette would have enjoyed spending a day there. Maybe next time.

Another older boat. I found these much more interesting than the new big boats. They have a certain charm and style about them. Actually wanted to have one.

This had to drop its funnels coming through the lock.

Arrived at the Laleham Park caravan Park and found it to be full of tents that had been there for ages. Told we had to pitch near the front gate.

4th August Along the Thames towards London and home.

Up early and off. Rained during the night so tent wet. Back into Henley-on-Thames and over the river and off towards London. Great rowing course along the river here. What do you make of this James? (above). Houses opposite the finishing area of the rowing course.

An old boat going for a chug.

Rained didn't it and we got just a tad wet but not too bad.

Just part of the river system.

Some nice houses along this section.

Got into a pub just before the next shower and wasn't it a beauty.

Refreshed and off again. Just part of the changing walking track. You never know where you will have to go or what you will see.

Arrived at the Amerden House Caravan Park. Small park but very nice and the only one we stayed at that had an area for preparing meals under cover. Even three bar fridges and a microwave.

3rd August Visit Avebury Stones.

Above is a photo of the pub. Very pretty with creepers and lots of hanging baskets. Off early and decided to walk further along the canal to Devizes past the section of 16 locks, all hand operated.

Two boats in the lock. They said it could take them up to 2 hours to get up the locks depending upon if the last boat was going up or down.

Arrived at Devizes to find a lot of welfare type people about and streets dirty with cigarette buts. Not a good first impression. Bus to Avebury broken down so had to wait for the next bus and our first impressions only enforced. On the bus to find the same driver as yesterday so thanked him for dropping us off and told him about the two caravan parks. May help the next poor souls. Arrived at Avebury, the world heritage site of the circles of stones. Some were big stones.

The area was not as open or as flat as I had imagined but impressive.

Here Annette was trying to make her own impression.

We also visited the Manor House and garden and found that interesting. The whole village is worth a look see.

We have seen this a few times. One small house made larger.

Off on the bus to Swindon then train to Henley-on-Thames with two changes. Signals out so missed our changes but managed to catch later trains. Arrived in Henley-on-Thames and walked to the caravan park at the edge of town. Huge with lots of permanents. Also lots of families tenting due to holidays. Cook up and shower and off to bed. One of the air mattresses has had a slow leak for a while now and it's pot luck who is sleeping on the ground in the morning. Seems we are getting used to it. Off on the Thames walk towards London tomorrow. Can't believe we will be on our last walk.