EUROPE TRIP PART TWO (6th to 16th MAY 2026)
Wednesday 6th May.
After , our plans for Tuesday the 5th of May were ruined because of road delays, we were ready to set off again. We were on the road again soon after breakfast, and leaving Lynn’s place in Havant.
Our destination was for our old stomping grounds, to meet family and old friends.
We’d planned to meet my brother and sister for lunch, just outside Toddington , in Bedfordshire .
There were no holdups on the M25 and M1 , so had plenty of time for a few stops on the way.
After exiting the M1, at Flamstead, we headed up the A5 to Markyate , Kensworth and Whipsnade , then onto the Dunstable Downs.
It’s a beauty spot we both remember well from our teen-age years.
A visitors center has been added since ‘our days’ and a nice paved parking lot.
From the top of the Downs there are great views looking out over the Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, the villages where we grew up.
From the Downs we drove on to Totternhoe where we first met, over 60 years ago. We were in our teens back then, when Lynn and her sister kept their horses in a field opposite where I lived.
We then dropped into the Cross Keys pub , which was one of the first places, I drank legally .
After that we took a look at both our old homes in the village that we lived with our respective families.
From the villages of Totternhoe, Eaton Bray and Eddlesborough , we drove to Toddington , another small village where my mum and dad relocated, after downsizing in retirement.
We then met up with sister Anne (and husband Pete) brother Chris (and wife Sue) at the Poplars Garden Center where we had a nice lunch in the restaurant.
From there Lynn and I traveled a couple of exits north on the M1 to Milton Keynes.
We had a reservation at the Ramada Inn at Newport Pagnell (close to the old Aston Martin factory) .
While in the MK area, we checked out Cranfield, Stony Stratford and Cosgrove, three other villages, I once called home.
Thursday 7th May
Our plans for Thursday were to meet up for lunch with some of my old racing friends at the Three Locks in Stoke Hammond.
It’s a picturesque little pub beside the Grand Union Canal.
We arrived a bit early , so had plenty of time to relax and take in the ambiance .
We’d arranged a 12-30 pm meet-up , with six long time friends from the 1970’s .
Firstly there was Chris Pickup and his wife Jan.
Chris and Jan , 1976.
Lynn also knew Chris, from our teen-age years when we were riding around on motor bikes.
When Chris and I moved on to cars, we teamed up to build our first stock car.
Michelle Kiff was also at our meet up. She brought along her dad, Dave Kiff who is now in his 80’s .
He ran Jarvis Auto Spares in Luton, and was a sponsor to Chris and many other local drivers back in the day.
Colin and Kim Herridge were also in attendance. Colin was a ‘Spannerman” and helper to Chris and other local drivers.
It was great meeting up with everyone after all these years.
After our lunchtime catch up, Lynn and I headed back to Havant
Friday May 8th May.
We had nothing planned for Friday , call it a rest day if you like.
Although , that night we were got invited over to Lynne’s friends , Des and Pete , who live nearby in Havant.
Saturday May 9th
My Vauxhall hire car had to be dropped off in Portsmouth in the morning, because I’d only rented it for one week . We wouldn’t need it for my second week, as we had other plans.
Once that was done , we took a bus ride into Chichester. It was a lot easier than using Lynns car , and dealing with the traffic congestion and finding somewhere to park.
The bus stop in ‘Chi’ as the locals call it, is right outside the Cathederal.
Chichester is one of the oldest cities in England and dates back to Roman times. We wandered through the old streets , before having a coffee break in the Catherderals Cloisters.
SUNDAY MAY 10th
On Sunday morning a Collectors Fair , was taking place in nearby Emsworth, so we were there early in hope to bag a few diecasts for my collection.
I wasn’t dissappointed, and picked up a couple more to bring to add to my suitcase.
I picked up a couple of Atkinson trucks.
The ‘Atki’ Borderer was a real cool find , as I used to drive one in my early days of trucking.
After that, we had some shopping to do in Havant.
Time for me to have a Greggs.
When In England , this is my substitute for Timmies .
You can’t beat their cheese and onion pasties with your coffee.
Monday 11th May
This was the start of our next big adventure. It was a bucket list thing for me.
We left Havant by train in the afternoon bound for London.
After arriving at Waterloo Station , we took the Underground to St Pancras where we had a room booked for the night , close to the station.
Tuesday/ Wednesday 12th/13th MAY ,
We were up at the crack of dawn to catch the Euro Star , London to Brussels train. This is the train that goes under the sea , and takes the channel tunnel to Europe.
Over 30 years ago , when I was still living in England they hadn’t finished digging the tunnel, so my trips to mainland Europe were done by ferry. The tunnel was completed soon after I moved to Canada, and it’s since then it’s been on my ‘bucket list’ .
It was a great experience .
Once we reached the entrance of the tunnel it was approximately a 25 minute ride under the water.
The whole journey, London to Brusssels took about two hours.
Once in Brussels we hopped on another train to Brugge where we had two nights accommodation at the IBIS Hotel beside Centrum Station.
Brugge is a lovely old city , famed for it’s historic architecture , canals , brewing and chocolate making.
Of course , I took the Brewery tour, while Lynn did some souvenir shopping
We really had a great time in Brugge and ended our stay with a nice meal at the De Stoepa bar and restaurant.
Thursday 14th MAY
We left the IBIS hotel around 8-00 am for the one hour train ride back to Brussels.
Our return ride to London on the Eurostar, wasn’t scheduled until supper time , so we had plenty of time to kill in the city.
We took the Hop On City tour bus for a couple of ‘laps’ to check out the sights.
Even though it was raining for most of the day, we had to get off and check out the Mannekin De Pis statue that the city is famous for .
Once we’d checked on to the Eurostar, we were back in London around 7-30 pm .
After crossing the city via the Undergound , we were in Waterloo for the ride back to Havant.
Lynns son Adam picked us up in his car and within minutes we were back at her place.
Friday 15th MAY .
Late afternoon I boarded yet another train. This time bound for London Gatwick Airport.
I had a room booked at the Premier Inn , opposite the terminal and in readiness for my flight the next morning.
Saturday 16th MAY
My flight took off from Gatwick about 11-00 am (GMT) and arrived in Montreal at 2-00 pm (ET).
I was quickly through formalities and collecting my car from the PARKNFLY.
By 4-00pm I was back home in Cornwall, Ontario .
After resting for an hour , I was on the road and off to the Brockville Ontario Speedway.
BOS , REPORT TO FOLLOW