Thunderstorms in the early morning but not heard by H&L in their dungeon. Off to Heathrow to pick up the car-still some gallantry amongst male population as heavy suitcases were whisked up and down the many, many stairs at Paddington station.
Very pleasant woman at the car hire place-we accepted the GPS which proved to be a very good decision.
Car is a Holden Zafira, supposedly 7 seated people mover which we foolishly assumed would be equivalent in size to our Honda Odessey but is actually much smaller so when it came to trying to put 4 suitcases in the back it became a real challenge. Helen driving and despite the GPS within 15 minutes she had managed to turn us back towards London-GPS is clever tho and then gives instructions on how to extricate yourself when lost.
The drive south through the back roads of Surrey and West Sussex countryside was breathtakingly beautiful with trees and flowers in full bloom and we stopped for a belated picnic lunch on the village green in one of the small villages.
More ancestors –brief stop in Arundel with its impressive castle-birthplace of Charles Boyce senior ( g-g grandfather) and then to Warblington Cemetery to visit Peter Blakes grave-a beautiful peaceful place with very old church followed by a whiz around Portmouth so Anne could get see HMS Nelson and her Majesty’s Dockyard there.
Arrived at the Youth Hostel at Burley in the New Forest about 7pm –wild ponies and foals all on the verges and on the roads along with donkeys –L had a bit of a fit when one donkey stuck its head in the window.
Quick trip over to Lyminton to see if Toddy was home –found the house but not there-then back through the forest (superb sunset in the west) to the Youth Hostel about 9 pm –––maybe a dozen people staying here.
Comfy bed in a 4 bedded bunkroom.
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