France here we come . . . . .

Monday 9th June 2025

We got away quite early this morning, just after 9.00 which is remarkable for us, lol.

Doggie walks completed, we set for the joys of the M6 and M5 traffic jams around Birmingham.

Surprisingly it was quite easy and relatively free flowing for a Monday.

Out first call was Grey's Court near Henley on Thames.

It's a National Trust site set in the rolling Chiltern Hill of South Oxfordshire.

It was only a walk around the grounds today, but was very pleasant never the less.

The oldest part of the house is a stone tower dating from the 11th Century.

There is also a donkey powered mill wheel which I don't think I remember seeing anywhere else ?

No donkey pictures today though, I don't think it's been operational for a long time and is now a covered seating area.

No donkey's on the donkey powered mill wheel today

After lunch the sat nav was set for tonight's parkup at Moat Pond near Godalming Surrey.

It's seems like a very peaceful nature reserve and lake which we'll explore later.

The nature reserve is called Thursley Common nature reserve and is a fantastic peaceful oasis in busy Surrey with lots of wildlife.

There are well defined sandy paths and well maintained boardwalk trails over wetlands.

There's a dragonfly trail, but sadly I didn't see any, probably too cool and late in the day for them, but I can imagine it's an ideal habitat for them.

So lots of nature and wildlife, and plenty of bird calls I don't recognise.

Note to self, download one of those bird call id apps.

We're only 59 miles from the ferry port at Newhaven, so we'll have an easy day tomorrow pottering about, slowly making our way there for Wednesday's crossing.

I decided to forego the convenience of the channel tunnel this year in favour of the ferry. 

The tunnel has become very expensive, and DFDS offer an extra 20% off for oap's, so that was a deal clincher, along with being able to avoiding the M25 and M20 going  to Folkstone.