On August 10, after 5 days in motorcycle heaven, it was time to leave. Since the ferry for Liverpool was leaving at 6:30h IT meant a very early rise. Packing your camping gear before dawn with rain clouds looming overhead is not really fun. Fortunately, boarding the ferry and the 3 hour or so boat ride was okay. But the following ride from Liverpool south via Birmingham to Gloucestershire was less fun. For the first hour or two it was heavy rain, in combination with heavy weekend/holiday traffic. Reading the GPS was not really possible, and I spent over an hour finding my way out of Liverpool.On August 10, after 5 days in motorcycle heaven, it was time to leave. Since the ferry for Liverpool was leaving at 6:30h it meant a very early rise. Packing your camping gear before dawn with rain clouds looming overhead is not really fun. Fortunately, boarding the ferry and the 3 hour or so boat ride was okay. But the following ride from Liverpool south via Birmingham to Gloucestershire was not. For the first hour or two it was heavy rain, in combination with heavy weekend/holiday traffic. Reading the GPS was not really possible, and I spent over an hour finding my way out of Liverpool.

Somehow I made it to Bourton-on-the Water, a quaint Cotswolds village in Gloucestershire, the goal of countless buses carrying foreign tourist on their search for the real English countryside. So, how do I fit in? – Bourton-on-the-Water is the home my aunt and uncle Thea and Eric Cook. I had spent many a summer holiday during my school years here.

So, after almost 3 Months on the road, I was finally back with “family”. During the following week I indulged in the almost forgotten pleasures of a “real home”: hot shower, cable TV, regular home-cooked meals, fridge/ice box with an endless supply of cold beer and more….

“Your typical Cotswolds Pub”

(Click for larger version of this picture)

At this point it became apparent that this particular trip was getting closer to the end. Before getting back to the continent, I stopped over with Eileen and Dennis Ashbolt in London. I had first met Eileen and Dennis years ago in Frankfurt through other friends. When their learnt about my trip, they invited me to stay with them in London before heading to Dover to catch the ferry to Calais.

So, from family in the Cotswolds to friends in London. Since I had been in London regularly before, I limited my “tourist program” to the Tate Modern Gallery, a former powerplant converted into a museum for contemporary art. An interesting way to display modern art.

"The Tate Modern Gallery – a former powerplant"

(Click for an inside view)

There was must other “must” while being in London. I had never managed to visit the “Ace Café”. This place was a famous hangout for motorcycle aficionados in the fifties and sixtes, that was re-opened a few years ago www.ace-cafe-london.com
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