All photos related to this blog entry can be found at Grant & Julie

Fingers Crossed

Waiting, is a cruel game. The MSC Irene, with Crumpet on board, was due to dock on the 3rd of June. The container was to be de stuffed on the 5th. The destuffing was pushed back to the 7th, then the 10th...

We filled our days with long walks, cooking, visits to the pub and science museum. We also commenced watching 'Breaking Bad' (we are almost done with season three! - Thanks Mike and Bonny for Netflicks!)

Going slowly mad with anticipation and no word, we decided to hire a car and leave London for a night or two. Bonny imparted sage advice to stay way for a couple of days to evoke the freight gods into releasing the bike.

With a Fiat 500 hired and Jules charged with driving duties, we set off to find the M25 East. Arriving in Beaconsfield, in the north west, we stopped for afternoon tea and a re-group.

Grant apologises for his lack of direction and explained that his navigational skills are rubbish as he is generally the driver and Jules does all the telling where to go.

Winding through the picturesque English countryside, the mighty Fiat and it's occupants eventually found themselves in Colechester, the oldest recorded city in England. We went to find its famous castle only to be thwarted by modern day sentinels such as buses, heavy traffic, enigmatic sign posts and one way streets.

Contacting our agent at ECULine, Tyra informs us that destuffing was imminent and customs clearance should be simple. We just needed to make a declaration that the bike was being temporarily imported for touring purposes.

Should we return to London or carry on was the question. Tyra suggested not to return so we headed off to Great Yarmouth..... Only to end up in the seaside village of Felixstowe.

The Peewit Campground welcomed us with aplomb and the sun shone favourably. Checking our email late in the day, attempting not to obsess, the words we has been waiting for appeared in our inbox.

"Customs has cleared and your motorcycle will be released upon payment of invoice."

Misty eyes all around. It had been nine weeks, to the day, since we saw our beloved Crumpet.

More good news was at hand. The freight company boss owed Tyra a favour and agreed to letting us uncrate the bike in his yard and dispose of the waste. (A waste disposal fee was, not surprisingly, incurred.)

There were no import duties to be paid, just the freight handling, customs clearance, and waste disposal, in total $845.00. Hefty enough, but our freight from Aus to UK was only $365.00!

It was a relief to unload Crumpet with no damage. She fired up on the first turn of the ignition.

On the return to London, Grant noted with amusement, that it was only in the UK and on the M25 motorway that you would find a panel van toting two bicycle racks one with a standard roadster and the other a Penny Farthing (one of the first practical bicycles ever produced).

Crumpet in London

Back to London to finalise our stuff there and for one last round of International World Championship Texas Hold 'em Poker.

It was time to head off.

We will miss our 7:00am wake ups from Matthew, crawling into bed with us for a chat, then a wrestle, before Duncan's bottle. Grant, however, will not miss the four year old foot to the groin at 7:5am!.

Bonny and Mike may never fully appreciate how much they had done for us whilst we were in London. Hopefully, one day, we can repay the favour. Thanks guys.

Matthew tries out the bike