Finally – Home from Tunbridge!

[near horse]

I made it home after lots of flying, driving, walking and sitting. Some of you may recall that after driving across the country to attend NEAPFD and see if there REALLY was a “Carl Russell” (and BTW there really is one!), I had to meet up with my wife at the Manchester NH airport to fly to England for my daughter’s wedding. Well, with assistance from one of my new found friends and DAP member, Ed “highway” Thayer, I got to the airport on time and my pickup/trailer were tucked away (at Ed’s).

It appears that I ended up pretty much where mitchmaine spent his time when he visited England – in the southwest. I also noticed the sheep grazing the edge of Heathrow Airport – and sheep and cattle (mostly looked like Friesans err Holsteins) grazing almost anywhere there was grass. It appeared to me that the Brits recognize the value of grass wherever it grows and find a way to get animals eating it. We also visited Dartmoor forest and saw some of the Dartmoor ponies grazing about – this area had some nasty stickery shrub (called gorse) growing in abundance but some Scottish black-faced sheep might have browsed it some – not sure why or how.

Since this trip was mostly a “meet and greet the new inlaws” sort of a trip we didn’t get to go too far OR visit the draft folks 🙁 but we did see the “Mayflower steps” where the original colonists left on the Mayflower to sail to …. America.

I took some pics but mostly the standard Stonehenge, Bath Roman spa ….. but I do have some of Dartmoor forest so I’ll try and post them.

John (jac) – I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk. I’d hoped to find both the time and a way to do it but no luck.

We, my wife and I, flew to Manchester NH on Friday, picked up my pickup/trailer combo at Ed’s on Sat AM and headed for home. As part of the “romantic getaway” package I promised my wife she got 3 nights sleeping in the stock trailer – 2 at rest areas and one near a lake in Minnesota where it had to be in the teens over night. Breakfast at Flying J’s truck stops …… you get it.

I’d do it again 😮 just not tomorrow please!

[jac]

Hi Geoff, glad your back. You sound as if it was a real packed in holliday. You were a bit further north than Mitch or you could have visited Jonathan Waterer. It was nice you saw the steps the pilgrims left from tho:)….
John

[Jim Garvin]

Hey, Geoff…..it was a pleasure to have met you during your foray east, and to know that you made it back home safely. Also, thanks for looking at my mower and giving me some pointers on it. I sent for Lynn Miller’s book and hope to have it up and running for spring mowing. I’ll be sure to send you some pictures of the final product.

[dominiquer60]

Glad we got the chance to hang out at field days, it is nice to have a real life personality to go with the DAP words:) It was also nice to meet so many DAPers in one place. I am glad that your trip was a success, roadside sleeping and all. I am sure that going back to life as normal brings some relief. Enjoy the memories and come on back anytime to make some more.

Erika

[Carl Russell]

Well, now we know there is actually a Geoff Pritchard….. and he is actually a really nice guy. I am truly grateful for all of your support and assistance during your all-too-brief visit. Sorry we didn’t get to meet the Missus.

I can only imagine all of the transecting experiences that you are sorting through, but I’m sure it feels good to be home. It is a bit melancholy when realizing the distance between us, and the difficulty in physically overcoming that, but for the time-being we do have DAP. One of these days I will need to make a trip west, perhaps to the SFJ auction, or part of a horse-logging sweep from CO through WA……..

Anyway, I’m glad you made it safely home, and with only one really cold night in that rolling ice-box.

Carl

[mitchmaine]

hey geoff, glad you are safe and sound back in your own neck in the woods. england is really great, isn’t it? hardly a day goes by but i don’t remember something that happened while i was over there. anyway, i am very glad we got a chance to meet up and chat so talk to you later.

mitch

[Donn Hewes]

I thought I was gone a long time and I was home by 8 pm on Sunday night! nice job Geoff, it was good to meet you.

[jen judkins]

Indeed….very nice to meet you and put the proverbial name to a face. Looking forward to working together in the future!

[Author]

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