There’s always that slightly strange feeling on the final morning of returning the motorhome.
For over two weeks, the motorhome had been our hotel, our transport, my office, our kitchen and, more often than not, the place where we'd sit at the end of the day reliving everything we'd seen. Suddenly it was time to drive back to it's owners and return her.
Unfortunately, we weren't returning it in quite the same condition we'd collected it.
The windscreen crack we'd picked up the previous day was still sitting there to greet us, and I have to admit I was feeling a little nervous about handing the keys back. Thankfully, James and Kelly at Capricorn Campers couldn't have been more understanding. It was one of those things that happens on the road, and they made what could have been a stressful experience incredibly straightforward.
A Better Plan This Time
I'd learnt from collecting the motorhome a couple of weeks earlier.
Rather than trying to coordinate everyone at once, Mum stayed comfortably in the shade with the motorhome while I walked over to Norwich Airport to collect the hire car. It turned out to be a much smoother way of doing things.
This time I'd treated myself to something a little different…
A BMW 320i M Sport.
After spending weeks perched high above the traffic in a seven-metre motorhome, climbing into the BMW felt like dropping into a go-kart.
I honestly couldn't believe how low it was.
Every speed bump suddenly looked enormous, and after getting used to floating along in the motorhome, the firmer M Sport suspension certainly made its presence known. Still, once I was a few miles down the road, it was a lovely car to drive and a bit of fun for the last few days in England.
Back at the motorhome, we met James's dad, handed over the keys and officially brought our motorhome adventure to an end.
It's funny how quickly a vehicle becomes your home.
One Last Norfolk Outing
With the practicalities out of the way, Mum and I weren't quite ready to call it a day.
Instead, we headed to one of our favourite types of places…
A British garden centre.
If you've ever visited one, you'll know they're far more than somewhere to buy plants. They're part café, part gift shop, part homewares store and somehow always manage to convince you that you need something you never intended to buy.
The hydrangeas were absolutely spectacular.
Masses of flowers in every shade imaginable—soft pinks, rich purples, deep blues and vibrant greens. I even found a variety I'd never seen in New Zealand and immediately started wondering whether there was any legal way of getting one home. (Spoiler alert: there probably isn't!)
After a relaxed wander and an early lunch, we made our way home for a quiet afternoon before heading out one last time.
The Perfect Farewell Dinner
Our final dinner was at The Honingham Buck, and it couldn't have been a better choice.
The service was warm and welcoming, and the food was outstanding. I started with squid before enjoying crab for my main, and both were absolutely delicious.
It was the perfect way to finish our time in Norfolk.
Final Thoughts
As we pulled into Mum's driveway that evening, it really hit me that our UK motorhome adventure had come to an end.
Over the past nineteen days we'd travelled through beautiful countryside, discovered places that had been on my bucket list for years, stayed in some incredible campsites and shared countless laughs along the way.
Handing back the keys was the end of one adventure…
…but in less than forty-eight hours I'd be flying to Rotterdam to meet Mike and begin the next one.
Sometimes the best thing about finishing a journey is knowing another one is just around the corner.
No comments:
Post a Comment