So our last day in France dawned sunny and warm, almost nice enough to swim in the heated pool, but you've got to draw the final line somewhere. We took off after G had a last run and drove over to Mont St Michel for a quick look - very impressive. Then drove east towards Caen and the ferry port.

We stopped to pass some time in Arromanches which is one of the beaches where all the Normandy landings took place. We'd been to this part of France years ago but hadn't been very interested in war stuff then, but it must be something to do with getting older as we were now and took the time to go to the museum - quite moving. Then we tried to get something to eat but had to make do with a dull sandwich as everywhere was shut. Still, break us back in to normal British service standards!

Then we started wandering towards the ferry port only to find its not actually at Caen at all but is past the city at a small town called Ouistreham - might not have spelt that right but never mind. Just as well we weren't in a rush. It was a bit different from your usual ferry port towns as that was all this was really so quite small and with a few little bistros around the entrance so you could get a last taste of moule marinieres if you wanted - very civilised.

However G didn't really care about food as this was the evening of the vitally important Scotland v Italy Rugby decider so we had to find a TV. We found one in the ferry terminal but it only showed terrestrial French TV and the game wasn't on that so we had to go round every bar and restaurant in the town but didn't find anyone with satellite. We finally did just manage to get a very weak signal to Radio five live so managed to just make out that Scotland had scraped it. Phew, though don't expect it will last long, not when they'll be playing against Argentina in the next game!

Got on the ferry at 11pm, a few drinks in the bar and then heads down in our cabin. G was intrigued to find when he went for a smoke on deck just before bed that the boat was completely stopped - it obviously doesn't take the whole night to get to Portsmouth.

We woke up to drizzle and England. As it was only 7am we headed down to the New Forest only stopping to get a Sunday paper and breakfast goodies so we could while away the morning until we could check in to our hotel in Winchester. Getting there was fun as every road seemed to have a traffic jam - we'd gone all round Europe and only got stuck in one jam but 5 minutes back in the UK and they're all over the place. Could this be an omen? Probably not, just too many cars in England.

Sunday evening we met up with some old friends at our home from home in Winchester, the Wykeham Arms. It was lovely to see everyonbe again and didn't feel like it had been 6 months since we last saw them. It is a bit wierd not having a proper home though, a little unsettling but I guess we'll get used to it.

On Monday we picked up some stuff from storage - jumpers mainly as we expect to need them in Scotland over the winter - and then had to buy me some proper shoes as I only had sandals which aren't much good as its still raining! Then a flying visit to Winchester hash to catch up with everyone there.

Tuesday we sorted out some other things then left Winchester to drive North, stopping near Loughborough for the night. Only comment on that is don't stay in the "Quality Hotel" chain as it isn't! Wednesday we stopped in South Yorkshire to visit the manufacturers of our Motorhome and pick up the bit and pieces we need to make it look as good as new when we sell it. Then off to Edinburgh to drop off the scooter and wine with my sister and her French husband.

Had a lovely evening with them with the van safe and sound locked in the local Kwik Fit garage overnight. Then offered ourselves as a removal service to G's sister who's moving North to Fort Augustus, our final destination. After refilling all the space we'd cleared from the van we headed up to Fort Augustus and here we are, back where we started from.

Amazingly its sunny at the moment. It won't last but makes us feel better about our trip all being over! We've had a fantastic time, certainly more ups than downs, though it is going to take us a little while to get used to being back in reality.