After the Superbikes at Oulton Park we returned to Felixstowe to drop off Chris's bike and to collect ours from the Triumph dealer in Ipswich. Our bike was all fixed - free of charge as it is still under warranty. We had the bikes cleaned at a hand wash while we watched and then took them back to the Felixstowe depot to be returned to Australia. After packing our panniers back in to their boxes we headed off together in our ford Focus.

Our first night was at Woodham Ferrers, only about 100km from Ipswich. This village was half way between Colchester and Cheltenham. Our hotel was down a country lane in a small village and turned out to be a great place to stay. We discovered that South Woodham Ferrers was built around a town square and was a very pretty spot. Chris quickly spied a Chinese restaurant and booked a table for our dinner and also booked himself a massage for the next morning. As we didn't have to check out until 11am, Kerrie took advantage of the late start and booked herself a manicure, pedicure and hair cut all within 50m of our hotel. Greg decided that all he needed was a good sleep in to knock his flu on the head. Our Chinese dinner was delicious and we left town next morning after our pamper sessions very satisfied with our stay.

We then headed west towards Birmingham. We had booked 2 nights at The Oak Hotel in Hockley Heath - again because it was in a convenient location and the price was excellent. Our plan was to visit Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon as both were within 20km of the hotel. The hotel turned out to be a real gem, it is also only about 20km from Birmingham and we would probably stay here again if we were visiting Birmingham.

After a late start we left the hotel. We stopped in the village as Greg and Chris had spied a car dealership they wanted to check out. This was no ordinary dealership as the cars featured were Rolls Royces and McLarens including one of the Formula 1 cars driven by Lewis Hamilton in 2007. We have never seen so many expensive cars in the one spot. We spent about an hour drooling at these magnificent machines before Kerrie pulled the boys away to go visit Warwick Castle.

Greg and I had visited Warwick Castle on our first trip to the UK in 1982, Chris had never been there. After purchasing our tickets we had morning tea and then started to explore. Warwick Castle is home to the world's largest medieval siege machine - the Trebuchet along with high towers and ramparts and birds of prey shows. You can visit the dungeons and state rooms and check out the displays of weapons and armour. We slowly climbed the 500 steps to the top of the towers and around the ramparts following and assisting a 90 year old lady with a walking stick - she wasn't even puffing! The Castle is now looked after by the same group that own Madame Tussauds and it was obvious from the great wax figures that told the history of the castle as you visited each room. We watched the Birds of Prey show although Greg didn't get too close to the arena as birds are not exactly his favourite creature. The huge eagles soared and swooped around the castle ramparts displaying their flying and hunting abilities - magnificent birds.

After we finished exploring the castle we walked in to the town centre as it also looked beautiful from what we could see from the castle ramparts. We visited the 15th century Church of St Mary. This church is the burial place of the Earls of Warwick most of whom who are tucked away in the crypt below the church. The tomb of Richard Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, holds centre stage on the main level of the church and is advertised as one of the masterpieces of medieval art. The Chapel of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment is also located in this church and Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery's banner hangs outside this chapel - something for everyone. We then returned to our hotel for another relaxing evening.

Friday morning saw us heading south again. We decided to visit Stratford-upon-Avon which was only 20km from our hotel. Again, Greg and I had visited here in 1997 but it was the first visit for Chris. As most people would know, Stratford-upon-Avon is the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The building where he was born is in the main street of the town but doesn't even have a sign up to let you know it is there. We asked a local why a sign was not on such an historic landmark. Apparently it is so that tourists will not just stand out the front and take a photo but will pay the entry fee at the information centre and then enter the house from the rear. We took the photo out the front! We spent a couple of hours wandering around this beautiful tudor town admiring the architecture and flowers hanging from almost every building.

After scones and coffee we returned to the car and continued our journey to Southampton for the next 2 nights.