Since leaving
London, we have been hosted by Warmshowers, cheeky camped, sneaky
camped, wild camped, family hosted twice, a farmstay and now have
splashed out on a "lonestar" room in a Mumbles, Wales hotel.
On a Cycle Tour with
Val and Don,
You never know
who'll be put upon.
For at the end of
each long and weary day
They search and seek
a place to stay.
Yes, Windsor Castle in b/ground.
“Is there
somewhere we can pitch a small tent”
The supplication can
be intense.
“We're from NZ on
a three month tour,
Very tidy, friendly
and sure
To be good
neighbours for just one night”
(Though our
appearance must sometimes be a fright)
Jerry said, "Yes you can camp on our lawn!"
Warmshowers, a cycle
hosting org is widespread
But needs wi-fi to
arrange a bed
Then though they say
they”re home to host
Are often away on
some foreign coast
So though we use it
whenever poss
Success can be a
gamblers toss.
Cheeky camping is
another mode
If you find the
right person on the road.
They are the free
and easy kind
Who find the local
rules a bind
“Just camp o'er
there behind those trees”
Or
“That patch of
grass should suite your needs”
Brecon Canal, Wales
So armed with the
authority so loosely given
We set our camp and
start the oven
Sweet smell of
onion, herbs and more
Attract comments
from those who pass us by
Well, most at least,
some tend to stare
But (so far) none
challenge our right to be there.
(Not Mrs Gandhi)
Then the days when
way out back
The open gate, a
rough side track
Terrain is steep and
stony too
Fallen trees,
blackberry and who
Know's what among
the trees
We step it out,
here's a patch
The tarp goes down
and in a scratch
Val has the sleeping
all arranged
And smells of
cooking waft oer' the range.
Lovely Friendly Farmer "Sherie"
There's a Farmer
shifting cows
“Hullo there”
comes our call
We do the standard
camping pitch
Which along with our
advancing years
Moves tough old
farmers to shed a tear
“Yes, over there
beside that stack'
Or “If it rains,
move in the barn
You don't mind pig
or cattle smells,
I hope”
“We love them ' I
hastily reply
“I used to farm
near Gundagai”
Val hides her
concern and trusts my skill
At calming Bulls and
angry dogs
Clearing camp sites,
moving logs.
