Biking Birder VII
The Laurie Lee Adventure
Back in 1934, a young man named Laurie Lee walked away from his home in the village of Slad, Gloucestershire, UK.
With a life confirming night behind me, I do love sleeping under the stars, I cycle south along the main road towards Worcester, stopping at a cafe for scrambled egg on toast.
Zoe is behind the counter taking my order and telling me that she is an astrophysicist student at university.
Dean and John chat away for half an hour or so and Dean makes a promise that he will get me a Villa shirt signed by the players.
Onwards and through Worcester City centre, a car has tried to go through a red light and instead has hit a bus!
Lovely to see staff members that I getting to know so well, amazing, sunshine people one and all.
Before reaching a favourite town of mine, Tewkesbury, I meet the rightly proud owner of an old, vintage car . . .
. . . and a friendly van driver . . .
who tells me what he thinks of Net Zero and the hopefully soon to come Green Revolution. All for it, I could hardly get a word in edgeways as he told me all about and what the company he works for is doing. Good on him.
A long downhill stretch takes me into Tewkesbury after I cross the Warwickshire Avon river.
Into the town in order to search for a cafe for some lunch but not before paying my respects to a favourite comedian from the past, Eric Morecambe.
And of course . . .
Then into a cafe for lunch.
A family come over to ask why all the stuff on the bike and what am I doing. I explain my adventure and say about how I used to swim in here.
I met Diane in 1989 but that's another story. Point is Diane was a Senior Gynaecological Sister at the exclusive 'private' hospital, The Portland in London.
Many will remember her in the comedic film, American Werewolf in London.
I went to see the film with my second wife, Jane but had to leave as she was out of the door as soon as the first American trekker on the dark Yorkshire moor was ripped apart by the werewolf!
Now there turned out to be a connection between my previous girlfriend, Diane and Jenny Agutter.
Maybe Diane was the attending midwife! I know Di wasn't at The Portland for Christmas 1989. That year Diane was on holiday. She and I were with Di's parents, Betty and John and the following day we drove to John O'Groats, as you do, after which Diane crashed her car into a peat bog. I can still visualize the front to back somersaults before we ended up upside down sinking in the cold dark water!
So a celebrity's brother and sister in law met, be careful what you wish for as once again, as always when I meet someone famous, I put my foot in mouth and say something crass!
And so into the small garden like area beside the shallow sluice run off of the river and the mill's wheel.
And finally I reach my bed for the night! No park bench this evening but a comfy bed in a wonderfully friendly hotel that I stayed in a couple of times at least back in 2022, during my Biking Birder VI adventure.
The variety of things that happen when on a Biking Birder adventure never ceases to amaze me.
Detailed in the autobiographical book, As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, tells the story of a young man, nineteen years old, seeking adventure.
From his home, Laurie walked first Southampton in order to see the sea; something Laurie had never seen.
Disappointed with his first view as the sea at Southampton was muddy, Laurie found that he could make a living by busking with his violin. Therefore he continued along the south of England coast to Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and Worthing before heading north to London.
From London, after a year working as a labourer on building sites, Laurie took a ship to Vigo in Northern Spain and from there walked, eventually to a beach east of Malaga.
My aim is to cycle his route with the occasional detour to visit nature reserves, particularly RSPB and W&WT ones and sites of interest, such as Stonehenge.
And so the real Biking Birder VII adventure continues . . .
April 3rd 2025 Droitwich to Gloucester
Countdown by Rush
Very early morning, well middle of the night really, I lie awake and spot constellations, planets and satellites.
So eventually up and at 'em at around 7am, I look around the church garden and notice items to enhance the wildlife there.
Thanks to David, the bench being dedicated to him.
I tidy everything away and leave a pressie of Mr Tickle for Elizabeth, the Methodist minister, who kindly gave permission for my park bench sojourn, as well as biscuits and a cup of tea. Thanks Elizabeth.
With a life confirming night behind me, I do love sleeping under the stars, I cycle south along the main road towards Worcester, stopping at a cafe for scrambled egg on toast.
Brookside Cafe
Two gentlemen sit on a table opposite and start talking football.
Dean and John chat away for half an hour or so and Dean makes a promise that he will get me a Villa shirt signed by the players.
I say that would be amazingly fabulous and that I will sell it to get money for Acorns Children's Hospice.
On hearing this, Dean says that he will get me two of them. Dean wants me to have a signed shirt for me!
I will be honest and say I am sceptical but give Dean my address.
On the way out, Zoe asks me whether I knew who that was. No. I don't.
"He's used to be a coach at the Villa!"
Will the shirts show up?
Onwards and through Worcester City centre, a car has tried to go through a red light and instead has hit a bus!
The bus is unable to move due to a smashed radiator and traffic obviously builds up with drivers asking what is going on as I pass.
Past the cathedral and along the road heading south of Worcester in order to get to the Three Counties Acorns Children's Hospice.
Lovely to see staff members that I getting to know so well, amazing, sunshine people one and all.
Onwards, ever south, a well remembered hill halts my peddling as I push my heavy bike for a mile or so.
Before reaching a favourite town of mine, Tewkesbury, I meet the rightly proud owner of an old, vintage car . . .
. . . and a friendly van driver . . .
who tells me what he thinks of Net Zero and the hopefully soon to come Green Revolution. All for it, I could hardly get a word in edgeways as he told me all about and what the company he works for is doing. Good on him.
A long downhill stretch takes me into Tewkesbury after I cross the Warwickshire Avon river.
Into the town in order to search for a cafe for some lunch but not before paying my respects to a favourite comedian from the past, Eric Morecambe.
It was at this theatre in Tewkesbury that Eric suffered the heart attack that killed him.
And of course . . .
I'd like to thank all of you for watching me and my little show here tonight.
If you've enjoyed it then its all been worthwhile.
So, until we meet again, good night and
I love you all.
Another Acorns Children's Hospice shop to peruse.
Then into a cafe for lunch.
Riveting read!
Need some celebrity interest to heighten the interest.
Down to the large old mill building and the bridge over the river by a large sluice gate. Many, many years ago I used to swim here with my cousin, Danny. Danny & I would be staying with our Nan & Grandad Gormley, my Mum's parents, in a small caravan near to this part of the river. We'd either be swimming or fishing or exploring the immense field here, crossing it to get to the large weir on the River Severn.
My happiest days as a teenager, days when I would spend hours dangling a maggot in the fast shallow waters of the Milford Avon. Days when I would explore the nearby Tewkesbury Abbey, even sliding on the sloped lead roof of the tower!
My biggest pleasure was in saving some pocket money so that once a week I could afford six round mint creams from a very small corner sweet shop.
A family ask me what I am doing as I complete a video to tell my 'hordes of fans and admirers, where I am and how things are going.
A family come over to ask why all the stuff on the bike and what am I doing. I explain my adventure and say about how I used to swim in here.
Somehow the conversation goes from there to another occasion of wild swimming in Spain in 1990 with a truly wonderful girlfriend, Diane; whom I had met four years before meeting my late wife, Karen.
I met Diane in 1989 but that's another story. Point is Diane was a Senior Gynaecological Sister at the exclusive 'private' hospital, The Portland in London.
Diane at Slimbridge, 1990
In the conversation with this family, I suddenly heard, "I am Jenny Agutter's sister in law."
Wait a minute, that makes the gentleman Jenny Agutter's brother.
For those who don't know who jenny Agutter is, well Jenny was one of many amazing female actresses that came to prominence in the 1960s and 70s; actresses like Diana Rigg, Judy Dench, Julie Walters and Joanna Lumley.
The first thing I can remember seeing her in was The Railway Children, a massively popular film from 1970.
Many will remember her in the comedic film, American Werewolf in London.
Didn't see the film for years, well, until it finally came out on DVD. LOL.
Nowadays Jenny will be known for her role in a TV series, The Royal, about a hospital in Yorkshire, one of my 92 year old Mum's favourite series.
Now there turned out to be a connection between my previous girlfriend, Diane and Jenny Agutter.
Take a listen - and yes, I should listen more closely when someone is talking to me!
Maybe Diane was the attending midwife! I know Di wasn't at The Portland for Christmas 1989. That year Diane was on holiday. She and I were with Di's parents, Betty and John and the following day we drove to John O'Groats, as you do, after which Diane crashed her car into a peat bog. I can still visualize the front to back somersaults before we ended up upside down sinking in the cold dark water!
Hit me with a peat bog, became a fun slogan for a long time after that escape.
Christmas 1990 though, well Di may have been at work and maybe she was Jenny Agutter's midwife. Diane never discussed who came and went at the hospital and I never asked.
Diane was a truly wonderful person and if I had a pound for every time people have said to me, "you should have married her," I would be a rich man.
So a celebrity's brother and sister in law met, be careful what you wish for as once again, as always when I meet someone famous, I put my foot in mouth and say something crass!
And so into the small garden like area beside the shallow sluice run off of the river and the mill's wheel.
Amazing here to see such large trees where there were none when I was here as a teenager. I must be getting old(er).
And finally I reach my bed for the night! No park bench this evening but a comfy bed in a wonderfully friendly hotel that I stayed in a couple of times at least back in 2022, during my Biking Birder VI adventure.
The variety of things that happen when on a Biking Birder adventure never ceases to amaze me.
What will tomorrow bring me?
Tickle My Feathers
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