The Ham Nomads

24 Nov 2014. <GB-ENG> Gloucester (Friar Tuck's), Glos —

Locksmiths
there
to change the locks

Today we walked over to check out a place to do our laundry. The one we walked to is a full service, which we don't want this time - but the lady pointed us towards a coin-in-the-slot launderette, which we will probably visit tomorrow. We walked on to the Post Office, and to Tesco, before turning back to the hotel. We were talking about going into town to do a bit more exploring, but all our plans changed when we got back to the Orchard.

We tossed our stuff into
the van and buzzed off

The administrators were there again, and this time they weren't going to be turned away. The police were there, and it looked like it wasn't going to be "a misunderstanding" like last time! We went up to our room, and Warren used the internet to check out alternative hotels should the worst come to the worst.

After a while, Warren went down to the van to prepare our bread rolls for lunch, and on the way back did what he could to suss out what was happening. Apparently we would need to be out of the place by tonight. Luckily our payment for the next 10 days was still pending, so we weren't stuck financially. Came back to the room, and phoned Friar Tuck's Inn, a short walk down Bristol Road. They had a room, so Warren walked down to set things up. When he came back, the administrators informed him that we had to get out immediately — so, having somewhere to go, we did!

Our van has a new home!

Friar Tuck's is completely different. It's an old inn, with the pub section open 12.00-2.30pm on weekdays, then 5pm to 11pm — and longer on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The outside doors are locked outside these hours — you can let yourself out at any time, but you need to take your phone with you, to call the innkeepers to open up to let you in (if you can't raise them by knocking). As we were moving in, Phil (one of the regulars) was at the bar, and it looks like he and Warren might enjoy verbal sparring while we're here!

Distance driven — today, nil ; to date, 9,812 miles ( 15,791 km )