Travels with a Blind Brown Bear - 20th Jan 2015 Ringwood to Oxford and Witney

I was put in my usual position on the back seat of the car for this new journey which started at about eight thirty.  I knew it was then because on Radio Four they had just finished the sports report with the racing selections for the day.

‘Have you got the directions?’ one of the peeps asked.

‘Yes, they are in front of you.  Should be quite easy as we pick up the A34 just past Winchester and then the A423 off the A34 near Oxford.  After that I will need you to read.’

Off we went but not for long.  A fuel stop at a place called ‘Pickets Post’.  The peeps were very happy as they paid less than one pound ten a litre.  The peep who was driving said that the New Forest was safe from invasion by the Americans as there was a MacDonald’s here and their golden arches.  America apparently has never attacked or invaded a country where these iconic arches are.

On we drove.

‘Look, there are some gallops off to the left…..look, you can see them going up that hill’.

I haven’t a clue what ‘gallops’ are.  Sounds like it might be some sort of animal.  I wonder if they have two or four legs?

On we drove for what seemed an age.

‘I can’t see any signs for the A423…..ah, look, we’re coming up to the M40.  Surely it must be sign posted soon?’

I felt the car go up a slight hill, then as it took a corner I ended up on my side before we seemed to be going downhill again.  I can only assume that we have turned back on ourselves.  Then we pulled over and stopped.  There was a blast of cold air as one of the peeps opened the door and got out.

‘Just going to the garage for a minute’.

Then they returned.

‘Look, I have an atlas’.

There was a brief discussion between the peeps about road numbers and something about the Sir John Radcliffe Hospital.  We were on our way again and I did detect that we were travelling slightly faster than we had been earlier in the journey.  Presumably we were rushing to get to an appointment at the hospital.  Perhaps they were taking me there to get my eyes fixed.  If that was the reason for our journey surely the peeps would have told me last night.  Oh well, I can only hope.

The car pulled up, stopped and was switched off.  There was a palpable sense of relief.

‘We made it and only ten minutes late’.

Both of the peeps got out and left me in the car.  Today obviously was not the day I was going to get my eyes fixed.

My time in the car ended when the three of us checked into a hotel.  As usual I was smuggled in while I was hidden in a pocket. 

At the reception desk all I could hear the peeps talk about was what a lovely old building we were in.  Dark oak panelling, open fire places with fires and a library with a floor to ceiling collections of books.  All of them accessible for guests to read and enjoy.  I heard feet walking on wooden floors as the peeps explored the ground floor of the hotel;

The peeps stayed in an annexe away from the main building.  The room was warm and cosy.  Too warm as the window had to be opened.

Just before everyone went to sleep I heard the peeps talk about the Teddy Bear shop in Witney and how they hoped that they would be able to take me in there in the morning to get my eyes fixed.  I do hope so as I would really like to see what ‘gallops’.  Perhaps tomorrow will be the day.