The Grand Provincial Tour is looking better all the time thanks to your suggestions. I now realise I need to add in lidos, outdoor pools and good swimming spots for physical refreshment, and the chance to consider the art and galleries as I swim very gentle lengths. I also need to research independent and second-hand bookshops in the gallery towns because you never know what literary gem you might discover whilst on tour.
I am relying a great deal on the art galleries and museums to supply the requisite cake, biscuits, buns and scones, but I think I may also need to go further afield to find truly excellent baking (particularly any local specialities), which means compiling lists of, and visiting, notable cafes and bakeries.
This isn't the first Grand Tour I have thought about but not executed. Simon and I have often talked about hiring a camper van and setting off for France with lots of novels, maps and guidebooks, because he fancies following the Tour de France one year. In his mind's eye he sees himself in small, dark cafes, chatting with the locals over a Pastis or few in unintelligible but totally fluent French until the moment that the Tour sweeps through the town at which point they all rush outside to watch, then file happily back into the cafe for the rest of the day. Meanwhile, in my mind's eye, I see myself in local markets using all the French food vocabulary I have ever learned, squeezing and sniffing fruit and cheese, and buying more dahlias than will ever fit in the camper van. I then work my way through Elizabeth David's books on French cooking (no matter that I have only one tiny gas ring in the van - I am sure Mrs David would not have let that stop her), and together we spend each evening sitting outside eating delicious food, drinking local wines, and watching the sun set.
It's amazing how many of you said 'do it, do the Grand Provincial Tour'. It seems many of us love the idea of going on tour as a sort of grown-up Inter-Railing adventure but with a proper bed at the end of each day, and yet very few of us manage to do it. Adulthood is nothing if not a huge restriction on our time, but at least Tour planning and imagining is almost as enjoyable as the real thing.
Not only are the Grand Provincial/French tours fantastic ideas, they remind me a little of Two for the Road without the marital strife. My husband and I are doing it American style. We bought a van and are camping and hotelling our way around the US in one month. Leaving in three weeks, in fact. Must be that time of year when wanderlust gets the best of us. Life is short, don't put off too long.
Posted by: Tina | May 18, 2011 at 16:48
Middle-aged InterRail with proper beds, what a brilliant idea! In my student days I did it by hitch-hiking as it was cheaper - but recall some tearful hours by roadsides when I didn't get any lifts. Mind you, I set out without even a proper map - and certainly no planning - wish I could recapture the self confidence of being 18!
Posted by: m | May 18, 2011 at 16:57
In terms of good places for tea and cake in sticks while on tour I would definitely recommend Peacocks Tea Rooms in Ely (perhaps on your way from Audley End to Durham) - fabulous range of cakes, baking and tea (won a Tea Council award a few years ago) all set in a lovely building.
Posted by: Susan | May 18, 2011 at 20:36
My geography is hopeless, so I am unsure if your tour would take you past Chipping Norton. But it's worth a detour as a very fine day out can be had there at the Chippy Lido, followed by book shopping and cake eating at Jaffe & Neale bookshop and cafe.
The Plymouth Lido (Tinside) is sublime, worth a holiday of its own.
Posted by: oxslip | May 18, 2011 at 21:36
PS for Simon, I love the Tour, uncharacteristically as I don't really get sport in general. I started watching it on C4 in the eighties when the coverage was stills with commentary over the phone. T T These days it's live all day plus we have Cav! It's ace, still hoping we got tickets for the cycling in London next year
Posted by: oxslip | May 18, 2011 at 21:45
"Adulthood is nothing if not a huge restriction on our time."
I LOVE this!
Posted by: Laura | May 18, 2011 at 22:26
Have you planned stops at fabric stores and yarn shops?
Posted by: Lisa | May 19, 2011 at 02:18
Waiting for you with the perfect spot for your van in the vineyards :-)
Posted by: christine | May 19, 2011 at 09:18
I am planning a visit to the Lucienne and Robin day exhibition. Thank you for that. I can't wait! Also have you thought about the Fesival of Britain exhibition they are holding at Southbank? Also definitely on my list. Yes, I love 50's style.
Posted by: Pamela | May 19, 2011 at 12:07
In my teens I occasionally swam at Saltdean Lido, although I don't think it was black and white then. Lovely photo, and memories of trying to look cool and comfortable whilst sunbathing on concrete.
Posted by: jane | May 23, 2011 at 09:20