Start of Fens Trip

Christine was working in the Churches Tent at the Royal Cornwall Show for the morning - hundreds of visitors for tea and coffee, or just a place to sit. (There are not very many of those, under cover, out of the sun - or rain - on the showground) she had swapped a half morning with someone else's half afternoon so we could set off today rather than Saturday morning as previously planned.

This left Mike to collect the meat order, but some bread and generally pack the car - so just for once if anything is left behind it is his fault! He also had a session at Trevanion House to brief Daniel on IT matters over the next three weeks.

Everything, surprisingly, went to plan and we were off just after 1:30 and had an uneventful drive without stopping until we reached the last junction on the A43 to turn onto the A5 just 7 miles from the boat. here we encountered a long tailback - not sure why - but Christine spotted on the map an alternative around the lanes which we took, along with several other cars - and so we were only held up by about 20 minutes.

The boat seemed unaffected by its holiday at Stowe Hill and we unloaded the car and stowed away the usual mountain of food. Since it was only a short time since we were here last we did not have quite as much to do as normal.

The one item left behind, that we have so far identified, was some salmon in the freezer at home which was tonight's planned meal. On the way up we thought about going to the pub next to the mooring at Stowe Hill instead and checked it out as we arrived. However, it was more a restaurant and - to our surprise - we both looked at each other and decided that we were not that hungry after all. So it was quite late in the evening that we had an omelette - and finished up one of the almost-empty wine boxes!

Finally, we agreed with Andrew a time for Mike to meet with him at Lower Heyford in the morning, so that our car will be in the right place at the end of the trip - and his will be at Stowe Hill which is probably about right for the end of his stay with us.