It was a bit further than 26 and a bit miles from Cambridge to Lancaster – but it was just as gruelling – it didn’t help that I had done half the journey two weeks earlier, to the CUYHA trip in Snowdonia (a great trip!). But with a philosophical turn of mind and a steadily decreasing bag of mints Lancaster was yet again breached.
Failing here to attain the brevity of Phil’s contribution – I can at least try by rushing ahead to 1 o’clock, via a whisky and a letter to my supervisor – to when Dave and I set off for the third time to get the London contingent.
Bump starting the minibus (& being glad that Dave lives at the top of a hill), asking what time the train would come being told “10 past 1” to see the clock say “15 past 1”, and finally seeing the train come in were experiences filling 20 minutes.
The next few were waiting to see the almost famous four appear. There was no steam as when Jenny Agutter waited for her dad to appear from the train in the Railway Children – but it was just as long and suspenseful. But Dave spotted a Fitton and the anti-climax set in. The tale of woe & the squashed car was related, tea drunk and beds bedded in.
Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
Mark.