In the woods, and an unexpected diversion

Friday 11^th July; the woods, and a grand tour

It was very hot last night.  We put the big hoppers back in but left the portholes out, and by about 5 it was cool enough to need the duvet!  Runners and dog walkers were out before the heat built up – three runners before 6.30.  It was delightfully cool in the woods, but when I took Jess out first thing, the towpath beyond the woods was already basking in hot sunshine.

06:48

We all set off towards bridge 23 where I left for Nuneaton station to catch a train to Cambridge for a family funeral.  Dave headed back to walk the dog and get on with various boat jobs.  The train had air-con and was the perfect temperature to enjoy the ride via Leicester (didn’t see the Soar), Peterborough where the line runs along the Nene for a while and Ely where there were lovely views of the Great Ouse, with narrowboats.  I was the wrong side of a rather crowded train so no photos, but here is one from our Nene trip.

Leaving Peterborough moorings

But I knew where to sit for a better view on the way home (though that didn’t quite work out).  I walked to the Botanic Gardens with an M&S wrap to pass the hour or so I had spare.

The gardens were even drier than this and it was so hot people were making detours to keep in the shade.

The rest of the day passed as such things do and I was back at the station in plenty of time for the 18.00 return train …  the platform was heaving as it had been Open Day for prospective students at the Cambridge colleges and as we packed onto the train I had to stand along with many others.  No younger person offered any of the older people a seat.  We waited, as they tried to mend the aircon in a couple of the carriages, but then the train was cancelled.  We all trailed over the bridge to another platform for the next one, an hour later.  On we all got, then were abruptly ordered off again – not only was this one cancelled, all the later ones were too, as there was a problem further up the line because of the heat.  Dave reported stationary trains when he crossed the main line on his dog walk in the early evening.  The more local passengers were ok, but not those for Nuneaton, Birmingham and points north.  I am amazed at the knowledge the platform staff hold in their heads – the chap on our platform didn’t know why the trains were being cancelled, but did know exactly which trains everyone should be getting instead.  So I got on the stopping train to King’s Cross.  I think the best description of how I felt is gobsmacked – London? - and not a little pissed off fed up.  But at least the train wasn’t crowded and was cool.

Stopping train!

We arrived at King’s Cross just before 9 (by which time I should have been on the boat enjoying a glass of wine).   I followed the single sign to Euston station – the chap on Cambridge station had said it’s quicker to walk than get the tube, and no tube ticket to buy – but was soon flummoxed.  When you are lost, ask a policeman – or in this case a handy female police officer – and off I strode again.  The Euston Road was boiling hot, very noisy and heaving with people.  No time for photos – I had no idea what train I was heading for  – but I did appreciate the amazing frontage of St Pancras Station (hotel?) as I powered by.

Half-hinched from the internet.  I think it's taller and more elegant than this shows

I caught the Manchester train, which was running over an hour late as the driver had been caught up in the delays and there was no other driver available.  At least it was a fast train and Nuneaton was the first stop!  I could even get a cup of tea.  I disembarked at Nuneaton about 10.45, and the walk back to the boat was an ideal opportunity to decompress.  Dave met me on the towpath with our brilliant rechargeable torch – the towpath is in very poor condition in a couple of places - and I was finally back home some time after 11.30.  The lady sitting next to me would have still been on the train to Manchester.

No cruising, but I did my 10,000 steps twice over