Home again

Packed up and left Cherry Hinton around 12.30 stopping off at Lyveden New Bield, a national trust property near Oundle. It's "a nice location for a picnic" according to the handbook and that is its best feature.
I suppose the half completed building was quite interesting and it would be a good backdrop for the outdoor performance of Macbeth which takes place in September.

Cambridge shopping again

We went into Cambridge and I had a wander around while Rosemary shopped. We met for a sandwich at Marks and then caught the bus back. Rosemary alighted at Addenbrooks to visit Margaret again and I went back to site to help Mike unpack and set up when he arrived back from home with his caravan.

It was a very hot day.

We had very chatty posh neighbours attending a wedding. Their son was the best man.

The wait is over

Margaret had the transplant call the weekend before we went to Weymouth. The operation was successful and we are on our way to visit her. We left early and put the van on the same pitch, beside the Buddliea hedge that we occupied on our last stay here, before catching the bus into Addenbrooks for the afternoon.

Margaret is recovering nicely and we enjoyed a chat and a Costa coffee together.  

Salisbury and Burford

The C&CC site at Salisbury is just north of the town and has a fine view of the ancient hill fort at Old Sarum. We visited the old castle and cathedral ruins, now under the care of English Heritage and enjoyed the views back over the campsite and further still to the new Salisbury cathedral, before heading home via the Fosse way. We had a nice pub lunch and browse around Burford in the sunshine and then stopped at Stow on the Wolds to shop for our streets Olympic barbeque in the evening. Just made it home in time at 6:30.

PS The postponed 470 races finally took place on Friday and GB held on to a silver medal in both.

Weymouth Becalmed

big screens on the beach

We should have been heading home today but as it was a really nice sunny day decided to visit Weymouth again to see the final mens 470 race where GB were to win either gold or silver. The site was fully booked but we were able to get in at Salisbury and leave the van in the Moreton site until the evening. As we approached Weymouth the guard informed us that sailing had been postponed for an hour due to lack of wind.

We bought some sandwiches and made our way to the viewing area that we had found before.

coastguard rescue at Nothe fort

There were lots of people again but not a breath of wind and not a boat in sight. After further delays the racing was abandoned for the day. The only excitement was the coast guard helicopter rescuing 2 elderly gentlemen who had been injured falling onto the rocks from the spectator area - and we thought it was just to entertain the crowd! We wandered back to the harbour, took the ferry across to the other side and after a nice cold shandy caught the train back to Moreton and drove on to Salisbury.

As racing was abandoned on Thursday we had not seen a single Olympic sailing dinghy - just windsurfers on Tuesday despite being in Weymouth for 3 days :- (

Dorchester photo opportunity

Not much to see at Weymouth today so we decided to take the train into the historic market town of Dorchester for a bit of sight seeing and lunch. Wandered around the market and bought a couple of plants before strolling into town to find something to eat. After lunch we stumbled upon one of the Olympic torch bearers in the High street, complete with torch, collecting £2 for charity in exchange for photo opportunity. So Rosemary had a photo with a torch bearer before we returned to site!

Weymouth surfing

spectators on the shore

After a twenty minute journey on South Western trains we were delivered into the centre of Weymouth just a couple of minutes from the sea front. Then we were directed by pink uniformed 'games makers' a further 30-45 min walk to where the Olympic action was taking place. First there were the giant TV screens on the beach, with free entry, then further on the sailing viewing areas. The official ticketed spectator area was on the Nothe Fort headland, but over the headland there was a promenade and public park around Newtons Cove. It all sounds perfect - pity about the weather which was rather dull, not much wind and with occasional showers.

Bryony and Gold medalist round 1st mark 

The main events of the day were the two RS-X windsurfer medal races. The start and finish line was in front of the official spectator area and only just in view from our vantage point. However the windward leg and mark on the course was in front of us in Newtons Cove. Despite the gloomy weather there were plenty of supporters from all nations and we enjoyed cheering on Nick Dempsey with the rest of the crowd as he won a silver medal in his race, but Bryony Shaw only managed sixth place. I took plenty of photos of the races in less that ideal conditions.

We both had mackerel butties on the quay before taking the train back to Moreton.

Olympic Odyssey

I made a last minute decision to try and join in the Olympic euphoria by going to see some of the second week of sailing events at Weymouth. Found there was a pitch on the C&CC site at Moreton near Dorchester in Dorset, which is very conveniently located on the London to Weymouth railway line.

Arrived late Monday and sure enough the site is within 50yds of the station. We are reminded about this at least once an hour by the trains sounding their hooter at the level crossing!

Returning Home

Margaret called to say that she can be discharged and stay in the caravan at Cherry Hinton while she is waiting for a transplant. Mike was going to pick her up in the afternoon.

We had to leave to meet family over the weekend and the site is fully booked again.

A waiting game?

We went into Cambridge on the bus, I bought a lens for my camera and we visited Margaret on the way back to site. It may now be possible for Margaret to leave hospital and stay in the caravan at Cambridge so that she can go back for blood tests 3 times a week. Waiting for confirmation.

Cambridge Again

Another 2 day visit to Cambridge to see Mike and Margaret.
Mike is almost a resident at Cherry Hinton site as Addenbrooks seem to want Margaret want to stay in under observation almost indefinitely.