November Holiday

Monday 9th November

Ring Brownhills in Newark – nearest one and speak to the wonderful Alison who suspects that the problem is the regulator and to bring the van in and they’ll get it sorted.

Quick shower and off up the A1 we go (84 miles). Arrive at Brownhills just after 11 and book Hymie in and have a look at the vans on show. Like the Apache SE.

Then its lunchtime and we make use of the on site Bistro and have a pork hotpot – very nice but overdid it on the potatoes – three types: roasted, hot pot and layered with cheese plus some lovely leeks and carrots – very nice too many tats though.

Van finished about 13:30 so we head back to Cambridge and decide en route that we should pop over to Ely to see the cathedral, which is what we had planned to do today.

Interesting trip across the Fens but eventually arrive about 15:20 but despite checking that the car parks don’t have height barriers I hadn’t checked to see what arcane laws they have in Ely, which prohibits anyone parking a vehicle over 5.3m in length in a public car park. One phone call to the council officers later and I am advised that there is one space – ONE SPACE in the whole of Ely designated for camper vans. As you would expect I provide some feedback!

Drive round Ely looking for aforementioned car park and the lone campervan space and after about 20 minutes find the right car park but the notice still says anyone fortunate enough to have a vehicle over 5.3m should go to hell and be damned, so I ring the council again and am advised that even though there is no marked bay I am able to park across two bays. Fortunately the car park is fairly empty so no problem finding a two suitable bays. I do however leave a little note for any traffic warden saying that we had phoned the council and spoken with Angela and she said it was alright.

Off up the hill to the cathedral, which I must say is pretty impressive, especially the octagonal tower.

Quick stop in the Almonry café for tea and lemon meringue expensive and a coffee and a slice of lemon drizzle cheap. (£4.25 for the lemon meringue pie!!!)

Walk over to the Cathedral and it is now dusk and the drunks are out but we avoid a confrontation on our way round to the front of the cathedral. Notice part of the north wing at the front has disappeared but step inside and as it’s quite late we are pretty much the only ones in there and as it is getting dark it’s quite eerie.

Give a £5 donation and get a guide and wander around, it is a most impressive cathedral very plain Norman architecture for the most part with a long nave and uninterrupted view to the east window.

The central nave is spectacular as the original square tower fell down and was replaced with a fantastic octagonal lantern – hugely impressive. The transepts have impressive wooden ceilings and carved angels in flight. With dusk falling, low light inside and the choir practising nearby it creates a wonderful atmosphere.

Very impressed with Ely cathedral, more so than the local council.

Return to Cambridge and pleased to have a fully working heating system and cooker.

A quiet night, less alcohol off to London tomorrow.