September 7th
Brands Hatch
Friday I was due to head up from my idyllic campsite in the
woods to meet Margot at St Pancras. I wanted to catch the ‘Javelin high-speed
train but couldn’t find out where it stopped so headed for Dartford until I saw
a sign for Ebbsfleet which I knew from Eurostar trips was on the HS line.
Fifteen minutes into Central London! How come North Kent can have a high speed
link and no-one says a word but when it’s a question of the North of England
getting one, all hell breaks loose?
We were meeting Rosie and Richard at St Pancras too and then
over to the British Library for a rather uninspiring lunch, I suppose it was a
bit late by then. Unfortunately Richard had to go back and rescue the cat from
the vet but the rest of us wandered down to Russell Square and sat on the grass
chatting in the late afternoon sun. Rosie then had to go for a meeting so
Margot and I went to the Curzon to see Tabu – a Portuguese movie that had 5
stars in the paper. Unfortunately it left me feeling like I used to a University
Cinema club in the 1960s. Should I be enjoying this? Am I stupid or what? Is
everyone else pretending too?
Back to the camp site in the dark but at least this time I
knew where it was and had a key for the barrier.
Next day we walked through the village to Brand Hatch for
the Road Racing. A beautiful day and plenty of space to find a spot right by
track at the final corner. We had tandems for the visually impaired and trikes
which featured British hero David Stone. Our enjoyment was enhanced by a young
lady next to us who insisted on banaging on the barrier and cheering everyone who went past – not just
competitors but marshals, support vehicles, even road sweepers (you can hear her n this video clip).
By the end of the afternoon people were drifting off so we
moved up to the finish line and got ourselves a spot right by the ‘pits’. The
last event was the hand-bike relay with teams of three, one starting from the
line and the other two waiting, Le Man style right in front of us. Each team
member did two runs of one lap, and each team had to have a mix of abilities (and
genders). This made the results uncertain right up to the end and it was by far
the most exciting event especially as we were within touching distance of the
competitors as they came in from their round.
8th September Back to York
Next day back to York as we were expecting Ian and Margaret,
friends from Adelaide in the evening, but stopped at Sainbury’s in Dartford.
Once again grateful to Sat Nav on my smartphone and take back all the cynical
remarks I had made in the past. It really is very clever.
Not home until 1am so glad we had left a key and Ian and
Margaret were safely tucked up in bed. They stayed until Monday and lots of
chatting aided by lovely sunny weather enabling us to sit out in the garden - a brief glimpse of summer.
On Tuesday I had volunteered with Lynne and Peter Thompson
to go down to Spen Valley to help local volunteer Rangers erect some railway
sleepers so they could fix directional signs to them. We got there to find no
sleepers, no diggers and nothing to do. Fortunately we had our bikes in the van so went for a ride
up and down the track – something I had meant to d for some years. So not a
complete waste of time but it does irritate – I am sure they don’t treat the
time of paid workers so casually. Back home to a York Cycle Campaign meeting
with a speaker from the national network of cycle campaigns.
Hope its not just post-Olympic euphoria but we have signed
up at the new University Sports Village. Since the city paid half, members of
the community (us) can join too and it’s a lot cheaper than David Lloyd. Mainly
interested in the swimming pool but reckon if we use it regularly that will pay
for the membership so all the fitness suite and sauna bits are a bonus.
We’ll give it til Christmas and see if our enthusiasm lasts – fortunately you
don’t have to sign your life away, its only one months notice.
This is particularly important as we are now intending to go
to South America in March for a couple (few) months. More on that later but
I’ve started to do some research. Looks like Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and
Peru. A Delta round ticket via Atlanta gives us flexibility and we can always
spend time in the States or Canada on the way home. Its valid for a year.
Sunday 16th
Great North run
Off to Newcastle nice and early with Jim, Matt and Matt's
friend Paul for the Great North Run. Dropped them near the start and headed off
to view near the end at South Shields. With Paul’s wife we found a good spot on
the last corner. Didn’t see either of the boys go through but it was good fun
and they both did well.
A rush back to York as the boys were borrowing the van to go
for a week’s mountain biking in the Ardennes. Sounds good but I think they
spent as much time in Bruges and we managed fine without the van as Margot at
least had the use of Jim’s car (me not insured).
Thursday we went to the City Screen to see the Silver Screen
showing of ‘Hope Springs’. A theatre
full of old folks watching a film about old folks dealing with intimacy or the
lack of it – not many glances exchanged.
Friday night off to Selby to see Cedric Watson, a young
singer fiddle accordian player from Loiusiana playing Cajun with his trio.
Great music and worth a listen – Bijou Creole http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=66451765&ac=now
Sunday I was OD at the sailing club – reasonable sailing
which was a rare thing this year as we have been plagued by lack of wind and
floods which made sailing impossible for
weeks on end. There was of course the Regatta at Naburn where I actually won a
prize, not sure how but it was a nice fleece top. The boat, decrepit as it
looks is going well and seems to be the fastest in the fleet when running
though not so hot tacking or maybe that is me. No other Lasers active at the
moment so difficult to say.
The sea kayak group seems to be dormant as well and with Ian still recovering from his
accident I have hardly been out this year. Must do something about this.
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