BYO bike and punt

                                                              Punts on the River Cam

Cambridge here we come! We have had such good luck when catching trains and managed once again to jag a connection from Salisbury changing at Clapham to Vauxhall and Kings Cross to Cambridge. Our advice to Paul was don’t ask any questions just keep up and once you get to your destination it will be a lot easier to explain. The train to Cambridge was an express and had us rocking into Cambridge in no time. We are staying at the Earl of Derby in Hills Road about a 25 min walk into the City. The pub is an oldie and it doesn’t look like the Earl has been to stay recently. The city is absolutely amazing with all the various colleges. We went punting on the river Cam which was a very pleasant experience. We saw a person lose his pole and another one who ended up going for a swim. Not the sort of water you would want to swallow. Our punter was very entertaining and had us laughing at all of his stories, most of them practical jokes that had been played by the students of the colleges. The best story was about a door that opens into the river. The third year boys placed an exit sign over the top of it from the inside and then proceeded to set off the fire alarm. Apparently all of the first year students went to the nearest exit which was the door out to the river! Everyone rides bikes and you see some amazing sights even the high heels and tight summer frocks can manage the bike. Another big walk all around the city before having a meal with the Earl and then into bed.

We spent most of today following in the footsteps of my ancestors. I had a visit to the Cambridgeshire Archives where I recorded the dates of births, deaths and marriages for the Arnolds who migrated to Australia in the early 1800’s. All of the Arnolds lived and worked in a small village named Newton about 8 miles from Cambridge. Most of them worked as labourers for the manor and some were listed as servants. The dates range from the 1600’s to the 1800’s which I think is a very substantial time for a family to be in one village. A short taxi ride to Thriplow another village about 1.5 miles from Newton to see where a family connection was before walking back to Newton. Bloody hot walk. We discovered the church of St Margaret’s and the Church Warden was very happy that we had visited. I think Ross was dreading his decision of coming with us. Thinking that the pub The Queen’s Head would be open to hydrate ourselves we were informed it opened at 6 and it was now 5! Paul found a Sporting club that were happy to have us as day members for a pound each. A local signed us in and we were happy as Larry. A very enjoyable afternoon hanging with the locals. Off to the pub for a meal and Ross is happy he is with us, amazing what a couple of pints of ale can do to make you cheery. Pub is like a museum really old and really simple food that is enjoyable. Taxi of £15 back into Cambridge. Ross and Paul off to the Flying Pig just down the road from the Earl to listen to some local music leaving me to sit back and relax. Tom is now in Dublin and Jonn off to the Ashes in Trent Bridge Nottingham with his mate Phil who lives in London. Jonn will be wearing his blonde mullet wig so look out for him in the crowd on the telly.