Traffic trials

Today our easy time at the flat ends and we pick up the car and start to negotiate England's motorways and try out the iPad's capabilities as a navigator. It's been very relaxing here.

On our way to the bustop we call into the Anglican church to have a look at the memorial to the martyrs of the reformation. So many died around Stratford. At times there were 20 000 spectators. Hard to know whether they were watching for entertainment or to support them. Either way they must have been impressed by the way they died.

We then caught a double decker bus to Barking to pick up the car. We of course made sure we sat in the front of the top deck. The drivers are just amazing how they fit up narrow streets with parked cars and oncoming traffic and overhanging branches. We picked up the car and the wonderful Apple machine directed us back to Chopwell close. Patrick was there so we had a quick lunch with him and then set off with the wonderful suitcase of Ordnance maps he had brought for us to take on our travels. Geoff was in seventh heaven with so many maps.

The IPAD took us on a rather circuitous route to the RAF museum at Hendon. About half way there we thought we knew better and went another way and promptly got ensnarled in very heavy traffic. The driving was quite scary when everything was so unfamiliar and Geoff nearly collected a truck at one stage. Finally we arrived at the museum and Geoff was engrossed for hours. Every time I saw him he was muttering 'this is amazing'!

The collection of aircraft was large but also so comprehensive, particularly relating to WW 2 . As well as a brilliant display showing the context with allied aircraft a complete collection of German aircraft in excellent condition was on display. The hundred years from the first flight to modern jets was shown dramatically.

What I was overwhelmed with was seeing the restored Beaufort bomber below. I had no idea how huge it was and I felt quite emotional imagining my Dad flying this monster of a machine during the war.

After the museum we had a slow trip down to Stockbridge. Again it was quite challenging and we were glad to arrive at the White Hart Coaching inn. Amazing place. More about that later