We left Laurel Manor Farm by 10am and travelled to York where we intended to find a post office and cash some travellers cheques. As with most good intentions, success was not forthcoming. Traffic was chaotic so we ended up circling around the city walls and out the other side, continuing on to Beverley.

Yet another good plan that almost came off, we did manage to find Beverley, and the post office, but they wouldn’t cash travellers cheques. Luckily I found a travel agent that would, so we finally had some cash. Also found a bakery and smallgoods shop so was able to get some stuff for a picnic lunch.

We intended to visit St Mary’s Church (which we never came within a bulls roar of) and Beverley Minster (the cathedral). After many attempts, following signs that were pointing in the wrong direction (when they were there at all) we found the Minster. We had wasted so much time trying to find our way in Beverley, we took a few happy snaps from the car and continued on our way.

To Lincoln, crossing the Humber River on the Humber Bridge (complete with £2.50 toll – on this one they get you both ways) which was remarkably long. I don’t know how it compares to others in the world but it must be right up there.

The Brits sure know how to make road surfaces, the majority are far better than those we have at home (most notably the Dukes Highway to Melbourne which was a shocker the last time we were on it). However, they have no idea how to build a road! Someone should tell them about overtaking lanes. The roads to Lincoln and then to Norwich were wide enuff for 3 lanes but there were no dual carriageways on either of them. And to top it all off, both roads are used by many semis and other trucks and vans. No need for speed cameras, you can never get above 50mph for more than 30 seconds.

Overtaking lanes every couple of miles, changing to the other direction for the next couple of miles and then back again would have solved the frustration problem. Instead, those in the know are risky overtakers (you can tell by the very pale faces in the on-coming cars) and take advantage of every right-hand turn lane just to try and get past some of these slow moving vehicles. But aside from taking an eon to get anywhere, the countryside is really pretty.

The East coast it is much flatter than what we were seeing on the West side. No wonder the Brits know they have great countryside, unless they travel on the motorways, they get to see enuff of it!

We went for a wander around Lincoln, the old part not the new. Took some happy snaps of the castle and the cathedral, and the shopping streets. There are lots of one-way streets in these towns. Once a town gets to a half decent size streets are turned into pedestrian walkways (yes, we call them malls) and one-way streets. You end up doing the Canberra thing of circumnavigating the building you are trying to visit.



From Lincoln to Kings Lynn which we didn’t get to visit, just bypass and finally take advantage of a dual carriageway for a couple of miles. Then onto Norwich.

The map I had was terrible and you can imagine the argument that ensued when I was driving and Leigh was trying to navigate. We swapped places and I found another map which wasn't much more useful but we eventually found found the Maids Head Hotel after circling the city like buzzards on a bad day!
The hotel is over 900 years old and built like a rabbit warren with narrow corridors. There are little staircases, up and down, all across the floor(s). We have three little flights of steps just to get from our room to the lift (some up, some down) and yet another two to get to the carpark.

The actual Maids Head Bar was built in 1283 on the ruins of an old monastery and the hotel has been added around it in drips and drabs over the centuries – hence the design, or lack there of.

However, our room is nice and large and I’m sitting here writing this while Leigh is doing the all important domestic task of washing – if he has found the Laundromat. He does have directions and a map.

I have found trying to fit in the washing is the hardest part of holidaying, both from a time and a co-ordination point of view. It is so much easier to throw everything into a basket and once a week carry it into the laundry and do a few loads. No worries about washing powder, or someone stealing you clothes, or coins for the machine and dryer, and not having enuff drying time etc etc etc.

Update: the laundromat closes at 9pm, so no washing got done tonight.

Tomorrow is Leigh’s day on the Norfolk Broads, so heaven knows where we will end up :)