Wow: Not attending the International was a soggy experience.
In company with countless other poor souls, Celia and I searched in vain for a way to get through to Malvern on Friday, and failed. All routes, including most of the Motorway network, were either gridlocked with standing traffic or closed due to flooding. On Saturday morning, with the rain still falling, we gave up and turned for home.
For those that have only seen the news it was as bad as it looked. Five (imperial) inches of rain in 24 hours had made progress impossible. Repeatedly committing a Peerless to drive through a foot or more of standing water is not a comfortable experience, water was reaching places that fluids seldom penetrate! Thankfully it kept firing, and I didn't have to send for a lifeboat. Fun it wasn't.
But mostly I'm just annoyed because I really was looking forward to meeting the gang again.
For those that also didn't make it , or indeed, those that did and maybe wished they hadn't.
We left Essex 9 ish Friday morning had lunch at the Saxon Mills leaving about 1.30 to drive the 23 miles to the B & B between Evesham and Pershore. 6 and 1/2 hours later and many floods conquered we where 1/2 a mile away and a 12 foot gap appears across the road.
The Frontera had preformed well with 2/3 foot floods but it was time to give up and stay somewhere but everywhere was full. We end up at Lesleys mums in Bedford just after Midnight. But we count ourselves lucky compared to a lot of others.
Will there be another date for the International or do we have to wait another year?
Celia and I arrived at the Saxon Mill at 2PM, we must have just missed each other. Before we had finished lunch we had to leave because the place was flooded out, the water was coming in the front door, and out the back.
I hear that Stuart and Frank (and Nigel) are on the showground, but unable to leave. Just as well we didn't make it.
