To St Ives, Huntingdonshire, for the St Ives Regatta

Thursday, 20th June 2024.

The prime purpose of this trip, at least initially, is to see grandson, Gabriel, competing in the St ives Regatta, as a team member for his school (Windsor Boys School).

We leave before breakfast, at about 07;40, the plan is to stop for breakfast after a couple of hours.

Immediately, there is a problem, we would normally take the A19 south and join the A1M at Thirsk, but, after filling with diesel, as I approach the A19 interchange with the A184, I can see that the southbound A19 traffic is at a standstill. Quick change of plan, keep on A184 and join A194M, then, A1M near Washington Services. There is little different in distance, this is about 3 miles further, not worth worrying about in a journey of 220 miles.

 We stop at Wetherby Services for breakfast. A pleasant surprise, not only are there dedicated caravan / motorhome parking spaces, but, there is an attendant on duty to organise the parking. Wonderful.

Traffic is only medium busy, and, other than the ongoing bridge repair work at Darrington, there are no hold-ups.

The lady who runs the CL advised not using the Post Code in the Sat-Nav, and suggested using "What 3 Words". I haven't used "What 3 Words", always seemed to me to be a solution, searching for a problem, what is wrong with good old Co-Ordinates?

She was right about not using the Post Code (well, she is a woman), this lead us into a cul-de-sac  of what appeared to be "traveller" type static caravans/mobile homes, not very salubrious.

The Emailed instructions said the site was "on the left", but, did not indicate the direction of travel!, so, not very helpful. I now know, if travelling from St Ives, on the A1123, Priors Field Farm CL. Bluntisham, PE28 3RJ, N52 20' 45" W0 0" 8" is on the left.

So, after our detour to the "travellers" area, we over shot,, not helped by the "red gate", not in fact being red, it is rusty, and, the CL sign is very small.  We had to continue until we could turn around, then, we got the approach from the opposite direction!

The good news is, the weather was favourable, blue sky, and 22C, and, dare I say, no rain.