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2024-9 Roma Rally Notes

A bright Indian summer with a clear blue sky, it was a fine drive north and emerging from the dark of the Baldock tunnel, there’s a great reveal of the wide open plains and big sky into Cambridgeshire. Turning off at Royston, realising that we were close to Wimpole Hall, it would be a good venue to have lunch.   in the newly developed car park we forsake the buggy and walked the sinuous path through the woods to the restaurant. Reality hit on entry! the NT don’t do meals anymore, just snacks, and so curmudgeonly had to settle for a baked potato and a dry miss-named poor mimic of a croque monsieur. Explained, due to  the catering being simplified during the covid pandemic, the NT so capable in many environment matters seems incapable or unwilling to reinstate the excellent healthy menu of formative years.

 

It must be some fifty years since we brought our children camping at Comberton. Then it was just an open field at the back of the farm surrounded by waving seas of golden cereal. Family memories from that time was a confrontation with cows at a picnic by the river in Cambridge and the clouds of dust and thunder bugs kicked up by the combine harvester passing by our pitch. During the intervening years the site has been much developed and now resembles an east west belt of land of several small meadows backed by tall stout hedges to the north and east. The Rally field was beyond the east hedge of the site, still close to modern and pristine facilities, and the advantage of a rising landscape re-wilded over which kestrels hovered and buzzards patrolled soaring in the breeze.

 Arriving we took up an EHU pitch backed by the hedge with a view over the nature reserve and soon were sunbathing in the afternoon sunshine, with occasional social visits to the marquee for refreshment and a chat. As the sun began to sink into a blood red hue, we took advantage of having our evening meal prepared by the visiting F&C van. Suitably refuelled we joined the throng in the marquee for several rounds of bingo before retiring to the warmth of ‘Cosy van 2t’ and bed by eleven thirty.

The chilly early morning mist and heavy due heralded the promise of another fine day and by the back of nine it was warm enough to have an alfresco breakfast. This morning there was little to do but watch the camp come to life, some joining to consider matters of state or otherwise over a mug of coffee at the marquee. I chose to sunbathe watching nature over the wild area or be jolted from my somnolent dose by the scream of a Merlin engine as a Spitfire or Hurricane from Duxford goes wheeling high above. 

 

Following a light lunch and a beer, whilst Jenny attended the craft forum, I, encouraged by others that had brought kites to fly in the hill breeze dug out from my bed box my super deluxe stunt kite. Unpacking the brand new two-meter rainbow coloured foil wing, discovered, that there were no instructions as to where or how the control lines might be attached. I’m sorry to say that following forty-five minutes of trial and error my endeavours had only made me hot, sweaty and frustrated, achieving no more than the thing thrashing about on the ground.  To those that were flying their kites up in the lofty height “I bow to your superior aeronautical skills!”.

With evening coming on it was time to dig out our contribution for the ‘bring and share’ dinner. The committee took charge of the offering that was spread over two tables. Gathering up our plates and cutlery we followed on to squeeze in together at table in the marquee. Before us was an eclectic selection of salads, dairy and meats, arrayed round bowls of special dishes prepared by the committee. To follow there was a choice of cake, mince pie or sweet fruit offers with custard or cream of partiality. I had both! All was rounded off with a coffee or alternative.

‘The Retired Caravaners Club’ from the adjacent bay joined us for the main event of the evening in extending a warm welcome to our entertainer ???? ??????. Following a tentative start the right vibe was found with various songs old and new and  soon had the toes tapping and the young at heart on the floor showing off their moves.

For us it was too quickly over having to return home that evening and as we drove away, we were sad at having to leave the little hamlet of Romahomes nestling in that corner of Cambridge.

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