Day Nine: May 23rd - A Crisis in Communication

Tom brought up Cambridge at dinner last night and again at breakfast this morning. I am not sure if he really wants to go to Cambridge or that he wants to have me go to Newmarket with a driver. At his insistence I email Debby at Greenville Travel to see what she can do to help.

 Our strategy yesterday afternoon in our post day trip consultation with Colin about our trip down to London was to go to Burghley today instead of Haddon Hall as Haddon Hall is not open until 1 but Burghley is open at 11. We also want to visit Sulgrave Manor, if possible….George Washington’s ancestral home in England…which is not far from London.

 It is with regret that we leave Middlethorpe. It has been a wonderful stay.

 Off we go then! The drive through Yorkshire is gorgeous. The day is sunny and warm and I am looking forward to seeing Burghley House.  Tom and I get into a lively discussion about Photoshop and the time passes quickly.

Burghley is very impressive! Massive with components spanning Elizabethan to 18^th century design. Unlike Chatsworth and many of the other historic homes that are part of the National Trust, Burghley has been in a private trust since 1969 when David Cecil 6th Marquess of Exeter, created it. The current chatelaine, Miranda Rock, is his granddaughter. David Cecil was an Olympic hurdler (1928 gold medal) for England and the character, Lord Ashley, in Chariots of Fire was based on him. There is a display about his achievements but what also intrigues me is his interest in horses. The Burghley Horse Trials (three-day event) established by him and held annually is very well known and respected.

We have lunch in the Orangery which is very tastefully done. We have a fine meal as we look out over the garden. It will be a few hours before we reach Sulgrave but Tom again mentions having a driver who would take me to Newmarket, then him to Cambridge, then they would return to Newmarket to pick me up. I have been careful about not having any extra data charges on my cell phone but I guess I had better bite the bullet if a driver is to be had.

 Whaaaaattttttttttttt??? I now realize that my phone has not been working properly since yesterday, at least. I thought I just couldn’t get a signal but it is definitely something  more…Oh no! I suggest that maybe I could use a phone or the Internet when we get to Sulgrave…I can feel the tension building. Dah, duhn, dah, duhn…

 We arrive at Sulgrave and all three of us rush into the small visitor’s center…me with laptop under my arm. Everyone starts talking at once. The poor ticket lady is overwhelmed and looks panicky. My steely stare that is guaranteed to stop a 2 ton bull rushing over a cliff has an immediate effect on Colin but not on Tom...finally he relinquishes control and ticket lady and I come to an understanding. She sells Tom and Colin tickets to the house (first things first – make the sale!) but only after they squabble over who is paying for Colin's ticket...and then leads me into the office where three of her colleagues are working on computers. We try first to hook my laptop to their broadband…no luck…one of the colleagues graciously offers me her computer. I am on, into Gmail…a note from Debbie…she can get a driver…the price seems OK…I reply to please book it…done and done!

I am just in time to tour with the “boys” which we all enjoy. The website had said the tour would take 1 ½ hours….not sure how they manage to string it out that long. We tour for 40 minutes and are quite satisfied we have seen all we need to see. Tour accomplished, Cambridge/Newmarket crisis averted…we are back on the road to London.

We part with Colin with regret. He has been a great guide and driver – so willing, so kind and so funny. Hugs all around and promises to keep in touch. The Chesterfield staff welcomes us back with great warmth. Early dinner for an early start to Newmarket! A top ten Bucket List item is about to be checked off! So excited!