And on Saturday morning this was our view
Reflections, gotta love them
Even though, having done the pump out yesterday arvo and so Lynden allowing us extra time to vacate Aqua Beatha, it was a mad scramble for the four of us to pack up, clean up and get off the boat by 9.00am.
Having done so and said our goodbyes to Lynden we retreated to the cafe for a leisurely breakfast before catching a taxi to the special destination Mike and Tim were treating us to. We arrived somewhat later than the lads, having had to wait for the taxi, finding them waiting anxiously outside Colton House, Colton wondering if we had got lost.
The stunning and magnificent Duchess Room, where we were to reside for our stay at this wonderful B&B in an attractive little village not far from Rugeley. A very special treat, thank you Mike and Tim.
The spa bath which had a bewildering amount of knobs and sprays and even a foot massager. It was indeed a pleasure to have room to move while showering and for the first time in two months to scrub the long neglected bits of me existing below my knees :)
We spent a very idle afternoon; exploring and sitting in the Colton House 1 1/2 acre garden before strolling up to the local pub for lunch. L then spent the rest of the afternoon watching Geelong play while I undertook a total repack hoping to ease my bulging suitcase interspersed with a bit more lounging around in the warm - YES WARM sun in the lovely garden.
Our taxi driver from the day before arrived promptly at 11.00am on Sunday morning to drive us to the Airport. Having said our sad farewells to Tim and Mike we piled in to a car and had a very scenic drive to Birmingham International.
After a coffee we checked in and went through the usual departure and security and headed for the lounge, thinking we could sit back and relax. Having found the lounge and secured a table I was at the bar getting our drinks when the alarm went off. Hoping the waitress would ignore it long enough to give me the second drink I waited while she hesitated. But no, her training kicked in and she took back the drink that was ready and said you must evacuate :(
So gathering up Lawrence and our packs we followed the herd out an unmarked door and down innumerable flights of stairs to outside and under the building. With fuel trucks continuously driving by within 12 feet of us it didn't feel a particularly safe place to be! Over the next hour more and more people were escorted out of the building till we were jammed in like sardines. Luckily being amongst the earliest ones out L and I managed to stay on the outside edge of the crowd so we had a breeze and fresh air to breath (discounting the smell of the fuel trucks) and some room to move.
So much for relaxing and hoeing into the food and drink on offer. As time went on L, having forgotten about his fat reserves, thought he was going to expire, neither of us having had anything other than a coffee since 9.00am. As people behind us started bewailing missed flights, we waited and waited, eventually starting to get slightly anxious ourselves.
After around 3 hours they started letting us back in, through a different door which turned out to be in our favour as it spat us out not too far from our departure gate. With no time to spare, other than a very necessary loo stop we made it onto our plane with 10 minutes to spare.
Arriving back in Sydney we strolled across to Rydges where G & R had spent the night. Up to their room where L had a shower then down to a yumbo breakfast after which G retrieved the car and we loaded up to begin the last leg of our trip as we headed, via a scenic route for home. It was heaven to be back in the sunburnt country. Which, I might add, wasn't looking too sunburnt on the coast, and it drizzled, just like old blighty most of the way home.
But the further south we drove, the sunnier it got.
Afternoon at Ulladulla Harbour
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