0530 Anxious that I might miraculously oversleep, I’ve set the alarm. It goes off but I am already awake. Yes, it’s a tad early, but I don’t like to risk these things. Time to potter then get fully packed. I need to be out the door straight after breakfast. I have a morning of train travel ahead of me. And as much as I meticulously prepare, I always have a degree of worry that something will go wrong. Today is also a rush because I pre-booked to get advance ticket prices. But it’s locked me into a schedule. I will book the rest of my trips as I go. That should be more relaxed.
0630 I open the curtains. Lots of blue sky for the first time since I’ve been here. I haven’t minded the cloud though.
0700 Time for a very quick breakfast.
0735 I get to the train station in plenty of time.
0756 The train departs. It must be a commuter train because it gets very busy. I start to get anxious that it’s going to be tough getting off. But then it thins before Stockport and it’s all OK.
0850 We arrive at Stockport and I change trains. I make my way to platform 0 as shown on the sign and mentioned in announcements. Then there’s a new announcement that the train is departing from platform 2. Back we go. At platform 2 there’s already a train but I don’t think it’s mine. I let it go with trepidation, but I’m right. The next train is mine. My ticket is for carriage A which I assume will be at the front of the train. No, when the train arrives carriage A is at the back. Dash. There’s not much luggage space onboard but I get by.
0858 We depart a few minutes late. But this is the long leg of the trip and I’m all settled now.
0940 We arrive in Sheffield and lots of people get off. A sign back in Stockport alerted me that I needed to be in one of the front 2 carriages to get to Ely but carriage A was at the back. This did concern me. But then we reverse direction at Sheffield and we’re now at the front. It all makes sense now. Lucky I had a reservation, otherwise I would have sat in the other end.
0955 Chesterfield.
1030 Nottingham.
1110 Grantham.
1130 The train has a trolley service. I love this about trains in the UK. I grab a sandwich.
1140 Peterborough.
1215 We arrive in Ely. I get off to change trains for the last time.
1238 I’m on the train to Cambridge.
1300 We arrive at Cambridge. The hotel is literally next to the station. Very convenient. The hotel room is compact but very comfortable. It will be fine. The weather is still very clear so I decide to head for a walk while I can.
1400 I start walking towards Grantchester. It’s just over 2 miles from Cambridge and the walk follows the river Cam.
Grantchester is a small village. I had hoped for some quaintness but it didn’t quite deliver. Never mind, it was still a nice walk. About 7.5 km in total.
1600 I get back to the station. The walk was easy but my feet are sore. I stop into a Café Nero to try their winter spiced hot chocolate. Delicious!
1800 I head downstairs for some dinner. It’s not a restaurant, more a café but it looks good and feels relaxed. The hotel feels relaxed in general. There wasn’t a reception desk, instead there are roaming staff members who check you in. The hotel and the surrounding area feel very different to Buxton.
1930 I’m going to lie in bed and watch some TV.
