The Fast and Slow of the M1

Today was a driving day as we travelled from York back to our point of origin, London. While for the first hours, the traffic moved at a fairly brisk pace, as we drove closer to the M25, the ring road around London, we encountered stop-and-go traffic caused by an accident. (This might be an appropriate point at which to note that for those of us who think gasoline is expensive in the States, we paid about $8.00 per gallon while in Britain.) We finally arrived at our bed and breakfast, The Forest, around 2:30, and we were greeted by our hosts with slices of fresh spice cake with hot tea, which we enjoyed in the "summerhouse," an outdoor room that looked out onto the Tilbury Forest, a government-owned park that could not have been more beautiful. We had thought about taking a walk in the forest after our tea, but the rain began and did not abate for the remainder of the evening. And so we settled into our room and enjoyed beautiful views and the sound of the falling rain as we read and recuperated from our busy trip. The location was nothing short of idyllic.

Our hosts recommended a nearby pub for our dinner, and so about 6:30, we headed to the Royal Oak Inn, a quick drive up the road into the village of Horsham. We knew we were going to like the place when we opened the door to a beautiful black lab sleeping in front of the fireplace. We were the only tourists, but we felt at home among the locals in this homey pub with its low ceilings (Michael bumped his head before remembering to duck when passing between rooms.) and candlelit tables. Michael enjoyed fish cakes with the standard chips and peas, and I indulged in one of the specials, the fisherman's pie, which included several kinds of fish, squid, and shrimp covered with mashed potatoes and cheese. It was wonderful, and the perfect meal for a cold, rainy, and windy night. Had it not been for the green-leafed trees just outside the window, one would have guessed that it was November, not July. Fully satisfied, we returned to our bed and breakfast for a night's sleep before our morning departure. We very much enjoyed our final day in London, though it was more relaxing than adventurous. After so many wonderful adventures during our trip, it was the perfect opportunity to rest and reflect before returning home.