Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Oh My!! Part 4

Friday, May 18, 2018

Shortly after Andy found our side of the family through researching his family history, my mother was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He did a wonderful thing, and brought his dad to visit his first cousin, my mom. It was a memory that she cherished. Wayne and I were living in Utah at the time and were unable to make it home for the visit, so I didn't meet his dad at that time.  On Andy's next visit in 2016, we were living full time in the coach and made sure we were home when he and his brother David came for a visit.

Today I get to meet the rest of his family; Mom (Margaret), Dad (Mervin) and sister (Ann) as well as Ann's family.

 With Andy behind the wheel (on the wrong side of the car) we headed first to the museum at Donington Park.

 Donington Park is a car and motorcycle circuit

 When Andy was here last, the collection included a lot of racing motorcycles.  

 Those have been sold off and now a military vehicle collection is here, along with all the race cars.

 This was new one to all of us. A track like a tank in the back, single wheel and handle bars in the front.

 It included the war time version of many of the bikes we saw the other day.

 These bikes will not be restored, but kept in their original condition as a tribute to the fallen. One was found at the location of the Battle of the Bulge, the other was found in a burial site of a number of fallen soldiers.  That motorcycle was found buried with its rider still sitting aboard.

Although not part of the collection, we found this in the parking lot.  What a fun ride.

Then it was off to Loughborough. This is the town that Andy grew up in.

 We walked the streets, with Andy commenting on how much has changed.

 Wayne and Andy checking things out.  BTW--Costa Coffee is the local version of Starbucks.

 This is the Loughboroug Bath.  Although it truly was a bath house at one time, it was the public pool when Andy lived here

 The fountain in Queen's Park

Lot's of people enjoying the park

  The flowers are in bloom around the band stand where Andy used to perform with his band.

 This is the bell tower. It is being restored for the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

 It was built as a war memorial to the men of Loughborough who gave their lives for their country.  It was finished in 1923 and is the only purpose-built carillon tower in the country. The tower is 150 feet high and at the top are 47 bells, which were cast at the world famous John Taylor's Bell Foundry in Loughborough.

 Next we went to the GCR (Great Central Railway) Museum.

 This was an active line when Andy was a boy (let's date ourselves here)

 Now it is a restoration society workshop and museum

   They still run a dinner train on the week-ends which helps fund their work

Then we drove around parts of Nottingham and looked at the older buildings.  I happened to catch this light.  This is what it does just before it turns green. Maybe a warning to rev your engines before you head out through the green light???

Then it was off to Ann's house for a wonderful dinner with the family.  Of course we had to stop at a micro-brew tap house when we left. I would have taken pictures, but forgetful me, I left my purse and phone at Ann's, which of course we had to go back and get.  Good thing we hadn't gone straight home!!