Tuesday, October 30 – Taking Flight in Duxford

After some fine conversation with Catherine last night, I actually got to bed around 11. Caitlin was in the library working on her paper, and I fell to sleep in no time. When I woke up around 9 I knew that something had to be wrong with Caitlin because she was coughing and generally sounding horrible. As it turns out, she was getting chills in the library and came home at 2 to go to bed with her paper unfinished. So, let’s review: Caitlin has a horrible cold, Catherine has a tonsil the size of an apple, Ben is trying to avoid illness for the other two weeks of his trip. Whatever. I’m getting more sleep than the two of them combined.

Since Caitlin had to work on her paper today, punting plans were cancelled. After a quick trip to use the internet, I took the bus to Duxford. The ride was beautiful, and today was by far the most beautiful day yet. Duxford is home to the Imperial War Museum, a giant aeronautical museum, and former home to much of the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain. After the tram/trolley gave my kidneys a good liquifying, I got off at the ground battle section of the museum. It was actually great because they had a large section on Normandy, which was very interesting given my future travel plans. Unfortunately, a large school group arrived soon after me, and the kids were especially loud and bratty, making loud, strange sounds and jumping off of the vehicles while pretending to shoot one other. They clearly weren’t getting how many of their countrymen died to take the beaches.

Next up was the American airplane museum, which was sweet. They had an SR-71 Blackbird, the record holder for both speed and altitude. The surface of the plane is slightly corrugated to allow the expansion and contraction of the panels when the friction with the air at 2,400 miles per hour causes them to reach over 500 degrees F. Insane. Next up were all the smaller hangers. These were also very cool because there were workers actively restoring planes right there! Not behind plexiglass…you could really smell the paint thinner. Finally was the newest section of the museum all on British aviation. The new building was very beautiful. They had the first pre-production Concorde ever to fly. Again, super sweet. All-in-all I was there for about three hours. I hopped back on the waiting bus and was whisked back to Cambridge.

Upon my return I stopped at a small patisserie for creamed tea and a scone. I had been eyeing the place the previous day. I met Caitlin back at her room and found that she had slept all day and gotten an extension on her paper. I should also mention that Catherine’s tonsil has not improved, and now her tongue appears to be infected as well. Not a good sign for someone on Penecilin. I can only hope that they will both still be joining me for Ireland…eek. A week by myself sounds pretty sad.

I met up with Devin Yagel and Paul Rogers for my first pub dinner. I had a steak pie of some kind with a Crème Brulee pie thingy for desert (technically it was called Crème Brulee with a Garibaldi crust). Paul treated, which was very nice. I said goodbye and returned to the two sick girls. I’ve made the move into Catherine’s room, which is probably a good thing. Now Caitlin can blast her heat to combat the chills.

Tomorrow I’m headed into London bright and early to meet Annie.