Life on the M11

Having first driven on the M11 when it was first opened, two laned and empty, getting on for thirty years ago, it was interesting come down from Ely this morning.

Mature trees on the banks, woodland vistas and autumn colours everywhere.

Something of a tail back north of Cambridge, with lots of energetic - and sometimes dangerous - lane switching by younger drivers. Probably something to do with the junction of the A10 and the A14 being overloaded.

Much new building on the northern outskirts of Cambridge, so much new building, that I completely failed to spot where we crossed the road that I used to cycle across on my way to and from my primary school in Girton. Despite it and its bridge being alive and well on Google maps when I check later.

Signage at Birchanger Lane got us well muddled up, and after having been in what turned out to have been the wrong lane several times, we wound up in the car park of Day's Inn, a brand I think we have used once, in the US, and found entirely satisfactory. A chunk of the car park had been given over to charging TESLA cars (as in reference 1), which led one to wonder whether Tusk has got some kind of monopoly rights over the charging of electric cars. Or has he simply cut deals with all kinds of people like Days Inn?

Crossing from Days Inn to the service area proper, we noticed a large sign which seemed to be telling us that anyone other than Days Inn customers caught parking in their car park would be fined £100, but checking with receptionist a bit later, the story seemed to be that their car park had the same status as other parking areas on the site, with two hours free parking. I didn't go into the details of what happened after that.

Several wrong lanes later, we found ourselves back on the M11 southbound. By now it was drizzling and we were driving into a low winter sun, a combination which meant that visibility was pretty poor and road signs were unreadable. All very scenic though, with all the vehicles charging forward in their own private, sunlit clouds of spray. Fine view of the Thames below the Queen Elizabeth Bridge, with the bonus of a couple of cargo ships. But were they from our own, once proud Merchant Navy?

Home by around 1230, so around 3 hours for the 100 and odd miles, one tailback and one comfort break.

PS: the lemon sherbets from the Ely Tesco's were judged to be far inferior from those available in our own Ashley Centre. A sweet for which my childhood penchant has survived.

Reference 1: https://psmv3.blogspot.com/2018/10/tusks-baby.html.