Our Travels in a Nutshell: Cambridge to Braintree, Essex

Friday, June 27

After rain overnight, we left Cambridge under overcast skies heading to Braintree with the forecast being for possible torrential rain! Fellow breakfasters at Tudor Cottage recommended we turn off and visit Saffron Waldren on the way as it is a pretty village so we decided to do this.

The route we followed is obviously the route the Tour de France is to follow as there were signs all along the roadside that no stopping would be permitted on July 7 and offending vehicles would be towed away. The roads were relatively flat compared with some we have seen the Tour take on the TV so we concluded it must be a promo leg.

One of the many roadside signs warning of "no parking" while the Tour de France passes through

Saffron Waldren lived up to the recommendation and we enjoyed a stroll through the town until a shower of rain (thankfully not torrential) sent us scurrying into a coffee shop. Once the shower passed, we made our way back to the car and headed for Braintree where more of Noelle's mum's cousins live. It was a short drive but we passed through some very pretty villages in Essex before reaching Braintree. Once at our hotel, we checked in, dropped our luggage and headed for Kerin & Christopher's home.

The Main Street in Saffron Waldren

It is always nice to spend some time in a private home when travelling and today was no exception. Kerin & Chris made us very welcome and we immediately felt at home. It is three years since we met them and it took all afternoon to catch up on all the family news on both sides of the world then it was on to family tree conversation. We can trace our mutual great grandparents family history back to the mid 1700's but there are no hidden royals or famous identities. Kerin had prepared a lovely home-cooked dinner for us and her son, Richard and daughter, Sarah joined us. Before we knew it, it was after 10 pm and time for us to head off. It really is good having family on the other side of the world and we look forward to reciprocating their hospitality in Australia some time in the future.