We are off at last, and a leisurely start it was as well. We were able to do all the tidying and cleaning with the minimum of fuss, and no great debates when loading up the car.
Departed on time and made our way to the scheduled lunch stop. We had eschewed the lure of the motorway service station, opting instead for a country inn five minutes off the M4 called the Pheasant Inn. It looked as though the inn has recently undergone renovation, with a well laid out car park and paths leading to the pub itself. Much chalk paint employed in the interior decoration along with moody pictures or horses riding out in the morning mist. On driving from the M4 to the pub, no more than 400 yards according to the pub web site, we observed two very plush large horse boxes. No surprise really, as this is the Lambourn area, well renowned for race horse training.
Our order taken, the member of staff who had just returned from holiday in California gave her colleague the ins and outs of her trip, whilst still holding our order in her hand. My fellow traveller gave me a glance, but thankfully the order made its way to the kitchen. The food arrived fish and chips fresh and hot, very good indeed.
After lunch we continued on, smooth journey with light traffic and checked in, and then off to meet the family for the remainder of the afternoon and evening.