The Ham Nomads

3 Nov 2014. <GB-ENG> Cambridge, Cambs —

Another reprise day. We went into Cambridge, but this time we split up. Warren revisited our walking tour, the punting, and King's College Chapel, while Susie spent the time exploring the shops — it's probably more fun without a hanger-on. We didn't mean to meet up again until we had each completed our missions, but as Warren in his punt was passing beneath the Magdalene Bridge, who did he see above him on the bridge? (Today's other shots have been lumped in with last Friday's.)

With missions completed, and rain arriving, we went into Marks & Spencer for lunch, and then went into the tourist office to see whether the movie 'Mr. Turner' was playing anywhere we could get to easily. The woman there found that it was showing at 4:30 at the Cambridge Leisure Centre, and she was also able to point out a nearby street where we could park our van. It all worked well, and we had a treat at the movies. 'Mr Turner' may not be to everyone's liking, but with our appreciation of the period and of Turner's paintings, we enjoyed it immensely. The film itself is a work of art, with many of the scenes evoking Turner's paintings. There's one scene where Turner is being rowed out on the Thames, and the 'Temeraire' is being towed towards him by a steamer on its way to being broken up, the sunset behind it being truly magnificent.

This scene was a cinematic reproduction of his painting 'The Fighting Temeraire'. Timothy Sporr plays Turner superbly, as a taciturn, gruff, almost unlikeable character, but you warm to him and begin to understand him as the film unfolds. Sporr actually studied painting for six months in preparation for this role, and it shows. We wonder if this might not become a second career for him! It's a long film — 150 minutes — so it was well after dark when we got out. We went back to or layby for dinner, a review of our pictures, and one episode of 'Due South' before we turned in for the night. Tomorrow we say goodbye to Cambridge!

Distance driven — today, 57 miles ( 92 km ); to date, 9,523 miles ( 15,326 km )