Had a meeting in Bristol, 3.5 hours by train from Cambridge. Big rain, fat rivers of water slashing the train windows. Thought I might be late to meeting but got there in time.
Going back, looking forward to seeing Damjan at dinner in Swindon, then to Oxford. When I got to Bristol Parkway station, a hundred lost looking souls and 1 PM trains still on the platform, three hours late.
‘What’s happening?’ ‘We’ll tell you when we know.’ ‘What’s happening?’ ‘We’ll tell you when we know.’ ‘What’s happening? Can I get to Cardiff? London? Didcot? Oxford? Bath?’ ‘No.’
Trains down, roads flooded. No routes to Swindon, to Oxford, to London, to Cambridge.
‘There will be one train. It will go to Bristol Temple Meads.’
What is Bristol Temple Meads? Called Anna, who lived in Bristol once.
‘What do I do?’
‘Go to Temple Meads, Joan. It’s the main station in town.’
Other people with luggage and trolley bags were sent on a coach back to Wales. I took the train to Temple Meads. Five minute train ride took almost half an hour. Speed restrictions? Sections flooded?
Called Damjan. He was turning back. Got partway to Swindon but now had to go back to Oxford. I almost cried. No way between here and there. Disappointment. Will be staying here tonight.
Called classmate Joe, Anna’s boyfriend, Bristolian. He was driving from Cambridge to Bristol. Arranged for me to stay at his parents’ house. Relieved.
Joe to arrive 8 PM but came in at 11 PM. Had to cross country to get around the floods.
Woke early next day in someone else’s home. Good kind people. Sent me to train station. Was lucky — one line out of Bristol and it was the one I needed. Got on train. Carriage soon crowded with refugees, yesterday’s backlog.
Train left Bristol, arrived in Bath. Others squeezed on. After that, no one could get on train. Bewildered passengers left on the platforms.
Sardines. ‘Why did I pay for my ticket today?’ someone shouted through the carriage. ‘I’d like to see a ticket inspector go through here!’
Laughter.
Everyone talking to each other, telling their stories. Thousands of cars abandoned on M4 highway. ‘M4 landslide causes traffic chaos.’ One person stuck on train for six hours. Others wading through four feet of water. People naked up telegraph poles.
‘Last night, my 85 year old grandfather flew into Birmingham airport. My wife, my brother and I were at three different parts of the country and none of us could get to the airport to pick him up.’
Harry Potter fans canoeing to the book launch?
Maybe this havoc is Voldemort’s work.
Took two hours for train to go from Bristol to Oxford. Train speed limited, dodgy track. Authorities must have spent the night pumping water. Watched flooded fields go by on both sides of track. Electricity poles in lakes. Tall trees now mangroves.
Saw flooded roads, dozens of cars abandoned and empty on roadsides.
Finally, to Oxford and something like home. Tired, hungry, sick with cold. Went home to Cambridge via London. Sleep.