On Top Of The Secret Nuclear Bunker

MrQ and I took the Triumph TR4 on the Layer Marney Cup run today. An eclectic collection of cars of all ages assembled near Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge in Epping Forest. One of my favourites was a boat-tailed 1929 Riley Nine but unfortunately it broke down and they had to call the AA. The Ford Mustang didn't make the finish as it got a flat tyre. A retaining strap parted on a Bugatti Brescia, the fuel tank hit the ground and sprang a leak. It's driver sent his wife and daughter, who were driving a 1980s Renault, to get Araldite. He parked on an incline so that the fuel would drain away from the hole, repaired the leak and continued to the finish. Brilliant. :) A Morgan that was following us at one point was popping and banging alarmingly. The driver had no idea what the problem was. Luckily there was a Ford engine expert amongst us. He pinpointed a split in the breather pipe and cut and reattached it. I did all the driving and enjoyed following, in particular, a Ferrari 308 and a Lancia Delta Integrale.
 
We drove through the forest on lovely single track roads and stopped at The Secret Nuclear Bunker in Kelvedon Hatch for lunch. It was quite surreal conducting ourselves through the bowels of this underground edifice, using hand held audio devices, until we finally reached the time warp canteen which had been reserved for our party. It was cool and a bit musty but the food was absolutely lovely. The chef had caught the salmon himself. My pic is of the TR reflected in the cup.

After lunch we drove cross the Essex countryside on single tracks to Layer Marney Tower for tea and cake. My pic in extras shows how the tower was built by the Tudors to look more impressive by having more than one row of windows per floor.