Karen seemed understanding. I’d phoned to explain I’d be a day adrift. Reckoned on a hundred miles or so to her family home on the outskirts of Terrace. Headwinds permitting, feasible in a day. Just. But she and her husband had three young boys, eager to meet me. Turning up late, departing early next morning would be quite rude.
So I’d settled on covering the ground over a couple of days. Planning to arrive mid to late afternoon so there’d be time to entertain the children. I’d asked the ages. Four, six and ten. Tough audience I joked. She laughed.