Wasn’t it wet today?  I haven’t seen such rain since the drought of summer 2006, although last year’s camping holiday on the Isle of Wight came pretty close.  At lunchtime a few of us went out to the pub and the country lanes near Gatwick were awash.   A river had burst its banks and was pouring onto the road, and Steers Lane was closed.  It appeared to have a burst water main, as if there was not already enough of the wet stuff around.

It all made for a dreadful journey home.   The M23 was closed between junctions 10a and 11 and Crawley Avenue was closed.  I assume this is why it was so busy on Manor Royal, with drivers diverting through town and finding that to be snarled up too.  It was almost impossible to get off our site, which led to a queue going all the way up the ramps in our car park up the the top level.

Estimates were that it would take up to 30 minutes just to get into the traffic jam on the road outside, so I went back in and had a coffee.  When I eventually left I did not even attempt to take the normal route as the A23 towards town was jammed solid.  Instead I headed towards the airport then cut through the country lanes to end up in Ifield, and I’m glad I did – the traffic heading South was backed up all the way to the airport. Possibly further.