Lancaster ride

Our first dance lesson saw us shuffling around an old church attempting to find the right steps for the cha cha cha and the waltz with about 50 other determined couples.  We enjoyed it.  Chris came for tea another night and talked us into seeing Spamalot.  Always game to give things a go we said 'why not' and sat on the internet booking tickets.  I haven't really been a fan of Monty Python but going with a 'prepared to be amused' attitude we really enjoyed it.  It is a parody of King Arthur (and having been to Tintagel where the legend originated) we were amused to see the castle had a tv aerial, the countryside a wind turbine and a  high speed passenger train was crossing a viaduct.
On the Friday night we went to Lincolnshire - it was Harry's treat a taxi ride in a Lancaster "You get to experience the vibrations, smells, sound and atmosphere of a real Lancaster Bomber operating on a real Bomber Command airfield in front of an original Control Tower providing you with the ultimate WW2 aviation experience. Your only dilema is choosing which option to take!"
The ride took place at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre set up by two brothers Fred and Harold Panton in memory of their brother who was killed on a bombing raid over Nuremberg on 30/31 March 1944.  "Just Jane" was built in April 1945 and was one of the first 150 B Mk VII Avro Lancasters built as part of the RAF's Tiger Force in the Far East. However, Japan's early surrender meant that Just Jane was surplus to requirements and she ended up in storage until the 1950's when she was bought by the French Government, painted midnight blue, and became part of the French Naval Air Arm. Ten years later she was white and on her way to New Caledonia to complete sea rescues and cartography exercises. After a few years of that she found her home in Sydney where she was overhauled, turned grey and flown back to Britain to become a museum item in various English regions. This is one of 3 operated by the French in the Pacific and the other 2 are in museums, one in Perth and the other at MOTAT in Auckland.
 The Panton brothers bought her and set up the museum.  Here is a couple of quotes best explained by someone in the know...
"The first moves towards restoring one of her four engines were made in 1993. Two ex RAF engineers were brought in to do the job. They began work on No3 engine. Although it had been idle for 22 years, they were confident they could bring it back to life. Accessing the spare parts was organised, the engine rotated to ensure it would still turn and the cam shaft covers removed. Both had to be replaced, although the engine cylinders were in good working order. Then the propeller was removed, stripped down and examined and - apart from having to adjust the blade settings - everything proved to be in fine order and was rebuilt. Local contractors were brought in to check the wiring and make good where necessary. That alone was a ten-day job. The engine's starter motor, magnetos, fuel booster pump and ignition harness were removed and checked, the fuel tank was pressurised and the fuel jettison system reset. When the throttle controls between the cockpit lever and the engine were uncovered, it was discovered that almost a third of the small control rods had to be replaced. However after about seven hundred man hours and at a cost of £7000 the engine was finally ready. This work was then completed for all four engines and they now at a fully operational taxiing standard".
So, I stood and watched while Harry went inside the plane and experienced a taxi ride in a Lancaster. 
Harry adds the following:
This was one of those wow moments for me, to be in a real Lancaster and actually ride in it. It would be nice to go for a flight but it currently is not airworthy, although they now want to make it flyable again. There are only 2 Lancasters flying today, one in Canada and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flights one.
You get to choose where you want to sit and I chose to be in the Bomb aimer and Nose Turret position.

They had trouble starting the number 3 engine and we eventually taxied without it running. The smell and noise was intoxicating and after the taxi and its shut down you get to visit very position in the aircraft. I must have spent over an hour in the aircraft.
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Lincoln is quite a delightful city - shrouded in the mystery's of Robin Hood and we enjoyed doing some of the tour around the countryside to see castles where King John was killed, where the merry men lived and where Maid Marian and Robin were married.  We also wandered past Lincoln Cathedral and down the streets (including Steep Street where at the bottom the Jewish community used to live).  The town is well known for its woollen cloth, green and scarlett the colours of Robin and his merry men and also as the home of Tennyson...
"Flower in the crannied wall,
I'll pluck you out of the crannies,
I hold you here, root and all, in my hand,
A little flower - but if I could understand
What you are, root and all, and all in all,
I should know what God and man is."

Creswell Crags is a limestone gorge honeycombed with caves and smaller gorges. Stone tools and remains of animals found in the caves by archaeologists have proved that it was inhabited back in the last Ice Age between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago. The caves contained flint tools, engraved bones, bones from prehistoric animals, engravings - evidence to suggest seasonal occupation by nomadic groups probably travelling up from France and later on a place for Robin Hood and his team to hide.
There is a photo below which requires an explanation.  In the 1960's a student put a whole lot of dead rats in cages in the caves - to study 'decay' of all things.  All the rats decayed as expected except these two in a little cave near the main entrance.  These 2 decided to mummify themselves (something to do with air currents) and have been left there ever since to see what happens over time.
My fascination for the area was heightened because my Grandmothers name was Creswell - but I could find no info about why the crags were named so - more research required.