After lunch there was a short walk to the old aboretum which is the longer of the two walks.  The sky suddenly turned a lot darker and I heard a loud rumbling noise.  I was beginning to think it was time for a change of plan because there are lots of exposed places with no shelter on the walk.

Me: That sounds like thunder

Reply: Yes

Me: And we are going into the middle of a forest when there is going to be a storm???

No Reply: (carrying on walking)

Me: Can you just stop for a minute please!

No Reply: (but stopped walking)

Me: I don’t really want to go any further if it is going to rain because I don’t want to get soaked.

Reply: It isn’t going to rain I can’t feel rain in the air.

Famous last words, 10 seconds later the first drops of rain fell and there was a hasty retreat back to the covered shop and cafe area.  It was a lucky escape, this was the Westonbirt Arboretum experience…

It is a shame that I was too slow to catch a video of all the people rushing out of the trees with raised umberellas.  I found out later there had been severe weather warnings for that afternoon.