24. The End

Friday & Saturday, June 7 & 8

I decided to combine the last two days as our awesome trip came to an end. Bob said, "There is no way to tell anyone about this. And, pictures just can't capture it." He's right, but we did our best.

After breakfast, we walked with John, Mary, Daryl, Jo-Anne, Doug, and Ros down to the Pavilion and got in to the fabulous gardens.

We met up with Lynn and Frazer who told us about some of the plants. Love in the Mist was one, and she said the seeds are edible and used in food as pepper. Another was Fox Glove which she said the foxes slipped their paws into to keep warm. I am now into gardening. Mary pointed out the Rosemary and I rubbed some on my hands and it smelled so good. She said I needed it when Bob cooks that leg of lamb he is craving.

 We walked on down to the coast and found a cafe open in a big old hotel. We pulled chairs around and sat by the window. I will cherish that time as we sat and chatted and laughed.

These people are a find. We have so much in common and I'll miss them dearly. We all talked about how fast it had gone. We mentioned how hard it was to stay awake on the long bus rides in the afternoon if the sun was shining on us and Henry was playing soft music. Doug said, " No wonder it went so fast. We slept through the whole thing." But it was a hearty group, and when we stopped we were all out and hiking to take in the most. Henry even said he was impressed. He said he didn't often have a group that would take on the castle tower in Cardiff, and we all did it without complaint, even Barbara who needs a cane.

We walked on down to the pier and took silly pictures along the way.

We met the bus by the Ferris Wheel by 10:30 and headed back towards London.

We crossed into Kent where there was a lot of caulk in the ground and we saw small white cliffs. This is what makes up the White Cliffs of Dover. The countryside was lush and peaceful. Henry says it is full of walking trails and many come out from the cities to escape a while.

It began to get dark with sprinkles and storm clouds in the distance. We have been so fortunate with the weather, a little rain only seems right. 

We stopped in Tunbridge Wells.

The spring there was discovered in the 1600's and believed to have healing properties. For one pound, we could have a glass and we did. It was mineral rich and you could taste the iron. We lunched, walked around and then headed for London. The mood became very somber. I forgot my jacket in a cafe and realized just as we boarded the bus. Bob ran back and found it. Lucky. We started the trip with rain and me forgetting something and we ended it the same way.

We were now in busy areas that could be any city with industry and heavy traffic. Henry began to prepare us for good bye. He thanked us for being a good, easy going group and we surely thanked him and Andy. He said that this was not a vacation, it was a tour, and tours are exhausting. It made sense as we were all feeling like we needed a rest. If we hadn't lived it, I wouldn't have gotten it. It was grueling, but so rewarding.

We pulled back into the point where we started at our hotel, Kensington Close, in London. It was a mess as we poured off the bus in tears and hugs. There was no time as many were off to other connections. I just needed to walk and process.

We did an online check in for our flight the next day and headed out the door. We stopped in the Whole Foods store down the street and picked up cheese, chips and fruit and sat on a park bench in Kensington Park watching people and eating. We walked to the Princess Diana Memorial children's park just to see it and slowly made our way back to the hotel.

We saw Yvonne from Tasmania in the lounge and told her we'd have a glass of wine with her. When we went down, we found a circle of friends still in the hotel and we pulled chairs together with, Andrew, Ann, Gordon, Yvonne, Cindy, Anne and Julian. It was a fun way to end the evening. We also decided that Aussies, New Zealanders and Tasmanians are a tougher lot than us. Many had already been on tour before ours  and were going on for more yet. They said once they pay to get here, they might as well see as much as possible. I can't imagine trying to absorb more. I don't have the stamina.

When we got back to our room, there was already an email from our friends John and Mary who had gone on to a different hotel and were going to see the musical, Phantom of the Opera. Thank God for email and technology. He said Mary and I were soul mates. That was so sweet. What good people. We will meet again. 

The next morning, we laughed with our friend Alice, from California, who was also heading home, about how tired we were of the bus. We agreed we now have cankles (swollen ankles) and truck driver butt.

We thought about how far we had come. I now know how to work a variety of showers. We have a system with little bags for each thing and I know how to rotate clothes and live out of a suitcase. We know that it takes a room key card in the slot inside the door for the power and lights to work. It takes any card, so we kept one from a previous room so we could each have a room key and didn't have to use one of those. I know that coffee is served black with little pitchers of milk on each table. The first day, I unknowingly asked for cream and sent the young waiters scurrying with confusion and apologies. We were all mixed up.

After our last breakfast we saw several more friends and said goodbye once more. We rode a van to the airport with a couple named John and Sandy who had been on a similar tour as us about a day behind us. They were from Australia and now on their way to their next tour in Madrid and through Europe. We instantly made friends, compared notes, laughed and chatted all the way to the airport. Aussies must just all be grand people.

Business at the airport went smoothly. We were impressed with the efficient, smiling, helpful people in London at Heathrow. It was pretty painless.

We landed on the second to last seats of the airplane but were quite comfortable. We were ready to relax and I felt like Christmas I was so excited to be home.

Then we got in to JFK in New York and thought we had two hours to get straightened around. We found out we had to check in, get our bags, go through customs, go through check in for our next flight and through security again. We got Quick Connect Passes as we had a connecting flight, but that made no difference as the clerk taking care of our line left for a while to help another couple while we and several others stood there. We finally got through and jogged to baggage claim which was a joke. There were not enough workers and they were trying to check in three huge flights at once. The conveyor  belt kept stopping and starting and we waited there close to an hour. In the last minute, Bob got his bag, but I never got mine. The clerk trying to help yelled, run for your plane and we'll get your bag to you later. Again, we ran and just made it to our flight to Detroit. Here too we were at the very back of this small plane and meanwhile the toilet had backed up and it smelled so bad. We spent an hour and a half cramped in the back with the yucky smell. It was not pleasant. And then, there is Detroit. We finally found someone to help and they let us wait quite a while demanding a driver's license, which we didn't have, to verify our address as our address wasn't on our passport. We finally got them to listen and off we went to meet up with Ron and Thelma. They were supposed to deliver my bag Sunday, which they did. A relaxing glass of wine and a snack with Ron and Thelma as we shared our traveling stories restored our spirits. 

We felt so blessed to have so much to be thankful for and for the opportunity to experience this awesome trip. We love the British Isles and can surely feel some kind of deep connection in our roots. So many places gave both of us chills and tingles. But, home calls and we can't wait to see dear friends and family. I've gone all emotional. Time to stop.

Until the next adventure, fare thee well!

23. Stonehenge to Brighton

Our second day in the front seat, this time on the left, started with Henry giving a quick comeback when someone picked at him a bit. It was great and Robyn said, "Ah, we're getting to the end of the trip and we're getting a bit cheeky." I love that term.

Once we got off the Dual Carriageway, we went through that great, lush rolling countryside again and I vowed I wouldn't, but my camera came out. We kept trying to get pictures of how narrow the road was with hedges right up to the edge. Everything is so pleasantly overgrown. For some reason it strongly appeals to me and I feel peace in my soul. We need less concrete and more green!

We stopped at a rest stop that was surrounded by trees and bushes with little tables and a snack shop. We got lattes and stood in the sun talking and laughing. Have I mentioned what a great group this is?

On we went through the countryside towards Stonehenge. Henry launched into a talk of the areas history and the Vikings attacks. No place was safe for the Celtic tribes as the Vikings raided and marched inland.

Meanwhile, now that we are in front, we see that Henry just holds the microphone and talks. I was sure he had a script or at least notes, but he just has it all in his head. Impressive!

Andy, our driver, yelled out, "Deer!" And we watched two deer cross the road and run across the field. We've seen deer crossing signs all along and we finally saw some and later we saw more.

Stonehenge is an observatory to keep track of the seasons and lining up with the sun. Henry told us that the massive stones come from 200 miles away in Wales. How they got there so long ago is such a mystery as well as how they were placed with such precision. Scientists tried to recreate the process and failed.

Stonehenge was already in ruins when the Celts arrived. Then the Romans helped it along by taking stones for building as needed. Archeologists did more harm searching for artifacts to give them clues as to how it was built and never found anything of help. People climbed on them and chipped pieces of stone from them. Finally it was named as a National Heritage Site and is now protected. It is fenced and you can walk around in, but not touch it.

There was a huge line as tour buses arrived and we had limited time. Mary asked a man at the front about time and he opened a side register and let us right in. We were so lucky shooting right through and out into the sunny, grassy field. We walked around in the wind and it reminded us of the wide open space of the Dakotas. The stones were so incredible and we took many pictures.

When we got back on the bus, Robyn wanted to know if we'd climbed the stones as she did not go all the way in. Some stayed back and took pictures from the road. We explained to her that you could not, but John said that I climbed up and stood on top swishing. I am never going to live that down!

We stopped in Salisbury and toured the huge cathedral. The carvings on the outside we amazing. We kept wondering how they could create such massive works of art with such precision. It was crumbling and falling down several years ago, but is now being restored with money from royalties earned from the book, Sarum, which is a history of the area by Rutherford. Most impressive was viewing one of four copies of the Magna Carta. I remember studying that in history, but this brought it alive. It was the beginning of rights for all.

We traveled along just a few miles inland from the coast through 1000 year old hunting land of rolling farms, heather, and scrub trees with some proper forest. We passed through a stretch of 3 lanes of traffic as we were not far from London. We were just north of Southampton where cruise ships dock. The landscape looked much like home here and then a castle pops up. Home is starting to sound very good.

We stopped in Arundel and walked up the steep hills by the castle.

We stopped at an ATM machine to prepare for tips as the end was near. We got ice cream and sat with others in the sun in the cute park by the river.

On we drove to Brighton, which is a party, resort town with a pretty coast. The beach is small stones instead of sand, but very busy with clubs, hotels, arcades, and shops. There were nice homes with lovely gardens, then big whitewashed hotels by the sea.

We drove by an in incredible Muslim looking palace called the Royal Pavilion which belonged to one of the kings.

Our hotel was inland with about a 15 minute walk to the sea. We freshened up and met up with several in the bar. We had such a great time talking and laughing that dinner came too soon. We were all aware it was almost over.

After dinner, Bob and I walked down to the shore as I wanted to put my hand in the English Channel. As it turned out, a wave came in and my feet got soaked. Luckily I had on my hiking sandals and it was a little squishy but fine.

It was getting crowded with young people and tourists, so we hiked back up the hill through the train station to our hotel. On the way, we saw many of the Aussies hiking down on the other side of the street. They all yelled greeting with, "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!" And we answered, "Oy, Oy, Oy!" Then Ros yelled, "Hey, where you Yanks going!" I am going to miss this fun group.

22. Cornwall and Lands End

Wednesday, June 5

We left Plymouth in three lanes of traffic going out around the city. On the bus we rotate seats every day and today was our day to sit in front behind the driver.

It was great with a beautiful view, beautiful weather and me snapping pictures again as we climbed through rounded grassy, patchwork mountains. We were braking coming down the hills and chugging going up them, the steeper they became.

Cornwall's industries are fishing, tourism, surfing and sailing. Their crest is a sailor on one side and a tin miner on the other with gold balls below signifying coins used to rescue the king from ransom. Their motto is, For One and All.

The barren mountains with patches of woods and heather are called Upland Moor. The two lane road we drove is the main road into Cornwall and in the summer, there can be 5 mile back ups. We're lucky it is a good time to visit.

While we drove Henry put on the story of Sir Francis Drake. It was a good story told in chapters and very well done. It sounded pretty exciting and made me want to learn more about him.

As we got closer to the coast, a fog rolled in and the temperature dropped. Many of us did not bring warm enough clothes as it was so warm in Plymouth.

We went by a pheasant farm and saw quite a few wild pheasants along the road in our drive. We also saw many Wind Turbines and Henry said Cornwall leads the country with them. No one seems too enthused.

We stopped in White Cross for a comfort break. It was on the sea with a view of St. Michael's Island. It was grey and windy, but very beautiful. We watched a horse and rider gallop full speed down the beach. It was impressive. The. Bathrooms were being fixed, so we had to use the Porta-Loos.

On out towards Land's End, we passed an old church and cemetery. The church was started in 520 AD and had a sign that said it was the last church in England as we were almost at the end of the point of land. In the cemetery was a typical Celtic cross with the cross set in a circle combining the Celtic circle of life and cycles of seasons with the Christian faith.

Land's End had the typical little shops and a snack bar, but it had a fabulous view of the cliffs. It was windy, cold and rugged, but so beautiful. We were all out hiking the trails and it was worth it.

As we left Land's End, Henry and Ron, our relief driver for the day, made the decision to take the Tin Coast road to St. Ives. It went past abandoned mines and houses. What a day to be in the front seat. It was narrow and curving and at times people had to back up to let us through. We had to stop for horses too. Henry said we were lucky as most drivers did not want to attempt it with a bus. It was breath taking we were so close to buildings and hedges. We kept trying to get a picture and just couldn't do it justice. It was an exciting ride and I tried not to gasp...well maybe a little.

 

The Cornish Peninsula is dotted with small fishing villages at the bottom of very steep hills. Our bus can not go down into St. Ives, so we have to walk or take a shuttle. Houses there are thrown up together every which way, where ever there is space. We walked down the very steep hill bracing all the way to keep from pitching forward. It was rough on the knees, but we did it. We wound down down through the streets full of shops to the beautiful harbor front. The sun was back out and it was hazy, beautiful. The connected buildings looked different here with their pastel colors. The sand, water colors and buildings made me think of pictures I have seen of the Mediterranean.

We met up with Daryl and Jo-Anne and had a lovely seafood lunch overlooking the harbor.

Then we walked along the harbor and met up with some of the others. John and Mary showed us where to get ice cream and Bob had to try a lamb and mint pasty. After all of that, we took the bus back to the top. It was a delightful place to visit.

We drove back to Plymouth to the harbor and took a cruise learning the history of the area. We saw where the Pilgrims embarked on their voyage to America. It was pretty impressive.

We stopped in the park on this now gloriously warm, sunny day and took pictures of the monuments including one to Sir Francis Drake.

We cram so much in to a day it's no wonder we pass out at night. Just when I think we're winding down, we have another great adventure.