Travel Log From Tiffany on our trip to The U.K.
Preliminaries
In case you missed it there are four of us in our family,
John 39, Tiffany 35, Patrick 15 and Shannon 23 months old.
For about three years we as a family have discussed traveling to England, Ireland, and Scotland. This was the year we decided that we’d do more than talk. We were going to go.
We debated a lot on where to go. We knew the U.K. yet where?
First we looked at Ireland, then Scotland, lastly England. We learned that tours don’t do young children so whatever we do we’ll have to do it with out escort. Being that this was the 20th anniversary of when John and I met England was my sentimental favorite. The debate ends we set our sights for England, expanded that to include Scotland. We do this for a few reasons mainly Scotland’s history is something that interests Patrick. Keep in mind we are attempting to plan a trip that will be fun for all those different ages and interests. A challenge to say the least!
After determining where we are going. We take the next steps in accomplishing this goal. As a family we apply for our passports. Passports can take up to 5 weeks. The wait is on. We buy our plane tickets August 12, 2004 to August 23, 2004; John wanted to have two weekends to have spare vacation days later. We fuss for days with United over the tickets. Shannon and I needed paper tickets. We are traveling with Shannon as a “lap-baby” thus diminishing the costs. We, Shannon and I got our tickets about 4 days after purchase. John and Patrick’s paperless tickets take longer as the credit card took longer to process this took about 5 days. Why you might ask? We were buying the tickets using the ATM credit card it has a per day amount restriction, what an annoyance. That resolved there are a ton of remaining items that need attention before we can leave.
Getting Ready
We spend the much of the next few weeks making arrangements and lists I go so far as to make a spreadsheet just for this trip. Arranging for places to stay. This was a challenge as few places can accommodate 4 people. Identifying areas we’d like to visit. As well as planned meet ups with family and friends. Planning for transportation to and from the airports. We’d originally planned for the use of trains. As we considered the times, the logistics of moving 4 people plus baggage we ultimately decided on a rental car. Arranging for the pet sitter to come. I buy new identification tags for the dogs. These have the pet sitters contact information.
I as well contact the microchip company. The dogs are registered with have their contact information updated to have the pet sitter listed as the first person to be contacted should the dogs get loose or something happen. I obsessed quiet a bit over leaving the dogs for 12 days. Another challenge I face was organizing clothing items attempting to guess what items would be appropriate. Identifying items to keep a busy toddler entertained as well her older brother! My mother generously sent us her portable DVD player. I bought a few items to keep as well. Patrick got a new portable CD player and a computer game. Shannon got a magnadoodle, a new baby doll, new crayons, makers and a new DVD. Preparing the house to be left, gardening details, perishables to be disposed off. Instructions for the pet sitter. Details! Details! They were exhausting!
We are down to the final few days before we leave.
Notify the credit card companies of our travel plans.
Assembling the electronics, identifying which power sources go with each electronic item. Checking batteries, power converters. Packing! Oh what to pack? What not to pack, what to carry-on what not too.
Debates do we take the Shannon carrier pack, her umbrella stroller to the large stroller? We debate over to take our hiking boots or no hiking boots? My original goal here was to synthesize everything down to two large luggage bags.
Tuesday evening August 10, 2004 I am now packing bags. Determining what clothes will be worn to the airport. What items need to be picked up at the dry cleaners?
Packing at this early date is my attempt to try to grasp the magnetude of what we are embarking upon. My brain can’t quiet grasp it! I am feeling overwhelmed, and anxious.
Wednesday August 11. 2004, I leave in the morning with John. We pick up the rental car at John Wayne airport this is closer to home than LAX, our departure airport. The local Avis rental place in Fullerton did not have the size vehicle we needed. For the amount of people traveling a rental car was cheaper to rent and return at LAX than to use a shuttle service. I take the time to meet up with Patty and her children. This was a great mental diversion as I was still really anxious. We have a quick breakfast at IKEA visit briefly. I collect John’s global positioning satellite device. Darrell Patty’s husband had been evaluating it. I think deciding if this was to be on his wish list. As I had few more errands to run, I make luggage bag tags, pick up dry cleaning, it was determined that each one of us should have one “dress up” set of clothes. I do a last minute vacuum as well all the laundry. I have no desire to come home from a long vacation to dirty clothes and dirty floors. Pack those last minute items. Pack the luggage into the rental car. I mentioned before a goal of two large luggage bags. It didn’t quite work that way we ended up with 4 large checked bags. Shannon’s car seat, the large stroller and a bag with her entertainment items and 2 backpacks, a laptop and camera pack as carry-on items. The rental car was FULL!
Last minute items requiring attention attended to. Clothes lay out for the morning. Determine what time we leave for the airport Schedule who will be first into the shower. Set the alarm clocks, to bed one and all.
The hour of 4:30am comes quickly when you have time constrains to figure into a departure. Anxious oh wow all of us have some amount of anxiety as we shower, dress and race off to the airport.
We all pile into a car already full of the stuff we must have in ordered to have a vacation. We set off to the airport at 6:00am travel time to the airport has been considered prior, so as to avoid rush hour traffic. There is heavy traffic all the way to the airport. Thankfully traffic is moving and there are no accidents to avoid.
We arrive at the airport about 7:00am we made good time getting there. John drops us off at the terminal. He then returns the rental car. Unbeknownst to us in ordered to check baggage and secure our boarding passes we need the passports. John has these with him. Patrick, Shannon and I wait for John to get back from dropping off the rental car. I tried a few times to call him up on the 2 way radios reception is poor. I finally contact him as his shuttle from the rental agency looms into my field of vision. I tell him where we are, so he knew where to be dropped off. As a family we check baggage, collect boarding passes and process thru security. The security process took about an hour the line was big! As we choose clothing items that would not hold us up through this process we got through this fairly quickly. I have found that each time we travel with the stroller there are seem to be different processes the security teams want for us to go through. With the umbrella stroller the procedure is remove Shannon, fold the stroller, put the stroller on the conveyor. A wait the stroller and all other items that go thru that scanner. The big stroller is too big to fit on the conveyor it must be treated like wheelchairs. Remove Shannon give the stroller to a security agent they search it and drive it around to meet us on the other side of the scanner machine. I then proceed with Shannon in arms through the machines. Collect the stroller replace Shannon there. Grab the assorted carry on bags. John is managing the bags that scanned through the conveyor and the laptop as this must be opened and placed on its own into a bin. This makes the laptop vulnerable to thieves. I am thankful he wants to be in charge of the items going thru security. As management of Shannon through this process is always difficult once in a stroller is a beautiful she is easy to manage once sprung from the stroller its hard to get the her back in without major negotiations. Once we are through that process we check the departure time of our flight to San Francisco we connect with our flight to London from San Francisco. We arrive to our gate. Buy Patrick some McDonald’s breakfast settle him with that and all the carry on luggage. We take Shannon off to find the local Starbucks. If I remember correctly Starbuck is in the other part of the concourse we are leaving out of, it’s a nice walk.
Once we get our drinks we spring Shannon from her stroller, allowing her to run off some energy. Once we return to our gate. Patrick is anxiously waiting our return. The airline is ready to board, we must not, not get on that plane! Patrick gets very panicky when our plane starts the boarding process. We collect all of the carry on bags and proceed through to the end of the ramp where we drop off Shannon’s car seat and stroller to be picked up at the gate in San Francisco.
We are really on our way now! Its at this point when I have a few minutes to think that all those little details that are nagging at me must resolve themselves they do. There are no more second thoughts what is done is done. There will be no going back. As we launch into the skies above Los Angeles. John takes the first of many family pictures to chronicle our vacation.
The flight to San Francisco is uneventful and short. Once on the ground in San Francisco we collect our gate items. Identify our departure gate; we need to take shuttle over to the International Terminal. Once again an opportunity to let Shannon run, stretch our legs. This will be the longest part of our journey to London. The one I am most concerned about, Shannon is very physically active. I worry that she could make the flight miserable for her family as well as those other travelers on the plane.
As we arrive at our gate John and I determine we have some time to search out food. Who knows what or when they will feed you on such a long flight! Patrick is not thrilled with the idea that he’ll be in charge of the baggage again, however he settles into wait while we go off to find food. We were gone about 45 minutes in that time they start boarding the plane. Patrick is very concerned and vocal over the 2-way radio about this. Who knew that International flights leave on time?
We quickly return to him. Gather our stuff. Check the stroller. We are hoping that by taking the car seat on with us a seat will be free for Patrick to move to thus leaving a seat for Shannon. Nice thought! The car seat is placed in a storage spot for the duration of the flight. The carry on items secured. We are on our way. As we arose early it doesn’t take long for John, Patrick and Shannon to nap. Patrick watched a few of the in flight movies. Over all everyone is calm and needs are met. This is good. For the last few hours of our flight Shannon was more interested in doing stuff. I bring out the bag with the things for Shannon to do. I realize at this point that I did not put enough diapers in her carry on bags. I hope that I have just put them in the checked baggage. Otherwise first stop after checking into our hotel room we would need to run out buy diapers. The bag of things to do ultimately losses Shannon’s interest so I resort to taking her on walks to the restroom. As we had the bulkhead seats not far at all yet a way to stretch the legs and work off some of the wiggles. Shannon discovers the complementary magazines in the pockets before our seats she reads these for quite a length of time. This is even better something she was finding interesting and something to occupy her. She was antsy yet well behaved. Yeah, Shannon!
After 10 hours 10 minutes we arrive to London’s Heathrow Airport. We are HERE!!
We are frazzled, discombobulated. We arrive at 7:00am on Friday the 13th. We left on Thursday the 12th at about 1:00pm. We then need to walk out to the customs area, then onto luggage. It seemed there was a lot of walking involved in finding customs then the luggage conveyors. Walking is good to stretch those tried muscles and to blow away those cobwebs left by flying so many hours. Once processed through customs, locate and claim our luggage. We take the Avis shuttle to the rental center. Once there we pick up the rental paper work head out to find the rental van. The rental van is a Renault Espace, the European version of a family mini van. Lots of people space can we loose the 2 seats in the rear? The rental people say no as they have no storage for the seats. Well dang will all of our luggage and people fit? Fit it must, as the rental company doesn’t have anything bigger. With that in mind we find away to work around the seats. We wedge everything in. Then check out of the lot and off we go!!
We did it! We are here we are really in London, England! Unbelievable!
To Ipswich
To direct us we have reams of print outs from Mapquest.com.
I think we had too much information to this end.
Which in my opinion leads to John making a wrong turn at the roundabout the English version of a traffic circle. After we establish that we are going to the wrong way, we back track. Figure out the correct direction to head in and again we are off! Our goal is Ipswich, England. We need to get to the city by-pass M 25 then to the A12. We succeed in accomplishing without any further problems. We arrive in Ipswich. Locate with ease the Courtyard By Marriott, our place to stay while visiting the Ipswich area. We unload the van. Determine that we need to go find diapers. John, Shannon and I set off to find a place to buy diapers. Patrick decides to stay at the hotel.
After a few wrong turns we find Tesco, a supermarket, buy the diapers. While out we realize that pounds and pence are a necessary items to have. We attempt to use our ATM card, no luck! This is a concern for John and I. While I take a rest, John tries to resolve the problem with the ATM card. When I arise John and I take a walk to get a feel for the area. A few short feet into the walk it pours! Being the rain deprived Californians we are we enjoy the rain as we head back to the hotel. It is at this time that we determined that the issue with our need for cash would have to be addressed in the morning at a bank. We check with the front desk to determine if banks are open on Saturday fortunately they are.
To close out this very eventful day we dine at the restaurant there at the hotel.
Saturday August 14, 2004; it is morning in England. We begin the day with a nice breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. The first of many English breakfasts: eggs, mushrooms, bacon, sausage, beans, and tomatoes yum!
John and I plan the day. First we must get pounds and pence this requires going to the bank in Downtown Ipswich. Off we go! Round and round just how does one get to Princes Street! The street driving was not my idea of fun. Many streets were built way back when horses and carriages were the standard. Finally we align the van with the proper street and arrive onto Princes street.
The 1st bank I target as point of cash is closed. I walk further down the street to the next bank. This one is open I go in and get us money. What a relief using the credit card to get cash was skate. The ATM card just wasn’t going to work, as I did not notify that bank of our impending trip.
Woodbridge
The pound and pence problem resolved we commence with our plans for the day. We head out to Woodbridge a place that both John and I had visited when we were in England twenty years ago.
We walk around the town poke through some shops. Stop off at a church for pictures and to admire the architecture. Patrick is not thrilled with photos in the cemetery adjacent to the church he gets us to move on. Woodbridge is a charming town. I’d like to explore it more in the future. We also meet the first of many Border Collies these dog are just so much fun. Her name was Tia, a wee small dog with big ears! We are very active with Border Collie Rescue of California so seeing these dogs in their native country is nice. I miss our dogs, and worry over them while we are gone. The British have incorporated into daily life their dogs everywhere you go you see dogs, or dogs waiting while their people finish business where they are not allowed. It’s so refreshing.
John has a scheduled meet up with an on line acquaintance at Framlingham Castle. We pile back into the van and set out for the Castle. We arrive at the castle, buy admission tickets and commence touring the castle. It is not a very large castle. This makes it a comfortable size to tour. Although the stroller was not a good fit we just took care and let Shannon walk with us. We explored the battlements. This allows us fantastic views of both village, surrounding areas and a broad view of the inner castle. It is wonderful! While walking the upper battlements John Flanagan, hollered up to us inquiring if we are the Leonard’s. This is John on line meet up. Mr. Flanagan brought with him his family. We make our way to the ground. Do the introductions. Mr. Flanagan has a daughter Rebecca, she’s a few years younger than Patrick, they hit it off they decide tour the castle again using the recorded tour to further understand this castle’s history.
John, Shannon and myself stay down on the floor of the castle to visit with Mr. Flanagan (John), his wife Fiona, and youngest daughter Amber (3 years).
There is a community music event to happen at the Castle later in the evening. While we visit the band is tuning up. Shannon loves this she dances and plays with Amber as the band plays in the background. This was a lot of fun for the kids to meet up with people close to their ages. As the afternoon waned we left the castle to have tea. There is a pub at the base of the Castle ground’s entrance. This is where we have tea. Fiona says that her grandmother pours her milk before the tea and that is how a proper English tea is done! See I did learn something while on vacation. During our visit Shannon takes over Mr. Flanagan’s tea she spooned sips to herself until it was gone very cheeky yet cute. Fiona and her husband John are World War 2 and 1940’s buffs. This how me connected over the Internet he runs a website dedicated to the former RAF Bentwaters Base. I if they come to the U.S. they would enjoy The Queen Mary in Long Beach.
After we part ways we grab some fish and chips for dinner. I discovered that when ordering scollops (spelled this way on the board) ask first if they are potatoes or mollusks. I made the assumption that they were the mollusks. Wrong they are deep fried potatoes, rather like a very thick sliced potato chip.
We are all feeling tired so we head to the hotel we call it a day.
8/15/04 - Ipswich/Pinmill
Sunday August 15th 2004 we run out to the local Little Chef for a quick breakfast. We then meet with my cousin Sherry and her son Austin. I have discovered that I am in need of a few items I forgot to pack, socks, and a comb for my hair and razors for John. As a group we decide a shopping trip to Ipswich is in order. We arrive a bit early. Most shops don’t open until noon on Sundays. We do find a few shops to poke through. I bought Shannon a dress and buy those necessary items. We don’t spend a large amount of time doing this shopping and visiting. Don’t work well for me. We decide to take the kids to a place to eat. John noticed that was very close to our hotel. It is a pub that has indoor and outdoor plays areas for children. Much of there focus is children. I like this place a lot. We had a nice dinner and the children got to have a meal that wasn’t a lesson in good behavior. After our meal we go back to the hotel, we continue our visit outside the hotel. Patrick quickly decides that he must go play with his computer game; as we are chatting we let him do that. John exhausts himself by keeping Austin and Shannon in the same area. Not an easy feat! Keeping two tots together is like herding cats! He got my hero award for being so great with the kids.
After our visit with Sherry we have a visit with a friend of John’s from his England days. We visit with Barry and his wife at their house for a while then walk to a local pub via bridle trails and footpaths. One can walk these paths the best way to learn of what paths are available and where to find them are ordnance survey maps. Many of the local tourist information centers sell them. This is something I want to do when we return to England learn more of these trails and to use them.
As we walk to the pub we stop off at Barry’s daughter's house so John can say hi. . Along the way Shannon having exhausted herself while visiting with Austin naps. The footpaths take us through some pastures, over fencing, past some grazing horses, and ultimately to a tiny community called Pin Mill
The center of this village is the Pub called the Butt and Oyster. This place is so authentic they hand pull the ale from kegs set under the building. We decide dinner is in order I had a soup and salad with scallops after my experience with the scallop potatoes yesterday I had to ask if I was getting the mollusks or the potato version. The server looked at me like I was nuts! The rest of our group dined on chicken. As we await our meal it starts to get chilly then rain. John and Barry hoof back to Barry’s place to collect our van and warmer clothing items. When John and Barry return dinner arrives. Good friends, good food a lovely way to vacation.
As it is a Sunday evening our hosts have obligations in the morning we return to Barry’s house exchange email addresses. Set out for the Courtyard this is our last night in the Courtyard we need to pack the items that were unpacked and to find a laundry. I packed 4 days worth of clothing person its day four and we need clean clothes!
Monday August 16th, 2004 find us up and out early. John wants to visit the RAF Base he was stationed to many years ago. This is where we met. We head out that way with the intent to stay a short time then to get on the road to our next destination York. Those objectives were not quiet met. We spent more time exploring the former base than I had planned on. John and Patrick seemed to have found it more interesting than I did. Finally we leave the Ipswich area around 3:00pm.
We're off to York!
Traveling to York was a very wet drive for most of the drive it rained, in some parts a lot. We had tea at a roadside restaurant/pub called the Ram Jam Inn. This is a bright place less of a pub feel than many of the places we dined at. I had a great dish featuring English foods, tomato chutney, pickled walnuts, field salad and a variety of English cheeses, delicious!
After our tea we head back out in the rain determined to get to York. After a wrong turn off a roundabout we finally arrive to our next destination. The city of York. We are staying at Ascot House, a bed and breakfast. Ascot House is within walking distance of the walls of York. Our room is three flights upstairs in the attic. With our luggage is a serious workout! Gwen my trainer would be proud! Although our room is very tiny, the bath squished into the roof made for a challenge for John, he’s to big the bath too small. To compensate for those difficulties we have a great view of York Minster from our window. We take a few pictures of York Minster illuminated at night. Then lights out!
As we have no clean clothes our am agenda must include a run to the laundry. We arise have breakfast in the dining room. Inquire of the landlady the location of the laundry. Take our laundry over they will do our laundry and have it ready in about 2 hours Yeah I get out of spending my time watching the washers work. I love it. The surprise to both John and I is that right there less an 50 yards from the laundry is one of the inner city gates. They are amazing, so old have so much longevity. For someone living in California anything over 100 years old is old. This stuff is plainly ancient in comparison.
Once we have clean clothes. We start our York adventure. Goals for today are to explore the Inner City walls, visit York Minster, and shop the Shambles and market. As we walk towards the city I see a few gardens that are tiny, a mixture of small pebbles, mosses and very small hedges. These gives John and I some ideas on what to do with the area formerly known as the dog run, a forgotten piece of property near our house. We arrive to Monk’s Gate discover that at this point the stairs up to the city walk isn’t something we can do with Shannon’s stroller. Passers by tell me of another location that I can get the stroller up there. Off we go! We climb up to the city walk take in the views. I get a feel for the age of this city. The city’s age is something my mind has difficulties grasping. The ancient smashed right in with the very modern 21st Century a strange paradox. We walk the city walls then climb down shop at the shambles then make our way to York Minster. This is a huge church! Parts of the church are being preserved. The detail that went into the original church is amazing; the care to preserve and replicate those original designs says lot about how this church impacts its community. Close to the Minster is St. William’s College. I think that it was here we had afternoon tea. Great scones! If you know how that cream the British pair with scones is made please email me. We did a lot of walking in York. John was looking for a particular place to visit. After locating it. It is decided that on Wednesday he and Patrick would go to the Dungeons of York Tour. That evening we had dinner at The Nag’s Head Pub. We had a Yorkshire pudding it was very good.
8/18/04 - We're off to Inverness!
Wednesday August 18th, 2004 we repack the van as we are traveling from York to Inverness Scotland following John and Patrick’s tour of the Dungeons Of York.
On our way to the Dungeons Tour we find Clifford’s Tower a tall circular building. At this point we separate Shannon and I return to shop the Shambles, while the guys do the tour.
Once we reunite we quickly hit the road. Inverness is about six or seven hours from York. Due to heavy rains it took us about two hours more. The drive to Inverness even with the rain was beautiful. Lots of cattle grazing in very green fields, old grey buildings seemingly a natural part of the landscape. Once again we arrive to our destination late into the night. I proclaim that this will not happen again I hate checking into a place late in this case almost midnight. As its late at night when we arrive its raining a very difficult to locate our Bed and Breakfast The Lyndon House. With the assistance of the local police and a quick phone call to the proprietor we do so.
Immediately we turn into bed, all of us are exhausted.
August 19th 2004 at breakfast we learned that the storms had caused some landslides as well the force of this storm stemmed from Hurricane Bonnie.
As was reading the local paper during breakfast I was chuckling to myself about a few articles. One was about a Labrador retriever whelping pups in the hatch back of her car while on holiday. The other was about a bear in Washington State sleeping off a case of local brew, passing up the offering of other beers available in the cooler he’d appropriated. The bed and breakfast landlady got a chuckle out of my laughter.
The skies are not sunny they tell of rain to come. The air says that winter is not far off either. Seems so at odds with the tails of hurricane.
We set off for a day of exploring. On this trip I find a cruise that is offered on Loch Ness. We set off towards the landing for this. During this walk it starts raining. It takes us about an hour of walking to find the landing only to learn that the tour we want does not depart from this location. I got the impression that the place we are looking for is not too much further from the location we are currently at. We decide to continue on towards the correct departure location. Onward we go only to get about a quarter of a mile down the road it’s pouring. We decide to stop at a golf club house to get better directions and to dry off. Patrick immediately orders lunch. John and I learn that the place to pick up the Loch tour is about six miles down the road. Hearing this we decide to see what tours are offered at the closer location.
John, Shannon and I set off leaving Patrick to finish his lunch. We get to the Landing for the tours find out that there aren’t any tours that we really want to take from this location. We then schedule ourselves for the tour we want for the morning. While finalizing he details for the next days adventure. I got to watch a boat come up the river the bridge keeper cleared the bridge and turned the bridge so the boat could continue on its way this was so amazing to me the entire bridge pivoting, amazing!
We then collect Patrick, hop a shuttle back to Inverness town.
We poke thru the shops, eat lunch at a pancake house. I decide that it would be a good idea to get a rain cover for Shannon’s stroller we set out to find a place that sells them. I ask another mom where she got hers she told me to try Index, The UK version of Service Merchandise. I was able to buy one at Index. After our shopping adventures we return to the Bed and Breakfast. We are again exhausted all that walking. For dinner that night we went back into Inverness we dined at Dickens Restaurant. The food was good but Shannon was difficult. She didn’t want to sit down and eat. She wanted to explore, and do what she does with no regard for those around her, your typical toddler. Here in the US when a family with young children arrive at a restaurant it seems one is given the fast track system. Get that family in, fed and out quick. In the UK it seemed that all restaurants did not care if a child was climbing the walls, making the meal miserable for one and all.
This really annoyed me. We rushed through our meal so as not to disturb the other diners. Once we return to the Bed and Breakfast we watch some of the Olympics. We then turn in as we have the tour of Loch Ness in the am then to prepare for our journey to Edinburgh.
8/20/04 - Loch Ness & drive to Edinburgh (Happy Anniversary)
Friday August 20, 2004 we have reserved a spot for ourselves on the Jacobite Tour of Loch Ness, we hurry though breakfast. Load the van and prepare to leave the Inverness area. Try as we might to get there to the tour office by 10 am we are late. We will instead take the tour leaving on the next hour. During this time we take family photos and shop at the Clansman shop. We buy a few souvenirs, a snack for the kids. This is a beautiful place.
The hour is quickly gone, its time to take the cruise of Loch Ness. Although the sun is out yet it is cold. We bundle up, as we want to be on the deck, to take pictures and to absorb better the texture of this huge body of water and the lands that encompass it. The sun is playing with the clouds some of the hills are vibrant with bright green others are very dark green where the sun is not shining. This is it’s own drama. The cruise takes us down The Loch toward Urquhart castle. This is a ruin yet very impressive. We take a ton of pictures watching hopefully for “Nessie. She was not to be seen! We had a great time on this cruise. I want to do another tour of the Loch maybe visit some of the castles that are on the shore. Sometime in the future it will be so.
We return to the landing area disembark. We get into the van and head out for our next destination Edinburgh.
Kingussie
About an hour into our drive we stop at a small village, Kingussie for lunch on the go. I take the opportunity to poke around the shops. So many items so many dust collectors. I browse way more than I buy.
We read about a sheepdog trail on Sunday, John and I chat about attending we leave that decision for later. We get lunch from the fish and chip’s shop - John buys haggis. Something he and Patrick have played with trying since we first started conversing about a trip to the U.K. Nasty in my opinion. I stick with a meat pie. On the way to the car we encounter a Border collie fresh from the stream. Her person was very concerned with us getting wet. Not an issue for us. We continue our travels to Edinburgh. We stop in another town, we did not stay long nor did we shop. We took some photos and took care of business. Quickly returning to road to Edinburgh.We arrive into Edinburgh about 6:00pm. It takes us another 45 minutes to locate Abcorn House the last of our Bed and Breakfasts.
We again have found a place centrally located to town. We arrive during the International Festival a huge arts event that happens in Edinburgh. This makes for large crowds and a certain party atmosphere.
John and Patrick have a list of things they want to see and do in the area. This makes for a more scheduled day than the prior days.
On Saturday, August 21, 2004, as the morning is quiet chilly. Autumn was definitely announcing itself in Edinburgh. We first address the persistent problem of laundry. At this point I decide I’d rather travel with more bags and have more clothing options. Than to do laundry two times in one trip. It just doesn’t equate to vacation. In between loads and feeding the parking meter John and I poke around the various shops. One finished with chores we load the kids into the van.
We seem to go the wrong way at least once a day, by this point in time in our travels I am just done with going the wrong way. In going the wrong way on our way to Sterling Castle we loose the hubcap, curb jumped up and took a bite! We did not realize this until much later. We travel drive to Sterling Castle. John and Patrick tour the Castle. Shannon and I walk into the village and shop a bit. As I am wondering where my guys were I realized that I have the van key. Meaning I had to walk back to meet them I am not thrilled by this thought at all as the road to Sterling Castle is steep and winding. Walk we do. John meets me a few yards from the car parking area. I am relieved to not have to push the stroller any further. I am exhausted from my hike.
It’s late in the afternoon John and Patrick are done their tour of Sterling Castle. We load up the van setting out to Edinburgh.
Once in Edinburgh city we check back to the Bed and Breakfast. Then head out to dine. We dine at Howie’s Waterloo Place. John had the roasted duck. I think I had the soup and salad. Patrick ate the chicken dish. This was a very good meal with probably the best service that we received on the entire trip! Shannon behaved well.
The city on this night is full of people an atmosphere of party prevails. Not being party people we call it a night returning to our Bed and Breakfast.
8/22/04 - Edinburgh/Falkirk/Dunoon
Sunday August 22, 2004 we hurry through breakfast, our goals today are Falkirk and if we have time to Dunoon.
In Falkirk we take in some Celtic crosses, a few monuments.
As this did not take very long we embark to Dunoon.
We arrive in a small fishing village, Gourock buy ferry tickets and go to Dunoon. I have been patiently awaiting this trip. I have been collecting pottery items from Dunoon Pottery off and on for the last year or so. I intend to buy more! We arrive to find the place closed. Needless to say I am quiet annoyed. We do some late hour shopping. As its late afternoon on a Sunday very few shops are open. We dine at The Argyll Hotel. We then visit a few more shops the return for the ferry voyage back to our van.
From Gourock we drive back to Edinburgh, head out to an Italian restaurant recommended by our Bed and Breakfast host. It’s a few short blocks from our Bed and Breakfast. On the way to the Italian restaurant we stop off at a Fish and Chips shops. I ask if they do the fried mars bar, these are something I had heard of at home decided that this was one of the ethnic flavors I could do! No haggis for me that you very much! I ask after the fried mars bar they said yes they could do it. I ask if I could come back for it after dinner. This was ok to do. The city tonight is much quieter as many of those here for the Festival headed home for work the next day. After dinner we return to the fish and chips shop buy 2 of the fried mars bars. This was so yummy! I am glad it’s not something I can get here in the U.S. This was a lovely night and the last night of our journey to Scotland in the am we’ll head out for London. It is very bittersweet.
August 23, 2004 Morning comes too quickly. We re-pack the van for the last time. Go to the bank for some pounds for the Bed and Breakfast, this is the only place we stayed at that did not take a credit card. Those obligations met we head out to get lost, in hopes of finding the hubcap, I can’t begin to imagine what the rental place would charge for it being lost. We succeed in finding the place we got lost to and as well found the hubcap. What a relief!
John took the time to put the hubcap on the mini van.
From this point we re-orient ourselves towards London. We take the most beautiful route from Edinburgh to Carlisle. We watch a Border collie do his job along side of his shepherd during this part of our drive. This was a highlight for me.
As we drive there are a few towns we stop at for snacks and last minute gifts. John has 2 bottles of scotch. I am trying to find Border collie, dust collectors, and some Dunoon pottery, I find a few, and I buy a mug with a Border collie on it. The figurines I find are not the quality I am looking for. The next we go I will have a better idea of where to go to find these things. Along this stretch of our trip John hits a bump and off goes the hubcap. That gets placed in the van for the duration of this trip. Continuing on our drive to London.
As we approached Manchester we drove in to some serious rain. Much like what we encountered on our drive to Inverness.
We get Burger King to go continuing on towards London. The rain stays with us into London. We arrive in the evening at the Marriot Heathrow our last place to sleep before heading out to the airport and home. This is a very beautiful hotel; they have some odd ways however. The parking is NOT free nor is it cheap. Its 9 pounds for the night. John and I debate weather we should return the van tonight or in the am. The price for a shuttle to the airport is 3 pounds per person either way it will cost us about the same to park or to shuttle in the am. After checking in deciding to keep the van until the morning. We pack all of our gifts; label our stuff for return to home. We watch the Olympics while doing this. In general winding down, closing out this trip. As we are hungry we dine at the hotel restaurant again service is dismal. The food over priced, a pot of tea 4 pounds 50 pence! Mind you I could have gone back to our room and had a pot of tea there free as part of the room fees. As far places to stay I find this place to be nice yet for what we paid it could have been much better. When doing our last minute room sweep I noticed that the sheets on Patrick’s bed were torn. Just not the standard I expect of a world caliber hotel. I need to write them and make sure they understand my disappointment.
I am ready to be home yet I am sad to leave this place I love this country.
8/24/05 - The return trip home
Tuesday August 24, 2004 Arrives right on time so does the wake up call we requested. Bummer! We shower dress, throw the nightclothes into the bags, clear the room. In record time we have had practice at this of late! We load the car put the hubcap on the van. We head out to the car rental place. Efficiently dispose of the van, load our gear into the car rental shuttle van for our ride to the airport. We’re going home. I look forward to this yet dread it too.
We check our bags, and the car seat as on this leg off the trip I was told Shannon would not have a seat. That makes it easier to move through the airport. We have breakfast and putter in the shops. As it is getting closer to departure time we go through security, check the signs realize we have a hike to the gate. We are pushing it as Patrick having gone on ahead his telling us to hurry we read that the walk to our gate is 20 minutes we make it in 10! With in minutes of arriving to our gate we board. We get the bulkhead seats. These are just the best way to travel if you are not flying business or First class. We learn that there are few extra seats, so Patrick if he wants to can claim one so that John, Shannon and I can be seated together. Patrick decides this is what he wishes to do and does so. We have seats for all of us. Shannon being Shannon really doesn’t care she wants to sit on me! Sweet! @@
The first half of the flight was nice Shannon and John slept. I watched a few movies. Shannon awaken we ate lunch. Played with the magnadoodle, colored and wrote on a lot of the magazines in the pockets of the plane, watched part of Shrek 2. Over all kept busy. Ten hours is a long flight made longer by close confines and limited activities.
Towards the end of the flight Patrick decided to come and sit in the seat Shannon did not want to sit in it was cozier yet overall the flight was uneventful handled well by all.
We land in Los Angeles on time. Gather the paper work for immigration and customs. At the gate we wait with another family traveling with 3 or 4 young children. They were antsy and the parents equally so I felt bad for them. More than one toddler and I would have thought twice about attempting such a long trip.
Once we got Shannon’s stroller, we strap her in, claim our check baggage. I should mention that one of our bags was emanating a rather strong smell of scotch, bad idea to pack it.
We start the process of going through immigration and customs. The family with the young children allows their children to run all over the place. The woman whines about the line, the husband whines about her not running herd on the children. Makes for those of us traveling in a similar situation look bad. The request special treatment because of their children, because of their vocalization the customs people quickly free a new line. We because of Shannon are asked to join them in the new line. I don’t mind we got to get out of there quicker. Yet getting this treatment was unfair to those who didn’t have children.
As we did not buy a lot of gifts and souvenirs so we are quickly through all the paperwork and able to head out to the shuttle for our last rental car pick up.
We quickly get our rental car again it is a squeeze for all of the baggage and us. As the freeway looks scary we take the scenic route home. We arrive home to find it still standing the dogs happy to see us, and piles of mail. It is good to be home.
Click Here for the photo-journal of our trip!!
John's Page Patrick's Page Tiffany's Page Shannon's Page
