Of Strikes, Side Trips and Riverside Roaming

London Eye just after sunset

Note:  I am writing these entries after the trip.  Draw your own conclusions.

Weeks before the trip, I was surfing the forums on Rick Steves travel website, which I highly recommend if you are planning a European trip, and found a post about an upcoming transit strike in London.  There would be no tube service (underground) for our first two days in London.  Ugh.

And so it was that we found ourselves, upon returning from our cruise the first night, at the front desk of our hotel, inquiring about reserving taxis for the next mornings planned excursions.  At this point, close to midnight London time, my poor body had decided to remind me, in no uncertain terms, that I had a cold, with a fever and aches.  Through bleary eyes I watched as the hotel night clerk called around, trying to accommodate us.

I had paid for a thrilling side trip, which left from a hotel across town at 5:15AM, for a private, sunrise tour of Stonehenge.  It was to be one of the highlights of my trip.  I would be walking in amongst the ancient, mysterious stones, close up and thrilling, and then on to the resort city of Bath, with it's Georgian architecture and Roman bath house. Unfortunately, the only available taxi would pick me up at 3:30AM, a mere 3 hours from then.  I sighed and declined, realizing if I attempted it my bad cold might morph in pneumonia and swamp the whole trip.

Jenny was able to arrange a cab for later in the morning, heading for the town of Linford, snug up against the New Forest National Park along the southern coast of England.  She had been researching the area for a short story she planned to write, and was excited to see the story's setting in person.

The New Forest Inn

Garden Seats at the Pub

Upon arriving in the south, and taking her life, and indeed the life of the unsuspecting British public, in her hands, Jenny rented a car, intent on exploring every picturesque backroad.  That night, at dinner safely back in London, she told me about her trip, regaling me with tales of near misses on narrow country lanes and the beauty of her lunch in a country pub garden.  She visited the local library (a must for a newly minted Data Curator), and spent many a pleasant hour researching maps and local history.

In the end, I was glad to have slept in.  Money aside, I felt better.  In the afternoon, I had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe near Green Park and Buckingham Palace.

Green Park

World War I Memorial

 After a short nap, I went down to the Southbank area, along side the Thames, and indulged in one of my favorite activities....wandering with my camera, looking for that next great photo.  I practiced low light photography and fooled around with long exposures to show movement.


By the time Jenny had returned, I was happily relaxed and back on my feet.  We traded stories of our day over some delicious Indian food a few blocks from our hotel.  It was delicious.


As our second day drew to a close we reflected.  Sometimes, in travel, even the messed up days turn out wonderful.  I'll just have to save Stonehenge for the next trip.

Beautiful skies over Westminster