England Adventure 2013: Day 1

I didn't think I had time to get a run in today but United was there for me when I needed them. They delayed our flight from Sac to SFO 4 hours (gradually, 1 hour at a time) - long enough to make us miss our connecting flight from SFO to London. United Lounge and all sorts of pre-paid events for our first day in England flashed before my eyes...Until new friend Bill drives us to SFO - even though there's no way we are going to make it. But just in case we skip luggage check, dump all liquids from the suitcases, cut through priority security, and RUN (still shoeless from security) to gate G97. Of course United had no faith in us so already canceled us from the flight - along with our comphy economy plus seats. As they are closing the plane doors I quickly text Greg "on". "Did mom make it too?" ... Lol. They throw us to the very back of massive, full 747 plane. No, not next to each other -- because there are empty seats separating us! Stretching across 2 seats for a 9 hour flight is like poor-man's business class. So in the end, things worked out for us. But unfortunately not for Bill who still had a car to park and a large suitcase to check. I've since heard from him, and Apple Travel took good care of him- getting him to Cork, Ireland in time. Today's lessons of the day: 1) there are amazing people out there, and 2) never book United's jumper from SMF to SFO!

Once we actually get on a flight, it is easy peasy from there! Especially going to England. Wow, you cannot beat the ease of going to a country that speaks English, has signs in English, and even uses miles! But here's where the worriesomeness begins...really, after all that normality, why do they drive on the wrong side of the road?! Thankfully 1) It is early on a Sunday morning 2) I am driving away from London, and 3) I have Tina. I never thought I'd be so happy to hear her voice - she stopped talking to us when we took her to Italy 2 years ago.

They use roundabouts here like they are going out of style, so it took me all of maybe a half mile to get to my 1st one. Of course I screwed it up... "Recalculating". I did much better on the next one, but I forgot to look RIGHT for the traffic already in the circle. Good thing the brakes work. No, seriously Hun, I'm doing just fine ;) Just as I'm beginning to think this is super easy - maybe due to the major barrier keeping me on the "wrong" side of the road - I get to a small town. Then I learn the true definition of narrow. We are talking a road that clearly only fits one car ... But is 2-way! Rather than hit the oncoming cars, I only hit some curbs and bushes. I cannot get used to where to drive in the lane now that I'm on the wrong side if the car. But, I can proudly say we survived our first day of driving!!

We are spending the first half of the trip driving around the countryside outside of London. Our 1st destination was Cambridge. Apparently our timing is perfect - since it is no longer summer, and they are in between terms, which means it is lacking many people and about 13,000 bicyclists!

I think I win a prize for finding something in the travel world that mom has neither done nor heard of... punting on the River Cam along the backs of the colleges. When mom saw the punts she asked in alarm, "Oh we have do it ourselves?" Of course we could, but why would we - when someone can do the hard work for us?! Punting is kinda like a gondola - they use a pole to project the small boat forward. We come up on one boat of Japanese tourists - all ladies except their man punting them - and they are all screaming. Our guide tells us, "On a summer's day it is absolutely full of people like that and sometimes you get head on collisions!"

Next we took a tour around some of the colleges. Our guide was elderly and quite knowledgable - when she could remember what she was saying (not that I can knock her, I do that too!). The tour highlight was King's College, and its amazing chapel. Unfortunately though we are missing its evensong since it's not offered between terms.

However, since school is not in session, we can actually stay at a college. We are staying at St. Johns - one of the 31 colleges that make up the university. The room is actually 2 bedrooms along with a bathroom and kitchen - wow, you can't beat it!

I think I wore mom out. It's 5:45pm and she said goodnight. I guess she's a bit jetlagged! I'd go out exploring but I already went for a run, and it is cold! Apparently here it is either windy or rainy. I have some reasonably warm clothes but I might need to be buying some wool, and definitely gloves - both of which I just couldn't pack in the 100 degree weather back home!

So far, so great. I am in awe that you can take a plane anywhere and end up in a completely different country. Good times!!