On the Road Again

Cicero, New York

July 10. 2010

On the Road Again

A warm American welcome greeted us when we got home. My sister, Alicia, and nephew, Matthew, cheerfully met us with welcome signs at Dulles International Airport - outside Washington, D.C. in Virginia. As our house is rented out till August 1, we spent three nights in Reston, Virginia with my sister, brother-in-law and two nephews. Along with my mom and dad they treated us to an American BBQ with hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and a finale of fireworks (to make up for missing 4th of July). We all had a great time being with them and squeezing in quick visits with other friends.

Now we are on the road again - in more way than one. We are traveling to visit family - and I'm driving for the first time since we left! This has been the longest I have not driven since I got my driver's licence. In college I did not have a car but I'd go home on breaks and drive. It's been great not having to drive. But in the wonderful, big US I've go to drive to get across these vast spaces. :o)

We knew we'd be traveling a bit in the US in July and in fact today we are in New York where we traveled for a golf tournament in honor of Paul's cousin, Captain Phil Dykeman, a marine killed in Iraq two years ago (TeamDykeman.com). The money raised goes to pay for a college scholarship created in his honor.

Next we are off to Lake Champlain to visit Paul's mom then heading south to a family reunion in the green mountains of North Carolina. Another trip to a family camp on a pristine lake in the Adirondacks, New York, rounds off the month. We expect to be back and done with travels and in our house around mid-August.

We are working on answering questions people have sent us about our trip - from languages to laundry and will be posting those answers soon.

Happy days,

Jackie

Mind the Gap!

London, England

July 5th, 2010

London is the perfect city in which to wrap up our journey. British people are friendly, eager to help without being asked and filled with a healthy sense of humor.


We've really gotten to know the "Tube" as does anyone that stays in this city for very long. My favotite part of the tube system is the warning to "mind the gap" between the train and the platform. Clearly some people have failed to heed that good advice! Paddington station is our home station, but we've managed to hit most of the city on the subway. Today, Amelia decided we'd best stay above ground so we used the double deckers to really see the city. It was a fresh approach to a city that knows how to do public transportation.





It took five months of constant travel for us to find a hotel that we had to walk out of because the conditions were so shabby that we daren't spend the night but we managed to do that in London. Luckily there are hundreds of hotels offering marginly better service (no gas smell/no mice) than the one we left so we found a suitable alternative within a short walk.






There is so much to see in London that we could have spent a month in this city alone, but we only had a few days so we packed in what we could. London Tower was the highlight from our first day. Jackie and I had a blast helping fire siege weapons at the "Tower". We visited the London Eye, which must be the highest "non-ferriswheel" in the world; it shouldn't be missed. The London Museum and the "Royal Mews" gave us a thorough appreciation of British history and it's place in the history of the world. Buckingham palace enchanted us with the changing of the guards and London's parks couldn't be beat on a warm sunny day.

Our dear friend Chloe came down for a visit and to show us a good time. We had a terrific lunch together and did some sight seeing. It was super to have her with us. Thanks Chloe. After lunch we visited the Lady Di Fountain together and we wish we had more time...

...isn't that the truth. We really wish we had more time. Yes, we're excited to return to Virginia tomorrow, but there is so much more adventure ahead. We won't think of Virginia as the end; we'd rather think of our return to Virginia as another part of our journey. We know it will be fun to be home, and to see family and friends, but there is a great big, wild world out there just beconing us to come see it; who knows how long it will be before we cut loose the dock lines and head out again...

Next blog entry we'll answer your questions and do a trip summary.

--Paul

Bubbles and Squeaks

Windsor, England

July 2, 2010

Bubbles and Squeaks

Today, in a dark English pub near Windsor castle we ordered, "Bubbles and Squeaks." We didn't even ask what it was - we just figured with a name like that we had to try it. The waiter delivered it to the (sticky) table, along with fish and chips, and we learned it was fried mashed potatoes with veggies inside. Actually quite yummy (really anything fried). Traditionally, as a home cooked meal we were told, it's leftover potatoes from a big meal the day before and whatever vegetables are left over as well.

It's been a great two days in England so far - the grandeur of Windsor Castle, a day at nearby Legoland, chatting with very friendly people, and menus filled with lots of potato options (mashed, fried, pies, hash browns, stuffed, and baked) ; it really doesn't get better than that.

Here are a few pics of Windsor Castle and grounds:

Ye Old Windsor Castle (first built by William the Conqueror after his 1066 invasion)

Ye Old Royal Ice Cream Truck (selling Buckingham Palace Ice Cream - which we had to get)

A Few Peasants

And, of course, Ye Old Royal Gravel Flattener

Whither thou be near or far we wish ye and your loved ones the best.

Fare thee well,

Jackie

(We journey to London tomorrow.)