4/14/92: D-Day (Departure Day) Doug was up ready to leave for Upwood and Christie got up to see us off and really touched me that she didn't want to see us leave. I hadn't realized our visit had meant that much to this little girl but it surely did to me. I'm glad to have had those sharing times with them.
Arriving at Huntingdon Station, we purchased our tickets L14.9 and Lynne helped Phyl with her large heavy suitcase albeit it was on rollers. Last hugs for Lynne and she was gone. We got our luggage on and tried to maneuver the cases back by our seat but a young man following said they would be all right by the sliding door.
Phyl and I began discussing the problem soon to be facing us in the underground station with stairs up and down to reach our train for Gatwick. We wondered if there were any redcaps thought neither of us remembered seeing any. Our Good Samaritan told us it would be better to get off at Finsbury Park instead of King's Cross, he said "just follow me", then he proceeded to pick up Phyl's bag, another young man said "let me help" and carried my suitcase thru the station up the stairs and to the automatic barriers. We called our thanks as they hurried about their business. Down some stairs, with frequent stops, then up an escalator, finally the tube for Victoria Station where we would board the BritRail to Gatwick. We were the only ones in our car until our first stop a young man got on. He asked if we were visiting in the city. Phyl told him we'd been visiting and were on our way to Gatwick and home. He asked what part of the States we were from when Phyl said she was living in Florida. he said his parents had retired there. Phyl recognized the place as near her, he took out a card and put their phone number on it for her. He told us he retired from USAF and now was employed by London Transit as a Safety Inspector. In service he was in Health and Safety stationed at Upwood. At Victoria Station he helped Phyl with her bag and we were soon aboard Britrail headed for Gatwick.
Arriving we went thru Customs (long lines) then on into the concourse with shops and a restaurant. Had a nice breakfast buffet and coffee. Boarded the plane, and watched that little patch of green that is England dissolve in mist and fog as we climbed into the clouds and headed West - well, I guess Northwest!
It was late afternoon when we reached Charlotte, N.C. Phyl's plane was soon leaving and I had less than an hour to wait. Landed in Buffalo to be greeted by 'Lanie and Mir. Picked up my luggage, talking non-stop and soon we were toodling down old Route 16. We decided to stop at Nicolo's for coffee and surprise Lisa. Very fitting as she waved goodbye to me from the driveway there as Kevin was driving me in to Buffalo Airport, two weeks before. I left her a tip in English coins.
It was good to get home. Dad had done very well on his own. No dirty dishes- nothing to indicate I'd been away two whole weeks on the trip of a lifetime.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment