July 7 - a long one

The airplane was only half full.  I still didn't sleep.  What a waste !  Sandy slept a bit; Jim and Sheryl didn't.  That had consequences.

We boarded early; they fed us a meal; each seat has it's own entertainment center ... our kids would have loved that when they were traveling with us ! ... they fed us breakfast; we landed.  So far so good.

It's a long haul from the jetway to customs in Heathrow.  The queue was long but efficiently managed.  The luggage took a long time to come out but our four bags were early out; the bike came later, special handling you know ... that's what you pay extra for ?

We then took the shuttle bus to the Europcar lot and ran into a buzz saw.  Take a number.  Wait.  It was very crowded.  Finally through that queue, my lady told me that there were no Astra's and suggested a bigger car.  Ok, said I, but only at the same price.  No, she said.  Wait, I've pre-paid ... no you haven't, she said.  We sorted that out, somehow updating the existing reservation had produced a second reservation, pre-paid.  She found that one and started again.  Next came the debate over insurance.  I ended up having to sign an Amex authorization for the entire value of the car in case my insurance didn't pay for anything.  That would set many people back, I expect, and force them to agree to pay their exorbitant add-on insurance rates.  Next came Ireland.  Apparently we couldn't drive in Ireland without paying some sort of fee per day.  That one I agreed to but I'm going to research that some more; I'm sure that the "Police require" is BS.  That was an extra 60 GBP.  To put that in perspective, the rental for 19 days is 133 GBP.

Oh yes, they had many, many Astra's.  In the meantime, Jim had also picked out an Astra and was working through his.  Where he thought that he'd also pre-paid, he hadn't.  His "updated" reservation was still pay-at-station, so that cost him extra.

We landed at 7:30; we hit the road around 11am, I think.

It was raining.  We both missed some turns but finally got onto the M25; the London Ring Road.  One Ring to Rule Them All ... no, never mind.  This isn't Lord of the Rings !

Sheryl didn't have her data turned on properly so Sandy called her a couple of times.  We stopped at the first service on the M1 heading north and had some lunch, talked to Allan, etc.  I think that we stopped 2-3 more times before getting off the M18 for Harrogate.  Jim missed that exit and came the better way, less city driving.  I pulled into 32 Rossett with a car behind me -- Eric !  What timing !  Jim and Sheryl came along shortly afterward.

It was now a little after 4pm.  Whew.  No more driving today.  I didn't do too badly, not crowding the left lane marking as much as last summer, adjusting quicker.

We chatted and chatted.  I had a shower somewhere in there which helped revive me.   Jim and I each had a beer.  We had dinner a little before 7pm.   Between the first and second courses was the aforementioned consequence ... Jim fainted / blacked out / whatever.  All of a sudden he simply tipped over -- not his chair, just him.  I rushed around the table; he was basically lying on his side.  Starting to move him, it was like he was in a deep sleep ... mumbled a bit for literally only a second and then was suddenly awake.  I guess that between the lack of sleep, dehydration from flying and a little alcohol, relaxed at the table, he just shut down.  Scary.  I hope that he's ok.  I joke about doing a face-plant but never have.

We went to bed a little after 8pm.  I was awake at midnight but was able to get back to sleep.  On and off to 7am, I did pretty well, considering.

Today Allan, Christine and I will head to church and Oliver's Confirmation.  They will have lunch with Helen and family; I will come back to Allan's and we four will likely go into town, perhaps Betty's for lunch.  Betty's is a restaurant.  We will have Tea at Helen's (daughter) later and then go out for dinner.  I think that's the plan.  Somewhere in there I want to check the bike.  I'm trying to figure out how I will keep it in the car, not in the bike box, as well as the luggage.  I don't know if it's possible.

The fun begins !

Onward.