Wednesday, January 10, 2024 – Heathrow, New Abbot
Jan 13th, 2024 by rallyadmin
The pilot had warned us that the flight was probably going to be a bit bumpy for most of the flight but other than the first 20 minutes or so while getting away from the front that had beat up the Carolinas earlier in the day, things were smooth and uneventful. About 8 hours later we were landing at Heathrow and into immigration and then baggage claim
In a surprise to me, immigration at Heathrow for the UK, the US and a few other countries citizens was totally automated. Walk up to the kiosk. Follow the directions on the screen. Slide the bio page of the passport into the slot. Stare at the camera. Remove passport. Wait for the system to think about the passport and the picture. The light turns green, the gate opens and you proceed to baggage claim or the exit as suits you. No human contact at all. Now that’s innovation that I can get behind.
As occasionally happens, things were a bit flaky in baggage claim. When we got there, the video screen was showing our flight’s bags at carousel 11 which is the last carousel at one end of the baggage hall. A baggage handler insisted that our flight’s bags were actually coming in on carousel 1. Hike down to carousel 1 – no bags. Back to carousel 11 – no bags. Baggage handler walks off to check and comes back saying that our flight’s bags will be on carousel 1 and the video screen is wrong. Back to carousel 1 again (feels good getting in some steps after the 8 hour flight). Finally there are bags coming out now and my bag s one of the first on the conveyor (this is really a red letter day.) Pick up the bag and head for the train to Newton Abbot.
Because the flight is later, I’ve missed my train and the ticket that I have purchased is expired. (Thanks American Airlines. An hour later and my $100 train ticket is worthless. Ah the thrill of foreign travel.) I get a new ticket to London Paddington on the Heathrow express and go down to the platform to wait for the train.
The train arrives a few minutes late, I board and there are very few people on the train. About 30 minutes later I on the platform at Paddington getting a new ticket for the train to Newton Abbot where Clemo is to pick me up. About 20 minutes later the train leaves and it also isn’t very crowded and the 2 hour ride to Newton Abbot is a nice relaxing ride through some very pretty country side when we leave the London metro area.
Off the train at Newton Abbot and call Clemo who is only a couple of minutes away. He arrives in his Freelander that is going on the trip to Gambia. Smiles and hugs. It’s fabulous to see him again and the excitement about the trip is mounting.
We drive to his house, the same one that we met him in when John and I did our first trip with Clemo in 2010. That was so long ago and here we are stilling doing these absurd trips to places that no one in his right mind would even consider visiting. Albania, Romania, Bosnia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the west coast of Africa. There is something seriously wrong with all of us.
I bit later Clemo’s wife, Elaine, comes home. I haven’t seen her since that first trip we made with Clemo in 2010. She’s as lovely and charming as ever. A quick trip around the house. Order out fish and chips for dinner. Some great conversation and then bed. The traveling has finally caught up with me.
Tomorrow the last planning, packing and closing up Clemo’s house. Pinky, my driving partner, will arrive with the other Freelander. Then we’re off.
Obiwan