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HOME STRETCH FROM LONDON TO PORTLAND

The home stretch is the payoff for travelers. Under budget, on time, no lost passports or ID? Check. Spend the last night in London relaxing and resting up for the nine hour flight in the morning? Wouldn’t that make sense? Resting up to sit for nine hours? Or . . .

STREET SMART ENGLAND, OR WHY THE DOUR FACE

Street smart: Leaving the house and walking on a busy city sidewalk. Things to remember: Everyone isn’t your friend, deserve your smile, or wants a hug. What’s the proper facade in public? A dour expression.

LAST ROOM AT THE END OF THE LINE

The last room of a six stop roadie through England is the most expensive per square foot. It’s an impressive number due to the square feet. The smallest of the six, it’s on Bayswater, a half a block from the Notting Hill Gate into Hyde Park. Queen-sized bed in a queen-size bed slot tight enough […]

BEATLES LIVERPOOL FROM THE M6

The Beatles Liverpool showed up on the way from Lancaster to Cambridge. Should I stop and look around? Pose by the statue? At the very least, sing a few Beatles songs on the way by? Me: Honey, take a music video of the Beatles Liverpool sign, and me singing. Her: Really?

LANCASTER TO CAMBRIDGE? MISSION POSSIBLE

Lancaster to Cambridge after eight days in Thurnham Hall? Looking at a four hour drive after six hours riding around the Lake District. Luckily I had a decompression day yesterday for lifting in the gym, a sauna, and a walk out in the fields before a nice dinner. Vacation, right? Or ‘Mission Possible.’

ENGLAND LAKE DISTRICT ‘JOY RIDE’

Drive to the Lake District, the tour book says. It will be a fun joy ride. Whenever you hear the term ‘joy ride’ and it’s not about stealing a car, use extra caution. This was the joy ride around the Lake District.

HOLD ON TO THE HISTORY ROPE WITH BOTH HANDS

Hold on to the history rope and hold on tight when you discover some of the horrible events from the past. I didn’t need to know about more women being convicted for witchcraft. Witchcraft is not something I’m familiar with and will never be familiar with, but it seems more likely that women tried and […]

OVER DAVE, THE OTHER OD IN OLD ENGLAND

Over Dave doesn’t carry the usual symptoms of a drug overdose. Instead of sleepiness, confusion, and coma, which would be unhelpful for navigating from the shotgun seat, it’s more of a stiff arm. You need to defend against this kind of overdose or else it can be overwhelming. The first time I heard about it […]

WINSTON CHURCHILL AT HOME

At Winston Churchill’s home there wasn’t a wax figure, or mannequin, there was Winston. Along with the old bulldog there was a hype-man, a security-man, and a secretary. The four of them were in one of the rooms in Blenheim Palace. There were a lot of rooms. but only one Churchill. The following is for […]

BLAME ENGLAND FOR THAT?

Blame England? For what? For being so green, so lush, so historical with its leftover Roman roots? For having current people renting and living in four or five hundred year old houses? Go ahead and blame England for anything you want and you’ll be able to find evidence backing it up. Just make it good. […]