London - Scotland Trip Day 13

Friday September 14, 2012 – London
Woke at 5 AM and went for “take away” at the “The Coffee Lounge”. Took The Tube from Canon S to Hammersmith where we took Piccadilly to Heathrow Terminal 5. Checked in for flight from London to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. I had to go through security screening twice but Carol only once. Watched several movies on the flight including Battleship with Liam Nielsen, MIB 3 with Will Smith, Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp. Carol watched Fantastic Mr. Fox. Stewards only offered one meal. I only needed one bathroom break but Carol didn't need any! 😲 Arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth with 2-hour layover. Took 1 ½ hours to go through passport check. We then had to get our checked bag and re-check it in and go through security again! Thankfully we made it to the plane with about 5 minutes to spare. Flight to Portland, Oregon was uneventful. Arrived at PDX at about 7:30 pm. It was a relief to find our checked bag waiting for us at baggage claim. We arranged a shuttle bus with Blue Star and were able to use an old ticket from 2003! Made it home by about 9 pm. Hobie was super happy to see us as were we to see him!!

• Travel Info - Going
• PDX to DFW American AIr
• Sunday 9/2/12 7:55 AM Pacific 
• DFW to LON British Air
• Sunday 9/3/12 5:50 PM Central
• Flying Scotsman Train 
• London to Edinburgh
• Monday 9/3/12 7:26 PM
• Travel Info - Returning
• LON to DFW British Air
• Friday 9/14/12 11:45 AM 
• DFW to PDX American Air
• Friday 9/14/12 5:45 PM Central
• Flying Scotsman Train
• Glasgow to London 
• Friday 9/14/2
• Miles Driven in Scotland - 720 miles
• Gas Purchased - 
• Inverness  £45.88 (30.8 Liters & £1.49 /Liter)
• Glasgow £42.83 ($69.09)
• Total Gas Cost £88.71 ($143.10)
• Car Mileage - ~45 Miles/Gallon

London - Scotland Trip Day 12

Thursday September 13, 2012 – London
Woke at about 6 am. Weather was clear. Went out for coffee and found a nice little coffee lounge just across the alley from our hotel. Got a sausage and egg sandwich and Carol got a sweet roll. Headed to Tower of London to take “Original Bus Tour” at 9:30 am. Bus tour took about 2 hours and went past Big Ben, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, etc. We got off at Tower of London and took the river tour boat to Westminster Abbey. Walked past Big Ben and Westminster Abbey on the way to Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. Stopped at Saint Martins in the Field Church and had coffee and cake in the “crypt” downstairs. Listened to a string quartet practice in the cathedral. Decided to go to Abbey Road Studios where the Beatles recorded many of their records. Getting there was a challenge. We took the Underground Tube from Charing Cross to Baker Street and then switched to the Jubilee line and got off on St John’s Wood station (I think).
From there, we walked to Abbey Road Studios where we took photos of people crossing the street in front of Abbey Road Studios trying to look like the cover of the Beatles Abbey Road record album cover. We tried to take photos of ourselves crossing the street but, between all the people and traffic, it was pretty hard to get a decent photo.
Took the Tube back to London Bridge and walked back to the hotel. Went out and got burritos and brought them back to our hotel room for dinner.

London - Scotland Trip Day 2

Monday September 3, 2012 - Heathrow, London

Heathrow Airport Tube

Passport check took about 20 minutes. Then customs. Carol gave up 1 plum and 2 pizzas before going through customs. Took the Underground Tube from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Kings Cross station.

Kings Cross Tube Station

Purchased an Oyster card to pay fare. The Tube took about 60 minutes to Kings Cross. Spent some time at Kings Cross waiting for the train to Edinburgh, Scotland. Finally boarded the Flying Scotsman at 3pm.

Waiting to board Flying Scotsman

Train was practically empty, so we had our pick of seats. English countryside was beautiful. Train went through York, Darlington (5:30pm), Newcastle (5:54pm), Berwick (6:28pm), Scotland border (6:44pm), Dunbar (7:02pm).Arrived at Waverley train station in Edinburgh at 7:20pm). 

Aboard the Flying Scotsman

Saw lots of green open pastures with sheep, stone walls, stone houses, old churches with spires, chimneys with multiple flues (Mary Poppins style).

Arrived at Waverley train Station in Edinburgh at 7:20pm). 

Arrived at Travelodge, 3 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh at 9pm. Hotel cost was £118.50 for 2 adults 3 nights. Went for a 1 hour walk down Leith Street and down Regents Street and back up Royal Terrace

Flying Scotsman train route from Kings Cross Station, London to Waverly Station, Edinburgh, Scotland

London - Scotland Trip Day 1

Sunday September 2, 2012 - Vancouver, Washington 

Thunderbird Hotel on fire

Up at 4 AM (Clear ~60 deg F) Finished checking windows, doors, alarms, etc. Shuttle bus (Blue Star) arrived at 5 AM (15 min early). Said our goodbyes to Hobie and Left house at 5:15am. Driver entertained us with some stories from when he was in the Navy. Said he was in the Navy for 20 years had been to 47 countries including Britain (London and Edinburgh). I5 bridge was closed North and South due to the Thunderbird Hotel burning to the ground! 

Waiting to board at PDX

Airport check-in was uneventful. Thankfully American Air didn’t have a line (United had a huge line). Security was more exciting. Got a pat down and TSA went through my camera bag. Also got to try out their new full body scanner. Arrived at Gate C9 at 6:40 AM. Left PDX and had a nice view of Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, and Mount Hood. Not much snow on any of them. Also got a nice view of the smoking remains of the Thunderbird Hotel. Arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) airport around 1:30 PM Central where it was 98 Deg. F. 

Our trusty Boeing 747

Made it to gate D4 British Air at about 2:15 PM Central. Next plane scheduled to leave at 5:50 PM Central. DFW airport is huge and very modern with a cool shuttle bus system. Boarded and left DFW on time. There were an amazing number of India people on board. Plane was a Boeing 747 with funny little “pod” seats in 1st class. Arrived at Heathrow London at 8:30 AM London time (12:30 AM Pacific).

Heathrow Airport, London

I only needed 1 bathroom break after an 8 ½ hour flight. Incredibly, Carol didn’t need any bathroom breaks!! In flight meal was chicken curry or vegetarian tortellini. Also served breakfast of fruit cocktail, banana loaf, O.J., and coffee. Was mostly cloudy flying over Iceland and England.