A new day dawns! Already?

In order for something to be a journey, you have to set out and begin. Our adventure began in St. Louis, MO and Minniapolis/St. Paul, MN. The Hankins and Soderstrom flights to New York City were standard domestic flights. Other than a "quick" taxi ride from LaGuardia to Kennedy, no surprises. Avis' flight from Minniapolis was another story. Due to extended check in lines, she missed her flight to Kennedy Airport. The airline rerouted her to LaGuardia and she was able to join the other Soderstroms before they left for JFK Airport. After arriving at JFK just in the nick of time, they met up with us at the gate for our London flight. Transfer one.

We flew Aer Lingus (Ireland Airline) across the Atlantic to Dublin, Ireland. The plane was an Airbus - over 40 rows of 8 seats across. Our aircraft is only 6 months old and had the newest and coolest in-flight entertainment system - games, movies, flight tracker and music. Since the flight was a "long haul" it included a free meal for dinner! Inflight duty shopping was also available! The flight attendants earned their wages on this flight - three rounds of beverages/meals, plus a sales round. Our flight left NYC Friday, June 11 at 545pm and technically is a five hour flight. However, because of the time change, the clock told a different story! After dinner, the lights went down and when they were turned back up, it was morning! Looking out the window during the flight the sun never completely went down. We watched it rise in the sky and Saturday, June 12 began. A new day had begun before the previous one ended! We landed in Dublin at 6am local time. In St. Louis it would have been only 12am.

After going through immigration (yes, they let all of us in!), we rushed to our connecting flight for London Heathrow. Without even time to spare for a cup of coffee, we boarded the plane. No jetway, just a short walk on the tarmac and up a flight of stairs. Transfer number two!

We arrived at London Heathrow at 8am. The morning was just beginning and we all needed our coffee or tea! Our bodies were screaming for sleep, but we pressed on for we had another transfer, or two, to go before the journey was complete! We needed to get from Heathrow Airport to Euston Train Station. Thanks to Nancy's efficient planning, we activated our Britrail passes and boarded the Heathrow Express for Pattington Station. After a short train ride of 15 minutes, we arrived at Pattington. Transfer number three!

Pattington Station is one of the big stations in London. It's architecture is old world style, but the atmosphere is very modern. Travelers like ourselves and local commuters bustled about the stations. It was after all the beginning of a new day and everyone was off to work or holiday! We decided to rest for a little bit and have breakfast and take a bathroom break. After finding a place all 10 of us and our luggage of over 18 pieces could fit, we split up for breakfast. Bagel sandwiches, French pastries and bacon rolls (a slab of ham on a large scone- the British heart stopper!), a rhubarb custard tart and coffee returned. Those that had sought out relief in the restroom, returned to inform the others that public restrooms cost 30 pence (about 50 cents) to use! They begged for change and headed off for the first of many new experiences!

After an hour of refreshment, we took a taxi to Euston Station where we would take the 12:30pm train to Glasgow. Transfer number four!

Another hour in Euston Station. Another round of 30 pence toilet visits. A visit to a corner market for more rhubarb tarts, cheese and bread for the train ride. Then we boarded the train for Glasgow. Transfer number five.

Trains in Europe are a normal way of travel for residents. The tracks are smooth and the trains move silently across them. People get on and off as a regular part of their lives. While we were heading to our mission holiday (that's the word for vacation here), others were heading to weddings, grandmothers and girlfriends. And while the reasons for being on the train were different, one common topic was the World Cup! For on that day, the British team was playing the USA. Football (soccer) is the national sport in the United Kingdom and they take it as seriously as St. Louisans take Cardinal baseball! (The game was played later in the day and ended in a draw, or tie) After taking much needed naps on the train, we enjoyed the stunning views from the train. From rock walls to ruins, fat sheep to skinny cows, prairie grasses to planted oats, grey clouds to blue skies, green pastures and timber farms, the views flew by. I don't know when we passed from England to Scotland for the scenery was a seamless flash of brilliant greens and hillsides!

After five hours on the train,we pulled into the Glasgow station, the end of the line and our beginning journey. It was 5pm local time (11am in St. Louis). We exited the train with weary excitement. We hadn't lost a single piece of luggage, ticket or traveler! Success! As we walked toward the "way out" (that's what the signs say instead of exit) we saw our hosts, Ryan and Chris Haney waiting for us! The Haneys would have our 15 passenger van waiting and we could finally set our bags down and arrive at Overton House. Introductions, handshakes and hugs were given all around! Then Ryan H. says, "parking here is expensive. We have to take a few trains to get to Dunbaraton!" Not another train! After a moment of dismay, and another round of 30 pence toilet stops, we trudged on. Transfers six and seven.

Transfer eight was into the van in Dunbarton, Scotland and after a short fifteen minute ride from the station we hear the answer to the question we had not dared ask, "This is Overtoun House, we are here!" The stone and iron gate welcomed us onto the 96 acre estate. Lush greenery and colorful rhododenrum trees framed the grey stone of the castle, Overtoun House. It had taken us almost 24 hours to arrive, but we were here! A new day had dawned and we didn't miss it! Our beginning journey was complete, but the true journey was just beginning!

Suzy