Long Travel Day

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Day minus 00 Before the Main Event

Tuesday, July 15

Chicago to Blockley, Morton-In-Marsh

24 Hours straight traveling. Knee voiced its own opinion of being inactive.


British Airways flight delayed a number of times. Flight was completely full with many families, many tiny babies, many tiny humans crying and mothers saying “shush”. Watched ‘Wicked’ between trying to nap. Arrive at Heathrow. Immigration and Customs went quickly.

Collected bag and began to disassemble the packed towels and shift stuff around to be carried. It appeared that one section of a trekking pole was absent, and I worried the pack had opened and it was lost in transit. Annoyed!

Caught the Heathrow Express train directly to London Paddington only to be told it was incorrect, I needed to be on the Elizabeth Line so was sent back to Heathrow. 50 minutes wasted.

Located correct platform to wait at. There an elderly well dressed gentleman with 2 pieces of luggage was also waiting for the train to Reading, along with me where I would change to another line. We talked a bit. A very colorful guy just back from Jamaica joined us with his large supply of Rum, also aimed for Reading.

While waiting the well dressed gentleman wandered off a bit and suddenly fell over very close to the edge by the tracks. We helped him up. A finger was totally bent backwards. He said, well, I guess I won’t go to Reading, but I’m going to go look for a hospital and walked off.

The last train from Reading to Morton-in - Marsh was almost an hour long - but was part of the Great Western Railway and was named the HRH PRINCESS ROYAL - Princess Anne.

I became very tired suddenly. On arrival at the train station It was raining. Originally I had thought to walk to tonight’s bed but I was annoyed about the trekking pole, and felt tired, very tired.

Just outside the station was a taxi so I went and spoke with the driver. He did not know of any shops where I could buy a replacement trekking pole, but he was willing to take me Blockley which was the next little village over, for a taxi fee of course.

I felt like I was stepping into a British show/crime sleuthing in a small village. Driver talked through a speaker, but sadly he was not wearing the classic chauffeur cap.

The driver was very chatty and offered to try to find something tonight from his home which he could deliver to me tomorrow, if he found one.

Arrived at the Crown hotel, and got my tiny little room, which is perfectly fine. Pack was unpacked and after cleaning up laid out all the trekking pole sections and realized the part was not missing but still inside another. Relief.

I am not going out again tonight. Tomorrow is a new day.

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