Wales in a Rush

 Since I changed my plans, I’ve not given myself enough time to visit Wales properly. But I was determined to at least visit one famous spot. After taking the train around the north side of Wales I caught a bus to Caenarfon. 

It’s just a beautiful little sea side town, with an ancient castle. It was the site where the first Prince of Wales was born. Edward I had promised the Welsh a Prince who was born in Wales and spoke no English- and thus crowned his baby son as the Prince of Wales.  The castle was the site of King Charles III investiture, and will almost certainly be used for Prince William in the near future. I overheard one local landlord excitedly planning for the event discussing raising prices in his guesthouse! 

The castle was just splendid, and so much was open to explore. I climbed to the top of several towers to look out over the castle and the town. The sea was very calm at the time with a light breeze stirring the flags over the entrance. 

Work is being done to preserve the great Kings Gate as well as make it more accessible for tourists. It looks like it’ll be amazing. I imagine they will want to wait for the work to be finished before anyone worries about having a large ceremony in the courtyard though!

I had dinner in a little local pub by the city, and a bit of a walk around. Though I was exhausted, and had an early morning to catch the ferry to Ireland in the morning so I collapsed into bed fairly early. 

In the morning I journeyed up to Holyhead for the Irish Ferry crossing to Dublin. While I was disappointed at not seeing much of Wales, I was very excited for what was coming next. 

Visiting a Queen

I arrived today back in London hoping to see the Queen’s cortège and it was taken to Westminster Hall. And I was not the only one. Apparently the crowds had filled the viewing spaces fairly early so there was no more access. I was told I could go to Hyde Park and watch on screens that were set up. This was tempting, but it was a fair walk away. 

I considered my options and decided to look at joining the queue for the state viewing. As I walked along the Thames I learned that the line stretched all the way to Blackfriers bridge already- with over three hours until they even started the public viewing!!

I debated my options, I’d come back to be a part of this moment, and I wanted to see the Queen’s procession with the Royal family walking behind. Should I find a pub with a screen? Go visit a cathedral and take advantage of all the tourists spots likely being empty? Standing beside the London Eye I noticed it barely had a line….wait. The Eye!! A quick Google showed a great view from the top of the procession route. A 30min round trip, the procession starting at 2:22 to reach Westminster at 3:00. Some quick math led me to get a ticket and up I went- with a few others who had the same thought. And we reached the top, with a splendid view of the Horse Guards Palace as they marched through with the gun carriage for the Queen.  The yellow of the Royal Standard quite visible even from our hight, and her family solemnly pacing behind. 

Next my thoughts turned to the viewing. The lines were already long as predicted. I only had one night and very little patience for queuing so I decided the middle of the night would be the best time to join. As I rested at my hostel I met two other travellers- a Canadian and a Brazilian who had rushed to London after the news to be here for the funeral. We agreed to head out together tonight. 

The line tracker showed a queue of about 2.4 miles when we set out before midnight, it seemed reasonable. Of course it was longer than expected- we joined close to London Bridge. We quickly made friends with a woman in line with us, she was an American ex-pat living in London.  For the most part the line moved steadily (but slowly) along the Thames. There was one annoying delay- turns out they closed the hall for an hour to clean around 2am.  We finally got to Jubilee park about 4 hours in and got our wristbands.  After about 5 hours we were at Westminster Bridge and were told about another 5-6 hours to go. We were shocked. We’d already travelled so far! We were so close and could see it!!  That’s when we learned the line estimates didn’t include the zig zagging queue on the grounds beside Westminster Palace (which my watch measured at about another mile of walking!). I reached a low point, and was angry. I wanted to leave. I wasn’t willing to wait that long!! Just to see the coffin of some one I’d never met!! I was close to walking back to the hostel. 

But, I’m also stubborn. I also wasn’t willing to concede that I just wasted over five hours standing outside for nothing. So, I stayed. We asked every marshall we passed what their guess was. Everyone had a different estimate as there really was no way to predict it. In the end it wasn’t as bad as we thought. We crossed Lambeth Bridge and the sun rose as we slowly weaved around the park. 

We spotted a BBC reporter doing interviews as we passed. This helped passed the time as we entertained ourselves posing and “acting natural” as we filed past. Then pulling up the news coverage and finding ourselves on the BBC. Laughing and joking about it, and watching the man behind us trying to duck out of sight as he’d called out from work that morning.  And then we realize we were at the end of the queue. We had finally made it to the security check point. 

Westminster Palace is a beautiful building. It was wonderful to see inside. There are beautiful stained glass windows. The hall had incredible wooden beams supporting the roof. And in the centre on her catafalque was Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The royal standard draped across her coffin, with the coronation crown, her staff and rod of state resting on top. It was actually hard to believe that she was in there, a woman who has always just ‘been there’ surely couldn’t be dead now? 

The mood was somber. A hush over the crowd as we filed slowly passed. There were several different branches of the military standing in vigil. Her Beefeaters and the Buckingham Palace guards, police officers and horse guards.  I took my moment to reflect on what I was seeing, an era that was ending. And a woman who did devote her life to making her country a better place. Perhaps not all decisions were good or fair, but she was only human with an immense responsibility to go along with her privileged opportunities. I think it will be a loss to future Prime Ministers to loose access to her candor and experience in their meetings. 

As we filed out, the guards were gathering to change out those on vigil, allowing another group time with their sovereign.  As we left the palace into another morning, we checked the timer that had been started when we joined the queue. 

Just shy of 8hrs.  A long wait for a moment alone in reflection. And then out into the world. Where so much has changed and yet nothing truly has. And I had a train to catch to Wales. 

A Yorkist Interlude

 Since I decided to go back to London for the Queen’s lying in state, I made a quick detour to York for a couple nights. My first time in a hostel in 16 years- it wasn’t bad. Sleeping in a room with 7 other people is never completely restful. And I wasn’t the oldest person there! A little old lady was in the next bunk. 

Most of what I know about York comes from historical fiction and archeological shows- so I was thrilled to be there. My hostel was inside the old city walls (oldest almost complete set of walls in Europe) and just beside the Micklegate Bar. 

The first night was a bit wet, so I just wandered about, found a couple old pubs (original licence from 1644!) and walked around the town. I also joined the Original Ghost Tour, started in the 70s, with a charismatic guide who had lots of great stores about York and ghosts. 

The next day I got off to an early start, with a nice breakfast in a café before visiting Clifford’s tower. The spot is where William the Conqueror built his original Mott and Bailey castle, with Henry I rebuilding in stone. It’s just a ruin now, but the outer walls still stand and they’ve added floors and a catwalk on top for lovely views. You can also see the oldest flushing toilet- a cistern on top to collect rain water to flush down the kings garderobe. More walking around the walls, and I went into York Minster, and a wonderful afternoon tea at Betty’s and found some beautiful Abbey ruins. Of course this was ruined by Henry VIII and the dissolution. 

I covered over 20,000 steps around the city and really earned my riverside gin and tonic that day!! Which was made from a delicious local gin I found in one of the shops. I’ll have to come back for some York Gin!

A week in and everything changes…

 I have been in England for about a week now and am quickly changing my plans. If you’ve been under a rock recently, the Queen died on my second day here.  To be in the capital during such a momentous change in history seems to good to miss. 

I have been in Bristol for the past few days, visiting with and Aunt and Uncle, it’s been wonderful. We visited the Cathedral in Wells- and heard the bells tolling for the Queen. I’ve seen a castle in Wales, Chepstow is a beautiful ruin of just everything you want to see in a castle!  And we went to Bath, the Roman rules were just wonderful as well. You can try the mineral waters from the spring, tastes like Iron.

 

Today the plan was to move on to Wales before taking the ferry to Ireland. But I’ve decided to take a different path. I’d like to be in London on Wednesday to see the Queens processional, so I’ve decided to go to York for two nights. I’ll slip back to London, and go see the Queen lying in state before I rush to Killarney to see the cousins on Friday. 

But, this is why I chose the unlimited train pass. I planned for this trip to allow me to have spontaneity, and this is my first chance to do so!   There is a fork in the road, I can go left or right. And on this journey neither is wrong! It’s just more adventure! 

It Begins

Amazing. Four and a half years ago I signed up for this leave of absence, and I never thought it would come. Aug 2022 seemed impossibly far away.  And then the pandemic- would we ever travel again?!

But here I am, in London England on day one of a five month adventure. It was off to a bumpy start, flight was delayed. Train into town was delayed! I’m exhausted, but sitting in a pub near Trafalger Square enjoying my first pint. 

There are a lot of possibilities in the future, I’ll spend Sept exploring the UK and Ireland. Seeing castles and seeing family. I can’t wait!

Preparations are underway

 The count down is on! In about two weeks I will be off work for six months, and about five of those will be spent travelling.  I have done lots of research into my pack - I have decided to go for a carry on sized back (which I am very glad I chose with all these airport issues!) and am whittling down what I want to bring.  Luckily most of where I will be will be warm weather locations, so no heavy gear!  I picked an Osprey 40L pack, I hope it will hold all my essentials.  If nothing else this trip will help teach me how to live a leaner life!!

I had planned this trip to be completely spontaneous, which is going against my nature.  During the planning I have let this slide a little.  I am going to spend two months in Europe, and that will be full spontaneous.  I will get a Eurail hop on-hop off ticket to allow me to explore where and when I want.  I am very excited to try a nomadic lifestyle!

But looking ahead I began to get nervous, there aren't too many flight options from Africa to South East Asia.  Then I became worried about trying to find tours.  So long story short, that is pretty much booked! Flights are reserved, hotels found, and a couple group tours signed up for.  Ah well, I'll still have fun even if it is planned!  

Then in the New Year I'll hop to Australia and New Zealand.  And perhaps back to the spontaneity.  I have some family there, so some planning will be needed, though I'd mostly like to wait and see what I feel like doing while I am there!  Although there will definitely be some diving along the Great Barrier Reef and a visit to Uluru!

Count down is on, 53 days till the adventure of a life time!

The adventure continues!

It’s been a long break! But paradise beckons again!  First, an update! The past ten years have been busy, after moving home from Provo I went back to school to work on my training which helped me land the dream job- Toronto Paramedic!! With a proper paycheque things were good- I’ve been to Iceland and Costa Rica and hiked the Inca trail. I was all set for a month in Africa when…well. You know.   So two years have crept miserably by. And things are looking up, I finally got to go to Africa which was wonderful. And now the moment I have been waiting four years for is approaching. My deferred leave. To put it simply, I have been taking a small pay cut for four years and soon I’ll have six months to do as I like, with a stay paycheque coming in!  Since I’m gearing up for these months away I thought it was time to revive my blog, and hopefully you’ll all come back to follow me on this trip!!