The Longest Day

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

The Longest Day

“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” - Yogi Berra

Sunrise over Harwich harbor, August 10

We landed in Harwich, our original point of departure, early on the morning of August 10, grabbed a quick snack at the buffet and were soon off the ship.  We were surprised that we didn’t have to go through customs or immigration.  Perhaps it was because the UK is part of the European Union.  We delivered our bags to the motor coach (translation: bus) that Royal Caribbean had chartered and headed toward Heathrow Airport, a trip of several hours on the motorway. 

Although we have been to a number of countries that drive on the left side of the road, it always sets us a bit off balance to see vehicles pass on the right and take roundabouts in the opposite direction.  The UK and Ireland are the only two countries in Europe that follow this model.  The motorways that we followed did not allow much in the way of scenery, most being screened from the countryside by rows of trees and shrubs.

We were soon at Heathrow, where our driver deposited us at terminal 2.  It has been many years since we were in this airport and the strangeness of this huge complex had us totally baffled.  Our first intention was to go the British Air counter to get our seat assignments and boarding passes for our Tuesday morning flight.  With forty or more airlines serving this terminal, it was soon apparent that we were in the wrong place. With persistence, we finally got some help and were directed to Terminal 5, which could be reached by an underground train.  With the assistance of a number of airport employees, we found the train and reached the correct terminal, where BA was the only carrier.

We, again, required assistance for information and finally got our seat assignments.  Thank God they speak English there!  We grabbed a taxi and headed to our hotel, which advertised itself as being only two miles from the airport.  This may be true, but since Heathrow occupies more real estate than a few small countries, it took us a while to get there.  Our taxi fare was 20 pounds, the most costly of our entire trip, and the driver did not take foreign currency or credit cards.  Donna exchanged $40 at the hotel desk, was able to pay the driver and had a few coins left over.  Apparently, the hotel made a fair amount on the exchange.

We would have to stay overnight and then catch our flight the next morning.  Our room was just big enough for the bed and one suitcase.  It reminded us of some cruise ship cabins.  Oh, well we would only be there overnight.

During our European trip, we were informed by our Realtor that an offer was made on our home on Anderson Island.  We corresponded this entire time by e-mail, although connections were spotty, especially on the ship.  Since the house had been up for sale for over two years, we could not hold back our excitement and apprehension.  Fortunately, everything fell into place (after some additional outlay of money) and it appeared that the house would close a week after our return home.

Even though the trip and cruise were fantastic, we really wanted to be back home to take care of the details of the home sale.

Tuesday would be the longest day of our lives.  Since England is eight hours ahead of the Pacific Time zone, the total length of August 11 would be 32 hours!  We reached Terminal 5 by shuttle bus (and at less than half the fare of the taxi), checked through security, took another Heathrow subway, and were able to board the giant double-decker Airbus that would be our home for the next 12 hours. The airliner was well equipped with video screens and other features, but legroom was not one of them.  John mad the error of not defending his legroom properly and had his knees pinned for much of the trip as the passenger in front of him reclined his seat soon after the flight began. All in all, the flight was tolerable, especially when considering the year or so it would have taken our ancestors to travel this distance; London to Los Angeles, via Cape Horn, in the hold of a square-rigged sailing ship.

Tired, but excited we reached LAX (Los Angeles) at about noon, only a bit behind schedule. We worked our way through immigration, rechecked our undamaged bags for Seattle and tried to find our way over to the Alaska Airlines terminal.  Of all the airports through which we travel, LAX tops the list for confusion and poor design.  Although dog-tired and only through tenacity and mutual support, we were finally able to find our way over the correct terminal, only to find that we, again had to work our way through airport security!

home again, home again

We boarded the Alaska Airlines flight to Seattle and exited the plane shortly after 6:00 PM, nineteen hours after boarding the Airbus at Heathrow.  Arriving at baggage claim, we discovered that the extension handle on our largest bag had been broken somewhere between LAX and Sea-Tac!  This awkward, oversize, 50 lb. tan suitcase had survived three airplane trips, a ferry ride, a cruise, four intercity train trips, countless taxi and bus rides, five hotel rooms and numerous types of abuse, being hauled up and down various staircases, only to be put out of its misery by the baggage bashers at
Alaska Airlines.  Rest in peace.  You’ve done gallant service.

Twenty eight days after the day of departure, we picked up our car from the parking lot. Driving through light traffic, we pulled into our driveway in Lacey, opened the front door and were greeted by our cat, Ocho at 8:00 PM, August 11, exactly 24 hours after waking in London that morning, definitely our longest day!