Countdown to launch , Departure April 30, 2024

 Overview

This is a trip of my dreams, and four years in the planning! Originally the plan was to travel in Spring 2020 and include Ireland in the itinerary. Well, we all know what happened in 2020, so the whole trip got postponed. Ireland was a stand alone trip in 2022, and I'm glad it was. Seeing each area in more depth and at a slower pace definitely fits my preferred style of travel.

This trip is just England and Scotland and only parts of it. Five weeks of travel will not begin to see all I would like to see, so I had to let go of several places although it was hard to decide priorities. I will return in future!

The general route for the trip was settled several months ago. Lodging was booked earlier this year. Filling in the sites within the general route is still going on! Since I like to travel flexibly, there are very few solid appointments at any location. 

Trip route

The adventure begins departing Kansas City, flying to Chicago and then catch the overnight international flight to London Heathrow. Between now and departure, lots of things to get done. 

Packing

Since most of the trip will be using public transportation packing light is essential. What can I fit in a roll on size suitcase and one carry on bag? 

One 22 x 14 x 9" roll on! 

Packing for five weeks:

  • 5 shirts
  • 2 pairs pants
  • Underwear and socks for a week
  • Extra pair of shoes
  • Pajamas
  • Lightweight packable vest
  • Swimsuit
  • Hostess gifts
  • Toiletries


Of course I also had a carryon bag with overnight essentials, meds, reading material and a raincoat. Several stays have laundry facilities and all my clothes are wrinkle resistant, quick dry fabrics.



Trains, busses, and automobiles (and the Underground)

Anticipating using public transportation I read up on the “Tube” in London, the Trains which are plentiful all over the country and the other various forms of transporation like river boats, busses, trams, etc.





I admit I am nervous about the “Tube” and trains as we don’t have many subways in the US, nor trains where I live. So I purchased a Britrail pass for the city to city travel, and bought an Oyster card for London which works on the Tube (Underground), trains within the city, trams and busses. It gives you a discount and depending on how you use it and what time of day, can be a pretty good savings. You just add money to it when you run out.


Right away you notice the differences in the addresses here. Their post code is tied to a GPS location. It is not like the US zip code which is more like a postal service area, these codes take to precisely the point, and, the mapping tools all use them!


The other mapping convention I see is the use of What3words. This is a website where three words are like a URL and take you to a mapped location. Pretty nifty!


https://what3words.com/cares.bars.trip

Kew Pier using link from website

Money 

I had some British pounds from a previous trip so I took that with me — maybe £ 80? Otherwise, everyone recommends using a contactless card or just get cash from an ATM as you go. All my hotels are prepaid by card so I really don’t have any big bills, unless I go shopping …..:)







Comments

  1. SandyMay 5, 2024 at 2:26 PM

    Very exciting!!! I'm glad you are finding your way on public transportation.What an adventurer!

    ReplyDelete

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