Back, Unfortunately

Leaving the Overland Event, we got to spend one final day with some good friends. We had set this get-together up to see a couple of folks who couldn’t make the event, Jason and Lisa. Postponing our flight by 1 day was no big deal. But, as it turns out, they couldn’t make it anyway. No worries! We got together anyway. A site was chosen on a small river. The restaurant, The Trout Inn, is a premium country pub. It is all made of grey rock and spreads out along the scenic river, flowers everywhere. Since the day was Sunday, there were folks enjoying the sunshine, including the UK version of liquid sunshine, rain. On Sundays many pubs and carveries serve a roast dinner. Reservations are strongly recommended because when they are out, they’re done. Luckily several were able to order the roast dinner. Others ordered a pub favorite, fish and chips. And of course, copious amounts of ale were consumed. It was a fantastic afternoon. Everyone went their separate ways, headed back to homes scattered around the UK and Wales. Us? Just great memories as it will be a while until we see our friends again.

Ubering back to our hotel our small group retired to our rooms to get some rest. The next day we were headed to London to catch a flight back to the US the next day. Our friends Kinga, Mark and GinaMarie were headed out on their bikes for some more riding. Saying our goodbyes hurts. It will be quite some time until we all meet up again.

Thanks again to Booking.com we found a hotel on the west side of London, just south of Heathrow. This nice hotel, Sunday London Staines-upon-Thames, had a pub, a restaurant and was directly on the Thames. This historic structure was on the original towpath. There was a garden with tables. Colorful umbrellas kept the warn sunshine and cooling rain off our heads. All around were arches with colorful roses. Directly across the river from us was a rowing club. As the sun got lower in the sky the doors opened. Teams of girls brought their skinny rowing boats to the water. Off they would paddle, back and forth from a standstill, practicing their starts. We ordered our final meal of fish and chips, washing the deep fried flaky white fish down with cask ales and cider. When we arrived, they gave us a room upgrade right on the river. Our doors opened to a small patio overlooking the Thames. It was a great place to play a few songs on my traveling uke. As nighttime approached and the temperatures cooled, we knew a good night’s sleep awaited us with open windows.

The next morning our Uber ride to the airport was entertaining. Our driver was from Pakistan He told us stories of his immigration to the UK. He had married a UK physician. He had big dreams of opening a daycare chain in the UK. We had arranged a wheelchair for me to shuttle me through the airport, immigration, customs and to our gate. Our “pusher” told us this was her job. Every day she averaged 35,000 steps per day. That averages out to 15 miles per day. Finally, we made it to the gate. Our flight back was easy. Not a drop of scotch was available, but it was an American airline. When we arrived at the airport a person was available to whisk us through and all the way to our rental car. Five more hours and we would be home and sleeping in our own bed.

Over the next couple weeks, we would be in for some medical surprises. More on that next time. Let’s get fixed and back on the bike. Some cool rides are on the horizon. Plus, a Christmas promise to a good friend. We will be meeting in 2026 at a new, never ridden location…

Good vision and bionic parts,

2WANDRRs