United Kingdom 2015
  
 

Day 02

September 16

 
  Fortunately, the person in front of me chooses not to throw their seat all the way back on the flight over. When I finally decide to give up trying to rest, I notice we are approaching the coast of Ireland.  
   
  When I look out the window, I can see land and know that is the lovely land of Ireland that I visited back in 2010.  
   
  This also lets me know that we will be on the ground in short order, so I try to shake as many cobwebs out of my brain as I can. Soon we land in London and I am really glad that I checked the second bag. The walk to collect the luggage and go through customs is pretty lengthy and not having another bag to fool with is pretty nice.  
   
 

Once I sail through British customs, the first order of business is to collect my two bags. Nothing warms the cockles of my heart like seeing both bags arrive on the carousel in one piece instead of many pieces or not at all. The next order of business is to find a place I can purchase an Oyster card for the bus and train ride from Heathrow into London. I head for the Tube station and a really nice young man who works for London Transport directs me to machine where I can purchase one. I tell him

"I'm taking the bus to Feltham, then the train to Wandsworth town. Then on Monday I'll be coming back that way. I'm thinking about twenty pounds should do it."

"Yes", he says "That should do it. It will cost twenty-five, total."

Fortunately, I brought pounds with me so I manage to feed them into the machine to obtain my prize. Next I'm off to find the proper bus stop.

  
   
  Since I'm not hitting on all cylinders, it takes me a little bit to find the way out. This is a 'surprise' trip, as I have not told the Brits I am coming. So I have plenty of time and the only thing that awaits me today is a hotel room.  
   
  Before I left, I got on the London Transport website and printed out my 'route' journey. I chose the fewest connections, so I have it down to one bus and one train - simple enough for me in my somewhat foggy condition. I find the proper bus stop and wait for my chariot to arrive.  
   
  For this trip, I picked up a nice luggage two wheeler and modified it to break down into two pieces. This makes it small enough to pack into a carryon piece of luggage. It is rated at 150 pound capacity and has larger wheels than roll around luggage. With the distance I have to cover and getting on and off buses and trains, it is already paying for itself. Since the buses no longer take cash, my Oyster card is the ticket. I wheel my stuff easy enough on the bus and grab an empty seat up front.  
   
  With my instructions in hand, I note the bus stops until we get to the train station at Feltham. Once again, I use my Oyster card to get through the turnstiles and pick the train I think I need to take me to Wandsworth Town station. There is just one problem with my plan - the train I get on whizzes right by Wandsworth Town - a little fact that I failed to notice on the boarding screen. The next stop is Clapham Junction - a major train terminal, so I get off and figure I'll have to find a train headed back to Wandsworth. Sure enough, I see one with Wandsworth Town listed so I'm on it and good in short order.  
   
  The only challenge with Wandsworth Town is that the platform is up high and the street exit is reached by a long series of steps. There is no lift so steps are my only choice. So with quite a bit of effort, I get all of my stuff down to ground level and roll out of the station - a bit weary for the effort.  
   
  My brain kicks in and I remember the way over to the Holiday Inn. It's actually just around the corner and across the street. The luggage cart sure makes this little walk a lot easier than toting stuff on your back like I've done on previous trips. And the larger wheels handle the cobblestone pavers a lot easier also.  
   
  I always chuckle when I see these warnings at the road crossing ...  
   
  but I'm sure they've saved more than one tourist from the joy of becoming a British hood (or more properly bonnet) ornament.  
   
  It's about a half mile to hotel from the train station but I make it with no drama at all. I check in and get up to my room to sort a few things out. I decide since I have the time that I'll walk back over to AboutTown just to make sure I haven't forgotten exactly where they are located.  
   
 

As it turns out Mike, the owner, is there and we catch up on stuff. He offers -

"The Pan should be ready, so you can go ahead and take now if you wish."

"Well, I'll just wait til the morning since I'm not going anywhere today."

I ask him about a good local place to eat, and he directs me over to the highstreet area and mentions a few shops by name. With that bit of information and a stomach that would really like something besides airline food, I'm off on another mission.

  
   
  I wander up and down the street looking at menus and finally see something that pushes my button - cottage pie. I do dearly love cottage pie and shepherd's pie, so Konnigans wins my little dab of business.  
   
  I don't want a large meal and this is just about perfect. It turns out to be one of the best cottage pies I have ever had. And the pub is not really busy, so I can just kick back, relax, and savor the meal.  
   
  I would lick the bowl out, but that would not be proper in England. But I do work it over pretty intently with the spoon.  
   
  I head back to the hotel and begin to sort things out for the trip tomorrow. My plans are to be there as soon as the shop opens, ride back to here to load up and check out, and then head northward. As tired as I am, it does not take me long to find the resting place that I could not find on the flight over though I diligently sought it.