I can't tell you how fearful I am right now - an emotion I have gone to great detail to ignore. The last time we set out for a journey of a lifetime, within the first 10 minutes Greg announced, "Trip's over. We're not going." This trip is a life-long dream for me. Will it start the same way as the last?
Deep breaths.
We ran out of our home - for the last time for 2 1/2 months - in a flurry of tense chaos. Jeremy had taken off for some last minute goodbyes to friends, and got stuck across town with a car that wouldn't start - delaying us 23 minutes. Kate, who has been sick all week, had a stomach ache. A voice from the backseat asks, "Would you be mad if I tell you I have to pee?"
More deep breaths.
Magically we made it past the first 10 minutes of our journey. And then another 10 more. Listening to the kids getting along in the backseat - a rarity - I start to relax.
Riding SFO's sky train
At airport security, 3 of the 5 of us were TSA pre. Awesome. What is the point of that?! Oddly, they make a fuss over it if you try to go through regular security with TSA pre - "we have to inform you." It's ok, we are choosing to stay together.
After a brief layover in Toronto, we arrive in London, our first destination. We immediately rent a car. Greg manages to get into the "right" side of the car - it's a good start! But then he reaches to his left for the seatbelt. Nope, try again! It is definitely weird to drive on the left side of the road. Kate said it was confusing. Jeremy quickly decided there are entirely too many roundabouts. But all that really matters is what the driver, Greg, thinks: "It's not easy." He is already wondering how hard it would be to convert them to drive on the "correct" side of the road. Arriving in the dark didn't help the situation, and it was nerve racking how close to the curb he drove. Fortunately our brand new rental car came with one scratch right where we need it to be - on the left rim - so they won't notice when we add more.
As I finally crawl into bed at the end of our long travel day, I am beyond relieved to realize: our trip has started without a hitch!
Logistics:
- We got a one-way car rental to drive to SFO - a whopping $37 through Greg's work.
- Next to Switzerland, England (the UK) is the most expensive country on our trip. Most hotel rooms in London sleep 2 people, so we obviously need at least 2 rooms. Our 1st night we are staying near the airport at Premier Inn in Slough. Shockingly, it is the cheapest hotel of our entire trip: $120 total for 2 rooms!
I Wish I knew:
- Air Canada is strict about the size of carry-ons. Kate is the only one with a suitcase (the rest of us have packs). We were forced to check her bag at the gate.
- My credit card covers the CDL waiver on our car rental. However, Sixt requires the credit card to be in the same name as the driver. I wish I knew - to avoid the added extra fees I would have brought a different credit card to cover our insurance (Greg's AmEx).
