August 22 - Day 3

Pat woke with sinus and ear issues.  Came on all of a sudden on the plane and not going away. There was something in the air, really. Taking meds and Airborne fizzies.  Room is roasting, can’t figure out the shower, trying not to fry off our skin.  Once we’re dressed, we open the door to the hall this allows a breeze from the window.  The fan is useless.  It’s only one night we tell ourselves.  Walk with all our bags to Euston Station about 2 blocks away.  On our way north to Glasgow. Londoners are awake and on their way to work.  Buses crowding the street and people bustling. It has been a shock to be in a throng of people hustling and bustling, we’re not in Hudson anymore!  Challenging for visitors loaded with heavy luggage with wheels out of control.  We get our tickets and go to main hall. This station is very modern looking than some.  We have a light breakfast, again, pastry shops are way too plentiful.  And they know their way around a good cup of coffee. A rush to the train, luckily we beat the crowd and put our bags into a slot. When you don’t travel first class it’s every person for themselves, must be quick and assertive.  Sitting at a table with two Middle Eastern women in head dress who seem to hold some high positions.  Lots of phone calls, making appointments to speak at symposiums.  They are very friendly and have good humor.  Lots of the countryside looks like home, in flatter areas. We pass cows and fields and hay rolled into shredded wheat shapes.  Chuck gets excited when he spies a nuclear power plant.  Apparently it’s one of the big boys with 4 stacks, mega power. And then we pass an 8 stack plant – amazing.   But in the fields are many wind turbines producing natural power.  We are following one of the canals going north.  There are canal boats moored along the way and charming little brick canal bridges arching overhead.  The canal is so narrow here a single canal boat can barely make it through and then it opens up again to be larger.  We pass and Aldi’s grocery store, just like home!  Passing small town train stations.  New metal roofs but maintain the Victorian ironwork supports and decorated with flower baskets.  The train seats have plug in’s for recharging.  We pass through the Lakes District, the ‘hills’ are high and bare with deep valleys and running rivers, lots of dry dyck stone walls and fields of sheep.  On to Glasgow Central train station.  Feels very homey.  Same Victorian metal structure and dark wood surrounding the various shops.  In fact many of the shops are similar or same to Pat’s many trips into the City for shopping.  We get on the local train for Whitecraigs.  We pass by Janna and Tom’s condo at Muirend and Phyllis and Ray’s house on the way.  Arrive at Whitecraigs and McLean is waiting to pick us up.  On to 46 Atholl Road.  Lovely house and lots of beautiful flowers and plants.  McLean is growing tomatoes and green peppers in his greenhouse, will be some time before they are ripe.  Nice tea and good conversation followed by a great dinner and French wine from the family in France.  More laughs and shared memories.  Time for sleep. 

400 miles approximate