Wandering in Oxfordshire

Yesterday we settled into the Old Farm house here in Shillingford. Laundry, groceries, and a peaceful afternoon in the back garden. Today, we went wandering along the walking trails along the Thames River. We climbed up to the Castle Hill and Round Hill up the the Wittenham Clumps. After the long walk, we stopped in an old pub for lunch in a village called Dorcester. We arrived back in Shillingford after a 5 hour walk.

Tomorrow is a day trip into London. I hope everyone is well and you are welcome to comment on the blog, or email me to say you have read it.

Vern

vmainman@me.com

London.....

How quickly times flies. It is now Saturday morning and its raining in London. No big surprise for this summer. For all the rest of you who may read this before you depart, come prepared for rain, sun , showers, clouds etc.. At least it is not a heat wave like last trip. Temperatures will be in the low 20's for the next few days.

Yesterday was a travel day, with everything in delay. My flight was over an hour late leaving Dublin, the traffic was bad getting in from the airport, the coach ahead of us was in a small accident, so we had to stop and pick up the passengers. Later on my way to Royal Albert Hall for the Proms Concert, the circle tube line was very backed up and didn't have time for dinner before the show.

At the concert, I met a replacement Ethel ( not that you could ever really replace Ethel). We had a great time chatting before the concert and at intermission. It made for a great experience.

Said goodbye to the last of my travel buddies at the airport in Dublin. Katie and I met for a drink before her flight to Edinburgh. Earlier I had breakfast with Angus, and I saw a few others on a street corner in Dublin as my bus to the airport went by.

Today will be some shopping, cleaning up my pack and if the rain keeps up, maybe a gallery or two.

Tomorrow morning I will be up early and off to Gatwick to pick up Steve, Evie and Kevin, and then we are off for my part two of the trip in Shillingford. I hope there is a laundry near by....

Cheers from London
Vern

Back in Dublin

Well our 6 day tour is now over. The tears have been cried and we all promise to keep in touch.....

Today we kissed the Blarney Stone in Blarney Castle, and took a horse cart ride in Kilarney National Park. Yesterday, it rained all day, so our trip was a little damp. I was ringing out my socks on the bus to try to help. We made it to Dingle Peninsula, the most westerly point in Europe.

Oh, the highlight of the day was the Guinness Tour and the free pint in their bar.

Well off to get some dinner and an early night tonight, but I have said that a few times this past week. Will hope to update some more pictures when I get to London on the weekend. Also, will get some weather forecasts for everyone who is coming over next week to help in your packing.

Cheers.

Vern

Northern Ireland/Galway

Well it is now Sunday evening and we are in Galway, back in the Republic of Ireland. It was amazing to see both Derry and Belfast. Even with the peace, you can still see the reminders of the divide between the two religons. After a mix up at the hostels, we had to stay in a very low class place. Even the seasoned travelors felt that it was the worst hostel they had stayed in. Tonight we are in a great place and the feeling on the tour has changed 180 degrees. We had a great tour today of Yeat's grave, an afternoon on the beach and a nice drive from Belfast to Galway. Tonight we are all pitching in for a group dinner here in the hostel, and then out to take advantage of the party town of Galway. The hostel is right in the centre of town. Well while I am updating the blog, I am updating my gallery. Check out the 220 new pictures. It will take a while to get the captions written, but I will do my best.

Till later Vern

Derry (Londonderry)

Since there is a queue for the computer, this will be brief. Saw lots in Dublin yesterday, and today we drove up to Derry (Londonderry). We had a tour of the city with a guide who was part of the troubles. Very interesting city and history. Tomorrow off to Belfast. Hope all is well with everyone, and will try to upload more pictures to my gallery soon. The computer here will only let me upload one at a time. These silly pc's, give me a mac any day. Well take care and will update soon.

If it's Wednesday, it must be Ireland

Well I have arrived in Dublin. After a short flight from London, I arrived in Dublin this afternoon. Weather is still holding up, and it was a sunny afternoon. I took the bus tour of the city to get an overview of the main sights in Dublin. Then it was off to find the perfect pint of Guinness. I dicovered that there is the local Guinness and the tourist Guinness. The only difference is about 1 euro, or about $1.60. Had a couple of pints in the famous Temple Bar. Tommorrow it is the main sights in Dublin, which I won't be able to see them all in the two days I have here in Dublin. Then on Friday, I begin my tour. I hope you have been able to click on the link and see the 65 pictures of Victoria and London. I will upload the gallery when I get a chance. Hope everyone who is reading this, and I hope someone is reaing this, is fine. Love to hear some comments. Well till the next time.

Link to pictures

I have been able to upload pictures to my gallery. So click on the link and enjoy.

http://gallery.me.com/vmainman/100138

London

It is now Tuesday morning. I made it to London without any problems, the flight was even 30 minutes early. Spent yesterday afternoon wandering around the neighbourhood and up to Hampstead. After a light dinner and a pint in the pub here in the hostel it was off to an early night to try to catch up on the sleep I missed on the plane. This morning the sun is shinning and it will be hot. The weather for our last few times has been very warm.

Today I will be wandering around London and maybe off to Royal Albert Hall to a Proms concert this evening. Tomorrow is another travel day to Dublin. Latter this afternoon I will try to upload some of my pictures to this site. Hope it will all work.

Till Later

Vern

The End of Part One

Well it is now Sunday morning before my flight to London later this afternoon. Yesterday we spent the day wondering up and down Moss Street here in Victoria. It is a residential street that just happens to have the Victoria Art Gallery on it. Along the street on the Paint In day, they have hundreds of artists showing off their work and even creating new work. In the middle of the 10 or 15 blocks was a farmers market. Of course there was lots to eat and drink along with the art. After an early dinner we went to Sharon and Dennis's boat in Brentwood Bay to watch the fireworks from Butchart Gardens. Later this morning we will be catching a ferry back to the Mainland, and Steve will drop me off at the airport for my 16:50 flight to London. My next update will be from London some time on Monday.

Victoria, Friday, July 18

We made it on the 10 am ferry for Victoria. As we were leaving the ferry terminal, we saw a large pod of killer whales. Then on leaving Active Pass, we saw a pair of bald eagles circling the ferry. Sharon met us at Swartz Bay terminal and took us into Sydney for lunch. Later we walked along Taylor Beach. It was a long beach with only a handful of people. We waded in the water, but still very cold. We came back to Sharon and Dennis's house for a great dinner and then a Wii marathon. Tomorrow we are off to an art festival as long as we aren't too sore from playing Wii all night.

Itinerary:

Sunday, July 20: Depart Vancouver @ 16:50

Monday, July 21: Arrive London @ 10:30  Staying at Palmers Lodge in Swiss Cottage

Tuesday, July 22: Day in London

Wednesda,y July 23: Leave London Stanstead @ 11:15 Arrive Dublin @ 12:30 Staying at Globetrotters/The Townhouse

Thursday, July 24: Day in Dublin

Friday, July 25: Join 6 day tour of Ireland

Wednesday, July 30: return to Dublin Staying at Globetrotters/The Townhouse

Thursday, July 31: Day in Dublin

Friday, August 1: Leave Dublin @ 12:40 Arrive London Stanstead @ 13:55 Staying at Palmers Lodge in Swiss Cottage

Saturday, August 2: Day in London

Sunday, August 3: Meet Evie, Kevin and Steve @ London Gatwick @9:30 and make our way to Shillingford.