Paignton on our walk

From Moiya and Wyona:

Mini-golf

 Steam train we didn’t have any time to take.

 Three tour trips we could have taken if we just had one more day there 

Town Center and the Pole dancing attraction there.

More of our trip to Paignton

... outside our hotel ...

... by the beach ...

... by the water at Paignton ...

 ... red sand beach one block from our hotel ...

city centre

... gull coming in for a landing

There and back to Paignton

On the way there we couldn’t figure out why so many people left their sailboats on the mud.

 There were also many of the boats that had at one time been sunken.
You will see from that all those boats that are floating on top of a lot of water now.

 We couldn’t believe how much the tide comes in and out!
That was close to a part of the English channel.

 The same channel that I wrote in my grade 9 Year Book as..
my goal- to swim the English Channel.
Hahahaha

A the tide was out in the late afternoon, yesterday

We saw the tide in this morning. Amazing!

Chip Buddy on the Britrail Trail

From Moiya:

Wyona and I both ordered fish and chips. It was a special for seniors.

There was something special on the menu called Chip Buddy.

Wyona, of course, had to order it because
there is something called buddies or Buttties on every menu here.

When it came we were both, to say the least, so surprised
to see that it was fries on the buttered bun!
We could not stop laughing.
 It still makes me laugh.

I can hear Wyona still laughing too

And it is at least two hours later.

To tell you the truth we should have only ordered one plate of fish and chips to share
between the two of us and that would’ve been more than sufficient.
I just had to try the Ship buddy.
But, it was only for the picture.
It was disgusting!

Moiya and Wyona in Bath

Moiya and Wyona made it to Bath.

I asked Moiya for some text that could go with the train rides that they are taking.

What she sent me, really made me laugh.  I love rough notes that tell it all.

I was so reminded of the same trip that I took with Wyona -- the endless looking out the windows, the green hills, the questions to the conductor, an incident (euphemism for a suicide that slows the train down), the occasional napping, the little towns one after another, just a sign on a raised boardwark, and that is a train station.

 Here goes:

Swansea - 1 car train and not too many people boarding. Is easy to get a table. Wyona and I both have a table beside each other.

Gowerton - water and checkered hills

Llanelli - Oh, oh, The train is going backwards now. I must change sides. Hope it is not going back to Swansea.  No, I guess we are retracing some of the rail back but then doing a switch to the rails going Northward through the Heart of Wales. We make a gazillion stops going through the Heart of Wales.

Bynie- pict. -a short stop and back over the water to ...

Llanngennech -

Pontarddulais-

More people are getting on the train. Wyona has now switched over to my side and we have one table between the two. Or we have a lot of stuff! But rest asured, we are organized!

Ammanford- P-none

Llandybie- p- none

Ffairfach - p - sheep before

Llandeilo - p-2 hills and pond... water flow- after

P- The different fields are designated by hedges. The river Towy. LLlangadog - We are lucky to have a couple sitting at the table next to us who are helping us with the pronunciations of some of the Welsh words. The countryside is incredibly beautiful!

Llanwrda- p-afterwards- brown and White House or buildings

Llandovery- The bridge near he viaduct and the re-forestation

Llanwrtyd Wells-

Llangammarch Wells- no one wanted to stop so we went right through that station. The conductor comes through occasionally to give people a chance to inform him of where they want to stop. We used to pull on a big white cord that ran along side of the upper walls on both sides of the bus. There are so many stops along this Railroad Linel when going through the Heart of Wales. The conductor only stops when requested to do so.

Garth-short stop- couldn’t hardly see the signage for the stop.

Builth Road - I saw a little lumber yard-makes big round pickets for fencing farmers fields. I don’t see any of those though.

Llandrindod Wells-yellow field

Dolan - Wyona speaking with conductor to decide which route to take back to London. The first, second, third , or fourth way. We don’t want to make Joel or Judi pick us up from High Brooms too late. Llanbister Road-

Knucklas- looking down at the houses below just before the station.

Knighton- Trefyclawdd -in Welsh

Pictures just before are of the homes practically right on the railroad tracks. Buck elk-

Craven Arms-

Church Stratton-

Shrewsbury-

We had to stop- there was an incident where someone jumped off the bridge and we were waiting for the emergency to take care of it. There was time to read a few pages of my book and take a little nap. Wyona had a longer nap. Change Trains at Newport

Bristol Parkway

And home to the Guttornsems.

Bristol and Wyona's Alert

We were leisurely watching the scenery on our train ride to Cardiff when while Wyona all of a sudden said, "Quick hurry Moiya, we have to get up and change coaches. We are behind. We want to be to be in one of the first seven cars of this train. The others will decouple at the next stop."

We had to speedily pack everything, get our carry-ons, and put our day bags on top of our carry-ons and race down through the other coaches so that we were in one of the first seven cars on that train.

We had excellent seats on the very last car for the train not many people were in that car. In fact, I think we were the only ones in the car.

In the end, we came to find out that all that was happening was that the train was going to be going in the same direction. It just did a loop and then went on to a different city.

These pictures show where the train stop was. Wyona couldn’t stop laughing and neither could I.

We came to find out that we didn’t need to move!  My bags were hitting all the people in the other cars as we were trying to go bye. They must’ve thought we two women were crazy!

Moiya

Six hours to Glasgow

From Moiya

I tried to take some pictures while on the train but the train goes so fast. I don’t know how they will turn out. Wyona says the train should stop for her every time she wants to take a picture.

The countryside is so green. I know you would’ve loved this trip to see beautiful countryside. The canals, the sheep and lambs all over the Rolling hills, the big rock fences all around the farmers fields, fences made out of bushes that are probably waist or chest height, the old churches, old brick homes that are so well kept, quaint villages etc.

I think that they call those rolling hills, the Highlands... yes, Scottish Highlands.

Hey David, you should be here with me, after all it is our 40th anniversary of being together in Scotland just before Daniel was born.

Moiya

The First Day out of London

From Wyona:

After arriving Chez Judi & Joel at midnight we talked a bit, I looked up where to go the next day. and decided going to the sea would be nice so I chose ‘Sheerness on the Sea’ over the sea over ‘Shoebury on the Sea’.

42nd Street

The plan was to get up and be into London by 10:00a.m., get day seats for 42nd Street, then take the 1.5 hours train ride to the sea where we could enjoy the fresh sea air and watch the green countryside roll by there and back.

We were lucky that Judi wanted to come with us but it did put me a little on my guard because then I would have to keep the real me hidden.

As I woke up Friday morning I could smell delicious things from downstairs. Joel was up and in the middle of cooking sausages, bacon, and omelettes while Judy set out a beautiful plate of fruit. At 9:20 a.m. Moiya was still sleeping so I shook her to wake her up and get on our trip.

And now, a few days later ... we got on the train from Charing Cross Station but we should have been on the train from Victoria. We got directions to change trains half way and we could do it but it would add 1 hour to the trip and we had tickets for the theatre at night. So we were discussing what to do, the three of us, and then a British Lady ( Moiya’s age) got in the conversation.

Brit lady 1: Are you wanting to go to some place beautiful?

Wyona: Well, I live in the most beautiful place in the world so I am looking for something else.

Lady 1: Well why are you going to the bum wipe of England (which is Sheerness on the Sea).

Wyona: I wanted to see the ocean.

Lady 1: I could think of better places on the sea.

Brit lady 2: (Another lady, same age joins the conversation.) There is nothing but trailer trash in Sheering on the Sea. It is the worst place. It is just industrial.

By this time Moiya, Judi and Wyona are laughing so hard. The train then went by this beautiful large church and a castle.

The ladies descended the train and we saw we were in Rochester. So after much laughing and discussion we descended the train, and went back two stops to get off in Rochester. By then my feet had had it so I stayed at the train station while Moiya and Judi went to the church

Wyona

Wyona and Moiya write text of their adventures

Hi,

We have had so much fun so far. We could stop now and it would be worth it. Moiya arrived into Gatwick yesterday at 11:00a.m. Judi, Moiya’s friend and host to us, met Moiya there.

I just happened to be 2 hours late; 35 minutes waiting for the taxi, 40 minutes in line to get my Britrail pass stamped, tie up in the traffic and having the taxi stop at the Coliseum on the way to Victoria to pick up tickets for ‘Chess’ in the evening.

It was nice for me that Moiya and Judi were still cheerful when I arrived.

We took the train to Tunbridge Wells where Judi and Joel (who is attached to Judi through marriage and 4 children) live. The train stop although is called ‘Broomsville’. The day before Moiya arrived I took my large suitcase to Joel’s office and he carted it home for me.

Greg is no longer my bag boy, I have given Greg up for Joel who loves gemstones, buys them and cuts them for a hobby. Gotta love that hobby!

Judi and Joel live in this amazing county home which is filled with more beautiful treasures from their lives living around the world than you can imagine. It is a pleasure and opportunity to stay with them.

How did David and Moiya get so lucky that they have such nice friends!

At their home I shooed Moiya off to bed for an hour while I unpacked, then after a lovely bite of fruit, falafels, vegetables and some starch we headed into the musical ‘Chess’. The show was better this time than last time.

I thought of you Trent and your comments about the Chess game.

After arriving Chez Judi's,  Joel was up at midnight and we talked a bit, I looked up where to go the next day. I decided going to the sea would be nice so I chose ‘Sheerness on the Sea’ over ‘Shoebury on the Sea’. The plan was to get up and be into London by 10:00 a.m.,  and get day seats for 42 pounds.

Sunday Moiya and I headed to Petticoat Lane and Spitalfields Market. My directions getting there were so good, we even saved time by taking a shortcut. We walked and shopped and found scarves for one pound so we bought about 30 because I need more scarves.

The plan was to go to Portabello after Petticoat Lane. However, we stopped to have Fish and Chips and Moiya and I both looked at each other shook our heads and decided to head back home so we could spend the evening with Judy and Joel. We hopped on bus 149, the right one, but it went one stop and kicked everyone off. Another 149 came by so I hopped on, swiped my card, talked to the bus driver and no buses were going to London Bridge, which was our stop, because there was a demonstration on the Bridge.

I had to figure out how to get back to London Bridge without going over London Bridge.

For the third day in a row we had another ‘Sheerness Experience’. Actually the demonstration was in commemoration for the London Bridge Tragedy which took place one year ago.

So today Moiya and I are on our way to Oban for 2 nights and 3 days.

Love,

Wyona

P.S. from Moiya
Thank you Wyona I am going to add 2 things to Wyona’s note.


I don't want to forget the part of the adventure where we stopped at the bead store. And if you’re wondering, yes, I bought some beads. I am wondering if we will ever make it to Portabella Road to do something with those beans, the semi precious stones that we bought.... 

Actually, I want to call them precious stones because they are mine, precious precious.

It was not a demonstration at London Bridge. they were having a memorial. It was one year ago yesterday that somebody went on to London bridge with a vehicle and just drove into a bunch of people. One of the people killed was a Mormon man. He and his wife were just celebrating their anniversary. They went over to see their parents who had just started their mission at the London temple. She was in the hospital for a long time with I think shipper elevators and a many broken bones and her husband got killed. Their family was back in Utah. You probably remember that incident.

And now I must take more pictures.

Moiya

Sheerness on the Sea - A Change of Plans

 Wyona and Judi Guttormsen (her husband's name is Joel) let me sleep in on the morning of June 1st until about 9. That was yesterday.

We had planned on getting out the door by about 7:30 AM. I got ready as fast as one can when they have all kinds of medicine to take, a retainer to brush, hearing aides to put in, and glasses to clean. I heard Wyona call upstairs to let me know that breakfast was being served. I still was not ready.

Hurry, hurry... hurry, hurry, go a little faster...faster... There was no-one in the kitchen. They were all out on the patio eating the most decadent breakfast ever! Judi’s breakfast would put even the fanciest Cruising Ship to shame.

There was a platter plump full of fresh Strawberries, blueberries, and strawberries. There were also plain and raisin English Muffins, raspberry jam, clotted cream, delicious sausages, bacon, and Joel went in to get me my omelette...a most delicious Omelette filled with veggies etc. and topped with home made guacamole.

The weather is very warm. I’ve never been to London before when I haven’t needed a coat. We took our carryon suitcase and little cooler filled with pop and other incidentals we might need. At VictoriA Station, I stayed with the bags while Judi and Wyona went to get day tickets at 15 pounds each for the evening show. Then it was way past the due time to head out for our intended destination of Sheerness on the Sea.

We all got on the train, Wyona and I using our Brit Rail passes and Judi buying her 13 pound ticket to go out there with us. We were already cutting it close to make it there and back in time for the show.

On the way Wyona was sitting next to a Brit woman and that woman overheard us talking about Sheerness. She asked us why in the world are you going to that place. There is nothing there. Wyona said we could see the Sea. The woman said many other things about that place and besides it was going to be quite a walk down to the Sea.

Now let me try to remember all of the other things she said...

A hell hole.

Trailer trash.

The bum wipe.

I think Judi and Wyona can fill in anything else. We got off at the next stop and went back to Rochester, the last stop we went through.

Wyona’s feet were too sore to walk to the castle and church that was quite nearby the train station.

She sat at a table there and did some e-mail while Judi and I went to this quaint community. Pictures to follow...Judi has some really good ones on her camera.

I stopped to get some patisseries to share with Wyona and Judi got herself an ice cream cone with a lovely chocolate biscuit stuck into the ice cream.

Then it was back to London to eat Italian food and then off to the show, 42nd Street. Must send now because we are getting off the train soon to try and get another bout of tickets to see Chess again.

The only hung that would have made this nicer would be to have you here with us, Arta ....you too David!

Judi is so fun to be with. I think of her as another good sister (full blood).

Love Moiya