The pandemic is alive and well, but I hear, all restrictions will be lifted at the end of February. Correct me if I am wrong! But, at the end of February, I shall be, for a second time, in the warm climes of the Caribbean. That assumes that I don’t “fail” a Lateral Flow Test at the Mayflower Terminal in Southampton tomorrow. Despite dreadful rainy weather throughout my brief stay at home, I enjoyed a weekend in Buxton. The fatiguing effects of semi global travel caught up with me on Saturday, and I felt so very exhausted that I doubted the wisdom of having arranged such far-flung itineraries, particularly between May and July. However, on Sunday, after a decent kip, I was rejuvenated and felt the benefit of a good long holiday for the whole day. On Monday, I finished packing overnight gear in a decent sized carry-on bag,
My plans to visit my godson and his family on the way did not work out, despite the best efforts on both our parts.
Today sees my first trip on a UK train since celebrating Christmas, again with my godson and family in 2019. Until then, travelling by rail was almost a daily activity, perhaps a little less so after retirement. Trains were the big part of my leisure (and later professional) activity since my brother, Tommie, took me to Crewe to watch the major express services, then steam hauled, and with the theatrical presence of a rock concert. I think I was twelve at the time, and a huge impression was made on me. So, today, well over two years of not travelling by rail in the U.K. for me must be some kind of a record.
I hate doing things online – it never works these days! I just hope somebody at the hotel tonight can help me acquire an ESTA, the U.S.A. visa waiver arrangement that in the past, I had no problem applying for. I made several attempts on the train, where the Internet is excellent. Well done CrossCountry. When I get to submitting the number e-mailed to me it becomes invalid and I seem to have to start all over again. This could scupper my getting on board tomorrow, and Cunard makes it quite clear that failure to produce the right documents is the responsibility of the passenger, and no refund would be forthcoming. This, actually, is not unreasonable. But the hoops one has to jump through to travel these days is a bewildering obstacle course.
I am enjoying my first train ride in around 25 months, and not having tons of luggage to trail around, there was no real justification in going First Class, where generally, there is adequate luggage space. There is a glorious sunset as we speed towards Oxford from Banbury. Two four-car Voyager units form today’s train which is well filled but not overly crowded, with most passengers boarding and alighting at stations along the route.
It is now almost dark, and my forward facing seat is no longer, as at Reading, the Driver changes ends for the train to continue south to Basingstoke. These Voyager sets were originally part of Virgin Trains, and the coach I am riding in appears to be no different inside than when first introduced c2001. While not a big fan of these particular units, their introduction did enable an hourly service between Manchester and Bournemouth and therefore, Macclesfield and Southampton, which negated the need, if travelling to either Southampton or Bournemouth of having to go via London and traipsing across to Waterloo either by bus, taxi or the Northern Line.
If I were going to catch covid, it might well have been today. Masks are no longer mandatory on public transport, but the on-train staff encourage their use especially when the train is crowded. Already, we are drawing into Basingstoke, and memories of 1964 are awakened, when for one glorious summer’s day, my cousin Geoffrey and I, then aged 15, sat in a cemetery overlooking the station watching a parade of steam hauled, mainly passenger trains with long rakes of Bulleid and B.R. Mark 1 green coaching stock, on services between Waterloo and perhaps as far as Weymouth. Ye Gods! I saw the Rolling Stones in 1964! I still have the ticket stub and the programme.
This blog has very little about my immediate travels, and the February crossing to New York will not provide much opportunity for interesting writing. However, I will do my best, especially to keep those readers who have somehow come across my blog-site, and those who still persevere after, perhaps, years. Two such voyages in just over two months will provide an opportunity to be more descriptive of the places I shall be visiting. I just have to get that ESTA documentation completed tonight!
We are approaching Winchester. Almost there!
Just one more stop before Southampton, Southampton Airport Parkway. The four hour journey seems to have gone quickly. Will I feel the same when I ride the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago, two nights and three days?!
Many thanks for reading, David, on board the 14.49hrs Macclesfield to Southampton Cross Country service.
David's Cruise 