Lucy, Many many thanks for enabling me to Live the Dream. Actually, thanks to my long association with Fred.\Holidays and its predecessors, I have lived many dreams. And eventually, when I am back in Buxton once again, I hope that my preposterous travel ideas can continue to come to fruition. But, the Antarctic isn’t one of them!
I honestly thought that yesterday’s nocturnal tour around Washington would act as The Grand Finale of my 75 night tour. Today, I had the enormous pleasure of meeting my great nephew and his girlfriend, not in his home city of Lancaster U.K, but in America’s capital. It was a joyous meeting and very novel for all three of us meeting, almost by coincidence, so very far from home. We spent almost two hours over a coffee at Union Station, which is a must-see destination in its own right. We would then take the short walk to Capitol Hill, all three of us looking on in sheer amazement.
It seemed almost rude to be leaving this fine and charismatic city so soon after arriving just the day before yesterday. Nor I didn’t particularly want to say goodbye to my great nephew and his girlfriend, and thus made a commitment to see them both in the U.K. this autumn. However, much as Preston (or Lancaster) are fine cities in the North of England, they don’t quite have the same sense of occasion as Washington D.C. All the places in North America that I stopped at, I do want to spend more time in. Whether the opportunity will present itself again, or I create that opportunity remains to be seen.
I have made my final train journey over here, and the Amtrak ticket has been put away in the “used-up file.” But there’s one final treat. My 20th floor hotel room has a fabulous view across New York to the One World Trade Center.
I have discovered that if I shut down my phone, and then energise it again, I can take a picture before the “storage full sign” prevents further photography.
But, I have a bit to do, tomorrow. I shall try and obtain a print-out of my covid-19 vaccination certificate. It is on the phone, but if the WiFi at the cruise terminal is dodgy, I may still have a problem boarding.
First Class on Acela trains offer a fairly decent meal. But I could do with something before my final night’s sleep in the U.S.A. This morning (this afternoon in the U.K.), I learned that our prime minister has seen fit for somebody else to lead his Party…..in a speech he gave outside what will soon be not his front door. Tomorrow is another day.
Thank you for reading and following my blog. It looks as if I have walked 500 miles in my Challenge to raise sponsorship funds for Christian Aid, with a steps total now well in excess of 1.4 million. However, much as I will try, 1.5 million by the end of July 14th is a tough call.
David, 21.41hrs Fairfield Inn and Suites, New York, 7/7/22.
David's Cruise 