Day 3 / London, England

  May 4, 2018 

• Distance to Destination 331
• Distance traveled 4587
• True air speed 560

12:00 AM. [our time in Oklahoma, USA]
This is probably one of the only times I'll eat breakfast at midnight, while the sun is up.  And it was a super breakfast.
 
The flight has been nice.  I think I slept a little, but am so ready for a real bed and a real night's sleep.

*

 

 

[When we arrived at the airport near London, we found out that our checked bag was sent on a different plane--one that hadn't arrived yet.  So, realizing that and trying to make sense of everything, a couple of our 12 hours got cut off.  Going into London was still a huge highlight of the trip (and I loved the place!) but we didn't get to do all that we had originally planned.]

 

We landed! London is a beautiful place.  I think I have fallen in love with it and can totally picture myself living here or nearby, tending to an overflowing garden and running some goats and pigs, chickens and cattle.  It's so lush and green.  The trees are huge, towering high above us.

 

This country has the grace and romance I thought it to have.  London, you have captured me.
 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw "Paddington" street sign. 

We saw Buckingham Palace.

We saw the outside of Sherlock Holmes' apartment (and could have gone in had we've had more time).  It was amazing to see it in person, but to have gone inside would have sealed the deal big time.

But we did take a stroll through the Sherlock Holmes museum, right next door.

We did not get any fish and chips.  We didn't see Big Ben, or the Ferris wheel, or Abbey Road, etc.  I feel saddened by the fact that we missed so many of the major landmarks, but maybe we/I can come again with more time and plans.

We got to ride the tube (or shuttle) a lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we flew out of London, I had a window seat and could watch the beautiful countryside pass beneath the plane.  From first setting down on the ground when we arrived, it felt like I had an instant connection with the country.  The town was bustling, yet laid back and homey.  It was such a gorgeous place. 

 

I don't think I can fully explain it, but I want to go back.  I feel I have to go back.

 

 

 

 

 
And so when people ask what my favorite part of this trip to South Africa was, I have to say it was actually London.  Go figure.  : )

 

 

 

Intro / Day 1-2

Who would have thought that in 2014, when I wrote that dreaded hunting essay/short story for the SCI young writers' contest (which did turn out to be a super fun experience), an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime family vacation would come into existence for my family.

At one of the three SCI banquets we attended in the past years, a vender was set up and ready to make some kind of deal to get hunters to their hunting lodge.  Obviously, he had a knack, because he got Dad's attention.  Dad then got Mom to come over and listen to this salesman's tempting hunting trip proposal.

Not long after, we three kids joined them and Dad asked, "How would you like to go to South Africa?"

No joke. 

The man told Dad all about their lodge in South Africa and different hunts, etc. It all sounded great, but Dad could also see the reality of it.  If he went, Mom would want go.  And if they both went, we three kids would want to come, too.  And so, Dad said so. 

"Okay, then the kids can come for free," the man offered.

Dad thought a bit and told him that the kids weren't little.  We were in our teens, or almost.

"And they can each shoot one free small animal."

I mean, how could a hunter with a family say no to that?

We kids haven't been ones to want to fly in a plane...or travel...or go out of the country.  So you can imagine our response when Dad and Mom asked if we'd want to go to South Africa.  Without much hesitation, we said, "Sure."  (I can't lie though, Little J. and I thought the salesman went a little overboard trying to get us to come.  But then again, that's his job and, what can we say...he does his job well.)

It was a surprise for even us.  We were actually starting to daydream about going on a hunt in South Africa.

And overall, all five of us were okay and really calm about flying and taking such a huge trip, one unlike any of our past vacations.

Thus, before leaving the banquet that night, we literally hugged the salesman good bye (his idea and at his request).  We walked out with a trip in the beginning stages of being planned, written on a piece of paper, and in the car, we sat in disbelief.

*

* *
 

A lot of thought, preparation, time, and energy went into not only going on this trip, but planning it as well.  I want to thank my Dad and Mom for all that they did to get us world traveling ready!

The following and the following blog posts will include journal entries, notes jotted onto my phone while on the go, and thoughts now, as I write these and think back to our amazing trip.  So please, sit back, read, check for new updates (though I'm not sure when I'll post), and enjoy!

Updates on The Homestead will temporally be put on hold until after I've written about our trip.
Words in [ ] are added information to my original journal entries.
 

  May 2, 2018

We 5 [Dad, Mom, Big J., Little J., and I] are in OKC [Oklahoma City].  We drove through heavy rain with lots of lightning and thunder.  Before we left home, we got a very nice rain.  28/100ths.  The whole day at home was as beautiful as can be.  It wasn't too breezy or still, the sun was shining, but clouds covered it a little [as the day went on].  Lighting was perfect [for pictures].  Then it rained.  Our cousin and aunt [and grandmas] are taking care of the Ranch.

  May 3, 2018
In a downpour of a rain, with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling over the noises of cars and radio, we drive to the airport.  Just think, in a couple of hours we will be up there.  Up in the sky from where the raindrops fall.

I feel slightly nervous when I dwell on the subject, but over all, I'm excited (as I get anyway) and am looking forward to doing [things] and going to somewhere absolutely new.

Both yesterday and today we've heard severe storm warnings, some including tornadoes in neighboring towns (all near OKC).  The airport road is next right.

*

 

Mom got a text [saying] that our flight has been canceled.  She and Dad are in line to speak to a human being.

 

*

 

All right.  We're in the car again.  Instead of flying to Dallas, we'll be driving.  Storms in the entire path of the flight canceled it.  (This was suppose to be our first flight.  From OKC to Dallas.  2nd flight is from Dallas to London.)

 

[One reason why we drove to Dallas instead of getting a different flight that would take us to Phoenix, AZ, and then to London, England, was because our flight from Dallas to London had a 12 hour layover in London.  All 5 of us really had our hearts set on getting to see  and explore London.] 

 

*

 

It's one of those things I wish would just hurry up.  The longer we wait to board a flight, the more nervous I get.

 

*

 

We are in the air!  My seat was by the window, but another girl is in it.  I'm sitting in the middle section, but on the end.  We got to board this plane we never saw and it has been very smooth for the most part.  We have hit a few bumps but, to be honest, they were small enough to be kind of fun.

 

I really wish I could see outside, merely for the fact of seeing what it looks like.

 

Time 7:00 PM

• Attitude 33,000
• Distance to travel 3535
• Distance have traveled 1316
• Time to destination 5:50
• ETA 6:47 AM
• Speed (ground) 719mph
• Temp. -50.8 *F