One advantage of losing one’s luggage is the ability (okay, so the necessity) of traveling light.
Today I picked up my rental car in London. As I feared, the steering wheel was indeed on the wrong side, as was the stick shift. Despite the incredible traffic on the British motorways (stop and go — stop and slow — and wait — and go slow — then go really fast — then stop — then go again, maybe… — and all on the wrong side of road!), I finally arrived at Ambleside in the Lake District after a rather full day on the road.
After locating a convenient laundromat around the corner from the B&B at which I’m staying, I started a load, enjoyed an amazing dinner of Tandoori chicken at an Indian restaurant next door, and then took the above picture that shows every bit of clean laundry I have with me. (Incidentally it also shows about 90% of the square footage of my room. Yeah, the room is a bit on the small side.)
A call to British Airways confirmed that my luggage made all the way from Memphis to Charlotte and then apparently took a detour into the Twilight Zone. The good news is that British Airways will reimburse me for necessary clothing purchases; the bad news is that when (if??) my luggage does indeed appear I will that much more to pack and tote around. Any bets on whether my luggage will be delivered to Ambleside just as I’m heading off to South Africa?
By the way, just as the long drive (and the heavy traffic) were threatening to make me just a wee bit grumpy, I turned off the motorway (as they call freeways here) and began driving through the Lake District. Pictures will follow, but just imagine charming stone walls dividing rolling hills which are dotted with plump, fluffy sheep. Got it? Then you’ve imagined just a part of what greeted me this afternoon. Oh, yeah; the drive was SO worth it! Can’t wait to see it more fully in the next few days.
Images & Moments 