Just say no to volcanoes

Since my last post a volcano blew its top in Iceland grounding all air traffic in England for alost a week. I was only left in London for 3 days of that so I took advantage of the unplanned holiday. I met some great people and managed to use my time well with good company (thanks Brenda, Maree and Bill). I wrapped it up and left room for more exploring when I return to England this summer after having to do a little hard time in Hawaii. But for now, I am home again and recuperated. Things to do and a quick trip to Tennessee and I will hit the road again in a few weeks. Here are a few pics of my last days in England. I went to see a play, went to Windsor Castle (again the queen refused to see me), the palace guard wouldn't talk to me, I interpretted the Rosetta Stone, and marveled with people in town at the sight of the first planes as we all stared up in awe. Here's a pic of me outside of my hotel in London...this explains how I got out on one of the first planes. Don't ask

The Easter weekend

Here are a couple more photos of England. I went to Nottingham and Sherwood Forest and roamed around the shire on Saturday. I didnt see Robin Hood but they say his spirit is still the guardian of Sherwood. I did however see a few statues of him, et al. The tree pictured here is about 1000 year old, so it would have been in the forest in 1190 when RH was hanging out. My hunch is that it was the merry men's Party Tree although there is no evidence to support my theory.. On Sunday I went to the Ely Cathedral which is only about 800 years old...a baby church compared to Canterbury, but lovely nonetheless. I attended the C of E services, took communion, then went out in true Brit fashion and had a couple of pints and a sunday roast at a local pub. I also went to the Cambridge American Cemetery which is the final resting place for some 5800 service members from WWII; mostly Air Force, many Sailors and some Soldiers, Marines and Coast Guard. Less than two weeks left in this rotation, so I am either going to London this weekend again or to Edinburgh, Scotland. I would really like to get a kilt to wear most of the time because they look comfortable and I have the legs for it. So many decisions. Aside: at this time, Andy is in Iraq, Mark and Blake are in Afghanistan; we are all in another country! huh...

now for a couple of pictures...I actually have internet this morning so I gotta act fast. this is inside the Canterbury Cathedral; Big Ben and Parliament from the London Eye; me at Dover. I will post more after I return from Nottingham / Sherwood Forest this weekend. later