Spent a couple of weeks in the London area. Very happy to see so many of the places I'd heard about, and I'd love to go back and see more. But it was winter and cold. Even indoors.
That reminds me: Years ago I have hitch-hiked through Scotland in January - up to John O'Groats - starting from Northern England - and going back there again. And it was a fine time!
I imagine it would be beautiful. I spent a long time in the snow belt just below Lake Erie, and have seen all the snow I care to see. Photos are fine, but I'm done with the real stuff. I did hear about the distilleries. Both of my sons spent time in that part of the world with the military, and their favorite place was Scotland. I'm more than certain they did bar hopping instead of sightseeing.
All of them except the Isle of Man and Jersey...I have though been to Guernsey and Sark, a small channel island with two halves connected by a narrow bridge on a causeway. Like the rest of the Channel Islands it is a UK protectorate with a lot of autonomy. They don't allow cars there except for the Seigneur (everyone else goes by horse or bike) and when I was there (some time ago now) the two halves of the island were behaving exactly like any country...two opposing sides and a lot of bruhaha. Seems that wherever mankind goes, they create the same nonsense.
Since Lindis has included Ireland in this geographic whistle stop, I have to add it to my list of favourite places in the British Isles...beautiful landscapes, unspoiled beaches, lovely pubs and fabulous music. I know most tourists do the cities in the UK but don't miss Oxfordshire , the campus of Oxford University, North Wales, Yorkshire or Durham and Northumberland including Lindisfarne. Much cheaper, more quiet and far more beautiful and real than the usual haunts.
A NIGHT AT STONEHENGE Probably my most memorable experience hitch hiking around England was being able to to spend the night, alone at Stonehenge. Today, I believe, no one is allowed to even get near the structure but I was there in October of 1972 when tourists were allowed to walk around the structure, actually touch the stones etc. I got there around noon with just a small backpack, wandered around the stones for a while and eventually asked the head guard if I could spend the night. He asked me a few questions, eventually said "Yes", the tour busses left and I was finally alone just about sunset. I rolled out my sleeping bag on what is known as the sacrificial stone and had the place to myself for about an hour when the head guard returned. I was afraid that he had changed his mind but, instead, he asked if I would like to join him and his wife for dinner. I gratefully accepted the invitation and after a typical English dinner and more than a little ale, he too me back and I had the place to myself for the rest of the night . I can't begin to describe how it felt to spend the night, wide awake, at such a magnificent and enchanting place. Finally, the sun rose, the head guard returned and the tour buses showed up so I thanked the guard and hitch-hiked on to spend the night at Delphi, Troy, Babylon and other mystical places.
I somehow missed the Isle of Man on the poll, but that was the whole reason for the trip. I have family there.
Same. I spent a couple of weeks in Aberfeldy, site of Dewar’s Distillery. My wife and I have visited both Ireland and Scotland three times, once when our daughter lived in Edinburgh for a year.
It was in 1967 when I was hitch-hiking from Leicester to London. There and then I interrupted a lift and went to see Stonehenge. But I did not sleep there then.
I'm glad that you made in time to be able to actually touch and feel the structure. At 2 AM or just before sunrise it's a very different place and feeling. You notice every sound and wonder if that distant dragging sound is just passing traffic on a nearby roadway or something more spiritual. I made it a point to spend at least 1 night at the various historical sights I saw. Thanks
Spent 3-4 hours in Gatwick airport, waiting for our connecting flight to take us to Egypt for Operation Bright Star '83. I was with the 2nd BN/325th ABN INF REG. At first the airport didn't want us to get off our plane, they thought we would be trouble. Finally they relented, and we behaved like gentlemen.
