lystn

Yesterday afternoon at 14:44pm PDT, the main gear of my Boeing 747-400 operated by British Airways as Flight 285 from EGLL to KSFO touched down on rwy 28L at San Francisco International Airport. I had departed San Francisco International nineteen days prior at 17:16pm from London Heathrow. After arriving in Heathrow and leaving my backpack at Passport Control (annoyed grunt), I took a National Express Coach to Manchester where I stayed until the night of May 8th, when a hotel shortage forced me on a train to Liverpool in hopes of finding suitable lodging. Once in Liverpool, I connected with my friends Richard and Rachael and worked out suitable places to stay in Ashton-Under-Lynn, Rochdale and Widnes. I was in Ashton-Unde-Lynn for four days glued to the BBC as I tried to figure out the results of the recent national election. My thoughts: Nick Clegg good David Cameron bad. If the coalition government doesn’t work, I hope the British People can hold another election that establishes a majority party to lead the country soon. My vote would be Labor or Lib-Dem. Maybe a Labor Lib-Dem coalition would be good? After Ashton-Under-Lynn I moved on to Rochdale where I stayed with The Rudds from May 13th to the 18th. During this time I enjoyed many English meals, lots of tea and helped with the Sky Blue Radio third birthday bash. I also took a trip to the National Rail Museum in York. They have a real castle there! It was outstanding! After Rochdale, I moved on to Widnes where I stayed with Rachael from May 18th to May 22nd. During my time there, I visited with her family in Runcorn, paid homage to John Lennon and The Beatles in Woolton (Beatles Square), and enjoyed a bit of down time. On the evening of the 22nd I caught a Virgin train from Liverpool to London Euston. I then transferred to The Underground (where they did indeed tell me to “mind the gap”) which took me back the Heathrow Terminal 5. Due to poor planning and a lack of money I spent the night of the 22nd and the 23rd in Terminal 5 of London Heathrow. As bad as this was it did give me a great chance to do some plane spotting. Got to see an A380 land! How cool is that! Singapore Airlines no less the launch customer for the A380! Finely the dreaded time came. At about 1150am BST I was herded onto British Airways Flight 285 on the way back to San Francisco. I knew I was home when the 747-400 flew past The Golden Gate Bridge at 6,000ft. But, as much as I love my city by the bay, and boy do I, there is no place on Earth like England. And really, there are very few places (San Francisco, Seattle, Melbourne, Sydney) I’d rather be then The Northwest of England. If all goes well I hope to make a return trip this next winter and maybe even make a move over there in the next two years or so. This podcast is made up of my thoughts and comments during the trip. I stand by everything that I have said. And, would be happy to do it all over again. Though, more planning and communications would be required. To all you home ridden Yanks out there I implore you to travel and challenge our countries arrogant assumption that it is the best damn thing to grace the face of the Earth. Simply put, this notion is bollocks, humbug, bullshit, your term for rubbish here!       --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nicnacjak/message