Day of Travelling

To say I haven't enjoyed today in the UK would be a massive understatement.

The high points of the day go to my friends Jon and Tony (and his family). Had I not had those two to keep me sane, I would have picked up Goat and got on the road south. Or flown out.

The UK is just cripplingly expensive, and being away for so long, you get back and it's like taking one to the balls and the surly attitude from just about everyone in the service industry is something to remember. The rail ticket was massively expensive, so ended up on a coach with the great unwashed, and watched some woman tear apart a young lady for talking on a mobile phone! She had talked for maybe 90 minutes but she had kept the voice low throughout - I know - I was sitting next to her! Anyway, the bitch reduced the poor girl to tears, the coach driver got in on the act, and frankly, I was embarrassed to have anything to do with this country. Was I British at that moment, no mate, "I'm from Florida".

If I could have got off the coach and gone straight back to Gatwick and flown out - I would have.

I noticed that more than a couple of times, people struggling with my accent though, which is generally BBC/RAF English, but may well have slipped southwards...

Nice end to the day to catch up with my beloved Goat though. This is one thing I have missed whilst being away. Been well looked after by Tony as well so that was good. Couple of issues though - front pads were non existent! Decided that they probably need to be fixed considering where I was going. I'll be taking off in Goat tomorrow though and really looking forward to it.

However, the company here is great, I love my friend's family and they make me feel so welcome. After the day I've had I was more than a little grateful. Stuck between tiredness and awakeness though. Stomach feels crap, and I swear I'm getting a cold - probably from coach from hell and the unwashed masses.