An Adventure Was Had

We are back!! 

It was 3 weeks ago today when we touched down at Heathrow Airport. Our departure wasn’t without some drama. Just 36 hours prior to leaving, Air Canada sent me a text message – our flight was cancelled. CANCELLED!! I stared at the words in complete disbelief. We have waited 8 years for this moment – this adventure – and our flight was cancelled. The airline promised they were actively looking to find an alternate flight. What were we to do but wait. But, my mind was already working in overtime – how would this impact our travel? Our pre-paid hotel? Our tickets to see Back to the Future the Musical? Would we get to see my friend? I couldn’t stop overthinking and worrying. After 10 gruelling minutes Air Canada sent me another text message. Our itinerary had changed due to aircraft availability, and they automatically rebooked us on another flight. I immediately logged into the site so I could view the altered itinerary. The new flight was scheduled to leave 5 mins earlier than the original time on the expected departure date (May 18th). We were all sitting together in the same row of seats purchased, and flying out on the same airline. The relief I felt was palpable. Crisis adverted. What a start to our adventure.

And what an amazing adventure we had!

Day #1 Friday May 19th

We arrived an hour and a half later than planned due to delays at Pearson International. We thought we would miss our connecting coach bus to Birmingham, however, we were fast-tracked through customs, got our checked luggage with relative ease, and made the connection with 2 minutes to spare. We were so lucky! We enjoyed a restful and quiet bus ride through the English countryside, even getting to see Oxford along the way (stunning!). We arrived in Birmingham on time, and into the welcoming and warm embrace of my very dear friend. We packed our luggage into her car and continued our journey north to their village. We spent a restful evening visiting, feasting, and reminiscing. It was a brilliant start to our holiday.

Day#2 Saturday May 20th

We relaxed. We took a lovely walk around the village, enjoying each other’s company as we strolled. The afternoon was filled with laughter, new friendships, and a backyard BBQ.

Day #3 Sunday May 21st

Our friends planned a wonderful outing for us to enjoy. They took us to Warwick Castle. It was the first time my son had ever seen a medieval castle! In truth, it was the first time my son had ever left the province of Ontario, and our country, Canada. He was ecstatic – excited to be there! We walked along the castle walls, climbing/descending precariously winding staircases; explored the interior of the castle; and picnicked as we watched the Trebuchet and Falconer’s Quest performances. It was a marvellous afternoon.

Day #4 Monday May 22nd

It was time to leave our friends’ and travel via train to London. We bid our farewells, with gratitude in our hearts, boarded the train, and set off to London. We arrived at Euston at 12:25pm, and then to our hotel in Southwark by 1pm. We checked in and then set off to explore. We strolled down to the River Thames Walk, and then west along the river walk to Westminster Bridge. Our little LM was so excited to witness the sights along the way – The London Eye, Westminster Bridge, Big Ben, the Battle of Britain monument. We walked 17,114 steps that day, enjoying the sights revealing themselves all around us. We ended our first day in London with dinner at Sky Garden – a breathtaking view of the city of London! Afterward, we walked from Sky Garden back to the hotel, witnessing more city sights along the way. It was a perfect start to our adventures in London.

Day #5 Tuesday May 23rd

We took an Uber – not wanting to miss out on any sights along the way – to the British Natural History Museum. We toured the subjects of interest (dinosaurs, mammals, earthquakes, volcanoes), and then lunched at Gloucester Arms Pub. The afternoon was spent admiring sights within the area: Kensington Palace & Gardens, the Albert Memorial, and Royal Albert Hall. We continued our walk east to Harrods, stopping in to explore the main floor because, it’s Harrods!! But we didn’t stay for too long. It was very busy and very expensive! We walked onward past the Wellington Arch, along Piccadilly and then north on Regent Street to Hamley’s Toy Store. This was the moment our Amazing LM had been waiting for! He took us floor by floor exploring, discovering, wishing, and wanting so many of the toys that were prominently displayed for all to see. With careful consideration, he chose 4 small toys unique to England, specifically, London. Both satisfied and tired, he reluctantly left the toy store with us, ready to make the long walk back to the hotel. We strolled down The Mall, through Trafalgar Square, over the Golden Jubilee Bridge, and then down along the River Thames walk. We supped at The Caravan, enjoying a lovely, relaxing meal. Then, back to the hotel to tuck in for the night. We had walked 21,839 steps, so we were in need of a good night’s rest.

Day #6 Wednesday May 24th

The sun was shining, the Thames was sparkling! Rested and in good spirits, we embarked along the River Thames Walk to Westminster Abbey. We spent the morning touring the majestic medieval cathedral – marvelling in its grandeur and beauty. Afterward, we lunched at the historic The Feathers pub; and  then we toured the Imperial War Museums, Churchill War Rooms. Hubby and I had been there 16 years ago. It left a deep impression with me, because most of my family was actively involved in WWII, and and I wanted to share this moment in history with our son. He was fascinated with the underground bunker, and spent his time exploring, chatting to the staff, and learning a little more about Winston Churchill [and WWII]. After seeing all we could, we ventured out into the sunshine and made our way into St. James’s Park. It was a glorious way to end our sight-seeing. We strolled through the park, discovering and marvelling over the many birds, geese, swans, pelicans, and parrots! Our Amazing LM was enthralled with the water fowl, and even fed a goose! We walked the length of the park, stopping at Buckingham Palace to watch the King’s Horse Guards trot by in unison. The day was perfect, and the smiles and laughter shared with my son melted my heart. It is moments like these that I wanted to gift to my son – new experiences, new sights, and new memories created. We ended our day at Doggett’s Coat and Badge, a pub on the Southbank of the River Thames, just steps away from our hotel. We dined on fish and chips, and recounted our days and experiences shared thus far. We walked a total of 16,688 steps, and we still had energy to spare, but we wisely chose to end the night, and rest up for our exciting outing the following day.

Day #7 Thursday May 25th

This was the BIG day we were all waiting for – Back to the Future the Musical! If you follow my blog, then you will know that BTTF is a beloved movie trilogy in our home (you can read about it in my post My Son’s Love Affair with BTTF). We were all excited to see the stage production. However, we had a few hours prior to the matinee performance, so we decided to explore some city sights. We set off across the Millennium Bridge and began our walking tour at St. Paul’s Cathedral. We snapped some photos, and continued along Ludgate Hill to Fleet Street, to the Strand, and then over to Covent Garden. Strolling past the vendors’ stalls, and popping in and out of shops, we whittled our hours away until it was time for the show. It did not disappoint – fun, humorous, and delightful – Back to the Future the Musical was an absolute joy! Our afternoon having ended on a high, we stepped back out into the streets of London, dined at Angus Steakhouse, and then strolled through Piccadilly Circus and back to Hamley’s on Regent Street. Another fun toy purchased, we left the shop and headed back to the hotel. We walked a total of 15,958 steps, and we were tired from such an exhilarating day.

Day #8 Friday May 26th

Ready for our final day in London, we embarked along our familiar River Thames Walk and over to Buckingham Palace where we watched the Changing of the Guard. The musical procession was quite a sight to behold (and hear)! Afterward, we strolled through St. James’s Park, past Trafalgar Square, and back over to Southbank. We stopped at Jubilee Gardens for a little picnic, indulging in crepes by the river while we watched a busker perform. Feeling recharged, rested, and entertained, we began the second-half of our day. We hailed a London Taxi and headed off to The Tower of London. We enjoyed our afternoon exploring the medieval fortress, viewing the Crown Jewels, walking on Tower Bridge, and then ambling along The Queens Walk all the way back to LM’s favourite London pub – Doggett’s Coat and Badge – for our final dinner in London. Sitting by the window, overlooking the River Thames, we toasted to a successful, enjoyable, and memorable family adventure. And though we did not wish for it to come to an end, we knew it was time to say good-bye. Our final day was lovely but tiring. We had walked 22,306 steps covering Westminster to Tower Hill. So, weary from the long day, we headed back to the hotel to pack and tuck in for the night, feeling bittersweet that our adventure was coming to a close.

Day #9 Saturday May 27th

Packed and ready to fly home, we snuck one final morning walk along the River Thames. There was a gloom in the morning air that matched our unsettled mood. We were sad to leave. As we walked, we silently bid our fond farewells to our favourite spots – Big Ben, the River Walk, Doggett’s Coat and Badge, Birds Hill Coffee, and the many bridges and beautiful sights enjoyed along the way. With heavy hearts, and weary bodies, we began our journey home.

There is a moment that resonated with me. It was during our final dinner in London. My son looked forlorn, almost teary-eyed. When I asked what was the matter he replied how sad he was to leave, and that he would be a teenager upon his return. A teenager? Why? I asked. He observantly replied because it took 8 years to make this trip happen. It will take 8 more to make it happen again. All I could do was hug him. Yes. It took 8 years to make this vacation happen – derailed from my cancer diagnosis to a global pandemic and world-wide lockdown. But I swore to my son that it would not be that long before we returned again. Life is simply too short to deny ourselves these moments. For it’s moments like these that make life worth living – moments like these that make you feel alive.

And so, it was a grand adventure; and we are so grateful for the moments shared, experiences had, and sights enjoyed. The twinkle in our child’s eye – his  laughter, surprise, curiosity, and exuberance throughout our vacation was infectious. This was what it was all about. Exploring, experiencing, and crafting new memories as a family to share. I can only hope that he will look back on this time with fondness, wonder, and gratitude. I know that I will. I know that this adventure will live on in my heart, always to be cherished, always to be remembered.

An adventure was had, and what an adventure it was!

An Adventure Was Had. Published by Crystal Joy Hall