The Grand England Adventure, parts 2 and 3

[kragore]

After landing successfully in Philly, and hanging around for 4 hours for our layover, HorseChaser and I got on the "Big Bird" to Manchester, UK. The second takeoff wasn't nearly so bad for her, and it was actually quite smooth for me.
It was a rather miserable flight over, not for any particular reason except for space. HorseChaser couldn't fully stretched out (and with her broken self, that's not a good thing,) and the seats were stuck upright the whole way (I think the idiot kids behind us had their knees jammed into the backs of the seats.)
There was little, if any, sleep had - The US airways have this neat entertainment on demand thingger that was pretty cool - watched an episode of House, Numbers, and the new Beowolf movie. It was...mehh. The horses all still looked painfully animated, even on the little 6" screen embedded in the seat in front of me. It was a good time waster, but I wouldn't have aid money to see it.

We got into the airport, and Part 3 got off with all the smells that the next few days are going to be interesting, in that way that some things are just interesting in an academic sort of way.
1) The professor (the leader of the herd) has ZERO herding instinct. I've fallen into the role of riding herd (not hard with Gimpy here) to make sure everyone stays together. I see lost people, very easily, if I decide to do the "it's not my problem" dance.

2) These are college kids - like, real ones, not like HorseChaser. They are loud, nervous and brassy. Many have never been out of the country. They are standing out simply by breathing, and I don't want to be next to them.

3) We came very, very close to not all being on the same train - the one traveling 2 hours away - disconcerting. When we arrived at the destination platform, the Herd Leader proceeded to have a fit that we and our stuff couldn't all fit perfectly into exactly 5 cabs. Somehow, she got stuffed into the 1st cab and left (thank goodness) and I and the rest figured out that we could simply wait 5 minutes, and take two vans, and no one would get lost.

This bodes... interesting.

Upon our arrival in York, HorseChaser and I walked a section of the "Old City" wall while we waited for our room to be prepared, stopped in one of the gatehouses, had a cup of tea, admired the Daffodils (they're blooming!) and are now cleaning up for the dinner and concert that are scheduled for the evening.

The world is still moving in the bobbing/weaving way that airplanes do. The shower is Odd, to say the least, but there's a deepness of character here that I haven't felt in a very long time.

More later if I'm awake.

- k.

Comments

I hear the theme to Rawhide playing in the distance

[wyldehunt.livejournal.com]

Riding herd on college students. Rididng herd on college students that may have never left the country... We call that work where I'm from. And you are somewhat/sort of on vacation. Still, if you can manage to avoid the Herd Leader's lack of leading and get stuff done, you should have a fun time.

Beowulf on a 6" screen is a very different beastie than IMAX where the 3D aspect gets used to great effect. Flat.... yeah, I'd have to agree. But it was free. Sort of.

Hope you have a good time. It will no doubt be educational, but fun is good too :)

[lumric.livejournal.com]

You said Horsechaser is going to MCLA and that's who this trip is with them? WHo's the professor? Wonder if I know them.

[kragore.livejournal.com]

Rosanne Denhard?

[adyan.livejournal.com]

I hope you two have a great trip! Take some pictures and say hi to the Queen for me.