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Published: June 10th 2018
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At 11pm on Friday night we were checking all our arrangements for the epic trip the next day from the south of France to Glasgow, Scotland. We had already done all our research before we booked the three train trips to make sure it was feasible, and we planned to take the RER train to get across Paris between the TGV and Eurostar. We put the trip into the app, and it said 'cancelled', for all RER trains on that line. What?! What would we do?
We were thankful that our TGV was still running, because the French trains are on strike two out of every five days and our date was not one of the strike days. But suddenly the transfer looked tight, as we well remember how daunting the major Paris stations are - each station is like a small town! My favourite train info site has always been the Man in Seat 61, and he said that he does that transfer by taxi (we know the queues can be long and unpredictable) but it can be pre booked in English - that sounded like the best option. But I was wide awake by then and lay awake
for a long time when I should have been getting sleep for the big trip. You can plan in detail but there are always curved balls.
We were up before our alarm - both nervous. We had talked on video to our Life Group back in Australia yesterday, and asked them to pray for our big day, and we could only do our best - but the stakes were a bit high for comfort! We had packed up the house after three weeks of relaxing, made our Vegemite and French cheese sandwiches, given our leftover food to Sami and Gabi and had yet more triple kissing from them, somehow closed the cases with the portable studio in Peter’s case and all the presents in mine, and set off on the last drive on the right hand side of the road to Avignon.
At least the first stage was in our control and we allowed heaps of time. It seemed like a life time since Peter drove the manual Yaris into the traffic and we started our adventure in Provence. We took no wrong turns and thanked the Lord that we returned the car without a scratch - good
job Peter! Half way to Paris on the TGV on a glorious sunny day (yes, now we are leaving!) we booked the taxi, had something to eat, went to the bathroom and did everything to save time when we arrived. Gare de Lyon is said to be the busiest station in the world, if you include the local lines, and it is an incredible place. No time to wonder at it - we found our way out through the crowds and found our taxi, right on time (they will only wait 5 minutes) and began stage 3. We just ticked off each stage with relief.
So in the end it wasn’t too difficult, apart from a speedy 500m walk down the platform to find our carriage, but the Eurostar was leaving late, so we lost our leeway again! Passports, border control body scanning - we were entering the UK and in a total sweat. Top speed of 334kph and a tunnel of 54km under the Channel, it is an amazing ride. So strange to see traffic on the freeway looking as though it is going backwards! As we got close to London, Peter started to get the cases down
the stairs to the door and we were first off the train and on the move.
We had 45 minutes to get the Glasgow train and walking seemed the best option. Peter rolled both cases on the rough cobbles checking the map - no time for mistakes because a few minutes in the wrong direction and we would miss the train. Then there were steps at the entrance at Euston Station, so Peter lugged one case up and a kind (little bit younger) man offered to bring up the other one. So many kindnesses all day! Into the information hall and we knew we were OK.
That was when I saw Anji through the crowd - no way! Our friendship goes back to Dingley days, and her husband, Ash, had a special relationship with my brother Ross. They live and minister in Birmingham these days, and Anji was going home from speaking in London. How special! Just a few minutes with an Aussie friend was a pick-me-up in a long day. Then a dash to Platform 13 and another hike to our carriage.
We fell onto the Virgin Rail train to Glasgow, knowing that we were almost
through the tricky parts. Just 4.5 hours to cool down and doze and we would be there. The second class seats are tight, and we were jammed in at a foursome table with our legs entangled with two guys opposite us. We saw a Kiwi rugby jumper on one, and conversation began and so passed a pleasant hour or so with Fergus from north NZ, and an Indian anaesthetist who had been to London to visit his son, also doing medicine. He is not at all happy with the NHS and said a lot of colleagues had gone to Australia.
Fatigue took over and post adrenalin relief, and we all dozed and eventually spread out for more room as the train emptied the further north we went. Stops at Lancaster, Penrith, Carlisle and other names we recognised and the beautiful Lakes district vistas shone in the setting sun. Some rain and a rainbow added to the views and sheep, cows and more sheep all the way. I was too tired to read or write my blog like I often do when we travel, I just sat and savoured the long peaceful twilight in beautiful rural Scotland and realised I
had already moved on from France and that we would enjoy this place.
Eventually the train rolled into Glasgow Central and we were grateful that we booked a hotel near the station. Even then, it was a steep uphill haul to Point A Hotel. As we staggered in the door and checked in I saw a poster at reception showing their ‘power showers’ - that looked excellent, and it was. I noticed with wry amusement that we had been allocated a room with a bathroom equipped for the disabled, with a full seat and rails in the shower and extra space in the room. Not sure why, unless they saw our ages on the registration! Anyway, it is rather nice and safe and plenty of room for our cases. Like many modern hotels, it has no cupboard space, but plenty of mood lighting!
The night was not quite over. We had three boiled eggs and some crackers left for dinner after grazing all day, but with my high exertion levels and a little stress my blood sugar was low and I knew I would not be stable until breakfast. I couldn’t face any more wafers and roasted almonds
and they would not be enough anyway! So my dear husband went to reception for advice and came back with fish and chips from around the corner - they weren’t great but we had a midnight feast in bed and then were out for the count. It was still light at 11pm, and was light by 4am - we are a long way north now.
Two thousand kilometres on the ground and 5km of walking between trains, with a suitcase and two small pieces each - done! Now for the bagpipes...
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Wow!
What a massive day! Crossing cultures & languages & some of the busiest stations in the world... phew! Au revoir France... hello Scotland. Glad you arrived safe. I’m enjoying following along through your blog & photos! Xxx