10 /20 20 England

                So we start our adventure with the usual anxiety, worry and trepidation. Both Wendy and I  were not sure if we are making the right choice. Wendy in  particular getting cold feet about being away this long and talking about making it shorter which would involve a lot of replanning and too much to do. I worked for a few hours and then come home. We have lyft picking up at 3:00 for 7:00 flight. The Lyft driver gets here and  I tell him not to take the route through Red Bank but the route through Newman springs. However that route turns out to be terrible as the  traffic is terrible and  at the rt 35 intersection  is backed up all the ways from the parkway. There was an accident in the parkway ramp so it's  backed up for miles. Google  reroutes  us to Hope road which we eventually get to and get to where we would have been about 30 minutes later than we originally would have. We get to the airport at 5:00 and we figure it's just enough time. It turns out is more than enough time as we are pre TSA. 
        Originally  United had said we were not ,so we thought we were going to have to deal with security. We get through checking in and  security in about a half hour. We board the plane on time. The flight is the usual misery. We do have a little bit extra legroom ,though this is still anything but comfortable. Both of us get it only a few hours sleep- at best what would be a good nap. We get to Heathrow and get thru security fairly quickly. We  find our way to the bus to the rental and  get it just as it's about to leave. We get to the rental and get our car. Takes a few minutes of learning  how to drive it and a few close calls ,as I keep forgetting to look to the right as cars come up from that side.
         After a bit of trial and error We actually make it to Hampton Court. It's early and we can't park there so we go across the bridge and find a parking lot. We then walk over to a street where theres  restaurants with a fair amount of people ,so we sit down. At first no one is serving us and we are about to walk out what Wendy talks to the cashier who we  order food from. We have breakfast I get a breakfast sandwich. 
       We then walk across the bridge to Hampton Court. Hampton Court is great. I feel completely as if I'm going through as a courtier in Henry VIII chambers. It's a fascinating glimpse of history. We listen to one lecture on painting. We go to both Henrys rooms and  the  kitchens which are  pretty cool. We then  go to the Georgian side and to Williams Palace. All in all ,it is a excellent site.
       I then drive to the hotel. It is somewhat harrowing. We're trying to use the GPS and the Google maps and at times it's clear and  at times it's unclear and I make wrong turns and have to turn around which is a pain. It is also somewhat difficult trying to stay till left all the time as I am so much oriented the other way and I keep hitting the curb and things of that nature.
       We finally get to the hotel which is very pleasant we have a nice room with a view it's at the top of  Richmond Hill and the view is excellent. We walk to Richmond, which  it's very nice walk and we really enjoy the town. We walk back on the Thames path and are just really enjoying the whole nature of the place. We go up the big slope which is somewhat arduous
For dinner we go locally to Roebuck which is a  a nice pub .It takes a little bit to figure out how to order We realize after watching people that you had to go to the bar to order. I have two IPAs which are very nice and refreshing and a steak and ale pie -it's all very good : an  over all excellent day
I slept okay,. Though I was first falling asleep when Daniel called. It was around 9:00 as I was tired. I then fell back to sleep 

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