Hello everyone. We have arrived in England! Our flights went very well with no problems. We had a little trouble with the rental car. The first one they wanted to give me was about the size of a VW Bug. As we had seven large duffle bags and five carry ons, this was in no way big enough. The second car they tried to give us, after we moved all our luggage way across the car lot, was about the size of Chris' car. Again, this was not going to be big enough. Finally, after we moved all our luggage to the opposite end of the car lot, we were given a car that, provided the girls didn't mind not sitting up straight worked.
After going around the airport twice, we finally made it onto the M25 headed for Portsmouth. Chris, misread the map, and took us off the M25 and put us on a route that was labled "high risk route". Picture it, me driving a car with the steering wheel on the opposite side of the car, driving on the opposite side of the road, on a high risk route. Oh yeah, don't forget that I had no sleep at all on the plane. I did pretty well if I do say so myself. I only got honked at three times and only hit the curb twice.
Anyway, we finally made it to Portsmouth, tired but relieved. We easily took the ferry to Ryde, and found our hotel room. We all were sleeping by 8:00 pm. The next two days were us getting the lay of the land and searching for rental properties. When we returned to our hotel on Friday evening, we discovered that the placement agency only booked the room for two nights. It was no longer available for us. Well, normally this would not be a problem, we could just get a room in a different hotel. Well, here it is the Bank Holiday. It would be like trying to get a room in Oshkosh during EAA. We found a cottage to stay friday evening and since then have been at the Undercliff Glen Caravan Park in St. Lawrence. It is very nice (like a RV) and we have a beautiful view of the English Channel. However, we have to do our own cooking, which is actually kind of nice and cheaper. However, the nearest bus stop is one mile away. So, we are getting a lot of walking done. I am enjoy the walking. However, it is very hilly here (picture San Francisco). Anyway, the entire isle is beautiful with a lot of different types of scenery to view.
Later today, we are going to look at some rental properties in Sandown and Ryde. Sorry Sara, Cowes is over an hour commute, so I won't be living there. Sandown is nice and I can get to Ryde easily by train.
Well, more later. We missed you all very much and would love to chat and share all the interesting things we have seen.
