TUESDAY 5th JUNE 2012

RETURNING THE CAR

Got an early start this morning, both Den and I a little nervous of what the traffic maybe like in London on the last day of the four day holiday!
We were on the road a little after 9am and hit the M4 motorway, covering the sixty odd miles into London very quickly and by 10.15am, with absolutely no traffic problems, we were at the Hertz depot in Marble Arch!
Returned the car with no worries and caught a cab to the Ibis Earls Court where we were very lucky to find our rooms ready for us!
Taz came over and we had a walk to the shops to get some bits and pieces and then we decided to head into the city to see the Royal flyover. The crowds were immense, but we found a spot on the Millennium Bridge, and in pouring rain watched the brief, but exiting fly past! From there we found the Walkabout Pub and had a REAL beer for the first time in nearly three weeks!!! Great spot there, full of traveling Aussies.
Got all the details of our Trafalgar Tour back at the hotel and realizing we had a very early start (5am wake up call) we had an early night!
So that completes the first part of our trip! We have covered nearly 3,500 kilometres in the last sixteen days and have seen a large part of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The driving was very easy, made so by the impressive GPS in the Audi and the car was very comfy and extremely economical. We paid on average about one pound forty per litre for our diesel (which was noticeably cheaper than petrol - bit different to WA) and used about half what we expected!
The scenery was simply stunning - the farmland and natural countryside were exactly as I thought it would be - and the little towns and villages have just so much character! Ireland was very similar and we loved the laid back attitude to driving and parking - just so Irish!
Tomorrow the next leg of the journey begins - it'll be great to have someone to drive and to organize everything for us!