Day 121, 2 November 2012 - Dublin - Taxi to ferry port - Ferry across the Irish Sea to Holyhead, Wales, Train from Holyhead to Chester. (Another) train - Chester to London Euston Station. Out the door, round the corner, down to Euston Square tube station - tube ride to Liverpool Street Station - Greater Anglia train to Chelmsford! - 7.30 am to 5 pm.
Obviously it was Travel Day! The Irish Sea was exhibiting "adverse conditions". That's captain speak for rough as guts. Fortunately I was drugged to the eyeballs and snoozed for most of the trip - quite rudely woken by someone rushing for the bathroom. It was a shame we couldn't spend some time in Wales, but we'll probably be back. The train took us through some amazing little villages including the one pictured - that's right
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanfairpwllgwyngyll) - The longest place name in the United Kingdom. We were travelling along the coast of North Wales and saw amazing wind farms right out and sea. The trains were on time, the transfers were smooth and it was a thrill when we reached Euston and ventured out into London air for the first time - and saw our first red double decker - cool! We made it onto the next train and through the English countryside until we made it to Essex and the town of Chelmsford - just 30 minutes from London. It was wonderful to catch up with one of my longest standing friends in the world after 10 years or more apart - she was in fact out with me in Wellington the night James and I met (18 years ago!). Lots of catching up to do! Off to Cambridge tomorrow - thatched roofs here we come. PS - the night crackled with fireworks exploding out of back yards and in the fields. Guy Fawkes night is coming and if tonight was any example it will be explosive in the extreme.