Our escape vehicle, a brand-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, jetted out of Austin on a partly cloudy late afternoon, zooming north and east. Remarkable were the individual touch screens on all seat backs, which offered games, menus, flight path maps, and views out left and right windows as well as the cockpit. Passengers could read our air speed, altitude, compass bearing, distance covered, and remaining time.
We toasted our 13th anniversary with sparkling white wine and Spitzberger beer. Dinner came in the form of baked chicken breast, roasted potatoes, peas, carrots, cukes, and more beer. Lina played solitaire while I watched Goodbye Christopher Robin and Three Billboards. The long night’s journey into dawn set us down at Gatwick.
Spread out but uncrowded, London’s smaller airport welcomed us through border check-in, currency exchange, and bus ticket purchase. While awaiting our ground transport, I noshed a couple bagels with ham and cheese that the airline had supplied. Soon we were off on a National bus, which came with seat belts, a forward viewing screen, and wifi. In a little more than 70 minutes, we’d got to Heathrow for a two-hour layover. There I practiced using my ultra-portable work station, comprised of a USB keyboard, hub, and mouse with my Pixel 2 mobile phone.
Back aboard a bus, we continued north and west to Banbury, where awaited the loverly Louisa, our hostess and bride-to-be. She drove us to Brailes and ushered us into her warm and welcoming residence, Old Park Cottage. Greeting us there also was Jonathan, the jovial future husband. After settling in came the much-anticipated trip to the Gate, a lively village pub. Lina enjoyed a cider while yours truly quaffed an Old Hook Norton ale. Much merriment ensued, especially in conversation with fellow geographer Roger, who filled me in on the meaning and origins of English place names.
Home again for a fab and filling feast, we then crashed, bringing the close of a busy day.