Thursday, July 29, 2004
Visit 2 - Day 3 - Warning, do not travel with Christopher Morton
Sorry for the delay in sending these out. Had to by CD-RW to burn these files and take it to Kinkos. No
where in London can I hook up my laptop.
So, I wake up at 3:30 Wednesday morning, knowing that I have to catch a 4:30 bus to make my 5:15 Manchester
to London train. Alarm goes off (I set it at some point the previous night, though I have no
recollection of doing so). Shower, shave, pack my bags (realize that somehow I can to England with only
one running shoe ? oops), and head out at 5:20. Walk part way, realize I left my confirmation number in my
room, run back to the room, grab the paper, run back to my bags, and then on to the bus stop. Its 430, its
raining, its dark (barely), and I am ready to go. The plan ? work on the train, figuring that 8500 words
cant take that long to write. Bus comes a little late (4:43), so I am a little worried about making my
train. That worry goes away when I get on board. The driver tells me the fare is 85p. I give him a ten
pound note. He yells at me: ?It 4:30 in the bloody morning and your giving me ten pound note!!!? Ah,
that?s all I have. ?Dumb American, do you think I want to count out coins all morning.? I guess he has
low job satisfaction. So, I slink to my seat, nine 1 pound coins in my hand (I think he had special
?sticky? coins, because they are all covered with gum and the like. We head on our way. Pick up and drop
off passengers. Arrive at the end of the line at 5:03. I have 12 minutes to walk the 10 minute walk,
get my tickets from the machine and make the train. I walk fast, get there at 5:11. It takes a few minutes
to get my tickets, I run to the train, literally stop in front of the door, and the whistle goes to take
off. I quick jump on! I made it. This is going to a good trip after all. Find my seat, and realize ? they
have no power ports. Oh well, I guess I will work til the machine dies, which it does about 1:30 later. At
that point, I have 3000 words written. Uneventful trip. Beautiful morning. Realize I am way
overdressed (75 in London today).
Manchester • Summer 2004 • (10) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
