Day 147 - A Long Journey

Today was always going to be a long day. We left the house just after 8 and battled with the normal Monday traffic. The car’s sat nav was so insistent that the M25 between junctions 9 and 8 was dire and that we should avoid it entirely, that we did as we were told. Instead, we meandered through Byfleet and Weybridge before joining the motorway was orange. Who knows whether we did the right thing? -  but we got there on time.

Remember the days when Heathrow Terminal 5 was a byword for chaos and confusion? Those time are long gone now: we sailed through check-n, security and then the lounge. Having boarded our flight early we had every reason to be optimistic for a swift departure. Unfortunately, there were climate change protesters on the run way so that was not to be. Eventually, we left.

The plane was an A380, the one with two decks, and despite that was full: why does everyone else want to go to Washington DC on a Monday morning?  The 8-hour flight passed quickly enough, fuelled by lots of in-flight entertainment and one of the new BA specially-ordered meals (good value!).  Immigration and customs were a breeze and we were soon on our way in our rather scruffy Buick Regale.

Our destination today was Virginia Beach, some 3h55mins away according to the maps. In fact it took us an hour or more longer because of the very traffic exiting DC.  This must be a regular feature as an enormous complex of extra toll lanes has gone live since our last visit. At one point we bit the bullet and enjoyed serenely passing the stationary traffic to our right.

We arrived at the Taylors in good time and had a great evening of catching up, pizzas, beer and learning all about the complexities of the choices offered by the latest Lego catalogue from Jackson. And we met Sadie too: a cute little Chorkie (a cross between a Chihuahua and a Yorkshire Terrier!).