Day 19 London to Home

Trip Start May 16, 2008
1
22
Trip End Jun 03, 2008


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Where I stayed
home!
(Kyleakin hotels)

Flag of United Kingdom  , Scotland,
Wednesday, June 4, 2008

I managed to get a few hours sleep, there was a bit of turbulence as we padded over the Eastern seaboard. Our route this time took us further south than previous in over the south of Ireland, Wales and straight into London. We arrived slightly ahead of schedule at 1245. Passengers were delayed coming off as a medical team came onboard to assist with an ill passenger down in Economy.
 
Up the dozens of moving stairs in T5 again, the queue at Immigration was non-existent and by the time we reached our bags they were already appearing on the carousel. Our bags appeared 10 minutes later, we went through Customs (there was no-one there) and up to the BA Arrivals Lounge. "we close in 30 minutes" we were told. Great, why bother having an Arrivals Lounge if you don't have time to use it - and what happens to anyone arriving later - tough?
 
Anyway, we dropped off our luggage and went for showers. I had read on Flyertalk about the crap design of the T5 showers and they were right. Low water pressure, a drain that sounds like it's a pig drowning and the lack of slope on the floor means the water goes out of the cubicle and all over the floor of the area you change in. They should at least supplies squeegees so you can push the water back towards the drain so you can change with dry feet.
 
We had time for 2 cups of coffee (all the food was already away) and it was 2 pm and time to get thrown out. We had intended waiting here till closer to time to move to Gatwick so I guess not.
 
We went downstairs and moved about some of the contents in the cases to try and even them out to about 20kg each. The weather in London was wet and cool, so Hoodies and jackets were required.
 
We got the National Express coach round to Gatwick Airport, the M25 was slow/stopped in places with rain. Still, got to Gatwick at 3 pm and went for food at the Wetherspoons pub. Fish n chips all round!
 
We checked in with FlyBe and the bags were 19.5kg and 21kg, they never complained about the extra 1kg, phew.
 
We had 2.5 hours to kill in Gatwick so just sat and read books whilst drinking some coffees and tins of Red Bull to hopefully keep me away a bit longer.
 
An uneventful 1.5 hours later and the plane landed at Inverness at 9.15 pm. The weather was a lot better, a good Highland sunset in progress. I collected the car from the Long Stay, packed up and headed home. On the way down Loch Ness the wearies were setting in with lots of big yawns. Just after turning off Loch Ness we encountered some deer on the road - just like being back in Yosemite! Part of the way back I had to admit defeat and Catriona drove the rest of the way while zonked out.
 
We arrived back home at 11.30 pm. Forget unpacking the car, do that tomorrow!
 
And we were home.
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