2024 London to Reykjavik

  Flight out  on April 30th Start with Stay in London   May 1 - 4th  at      Portsmouth to Reykjavik Silver Endeavour - 14 Days May 4, 2024  Voyage EV240504014   May 4  Portsmouth, United Kingdom  10:00 PM May 5  Dartmouth, United Kingdom  8:00 AM to 7:00 PM May 6  St Peter Port, Guernsey  8:00 AM to 7:00 PM May 7  Tresco, United Kingdom  7:30 AM to 1:00 PM May 8  Port St Mary, Isle of Man, United Kingdom  8:00 AM to 8:00 PM May 9  Girvan, United Kingdom  6:30 AM to 8:00 PM May 10  Helensburgh, United Kingdom  5:30 AM to 7:30 PM May 11  Arduaine, Scotland, United Kingdom  5:30 AM to 12:30 PM May 11  Duart, United Kingdom  3:00 PM to 10:00 PM May 12  Lunga, United Kingdom  5:00 AM to 1:00 PM May 12  Iona, United Kingdom  2:30 PM to 9:00 PM May 13  Dunvegan, United Kingdom  9:00 AM to 4:00 PM May 14  St. Kilda, Unite...

  Limo pick us up at noon and we head to YYZ Bags were packed early and we got picked up early by our Blacklane driver.  Quick trip to YYZ.  No lines at all at check in or security so safely in the lounge awaiting our flight.and  Bob found the sweet cart and the bar so we are good. We might even squeeze in a glass of bubbly.  Flights on American Airlines Leaving from Toronto to Charlotte North Carolina at 4:15 pm. This flight was delayed to 5:10 so we did not have much time to make our flight connection in Charlotte, luckily we were at front of the plane and the next gate was only about 15 minutes away.   Luckily had been checked through so Bob was able to have a quick Beer and sing O Canada before the Leaf game started, we have not watched it yet but know they won, all due to the singing in the bar. Flight to London Heathrow was good, lots of room up front.    Had a few bevies and dinner and then a nap.  It was quite bumpy so not much sleep....

  We are staying at the  Royal Lancaster Hotel located on the north side of Hyde Park. Got to the hotel and was greeted by the doorman, he is now buds with us.  A huge group from a Viking cruise had filled the lobby as they were all checking in.  Our doorman walked over to a desk at the side with our luggage, we assumed we were just storing it and would check in later.  Of course he asked our name and then hearing England we were treated like royalty.  The staff thought that the England’s from Canada who had traveled all night needed their room immediately and checked us right through, minutes after arriving in our room our bags appeared.  All brought up by the doorman. This is our view We did a bit of unpacking, just what we need for London, and headed out.  Walked Hyde park over to the Mews and then had a quick lunch.    Off to the Palace store to get me tea, I will not be caught out again.  Then over to see if Chuck was free for ...

  After a wonderful buffet breakfast we checked in with our SilverSeas rep and got all our paperwork for the transfer to the ship in Saturday. This place is the hub for all cruises, Viking, Oceana and SilverSeas all here for the next few days. We are off on the tube to Camden market and who knows what else, might squeeze in a stop at M&S iff possible.  Got my walking shoes on so the world is my oyster (joke as subway card here called Oyster) Grey day but they say no rain until over night so fingers crossed. We got on the tube today and had a clear view of the day.  Well the subway gods had another idea.  As we got off on train to transfer the voice of god came over the speaker saying due to an emergency we were to evacuate the station NOW.  So up we went and when we got to the surface the station was surrounded by emergency vehicles.  So we started to walk to the next station down the line, it too was closed so we jumped on a bus. How have I missed Camd...

Today will always be known as “Well that was no trip to Cambridge!” This is what we learned today. 1.  My waterproof walking shoes are 100% waterproof Bob are 98% waterproof 2. Jeans soak up a lot of rainwater when you sit in a puddle (sub learn Oxfam stores are great) 3.  If you have to spend a day in Cambridge in the POURING RAIN you want to do it with Sue, Mandy and Liz with faithful KB in the lead. The weather said there was a chance of rain today so we headed off thinking the some light rain was not going to slow us down.  Bob and I headed to Kings Cross train station made famous for its platform 9 3/4.  Even at 9am there was a long line of people of all ages and costumes waiting to take pics and have a tour. 45 minutes later we arrived in Cambridge to be met at the station by our three friends.  A trip to London would not be complete without spending some time with them, this time we also had KB the trusted dog along for the trip.  Mandy drove  u...

  Bags are being picked up in the room at 5:45 am so early morning.  A nice buffet breakfast again, yes Josh I had a hard boiled egg for breakfast, I trick you told me to do.   We had a brief chat with some other SilverSeaers who are new to the expedition thing so good to know we are not alone.  Just having a quick clean up before we head down for the bus.  We will leave London around 9:30 am and be taken to the ship by bus, should arrive around 12.  Looks like a lovely sunny day so might be a pretty drive.   We then can have lunch and drinks on board while the other passengers arrive. Then off to the briefings, a pre-dinner drink and then dinner at the Grill as the ship sets off. The adventure continues. Sorry for the different font but such is life. We made it to the ship with only a slight traffic delay.  Who was the first on the ship.   Okay not us but almost us.  Like top 10.  Headed off to have lunch and a glass bubbly as we w...

Good news Bob did find his way back to the suite last night, no idea when but he was here when i awoke!   We awoke to the lovely sound of rain on the balcony.  But now the rain has stopped and the sun is doing his best to fight through the clouds. We are off to the trip described below, and yes we have on waterproof pants this time as there can never be another Cambridge! Weather says around 12 so layers are called for and yes the complementary jackets, without liners, will be worn.   ·          Dartmouth, United Kingdom I  i will say I had not idea what this  cruise would like, you all know I like to plan but…  today was not what I thought my life would be like for the next 14 days. But it was great and I look forward to the next. WWe headed out this morning in a light rain onto the zodiac boat for  a quick ride to the dock to catch our ferry.  What a great day and wonderful trip.  Yes it did ou...

GUERNSEY CLIFF WALK & CREAM   St Peter Port, Guernsey      This is our event for the day, only 20 in our morning group so that will be nice.  Cloudy but they say should not rain …     What did we learn today:       1. Guernsey is lovely and we wish we had more time here.        2.  I will not fall in the ocean doing zodiac trips back and forth to the ship, but I will feel like I might after a quick Vodka and soda in the local pub        3.   2 Canadians can whip the butts off of 7 Americans at trivia even after a few drinks.  Today after a zodiac ride to shore we boarded a bus to take us to our walk starting point.  The  Jerbourg Peninsula was where we started our 1 1/2 hour walk.  At every point we wanted to stop and look at the view.  So rugged and wild.  But as our guide said so much a part of everyday Guernsey life. In the summer her family would...

  EXOTIC TRESCO GARDENS Tresco, Isles of Scilly,  United Kingdom Tresco is best known for its Abbey Gardens, laid out by the remarkable Augustus Smith, a wealthy merchant banker who purchased the islands from the Duchy of Cornwall in the mid-1830s. Work on the gardens commenced in 1834 on the site of the old Benedictine Abbey.   What a lovely day.  We were in the first group to land so as per usual we tried to get away from the crowds.  The gardens are full of tiny pathways through lovely gardens of plants from all over the world.   It is also known for its population of red squirrels.  Bob was in charge of squirrel watch and I took pictures of flowers and trees. Our friend Ross S would have been in heaven with all of the different plantings and garden architecture . My pics do not do it justice.   Yes we did see the squirrels and they were cute.   A A half day at sea before arriving in the Isle of Man tomorrow morning for our big all da...

  ·          PORT ST MARY HIKE    Port St Mary, Isle of Man, United Kingdom       ·       Leaving the picturesque, historic fishing harbour at Port St Mary,  join a section of Raad ny Foillan (The Way of The Gull in Manx) coastal path.  Raad ny Foillan is 160 kms long and follows the stunning coastline around the Isle of Man. It's route via golden beaches, cliff top footpaths, woodland, farmland and Manx villages affords spectacular scenery and a variety of stunning landscapes. This was a 4 hour hike that was deemed Extreme so I was a bit worried, but I did fine and would have been at the head of the pack if I did not try to stop so many times to take picture which today was very hard since there was tons of fog.  No rain luckily but waves of fog that covered everything with a haze.  I kept thinking this would be a great place to host a murder mystery event, but alas no dead ...