FIRST CLASS AIR!

The last weekend in August was Pete Lerro's Berkshire photo freight, and since I'd never seen the big Berks, I decided to go. A trip to the UK was also needed since I hadn't seen mother, who is 86, for some time. So I decided to use my air miles and go first class. Tucson to DFW and on to Detroit was on Super 80's, and I have to say that first class is considerably better than cattle class up at the back! Hot nuts, a hot breakfast, hot towels, attentive service, what an eye opener. I set off from Detroit in the rental car, and eventually stopped at a rest area to find out where Owosso had disappeared to. Turning round, I drove back the 45 miles I'd overshot the exit, and eventually found my way to the hotel. The event was quite entertaining, the big engines certainly put on an amazing show, especially the 765. Well worth doing. I flew from Detroit to Chicago on a regional jet, so no first class, and I had to surrender my camera bag, which is one of the reasons I avoid regional jets wherever possible, I've seen the way luggage gets treated. The camera of course come out of the bag! Chicago to Manchester was on the usual 767, but what a difference sitting up front makes. I could really get used to travelling in style. Except of course I can't afford to, but I still have a lot of miles left, so hopefully I can do it again. The ride home from Manchester to Chicago was on the same 767, then Chicago to DFW to Tucson was on Super 80's again. Manchester I was sent upstairs to BA's first class lounge. Free breakfast, the bar was open (9 am!), newspapers, magazines, TV, quiet. Very nice!

Since I seem to be incapable of going anywhere without getting a program out of it, and to indulge my new found passion for narrow gauge steam, I visited the Welshpool & Llanfair railway in Wales. I stayed in a pub, which was interesting, to say the least. My room was over the bar, which stayed open until about 2 am, the following two nights (I checked out early!) they hosted stag parties, the first night went on until 4 am, the second a Saturday night, went on until 5 am. The likelyhood of me staying in a pub again is small! The railway was a lot of fun, although access is a bit limited. I was given a cab ride on an 0-6-2 tank engine from Sierra Leone when the driver found out how far I'd come to see the railway. I've always liked the look of The Earl and The Countess, they were around when I was a kid, and I finally got to see them, they are even nicer in real life than they are in pictures.

I grew up in Rochdale, near Manchester, in England. Rochdale was a cotton town until everything went overseas, and the mills have either gone, or been converted to other uses. The town dates back to Roman times, there are remains of Roman roads in the hills behind the town, and it's mentioned in the Doomsday book. The town hall is pretty impressive, dominating the town center, and on the hill behind is the parish church, dating back to the 10th century. Mother still lives there, so I get to go and visit three or four times a year, see if she needs locking up yet!