So I’ve finally arrived in Lincoln, England, where Matt’s family lives. My sister took us to the airport Wednesday at noon and we just arrived here. It’s Friday at 10pm here. The Woodings parents picked us up from Gatwick yesterday and then we drove to Reims, France. I’d never been to France before so that was fun, if a little tiring. We drove from Gatwick Airport in London to the white cliffs of Dover. That was very pretty. The cliffs, not the drive I mean. I slept for most of the drive. It was really neat to see where invading armies from France landed. Now I know what it looks like from both sides of the armies, English and French– to imagine the English watch seeing the French ships showing up on the horizon, or the French troops seeing the white cliffs knowing they are about to land and fight.

We then got on a very large ferry to cross the English Channel from Dover to Calais, France. That was fun and I didn’t get seasick. Then I slept for most the ride from Calais to Reims, but I did get to see some of the French countryside and the miles upon miles of grape fields. They had no leaves or grapes, of course, because it was winter, but it was still impressive.

We stayed in a very small and pleasant French hotel which had a very old and very cool elevator. We walked to the cathedral in the town and then had a nice dinner and then Matt and I slept like the dead. The next morning we went to visit the Woodings’ friend Nickola Morley who runs the Morley Champagne house with the rest of his family. He showed us how champagne is made and the caves under the house where they store 300,000 bottles of champagne. I really enjoyed it. Then we had a wonderful lunch cooked by Madame Morley, bought lots of champagne and started the long journey from Reims, France to Lincoln, England. We left Reims at about 11am England time (noon French time) and arrived in England at 9pm England time.

Phew!! What a long journey from Austin, Texas! But I’m glad we went to France even though it was a very long and very tiring journey. Reims is beautiful and Nickola Morley and his mother are two wonderful people.

That’s all the travel news for now. I think I’m going to sleep for two days now. No more planes, boats or cars for me for awhile. I think I’ve had my fill.