I left St Catharines about noon, and arrived at Buffalo Airport about 1.15pm (having crossed the border back into the USA at Peace Bridge with no delay).
After saying farewell to Pat and Aggie, I headed into the airport, only to see the sign that everyone dreads -'Delayed'. Buffalo isn't a large airport, so I spent most of the next 4 hours sitting in one of the cafes.
We should have left at 4.45pm, but didn't start boarding until about 6.15pm. The problem, they said, was that there had been storms in New Jersey that morning, so planes had been delayed, and we had to wait for Air Traffic Control clearance before we could leave Buffalo. We eventually left at 6.40pm and arrived at Newark about 7.45pm, and I got the shuttle bus to Howard Johnson's where I stayed overnight.
Up early the next day, because I had to take a taxi to Newark Penn Station. Originally I was going to catch the train at the airport station, but (inconveniently) they decided to close that from May until July! Despite it being rush hour, I reached the station with plenty of time to spare, and even found a redcap to help me with my bags. During our chat as we waited for my train, I did have to tell him that Britain is an island, not a peninsula (as he thought), and yes, we do have beaches in Britain!
I caught the 10.20 train, and had a good view of Manhattan once we came out of the tunnel under the city.
Then we travelled along the coast of Connecticut, passing through Stanford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London. This photo was taken at one of those places, but I can't remember which one.
I arrived at Kingston, Rhode Island, about 2.30, and my friends were there to meet me - and to take a photo of me as I stepped off the train!
Then it was back to their home at Portsmouth, RI - where we had a tradition to uphold. Back in 1978, on my very first visit to the USA, I had my very first lobster - and so, 36 years later, it was time for another lobster. These are the 'then and now' photos of Barbara and me, and the lobsters!
What a lovely tradition--and it's so nice to see the before and after picture.
ReplyDeleteWe should really have posed in same positions!
DeleteI love that train ride. Whenever we go to NYC (and occasionally Philly or Baltimore) we take Amtrak. Very relaxing, especially compared with hanging around in an airport for hours.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it, too, Elaine. Loved seeing all the different places along the coast.
DeleteI would love to take that trip! Never been to Rhode Island.
ReplyDeleteAnother note to self...
I loved Rhode Island - and could understand why it's part of 'New England' as some parts are definitely reminiscent of 'old' England!
ReplyDelete