My first flight took me from Glasgow to Amsterdam at 8.25am.
The second flight left Amsterdam, slightly late at 1.20pm. The flight lasted over 8 hours, and there was some turbulence, especially landing at Dulles. The aircraft was equipped with a nose camera, so we could watch the approach.....aye....right.
Now Amsterdam is 1 hour ahead of the UK.
And Washington is 5 hours behind the UK. So we landed at 8.25pm UK time, but only 3.25pm US time
We quickly disembarked onto one of the strange bus things that take you from the aircraft to the Terminal, and then onto a train.
Then came the worst part..getting through immigration. There was a huge queue. the kind with barriers that form little corridors that you walk up, then down..and up..and down. This went on for 3 hours before I got to stand in front of an officer.
If you have entered America, or Canada, you may have found, as I have, that these officers do not do small talk. It is all very terse and official.
"Why are you coming into America today Sir?"
"Where are you staying?"...and then.."Why would someone from Scotland be interested in the Civil War?"
I told him briefly. He looked at me, out down his pen and said, "My family come from the South. We do not talk about the Civil War.We call it the War of Northern Aggression."
He talked animatedly to me for a few moments, apologised for delaying me, and wished me well.
There was still one more checkpoint before I was able to leave the terminal to find the bus to the car rental area.
By now it was 7pm,local time, but to my body it was now midnight.I was tired and frustrated after the long wait at Immigration.
I had prepaid the car but there was still paperwork and all the extras to be declined. I then discovered that I would have to pay and aditional $75 if I wanted emergency cover while I had the car. I was flabbergasted, and declined.
Finally I left with my cases to pick a car from the line...any car in lot M.
I put my cases into the car I wanted. Started it, but the brakes were seized on.
I removed the cases to another car. Started it. The brakes were spongy and there was definite whooosh on applying the footbrake.
Cases out and into a 3rd car. The boot would not close. Cases out and into a 4th car. The driver's seat was too far back,but it could not be moved. I was close to tears now. I had a 2 hour journey still ahead of me to York in Pennsylvania.
Cases out and into the 5th car. Everything seemed to work. I set my sat navigation, and drove out. As I sped up, it began to sound like a washing machine in spin cycle. I was too tired to care. At the first junction, I got on the wrong road, and found myself on a toll road, approaching 3 booths. One said "Eaziepass Only" I had just refused one of these, saying I would not be using Toll roads. Second booth said," Exact Charge Only"
I had no change! Third booth said "Full Service". I stopped and explained my predicament. The chap kindly helped me, changed notes into coins, and then told me there was a further charge 10 miles on before I could exit the Toll Road. Deep joy!
Well, to cut a long story short, at 9.45pm, (2.45am Friday UK time ) I drove into my hotel car park.
I quickly checked in and found to my delight a ground floor room and the bar next door serving food...and a welcome beer...until 11pm.
I was not a pretty sight in the bar. But the waitress was pleasant and helpful.
By 11pm, I was in bed and fast asleep.
Tomorrow I would spend the day in Gettysburg, a 45 minute drive away along the Lincoln Highway!
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| My hotel room in York Pa |
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| morning view from my room |
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| Hotel and my rental car |
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| view across the car park |
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| hotel again |
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| car park |
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| My vehicle.. |
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