2010 Journal – Chapter 12

The Ash Cloud of 2010 required several changes of plans during my travels. Around April 30, 2010 I thought I had a new schedule that was good to go, but in reality life had other plans and 19-year-old me got swept up in the romance of new meetings.

As a travel advisor ten years later, I am surprised at my ability then to plan an itinerary, and I have to laugh that this is what I am doing for a living now.

Revised Schdule due to Ash Cloud! (subject to change)

April 30, 2010 at 6:21 PM

Here is a listing of my rough plans from now until I leave on June 2nd. I may still change stuff around but this is the rough idea.

Sat. May 1st
EDINBURGH
Train to Stirling
Hostel/Hotel: (Stirling) Willy Wallace Hostel, 77 Murray Place, 01786 446 773 http://www.willywallacehostel.com/ (booked)

Sun. May 2nd
STIRLING
Sights: Doune Castle*
Hostel/Hotel: Willy Wallace Hostel, 77 Murray Place, 01786 446 773 http://www.willywallacehostel.com/ (booked)

Mon. May 3rd
STIRLING
Train to Inverness at 10:35am, platform:2 arrive about 1:30pm.
Sights: Leakey’s Second Hand Books, Loch Ness
Hostel/Hotel: (Inverness) Bazpackers Hostel, 4 Culduthel Road, 01463 717 663, www.bazpackershostel.co.uk (booked)

Tues. May 4th
INVERNESS
Train to Thurso in morning or afternoon: 10:38 train, arrive about 2:30pm; platform 1.
Walk to dock (about 2 miles) Ferry time: 19:00 arrive 20:30.
Hostel/Hotel: (Orkney Islands/Stromness) Brown’s Hostel 45-47 Victoria Street, Stromness, Scotland http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/guide/5,en,SCH1/objectId,ACC34774Svs,curr,GBP,season,at1,selectedEntry,home/home.html (booked)

Wed. May 5th
STROMNESS
Rent a bike for 6 pounds a day at Orkney Cycle in Stromness, 54 Dundas Street, 01856 850 255
Sights: NO plan day (Ancient Sights, Stromness Musuem)
Hostel/Hotel: (Orkney Islands/Stromness) Brown’s Hostel 45-47 Victoria Street, Stromness, Scotland http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/guide/5,en,SCH1/objectId,ACC34774Svs,curr,GBP,season,at1,selectedEntry,home/home.html (booked)

Thurs. May 6th
STROMNESS
Ferry at: 6:30am (arrive 8am) or 11am (arrive 12:30) to Scrabster then train to Glasgow at 8:41 (arrive 3:15pm)or 1:05 (arrive 8:15pm) at Glasgow Queen’s Street. (Details, Thurso: Platform 1. Inverness: leaves 12:47. Perth: platform 1 leaves at 3:14pm.
Hostel/Hotel: McLays Guest House, 264-276 Renfrew Street,Glasgow,Lanarkshire,Scotland G3 6TT; 00 44 141 3324796 ; Email: info@mclays.com http://www.mclays.com/ (booked)

Fri. May 7th
GLASGOW
Train to Windermere in the morning maybe afternoon., 10:40amchange trains in Oxenholme Lake District; arrive 12:47 Sights: Beatrix Potter House and Art Gallery*,
Hostel/Hotel: Windermere Manor Home, Rayrigg Road, Windermere , LA23 1ES, United Kingdom; +441539445801; windermere.manor@actionforblindpeople.org.uk (booked)

Sat. May 8th
WINDERMERE
Train to Liverpool in the morning, 10:49 platform 1. change in Preston platform 2 leaves at 12:04. Arrive in Liverpool Lime Street at 1:02pm.
Hostel/Hotel: (Liverpool) Embassie Backpackers, 1 Falkner Square, 0151 709 8135, www.embassie.com (booked)

Sun. May 9th
LIVERPOOL
Sights: Beatles Story etc.
Hostel/Hotel: (Liverpool) Embassie Backpackers, 1 Falkner Square, 0151 709 8135, www.embassie.com (Booked)

Mon. May 10th
LIVERPOOL
Train to Birmingham in the morning, 8:04 train platform 6, arrive at Birmingham new street at 9:47am. Take luggage to hostel and then train to Stratford-Upon-Avon from Birmingham Moor Street Station at 11:30am, arrive 12:21pm.
Sights: Shakespeare houses etc.
Hostel:Birmingham Central Backpackers,58 Coventry Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, West Midlands, England B5 5NH http://birminghamcentralbackpackers.com/ (booked)

Tues. May 11th
BIRMINGHAM
Train back to Stratford-Upon-Avon?
Gogol bordello show at “The Academy” in Birmingham.
Hostel: Hostel:Birmingham Central Backpackers,58 Coventry Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, West Midlands, England B5 5NH http://birminghamcentralbackpackers.com/ (booked)

Wed. May 12th
BIRMINGHAM
Take Train to Cardiff, Wales
Hostel/Hotel: River House Backpackers, 59 Fitzhamon Embankment, 02920 399 810, www.riverhousebackpackers.com

Thurs. May 13th
CARDIFF, WALES
Go to Abergavenny (Trains 40min. 1-2 per hour), 7:20 or 7:50am train. Back to Cardiff in evening at 5:20 (17:20).
Sights: National Coal Museum* (Take bus #X4 to Brynmawr transfer to bus #30 to Blaenovan)
Hostel/Hotel: River House Backpackers, 59 Fitzhamon Embankment, 02920 399 810, www.riverhousebackpackers.com

Fri. May 14th
CARDIFF, WALES
Train to Swansea in the afternoon 5:04 (17:04) then Ferry to Cork (Swansea-Cork Ferries 10hr. 39euros+) leaves at 21:00(8:00pm) arrives 7:00am (Sleeping on Ferry) http://www.directferries.co.uk/fastnet_line.htm or http://www.corkferries.co.uk/?SD=58160305418520100314183352

Sat. May 15th
CORK
Sights: Fitzgerald Park and Cork Public Museum, University College Cork
Hostel/Hotel: Sheila’s Budget Accommodation Centre, 4 Belgrave Place, 450 5562, www.sheilahostel.ie Intersection of Wellington Road and York Street

Sun. May 16th
CORK
Train to Dublin through Limerick (3hr. M-Sa 15 per day 5:15am-:30pm, Sunday 10 per day 8:30am-7:30pm; 55 Euros, Heuston Station)
Sights: Guinness Brewery
Hostel/Hotel: (Dublin) Barnacles Temple Bar House, 19 Temple Lane, 671 6277 http://www.barnacles.ie/

Mon. May 17th
DUBLIN
Sights: Trinity College/The Old Library/ Book of Kells, Grafton Street, The National Museum of Archeology and History*, Dublin Writer’s Museum*, Oscar Wilde Statue*(1 Merrion Square, close to St. Stephen’s Green northwest corner of the park across the street from Merrion Square),
Hostel/Hotel: Barnacles Temple Bar House, 19 Temple Lane, 671 6277 http://www.barnacles.ie/

Tues. May 18th
DUBLIN
DART to Dun Laoghaire (2Euros)
Sights: Seaviews etc.
Hostel/Hotel: Marina House, 7 Old Dunleary Road. 284 1524 http://www.marinahouse.com/
Wed. May 19th
DUN LAOGHAIRE
DART back to Dublin and then Bus to Londonderry
Hostel/Hotel: (Londonderry) Derry City Independent Hostel, 44 Great James Street, 7137 7989 or 7128 0280 derry-hostel.co.uk

Thurs. May 20th
LONDONDERRY
Sights: Museum of Free Derry*, City Walls, Workhouse Museum, Genealogy Centre*
Hostel/Hotel: Derry City Independent Hostel, 44 Great James Street, 7137 7989 or 7128 0280 derry-hostel.co.uk

Fri. May 21st
LONDONDERRY
Bus to Portrush (1hr. 9per day, 8Pounds) Then Bus to Giant’s Causeway (25min., Causeway Rambler)
Sights: Giant’s Causeway***
Hostel/Hotel: Derry City Independent Hostel, 44 Great James Street, 7137 7989 or 7128 0280 derry-hostel.co.uk

Sat. May 22nd
LONDONDERRY
Bus to Belfast in morning (1.5hr., 11 per day, 8.70Pounds)
Sights: Black Cab tour, Murals
Hostel/Hotel: (Belfast) Arnie’s Backpackers 63 Fitzwilliam St. 9024 2867, http://www.arniesbackpackers.co.uk/

Sun. May 23rd
BELFAST
Flight back to London, Via http://www.bookryanair.com/SkySales/FRSelect.aspx early morning I will have time to spend

Mon. May 24th
LONDON

Tues. May 25th
LONDON

Wed. May 26th
LONDON

Thurs. May 27th
LONDON

Fri. May 28th
LONDON

Sat. May 29th
Bus to Oxford?

Sun. May 30th
Meeting with Angie and Kristian

Mon. May 31st
Staying with Angie and Christian

Tues. June 1st
Staying with Angie and Christian

Wed. June 2nd
Flight home

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