Royal Air Force Museum in Colindale England

 

This was the tower and main building on the base

We are enjoying our two week stay in England. We started out with 4 days in Bologna visiting some friends doing a Fulbright visit there. Next we spent 4 days in Cambridge University where Lulu did a presentation about teaching in China. After that we took a fan bus trip to see a soccer game - in Wrexham Wales - where Lulu's team plays. It was a 4 hours bus ride there - then 4 hours back. We had great game seats right by the goal. Now we have a week in London just paling around.

Today we were at the Royal Air Force Museum about 6 miles north of our hotel. Hendon Field during the war housed fighter planes that defended London against the Nazis. The city has grown up around it - and it now is a museum with a wonderful collection of planes. It is free. Most of the buildings are still intact. 

Normally it is an easy subway ride - but the Northern line is closed until Friday. So we took a bus - which had 33 stops and took forever. We had the museum to ourselves. On the way home we booked an uber electric cab. It was very quiet and nice - and only 20 pounds. We got back much quicker too. The driver has 21,000 rides and a 4.97 rating. 

There are 8 different buildings displaying different aircraft from different eras. 

During the war - when the Nazis first attacked England - they were on their own. It looked bleak as they were bombed for 70 days. But they held up. Later after the USA was attacked by Japan - we did join the war and help France and England. Prime Minister Churchill said - this was their finest hour. 

England does pay homage to the Americans and their wonderful planes that helped win the war. 

This hangar is the first thing you see from the road

This Hurricane fighter is also out front

These hangars are filled with planes

Torpedoes on a Sunderland bomber

You could buy authentic flyer jackets

This Model T Ford started planes by twisting the prop

This was part of a gondola that hung from a dirigible

Campaign cars

Hurricane Fighter

A Taylor spotting plane

American P-40 Flying Tiger

German Messerschmidt that attacked London

German Herman Goering said this

The Lancaster Bomber

Churchill was the cheerleader

Ambulance Truck

Ford Jeep

American B-17 Bomber

Under the cover - the first German jet

The American P-51 with Merlin Rolls Royce engine

German Komet - the first rocket plane.
It was fast but only had 7 minutes of fuel

The Standard - a campaign car

Monument to American 8th Air Force

Japanese Baka Bomb - suicide plane with 
2000 pounds of TnT in it

World War I trainer

WWI Sopwith fighter

Quonset hut - men lived there

New Zealand plane

Old airplane hangar

Administration

Modern Harrier Jet could take off vertical

No Longer a Covid Virgin

 

Harry getting Covid shot 7 at Target 

I am no longer a Covid virgin. During our 5 week trip to Europe this summer - we started out on a cruise to Norway on the Queen Mary 2. After the cruise we flew directly from Southampton England to Paris for the Olympics. 

On the first morning in Paris - I woke up with a sore throat. Lulu brought covid tests along and gave me one right away. The test strip said I was not pregnant - but I had covid! Immediately my son got a video appointment on line with his doctor. I had no other symptoms - no fever - no headache - no muscle or joint aches - no nausea. Just a mild sore throat. I asked the doctor for Pavlovid - the covid medicine. The doctor said since I had 6 covid shots - my experience would probably be mild - and he was right. He told me to isolate until I tested negative. Lulu served me meals in my room - I said there with the windows wide open. I was able to be on the internet and watch TV. 4 days later - I tested negative. I never had anything but a mild sore throat. I used a great throat spray called Propolis. It is basically just bee's glue. 

After all the years of worry about Covid killing old people - it was let down - but a good let down. I was cured in time for the Opening Day of the Olympics. Luckily I did not give Covid to the Everhart 6. 

I did have writer's block - and stopped writing for a bit. I don't know why. 

Back home in Tallahassee - I went to Target to get Covid shot 7 - and also a flu shot. 

Day 12 of 35 - Saturday - At Sea All Day Sailing to England

 

July 20 - 2024

Saturday we spent all day at sea on the way home to Southampton - England. We had our best weather of the trip - sunny and up to 71. I would like to talk about how much this ship is different from today's "Cruise Ships."

The Queen Mary 2 - is the last great ocean liner. It was designed to go from New York to England. Our friends Ben and Mel really loved their early anniversary trip in 2007 on this ship. The ship was new then - designed to look like a tradition ocean liner. The furnishings are all top quality and follow the Art Deco motif. These is lots of wood - even the outside decks are wood. Rooms are larger - bathrooms are more complete. In 2016 - the ship was completely refurbished. 

I round stuff off - but the Queen Mary 2 is longer than the Titanic - 1100 feet. It has 157,000 horsepower from 4 electric motors. The electricity is produced by giant diesel and gas turbine generators. The motors can be spun 360 degrees - no longer do you need tugboats to move you around. 

I never asked how many people were aboard. I am slipping. We bought the trip thru Costco - $1800 a person for a week. We got an upgraded cabin with a balcony. We then got a $300 gift card from Costco. We did buy trip insurance. We could have sailed for much less. 

The food and service were excellent. The whole ship - stem to stern - was spotless. There were even painters touching up. Weather and salt water are tough on paint. 

The guests were old. Very few kids. There were some minor things for kids to do - play games - pickle ball - watch movies - see the shows. All shows were G rated. People were dressed nicely - this was not a booze cruise. I would have been happy running the wheel chair and cane concessions. there were plenty of musical acts and dancing. 

The ship started in NYC. It took a week to get to England. Then we joined on our cruise to Norway which was a week. Now as I type it is on the way back to the USA. Many of the guests were on the trip all 3 weeks. I do not think I would like spending 7 days straight on the ship. If I had to it would be fine - but when you are 76 - you are trying to fit as much into life as you can. I can think of many other things to do. 

I ran around the ship and just took snapshots. Here they are -