This morning found us at the Novotel T1-3, which is close to LHR terminals 2 and 3. After a good nights sleep, we headed down to the lobby, checking out the arrangements for breakfast. Sitting on a lobby table were multiple identical brown bags, each of which contained:
- Container with cornflakes
- Container with a veggy sausage and scrambled egg
- Brown roll, butter and jam/marmalade
- Individual portion of cheese
- Utensils and napkin
In addition, they had tea, coffee, milk and juices. Just grab a bag, tea/coffee and milk, and return to the room. They also had a microwave available to warm up the sausage and egg. All in all, not a bad brown bag breakfast.
The Toronto flight departed at 12:05, so the others were picked up from the hotel at 09:15, so Judi & I headed down to say our goodbyes. We did capture a final photo, but unfortunately, we didn’t have a camera or laptop, so didn’t get a copy. At 11:00 we returned to the lobby, for our 11:15 pick-up. Cruise Consultant Charaine was flying to New Zealand from T4, so we brought her with us, convincing the van driver to head to T4, after dropping us off.
AC B-787 Dreamliner
Arriving at T2, we were met by the same chap who escorted us through T5 yesterday. Wow, the new T2 is a vast improvement over the original terminal built in the mid-1950’s. Opened in 2014, it is named the Queen’s Terminal. We were escorted through check-in, security and then the extensive hike to to the furthest gate in the “B” zone. Kudo to Viking for providing such excellent service.
As we reached our gate, the Toronto flight was pushing back from their gate, right on time. We read Kindles at the gate, until boarding our B787-900 commenced, about 50 mins before scheduled departure. We were fully loaded and pushing back about 5 mins early. With only 1 or 2 flights per hour, we taxied directly to the end of the runway, being wheels up about 6 min after our scheduled departure time. LHR is often up to an hour between push back and wheels up.
Photo courtesy of “Travel with Grant”
The Air Canada flight was OK, we like the Business seat layout better than BA, but we find the BA seats more comfortable, especially when the A-380 flies to YVR during the summer. Since these are exceptional times and full service is curtailed, I am only providing brief notes, not my usual in depth flight review.
Similar to yesterday, the only drinks served were bottles of water, with snacks provided about 1/2 hr after take-off and again about 1 hr before arrival. Between those snacks, all we received was water.
- Snack # 1:
- Corn and lima bean salad, with a little lettuce & dressing
- Quinoa and chick pea mixture
- Brown roll
- Chocolate cake
- Snack # 2:
- Bag of apple slices
- Granola bar
- Banana bread
- Roll
- Cheese
While not the usual standard of catering, the snacks were fresh and edible, keeping the hunger pangs at bay.
On arrival YVR, we had multiple levels of Government checks to go through, prior to entering the arrivals hall:
- Health Canada – they set up office on the overhead walkways, with about 8 agents, shortly after departing the aircraft. Each individual or family group received an individual meeting with a single agent, ensuring each agent was > 6′ apart. We submitted the form we received on board the aircraft and then discussed quarantine arrangements and any assistance we required.
- Customs & immigration – normal YVR process
- Health BC – effective 10th April 2020, British Columbia requires all returning residents to submit a quarantine plan. We submitted the form online and developed a written plan, which we provided. Once reviewed and approved, we departed the airport.
Outside at passenger pick-up, our son and DIL brought 2 vehicles, leaving 1 of them for us to load and drive home. Once home, we started our 2-week quarantine period, but received a welcome sight. We can’t get hugs for 2 weeks, but the sign is safely attached to a bulkhead.
After our round the world flights and Visa points, we had over 500,000 BA avios points, so we decided to splurge. As a once in a lifetime opportunity, we booked First Class tickets on the outbound flight back in April and our return in September.
Shortly after docking at London Cruise Terminal, we disembarked MV Columbus, on completion of our 12-day Baltic Cruise. In-bound to the Thames, as soon as we got mobile (cell) service I called 
The Tower of London houses the Crown Jewels, so one assumes it is a secure facility, with the gates locked at night.
On our 2nd day in London, we had tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys, at the Tower, in the evening. Judi opted for a quiet day, while I visited some of the locations around our hotel.
In mid-September, our extended 5-month UK trip was coming to a close, as we departed Strathkinness for the final time, bound for London. A one-way trip to London normally has many options – flying, driving or train. However with over 200lbs of baggage, flying wasn’t an option and having driven over 7,000 miles, in the past few months, I didn’t need more practice on the left side of the road. This left the train, so we booked seats on Virgin East Coast from Leuchars to London Kings Cross.
My grandfather had season tickets at Ibrox, as did my dad for many years, so little wonder, I am a “Died in the Wool” bluenose. I may have spent almost 40 years in Canada, but I still follow Rangers F.C. Although I can’t get to the matches every week, I still keep abreast of news, follow the scores and watch matches on the telly.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of performances, comprising the UK Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands, a Tattoo dance company and various artistic performers. It is held during August, rain or shine, at the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
Judi and I returned to the St Andrews area at the end of August, spending another 2 weeks with my dad, before heading down to London for our Baltic Cruise.
Andy & Judi's Worldwide Travels 