An early start with Big Bertha cleaned out and suitcases packed. We had a two hour drive to return our temporary home on wheels to the place from which our journey began. It was mostly highway driving so not much to report though the countryside either side was it’s usual bright green with the odd patches of red poppy fields which I failed to get a picture of. Our return check list said we needed to top up our vans gas supply but several service stations later we were unable to find a LPG supply. We had come to the conclusion that we were going to pay at drop off.
Drop off went very smoothly. No issues from them and no doubt our reported issues of a fridge without a thermostat would be ignored… anyway, all in all, an easy process.
We attempted to book a taxi to Windsor and we attempted to book an Uber to Windsor, neither service was taking up our reservation so back to the trains we went with slughtly enlarged luggage in tow. We navigated 3 trains and all the walking in between like tired travellers and hoped the taxi/uber options in Windsor were more available and indeed they were waiting right outside the station.
A short ride to our pub accommodation, The Windsor Trooper (I mean, we have had the most epic pub tour, so seemed right we should stay in one!) and we had arrived to our beds for our final night in the UK. After being shown to our rooms, we reconvened in the bar for a cold drink before heading off on our final castle tour of the journey – Windsor Castle.
Windsor Castle is the most expensive spend on a castle tour $60AUD each so we were all a little nervous as to what we might see for our money as the only other British Castle we had been through was Kensington and in comparison to what we have seen in Scotland, it was a little lack lustre. Luckily Windsor was much much much more grand and impressive.
The tour was for both Windsor Castle and St George’s Chapel. No photos could be taken inside either except of the exteriors. Needless to say, we were all in awww and a little astounded by the grandeur on display. The Chapel is, if course where Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, parents and sister are buried and you are filed past the chapel/crypt that was commissioned by her father for himself, his wife, his successor and her husband. Interestingly Princess Margaret ashes are in this crypt but it was not planned that way and she is the only member of the royal family to be cremated. She chose to do this as she was divorced and did not want to be buried alone. Being cremated was the only way she would fit.
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. You can walk through staterooms, grand reception rooms, a bedroom, dressing room and more. The wealth dripping from these rooms from the chandeliers to the gold tableware to the gem encrusted swords is a little sickening to be honest. Not more than 100m away there were homeless people sleeping or begging. Not everywhere and not many, but the contrast in such a short space is something that seems unfathomable. Regardless of this feeling of them and us, the set out of this castle and the openness of the displays is well worth the entry fee especially considering this is an occupied castle with 200 + people living and working there. As far as our tour of castles are concerned, this was a good one to end on.
After our tour, we headed back to our accommodation for a drink and a nibbles before determining we would try somewhere else for dinner and ended up in a Turkish restaurant feasting again. We are definitely all going on diets when we get home! Of to bed for our last sleep in the UK.
Our final day in the UK was spent in the midst of a record heatwave so we did what we could to pass the time without overheating because we did not pack for heat! First we found our last English breakfast (read previous note above about soon to be on a diet!), then we wondered down to the river in search of shade and a cool breeze. Soon enough our prearranged massage time had arrived. That killed another hour and then Wayne decided to try cut throat traditional shave, which was all very fancy, a quick bite to eat and we were back to the Trooper to collect our luggage and await our back cab pick up to the airport.
The UK adventure was over and we were all totally and utterly satisfied with the journey. We were all also very much looking forward to getting home.
Final Tip – choose your travel buddies well. Make sure you are all on the same page, all know your role (the planner, the navigator, the cross checker, the entertainer) and most importantly enjoy each other’s company in all circumstances. I am very blessed and grateful for our travel buddies, we have had a blast and not one moment was there tension, disagreement or difficulty. Love them endlessly 💗
My Happy Travels 