At Sea 3: On Queen Elizabeth 2

The tandem crossing of two Queens

In April 2004, Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2 made a historic transatlantic tandem crossing from Manhattan to Southampton. As they crossed the Atlantic, the sailing patterns changed. Each ship was always in sight of the other. From QE2 we could see the other ship on the port side and later on the starboard side. At times one would lead the way, and then the other. It was QE2’s final voyage as the flagship of the Cunard Line. At the end of the journey QM2 became the flagship and QE2 was being eased into retirement.

Notes from my journal (April 25, 2004):

“At 7:30 we saw QM2 pull out – beautiful sight with all the lights and background with helicopters and police boats and coast guard boats (and fire boats shooting plumes of red, white and blue water into the air) – it looked so huge! QE2 pulled out at 7:45. Lovely fireworks at the Statue of Liberty at 9:00. Complimentary champagne for all.”

At Sea 2: On the Suilven

Our trip to the Hebrides 1980

On board the car-ferry from Ullapool to the Hebrides. Drove through Stornaway, Callanish (the Scots Stonehenge) and Tarbert as we crossed the islands of Lewis and Harris. Glad to have gotten used to driving on the "wrong side" of the road when we'd driven to Urqhart Castle on Loch Ness a few days earlier. Had also become used to going around sheep - on the mainland they slept on the sides of the road, walked across it in groups and sometimes just stood on it. But in the Hebrides, sheep were in the heather, on the hillsides, jumping on and off of the road (besides standing or sleeping on the road). We saw thousands of them.

At Sea 1: On Queen Elizabeth 2

Our first trip to England 1980

This was the first of our Atlantic crossings.We left from the pier on the west side of Manhattan. (Now QM2 leaves from Brooklyn.) What a fantastic view of the city as we traveled down the Hudson River. Then out to sea. A delightful crossing of 5 nights on board the beautiful ship followed by our arrival in Southampton where a white Rolls Royce was waiting to drive us to London.

Notes from my journal (July 25, 1980):

“Roamed around the ship and didn’t feel it moving ‘til we saw the pier moving and realized it was us. People waving, tugboat pushing us and a beautiful ride down the river.”

Friends in England 6: at Salisbury Cathedral

Notes from my journal (June 2007):

“About ½ hour train ride from Southampton. A tourist info lady supplied a map and highlighted the route to the Cathedral. Said the walk would be all flat and it was. Salisbury was a lovely place with narrow old streets and flowers everywhere. The Cathedral was impressive. Went inside and walked all around. Some of the artifacts and the Cathedral are from the 1300’s.”

Friends in England 5: at Southampton Town Quay

The quay is a lovely place to sit and watch the Hythe Ferry and the Isle of Wight Ferry as they travel across the water to their destinations and back. It also has a view of the piers where QM2 and other large ships are berthed as passengers debark and embark.

Friends in England 4: at Aylesbury

Notes from my journal (May 2008):

"About an hour train ride from Marylebone Station and then an uphill walk to the Town Centre. It was Market Day so people and stalls of food, flowers, clothing etc. filled the town square area. A big friendly dog was collecting for animal charities and posed for this picture."

Friends in England 3: at Cheltenham

Notes from my journal (May 2007):

Left London from Paddington around 9:30 and had a comfortable trip to Cheltenham Spa, took a taxi to The Queen’s Hotel and were settled into our room by 12:30. Had a nice, sunny afternoon exploring until it began to rain. Took shelter in The Swan – an old pub full of nooks and crannies. When the rain let up a bit, we decided to move on. The friendly barmaid offered us a very big black, gold and green umbrella and when I told her I’d bring it back, she asked me not to because they had so many umbrellas that people left behind. (And so the umbrella was carried back to Pennsylvania.)


“The Minotaur and the Hare" is a bronze sculpture created by Sophie Ryder in 1995. It can be found on The Promenade in Cheltenham, opposite Cavendish House.