Days 63, 64, and 65

(Dan’s comments are italicized)

• Train to Brussels
• Train to London St Pancreas
• Train to Hayward’s Heath
• Train to Worthing
• Train to Gatwick Airport Burgess Hill
• Train to Gatwick Airport
• Train to Reading
• Train to Plymouth

Our last day in Bruges was lovely. We got some great photos both by day and night, had Belgian waffles 😋, found a beautiful park, and relaxed. And the sun DID come out for a short time!

I wanted to see Bruges at night so we revisited our day sites and had a completely different experience. The crowds were nonexistent. I guess tourists come on a day trip and return by evening. Also the magic of lighting is beautiful.

I could post many more photos as Bruges is absolutely stunning, but will spare you!

I’m extremely sad about leaving the continent; since my 16 year old daughter, my only sister, and only brother all died within 6 months of each other I’ve felt adrift. We’ve lost family and friends because they don’t like the way we’re dealing with our grief. I don’t trust my world any more and find I often have to wear a mask so people can feel comfortable around my pain. It’s exhausting! But I feel this trip has given me permission to start accepting the ‘new’ me, and to stop giving myself a hard time. And I’m working on trusting my world again, though suspect that’s going to take some time.

The trip around Continental Europe has helped me identify some weaknesses in my character that I need to work on. One thing I am now working on is finding the courage to take risks. I found myself letting Rhia plan our destinations early in the journey. Later, I started finding my groove and making suggestions, and becoming a better member of our partnership. Yay me!

But moving on from the continent doesn’t mean the end of our trip; we’re fortunate to have good friends and family in the UK so are switching gears and traveling to see some of them.

Our Bruges to Worthing trip (which involved 4 trains) went flawlessly with us arriving 1 1/2 hours earlier than we expected.

If you’re surprised at our easy train journey, imagine our disbelief! “Ah, British trains are the best,” we thought. And it wasn’t even raining!! After a wonderful evening with my school friend, Jules, we had high hopes for the next day (and our journey to Plymouth, Devon) going just as smoothly.

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂😭😂🤣😂🤣😂

Visions of Croatia and Germany danced in our heads as the rain poured down and we experienced train delay after train delay. The hour and a half we gained yesterday was lost today 😂 But we traveled through some beautiful countryside and even the angry-looking clouds were stunning.

We’re hoping the rain stays away long enough for us to explore a bit of this beautiful part of the country with my sister-in-law, Jane. 🤞🤞🤞 One thing I know for certain is that I’m greatly enjoying the vegetables (and home cooked meals) here! My body’s thanking me…though it’s not thanking me for the cold weather!! I think the UK has forgotten it’s SUMMER!!! Rhia planned ahead for me, and she had Jane pick up a sweatshirt for me… I cannot believe I need to wear a sweatshirt in late July! 🥶