We start with a few days in Manchester, followed by a hiking trip in the areas pictured, London for a while, the Queen Mary 2 to NYC and onto RI

Easy flight.

I rarely watch movies but I wanted to see Marty. Why? I played table tennis against him in NYC. Lost, not close, but a good lesson. The movie: lost, not close.

Plan was as follows: taxi to Euston Station, travel on one of many trains to Manchester.

Euston station closed due to construction.

Eep.

Taxi from Euston to St. Pancras, train to Sheffield, then train to Manchester.

Took quite a few discussions to find a route with minimum changes.

Getting There: The Hope Valley Line is one of the most scenic train journeys in England, connecting Sheffield and Manchester. It makes the valley incredibly accessible for day-trippers.

While this was not our original plan, it was the only route we could take and we got lucky. The scenery was beautiful.

Train full with day hikers. Primarily school age as this is Easter school break.

🏙️ via AI
Manchester
Manchester is a lively, modern city with deep industrial roots, known for its red-brick architecture, music history, and unmistakable energy. Once at the heart of the Industrial Revolution, it has reinvented itself as a cultural and creative hub, with galleries, restaurants, and a strong sense of local pride. Even in a short visit, you will feel the contrast with the quiet countryside — a bustling, urban landscape to start a journey among fells and stone walls.

Dakota Hotel is a nice place with good service. They sent us to the Bay Horse Tavern for dinner.

End of a very, very long day. Now begins jet lag.