Thursday, May 26. We were up 7:20. I explored the grounds while Jane got ready. We had a large breakfast, then walked the grounds together. They were exceptionally beautiful, especially the decades-old rhododendrons, some at least 15 feet tall.
 

Hotel grounds

Garden area

More of garden

Rhododenron

Grim's Dyke Hotel from rear

Jane behind hotel

Entry road

Jane at wishing well

Hotel annex where we stayed

Robert picked us up at 10:30 and we were at Heathrow in an hour. We said our goodbyes and proceeded through check in and security. We got to the British Airways' business class lounge at 12:30. That was four hours before we had to arrive, but it was a very comfortable place to wait. We had a light lunch in the lounge, although it would have been very easy to overeat with all the food they had there.

We boarded the plane at 16:50 and were in the air at 18:00. A nice dinner was served at 20:00. With the comfortable, fully reclining seats, we were able to nap for nearly three hours. We woke when a midnight snack was served. While it was midnight in the UK, it was only 19:00 in Virginia, so this was our supper.

Our flight touched down at Dulles Airport about 20:20. Our son Joseph met us with our car, and we were at his home in Culpepper by 22:20. Our bodies were still on UK time, so we spent the night at Joseph's.

Friday, May 27. We were up at 7;00, had breakfast, and were on the road by 9:00. We got back to Massanutten an hour later.