Once again WordPress failed me and all the text I typed for our day at Wimbledon was erased when I published the blog. Here’s a summary:
We decided when we arrived in London to pick the best weather day for a trip to Wimbledon, which started on Monday. It has been a dream of both Jen and I to attend Wimbledon, totally on our bucket lists, so part of the planning for the Europe trip was to make sure we were in London when the tournament started.
Wimbledon tickets are sold mostly to corporate types, just like big events in the States. Some tix are available by public raffle months before the tourney. Other than that a few travel groups have tickets, they run $700 or so a day.
In addition Wimbledon allots some tickets each day to the public. There are about 1500 for the “show courts” (Center Court, Court 1, Court 2) and about 8000 general grounds courts that allow you on the grounds and to line up for seats at the outer courts (3 thru 19). To get those you enter this giant queue. So that’s what we did.
Our plan was to be on the tube by 6:30 am, we made it a little later than that. However, our tube line had a malfunction which put us at Wimbledon about 7:45. We walked about a mile to the entrance to the queueing area. As we passed through the gate I heard the best words we could hope for – “straight ahead to the queue, you WILL get in today”! So exciting!
We arrive at a huge grass field where several lines hundreds deep were already in place. We were herded to our line by the Stewards, and once in line they passed out the most important item – our queue cards. They are stamped with the date and a number, we were 6732 and 6733. The numbers are checked several times to insure no one jumps ahead in the queue. So now we wait. We lay or sit on the grass with several new friends, all drinking Pimm’s or eating stuff they brought. There are concession stands near by and restrooms, it’s all very well organized. We talk some to the folks around us, some of whom even share Pimm’s with us, as we had no idea what that was. After an hour or so, our line was moved across the field to another queue area, all in order and very nicely handled.
Near our lines are the tent queues, where people have camped out over night. We see them move and many of them move their tents, still set up. We learned later that those who did not get in the first 1500 (for show court tix) just stay another night in a tent, now closer to the front, hoping for show tix the next day. The rest of us begin moving now towards the gates for general grounds tickets. A steward tells me that 8000 will get in today and we should be inside by 1:00. After 8000 those remaining in the queue may enter as other folks leave – one on one. The line moves slowly but steadily, the walk is about a mile from there to the gate, all done quite orderly and everyone is in a great mood. It’s a beautiful day and we cannot believe we are so close!
About noon we make it to the gate and we are in! WIMBLEDON! We had scoped out the matches and decided to head for court 18, which had some good singles matches and is right beside Hinman Hill, where the giant TV screen is. Jen got in line to be seated at the court (it was full but as people leave they let others in on change overs). I went after refreshments and made it back just before our turn to be seated, and man we were so lucky. We got two seats on the 3rd row of the baseline bleachers, right in the center. We could almost touch the players! It was amazing! The courts are so much smaller than they look on tv.
The first match was between Britain’s best female player and the 29th seed from Japan. The crowd was very energetic for the Brit, but she lost in a very close 3rd set. We had such good seats we dared not leave. The next match featured the number 8 seed (Kvitnova) and the 20th (from Italy, I forget her name). The level of tennis was MUCH higher, Kvitnova is a giant and she waxed the other girl with no problem. This girl can play! We stayed for the first set of a men’s match, featuring Thomas Berdych who can serve SO hard (he’s real tall). He was stomping an American I never heard of. What great tennis! By then we needed to get up and walk around, so we did.
We got some lunch and walked a bit, did some shopping, then camped out on Hinman Hill / Mount Murray. It is way smaller than it looks on TV, but was crammed with people. We watched Nadal on the big screen then it started raining. We waited out the rain for an hour when they said they probably wouldn’t play any more. It was close to 7. Of course center court roof was closed and we watched the end of ladies’ match, then decided to head home, along with several thousand of our newest friends.
It really was a fantastic day and a highlight of our trip. So glad we got to do this and so thrilled we actually were at Wimbledon for a day. What a blast!
Tomorrow is my birthday! We are going to the Wax Museum, which is walking distance from our hotel, and then dinner with friends from Seminary! Sunday we go home!

Today we journeyed with a tour group of 28 or so to Leeds Castle, Dover, and Canterbury. Leeds Castle is in Kent County, and is called the “prettiest castle in England”. It was a let down in my opinion. It does have a moat around it, where almost all other castles in England no longer have water in their moats. It had been bought by a wealthy American in the 1920s and refurbished.
From there we drove to Dover where we had lunch beside the English Channel. It was too hazy to see the shore of France, but the white cliffs of Dover were impressive. Dover Castle looms over head, but our tour did not go up there.
Then on to the main reason we booked this tour, Canterbury. The heart of the Anglican Communion and the place where St. Augustine began missionary work in Brittania, the cathedral is massive, ancient, and beautiful. Quite inspiring to be in there, to sit and pray, to wander the vast nave, to see where Becket was murdered and to visit the various tombs. It’s a special place for sure. I knocked on Rowan’s door, but he was out. I am sure he is sad he missed me.
While in Canterbury, Jennifer and I filled out prayer requests, which are read at morning mass each day at Canterbury, for our family and for Dot Fowler and her family. Dot passed away after a brief illness, at the age of 89. We got word of her passing when we returned to the hotel, although we knew it was imminent. Fortunately we had gone to see Dot when we were in Jackson for Clelie’s ordination and Jennifer’s surprise party. It was a great visit. She was her old self, funny and loving and spiritual, although she was ailing considerably. Dot, as well as her late husband Bubba, was a joy to be with and a very close friend of ours. If you’ve ever sat in church and heard Dot offer a “joyful noise” with her singing, you know a little of what heaven will be like – she sang loud and proud and the quality did not matter! How I wish we could all do the same. How I wish we could all be more like Dot – we will miss you, sugar!
Dot’s death and the passing of Catherine Biggs while we were in Israel will mark my memories of this sabbatical time for sure. I visited Catherine two days before the sabbatical began, and when I left her that day I sat in my car and cried, knowing it was the last time I would ever see her on this side of the Kingdom. She died when we were in Israel, and I was able to offer prayer for her and her children in a note at the wailing wall of the old temple, and to do that as well as offer prayer for Dot at Canterbury Cathedral, those were special moments for me. We traveled on to Greenwich, followed by river boat up the Thames to mid London.

Today we are laying low. The toll of all the walking, climbing, rushing, etc. of touring all the sites we’ve been to for weeks now, has had an impact on our ailing limbs. Jennifer’s knees are quite swollen and my left achilles is really barking at me. We are going to do a picnic in the park near our hotel and rest up, for tomorrow we are going to Wimbledon! We will ride the subway out there then get in the massive “queue”, hoping against hope to get a ticket late in the day but looking forward to the experience either way. We are told the queue is a lot of fun, and hanging out on Hinman Hill / Mount Murray will be a blast.
Here are some pics from Canterbury – enjoy!

Today we did some more London stuff. Took tour to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Really amazing, largest Anglican church in the world. Again couldn’t take pictures, but it was breathtaking. Later to Tower of London, which was ok, then brief cruise on the Thames. Tomorrow Canterbury, Leeds, and Dover!

Great day in London. We got brave and ventured out on our own. Went by “Tube” (their subway) to a park near Buckingham Palace and got to the gates in time for great position to watch the changing of the guard. It actually was way cooler than I had anticipated. Very exciting. We then wandered towards the River Thames and crossed over to ride, yep, the London Eye! If you don’t know it’s an enormous ferris wheel on the river bank that gives you incredible views of the city. If any of you were at Keble College you heard me talk about my fear of ferris wheels in my sermon. This was way more bigger than any I had ever seen. But it’s a smooth ride and no chance for anyone to “rock the seat”, LOL.
We then ventured back across the river to Westminster Abbey. What a beautiful and holy and amazing place. We spent an hour or so inside gawking at everything (incredible the number of famous people buried there, tombs everywhere. Met a Priest of the Church of England and had a great chat with him. He works one month out of the year at the Abbey as a chaplain, but the rest of the year he has 6 churches that serve 5 villages and 3 hamlets. He told me a village has its own church, a hamlet doesn’t have a church. He was very curious about my sabbatical.
We were there late enough to attend Choral Evensong. Thanks to Jennifer’s line-busting powers we made it to the front of the line and actually got to sit in the choir section for Evensong. It was beautiful and amazing, hearing their lovely voices offer sung prayer as it has been done in that space since the 1200’s! What a thrill!
After Evensong, it was raining so we dashed back to the Tube and headed back to the hotel, stopping for dinner at a Pizza place right by the hotel.
Tomorrow I think we are seeing some more London city sites. The rest of the week will be day trips to outlying areas, including Wimbledon!
Sorry, no pics allowed in the Abbey, but here are some others from London. CHEERIO!

London Town
This time the Eurostar trip was relatively pain free and easy. We got to the station way ahead of time, found our way to check in, and propped ourselves in seats right by the boarding door. We weren’t missing this train! Having to handle so much luggage, it helped to board the coach early so would have space for our bags in the luggage area. Worked perfectly! The ride is about 2 hours and 20 minutes, smooth as silk. A quick cab ride to the hotel and we are settled in our tiny room. European hotels have pretty small rooms and we have discovered London is the ring leader! But it’s nice and clean and safe. The bathroom is smaller than the one we had in seminary, which we didn’t think was possible!
We made it to a cafe before it closed to get online briefly. Did a FaceTime video chat with my Dad for Father’s Day and got to say high to Mom and my brother, Chuck, who got them setup. It was nice to see people! Today Joseph headed to my camp session for staff training, they will have a great camp week, although I am missing them all!
Tomorrow tour of London city, and we are planning at least two full day trips to outer spots like Canterbury and Windsor. One day of course is dedicated to Wimbledon. We are watching the weather to decide when, probably Thur or Friday.
More tomorrow with London pics!
Peace y’all!