adventure – Page 7 – 2 J's World of Adventure

North to Scotland – 2026 – Day 4 – Falkirk.

Published on May 15, 2026May 15, 2026 by 2jsworldofadventureLeave a comment

We finished Day 3 with a little treat a meal out at “BEIJING BANQUET – ALL YOU CAN EAT, ALL YOU’LL EVER WANT.”… about an eight minute drive ( mainly due to the road works), this restaurant is situated next to the Travel Lodge. It’s a self service predominantly Chinese restaurant, although it also had some English, pizza, Indian food….probably more but as we wanted Chinese I didn’t really explore the other options….the Chinese food was good quality…delicious duck pancakes, huge king prawns, nice chicken satay, beef in black bean etc etc…The desserts were also delicious…pineapple and banana fritters, fresh fruit, cheesecakes and numerous other choices…very yummy…all for the price of £21,99 Monday to Thursday and £23,99 Friday to Sunday….

We returned to the Premier Lodge with happy full tummy’s.

Day 4 – Out and about in Falkirk

Unfortunately the room had quite a lot of light…a flashing fire alarm system, a green emergency light, two lights in the bathroom which stay on and shine through the door cracks and street lights which shone around the window blinds….not great as I like a very dark bedroom…about 2.39 am I fashioned an eye-mask out of a clean hanky and two hair bands!!!!! Sleep at last….

John rose early and proclaimed it was a great shower. He is having the next 3 days chasing around the Glasgow and Edinburgh railway lines seeing as many trains as he possibly can….I called him an Uber to take him to the Falkirk High Station…alas the App kept saying it was cancelling my order….I later found out that 5here is no Uber in Falkirk..!!!! So dragging on my clothes I set the ever faithful Waze sat nav and off we went. It took about 10 minutes or so to get to the station where I dropped John….I reset waze to the nearest Tesco and headed off. We had brought cereal with us and the picnic hamper, so only needed milk to provide Dad and myself with our preferred breakfast. We had also decided to take advantage of the Premier Lodges microwaves and fridge….so Tesco provided us with microwave ready meals for the evening meal and sandwiches for our lunch and yoghurts and milk to complete our breakfast….job done…On returning I collected Dad from his room and we breakfasted together in our room. After breakfast I had a lovely shower, before Dad and I headed out.

We headed out to the Falkirk Wheel. This is the world’s one and only rotating boat lift. A marvel of engineering, the Falkirk Wheel links the Forth & Clyde Canal to the Union Canal 35 metres above. It allows vessels to sail through the sky thanks to a unique fusion of art and engineering. The half turn only uses the same power it would take to boil eight kettles.

Transforming the contaminated site of a former tar works, The Falkirk Wheel opened in 2002 and replaced a flight of 11 locks that once stepped the Union Canal down to the level of the Forth & Clyde, more than 100 feet below. Whereas weary travellers once had a day’s heavy work opening and closing lock gates to complete the journey between the two canals, The Falkirk Wheel allows vessels to transit between the two waterways in just a few minutes.

Today it is one of Scotlands main tourist attractions. Dad and I have been on it before but one can never have enough of this strange phenomenon…. The boats enter the cradle, or gondolas and it is lowered, while the opposite one rises, keeping the vast, 1800 tonne boat lift in perfect balance. At only £16.50 for over 65’s and £17.95 for adults it is extremely affordable. There is plenty of parking and blue badge disability parking is right next to the visitors centre.

We purchased our tickets and had a cup of coffee in the cafe while awaiting our time slot and watching the previous tour boat being raised.

We had only ever seen one boat at a time being raised and descending however today we witnessed the tourist boat and a long boat coming down together…

Once our boat had reached the top level we continued through a tunnel up to the next lock before turning around and coming back.

The return trip is equally as fascinating, with the Captain pointing out all the sights on the horizon.

Back with our feet on terra firmer we enjoyed looking at this feat in engineering and the information on display.

After showing our blue badge at the visitors centre the barrier was lifted and we headed away for our next stop…..The Kelpies.

The Kelpies, are a pair of 30-meter-tall horse head sculptures located in The Helix park Falkirk, inspired by the working Clydesdale horses of Scotland’s past. The Kelpies stand majestically above all around them and pay homage to the working horses of Scotland which used to pull barges along Scotland’s canals and worked in the fields in the area where they now stand. Towering over a new canal extension which links the Forth & Clyde Canal to the North Sea, The Kelpies are the result of a unique collaboration between the partners and Glasgow-based artist Andy Scott. Almost a decade in the making, the project has transformed 350 hectares of underused land between Falkirk and Grangemouth into a vibrant parkland, visitor attraction and marine hub with the canal and The Kelpies at its heart.

Once again it is an area which allows disabled parking right next to the visitors centre. We used the very tidy toilets before sitting in the car and munching our lunch. After which we walked up to the sculptures and looked at the lock.

They used to do tours up the inside of the Kelpie, I think the viewing gallery was from its mouth….but there was no evidence of this today..

We returned to The premier Lodge for a hot coffee and one of my Dads favourites- choc-chip mini muffins !!!!

North to Scotland – 2026 – Day 3 – “Goodbye England”, “Hello Scotland”….

Published on May 14, 2026 by 2jsworldofadventure2 Comments

Yesterday evening we took an Uber to The Crows Nest …a Greene King Pub, with good old fashioned ‘pub grub’. We didn’t want a posh restaurant just some decent food….thats what we got…Dad had hunters chicken, John had gammon steak, pineapple & egg & chips. I had 3 Cumberland sausages, mash, peas, gravy and a Yorkshire pudding …we each had a soft drink and the bill was less than £35…. Half the price of the night before and more tasty….a great choice.

Day 3 – time to leave Newcastle and head for Scotland

John walked up to the station and brought back 3 bacon butties which we had in our room with coffee. Heading down to reception to book out we meet a delightful receptionist. When he heard how old my Dad was he rushed across to shake his hand and chatted to him while John and I went to fetch the car. The Leonardo Hotel discounts your car parking which was a very pleasant surprise…if you stay longer than 2 nights it would be cheaper to buy a week’s parking.

Returning to the hotel the lovely receptionist assisted us with our bags and then gifted us some wonderful fruit jelly pastilles, which he said he and his wife enjoyed on their trips to Scotland….he was right we did enjoy his kindness and the jelly pastilles……what a kind gentleman….I must say we would definitely stay there again….we were made to feel very welcome and the Northern Kindness shone through.

We had a good steady trip up the A1… until we saw……

We crossed into Scotland and headed for South Queenferry a favourite haunt of ours. Filling with petrol at a garage with a Marks & Spencer’s we picked up sandwiches and sausage rolls for the boys and a wrap with yoghurt for myself. …we sat in the carpark almost beneath The Forth Bridge eating our lunch. I fetched a couple of coffees from the Forth Bridge cafe & Bistro….we spent an enjoyable hour watching the world go by…trains, boats, ferry’s etc…

We headed on to our hotel in Falkirk. It’s not the Premier Lodge’s fault that their lodge is in the middle of massive roadworks at the moment. We are here for 4 nights so that John can go to Edinburgh and Glasgow stations, while Dad and I see the tourist sights….so we wanted somewhere cheap and cheerful….. that is exactly what we got …we were greeted by two delightful receptionist who went beyond the norm to give us information and to make us welcome. A lift deposited us on the 2nd floor. The rooms have double beds ( we’re used to kingsize so we will be very snug!), a kettle and coffee and a hanging area, a tv, desk and en-suite. Everything we need…there are 2 communal microwaves and fridges near the reception…..so all good…basic but clean and ok for what we need.

We’ll need to negotiate the road works again tonight to find somewhere to eat….more about that tomorrow.

North to Scotland – 2026 – Day 1 & 2

Published on May 13, 2026May 13, 2026 by 2jsworldofadventureLeave a comment

We set off from Bedford…..the car resembled a jigsaw – 2 cases, a mobility scooter, two over night bags, a bag of pillows, two camera bags, two laptop bags, a picnic cool box, a box of Diet Coke, 12 small & 6 big bottles of water, a large jar of coffee /flask/ mugs in a bag…and everything else as well as the kitchen sink!!!!….somehow it all fitted in with no gap unused…We picked Dad up and off the 3 of us went…on our holiday.

We trundled up the A1 with the accompaniment of Smooth Radio and John and I singing along, while Dad turned his hearing aid off !!!!!! Stopping at a rest area just short of Scotch Corner for the loos, coffee and the sandwiches we’d brought with us. We arrived at The Leonardo Hotel in Newcastle, mid-afternoon. Having off loaded Dad and the overnight bags, John and I found a convenient 24 hour multi story carpark a short stroll away.

We were quickly booked into the hotel by a very helpful receptionist. We had two superior double rooms on the 7th floor, next to each other… The rooms were nice enough with a small table and one chair, kettle mugs, coffee and a nice clean bathroom. I am pleased we had opted for superior rooms because we wouldn’t have wanted anything less…..but for £71.50 per room per night, I think it was good value for a hotel in the heart of the city of Newcastle, a stones throw …or 10 minute walk from the Central station .

We decided to eat in the bar, where they serve meals in the evening. Unfortunately just as we sat at a small table, to study the menu, a coach party arrived. We joined the end of the queue which was being serviced by one rather grumpy member of the bar staff. We ordered fish and chips for Dad and minute steak and chips for John and myself. We feared a long wait but surprisingly enough it arrived quite quickly. The food was palatable enough, and the ice creams to follow yummy. However it was relatively expensive for the quality and ambience so we hatched a plan to eat else where the following night.

Having had what seemed like a long day we decided to go to bed early. The bed was comfortable, and there was a selection of firm and soft pillows.

After a good nights sleep, John headed to the station for a day out on the trains with his camera. Dad and I had a more leisurely start. We meandered across to the carpark to get our extra thick coats, it was not only drizzling but it was also very cold.

Having dressed in more appropriate attire we walked up to the station arriving wet and ready for a sit down…..thank goodness for Greggs….a bacon butty and a strong Americano coffee each, soon warmed us up.

We had decided to take a circular route on the Metro and get off where we fancied…2x all day one zone tickets were around £9.00.

We were doing the yellow circular route.

The metro runs regularly every few minutes and we were soon speeding our way out of the underground and enjoying the views of the open countryside.

After several stops we disembarked at Whitley Bay. A lovely old station, which is presently being renovated. The beautiful mosaics in its entrance set the scene for this delightful station.

We decided not to go further as it was still rainy. So we hopped back on the metro after using the toilets and exploring the station.

Two Stops further on we disembarked again at Tynemouth. Another beautiful station from a bygone era. The station platform area is huge. Today it is home to several shops with a big market every Saturday and Sunday.

Off we went again. This time the metro hugs the estuary, which we caught several glimpses of. We changed trains at Monument and headed back to Central Station Newcastle.

I used the convenience of Marks & Spencer’s, Sainsbury’s and Greggs to get sandwiches, sausage rolls and yummies for lunch and we passed John his goodies over the platform barrier as he had an afternoon of train chasing planned.

We took a taxi back to the hotel to avoid anymore inclement weather. Lunch was eaten in Johns and mine room, prior to having an afternoon rest, readying ourselves for our evening supper.

A few of our favourite sunset photos…..

Published on February 28, 2026March 4, 2026 by 2jsworldofadventureLeave a comment

Unfortunately we can no longer offer them at the very cheap price we did previously because our printer had stopped trading …however we have found another printer with top studio Fine Art quality paper -Baryta Rag (cotton310gm) with Lustre finish to help prevent reflections and fading but still give vibrant colours…..
So our prints are now back up for sale as A3, mounted and framed ( black or white frames, white mounts) for £49.95 inclusive of UK mainland postage.
We can print any of the sunsets or wildlife photos… just message us or email us at
2jsworldofadventure@gmail.com

Goodnight – Kruger National Park South Africa

Evening Safari Drive Kruger National Park South Africa

Another Wonderful Day Draws to an End – Kruger National Park South Africa

From Botswana to Namibia Sleep Well- Chobe River Botswana

Another Beautiful Day says Goodnight- Chobe River South Africa

Unforgettable Moments – Chobe River Botswana

We have found a company in China who can facilitate our China Itinerary-

Published on February 15, 2026 by 2jsworldofadventureLeave a comment

A very good friend has used this company to tour Beijing from Shanghai….her recommendation came from a friend who lives in Shanghai who has used this company for his own touring. Our friend said they were very reliable, she was met in Beijing by a lovely lady who spoke good English.

Our friend is also a traveller infact they are travelling India at the moment, having spent 3 months in South America last year….so they know the difference between good and bad experiences. Having been really good friends for over 40 years we trust their recommendations and they trust ours….Thanks Caz and Geoff for this contact…

The company they have used is licensed…

James who I have been dealing with at the company has forwarded me a picture of their tourist License.

This is the ground tour James has put together for us….

北京百迎国际旅行社有限公司

百迎国旅 BEIJING BAI YING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SERVICE CO.,LTD

BYITS Tel:010-64680949

Day 1

19th Sept

Beijing

-Arrive at Beijing Daxing Airport(arriving at 14:12PM)

– Driver meets you outside the exit,holding name board

– Transfer to Beijing Legendale hotel by driver

– Check in and free at leisure

Day 2

20th Sept

Beijing

Have breakfast

– Free activity – the hotel is within easy walking distance of many attractions –
(The Tian’an Men Square and Forbidden City)

– Foodie evening tour by yourselves
Recommended place:Ghost Street/簋街

Day 3

21th Sept

Beijing

Have breakfast and guide meets you in the lobby

– Visit the Summer Palace in the morning

– Lunch

– Visit The Temple of Heaven and take Hutong tour By Rickshaw in the afternoon

Day4

22th Sept

Beijing

– Have breakfast and guide meets you in the lobby

– Make a morning excursion to Badaling Great Wall – including cable car up and back

– Lunch

– Visit Badaling Wildlife Park in the afternoon

– Return to hotel

Day 5

23th Sept

Beijing

– Have breakfast

– Free Activity
Recommended:Acrobatic Show(Show time:16:00 and 17:30, please choose)

Day 6
24th Sept

Beijing-Xi’an

– Have breakfast and check out

– Transfer to Beijing West railway station for Xi’an（Train info: G365, 09:55-14:05, 1st class ticket）

– The driver meets you outsie the exit and then transfer to Xi’an Sofitel Hotel

– Check in and free at leisure

Day 7
25th Sept

Xi’an

-Have breakfast

– Free Activity

Recommended places: Grand Mosque,Bell and Drum Tower Square ,Muslim Street and Grand Tang Ever-bright Mall

– Evening foodie tour/ Or evening show (Only driver available)
Recommended: Dumpling banqut and Tang Danasty Dancing/唐乐宫

Day 8
26th Sept

Xi’an

-Have breakfast and guide meets you in the lobby

– One-day Terracotta Army tour

– Return to hotel

Day 9
27th Sept

Xi’an

-Have breakfast and guide meets you in the lobby

– One-day sightseeing tour(City wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Xi’an Museum)

– Return to hotel

Option:

– One-day sightseeing tour(Qinling Wildlife Park)
Re: Wildlife can be seen in Qinling area, But it is foribidden to go there right now , we will know final result this summer holiday if the park will reopen or not

Day 10
28th Sept

Xi’an-Chengdu

– Have breakfast and check out

– Transfer to Xian North railway staiton (Only driver available) heading to Chengdu(Bullet Train info:G3433,09:04—13:07,1st class ticket)

– Upon arrival, driver meets you and then transfer to Somerset Gaoxin Chengdu hotel

-Check in and free at leisure; The rest of time free & easy

Day 11

29th Sept

Chengdu

– Have breakfast and guide meets you in the lobby

– Drive to visit Chengdu panda Base（0.5 hour）, One of the most important research and breeding centers (Electric cart included)

– City center to stroll along Kuanzhai Alley

– Transfer back to hotel ,free time

Day12

30th Sept

Chengdu
-Have breakfast and guide meets you in the lobby

– Drive to Leshan Giant Buddha (2.5 hours)

– Visit Leshan Giant Buddha by climbing mountain or boat trip

– visit Leshan Suji ancient town(乐山苏稽古镇)

– Drive back to Chengdu hotel , Free and leisure

Day 13

1st Oct

Chengdu-Dujiangyan

– Have breakfast and guide meets you in the lobby

– Visit Dujiangyan Panda Base （1.5 hours）

– Lunch

– Dujiangyan Irrigation System

– Drive back to Chengdu hotel , Free and leisure

Note: traffic jam often occur during national holiday , especially for National holiday .

Day 14

2nd Oct

Chengdu-Beijing

– Have breakfast and check out

– Transfer to Chengdu East raiwway station heading to Beijing(Only driver available) Bullet train info:G1013,08:29-19:07,1st class ticket

– Upon arrival, driver meets you and transfer to Beijing Legendale hotel

– Check in and free at leisure

Day 15

3rd Oct

Beijing–

– Have breakfast and check out

– Transfer to Beijing Daxing airport (Only driver available)

– End of 15-day China tour

What’s Included:

• One (1) Professional English-speaking local guide

• One (1) 5-seater car and accompanying driver for all land transfers indicated in the itinerary

• Admission fees to places mentioned for sightseeing tour in the itinerary

• All relevant trip taxes, local duties and surcharges

• Drinking water throughout the tour itinerary

• Bullet train listed in the tour itinerary

What’s not Included:

• Personal telecommunication and laundry charges

• Personal Travel Insurance

• Additional excursions & activities not mentioned in the itinerary

• Round trip international flight

• All meals indicated on the itinerary as B (breakfast), L (lunch), and D (dinner)

• Accommodation in Bejing,Xi’an and Chengdu

• All gratuities for drivers, guides and local support staff

James has also put together 3 sets of prices for this itinerary- one for each part.

The Chengdu section including train back to Beijing costing approx £1239

The total cost for the ground tour would be approx £2868 ( approx due to exchange rate fluctuations. If we add that to the flights which are approx £1500 and the hotels we have selected with breakfast are approx £ 1229. The total cost would be approx £5597. We could of course make this cheaper by staying in cheaper accommodation. We have however chosen accommodation which is popular with English speaking visitors with the hope that some of the staff and the menus will be in English.

We have asked James several important questions ….these are ….

1) how do we pay you? Do you accept credit card?

2) When do we pay you? Before we arrive in China? Or with Alipay when we arrive?

3) Do you provide us with a letter which enables us to get our visa? Or is our itinerary enough for us to get the visa?

4) Does the person who takes us to the train station put us on the correct train and the correct seats? If not how will we know the right train and the right seats to sit in as I believe all notices are in Chinese and not many people speak English so it’s not so easy to ask someone.

5) can you book tickets at acrobatics show or escorted food tasting walks, or a meal in a locals home? Or would we ask the hotel to do this?

6) Would we be able to post to our website while we are in China? Or would we have to just log every thing and do it when we get home? We don’t want to do anything which is not allowed and we worry we might not know what is and what isn’t allowed.

James has been very quick in replying to our emails, we usually get a response the next day – due to the time differences…. If you are wanting to book a trip through James his email address is 36075568@qq.com

We will let you know the response to our questions…..we still hope to do this trip this year although due to the amount of preparation and questions I have we may push it back to next year. James is aware of this and is happy to help us and any of our readers who are going to embark on a trip to China.