October 13th, Gatwick International Airport

It was on the news... our captain announced at 1 AM, halfway across the Atlantic, that there was a crack in the windshield and he was returning to St. John's Newfloundland.

No one reacted much, but I think there were some white knuckles over the next hour. Later we heard, confirmed by a steward, that they used duct tape on the windshield!!! Add that one to your duct tape stories. If you have duct tape stories. Also that the episode was more dangerous than they let on. If you watched the CBC evening news on Monday October 12th, I was the one in the blue jacket in front of the Holiday Inn.

All 257 passengers were transported in 5 buses to a nearby hotel, but some didn't get to their rooms until 7 AM because of the slowness of the 3 desk clerks, who were actually chatting with people while over a hundred people stood patiently waiting.

And here I am at 6 AM in Gatwick, having decided to spend the night here on a cheap bench rather than catch a few hours sleep in an expensive hotel.

Soon I'll find my way to the Gatwick Express to Victoria Station to have a peek at, oh, Buckham Palace for example... I wonder if the Queen will mind a surprise visit? She probably keeps tea and cookies handy for unexpected guests.