September 24 Sally and Gabi's - Garden

Left home at 1:30 PM to catch train.  Wanted to leave plenty of time to locate Euston Station, where the train leaves from. In 2011 I remember having some difficulty finding the station.  Sally has given me good instructions as to where to go once I arrive at the tube station there, Euston Square.  I had assumed I would end up inside the train station, but no, one has to emerge from the tube station and walk a few blocks to get to the train station.

Directions from the tube station to the train station are clear, so had no problem finding it.  Station is 400 yards from the tube station.

Euston train station - very busy, with restaurants in the area, shops, take out food shops, a pharmacy. Very few seats in station, are numerous ticket machines.  Bought a ticket to Berkhamsted for UK14.90 ($30.00), then discovered I'd bought a day ticket, so went to wicket to change it for an open return, cost me a further UK4.80. It's an off-peak ticket, so can't travel before 9:30 AM

eating area just outside the station

small park just outside train station, on Euston Road; not far from Regent Park

Sally and Gabi live in Potten End, a small community about 5 miles or so from Berkhamsted, which is where the train station is located.

Met Sally Shulman on Kibbutz Nirim in 1976 or so, where we shared a room in the volunteer's quarters.  After leaving the kibbutz (2 months there), I stayed with Sally for a few nights at her aunt's in Tel Aviv.  I've visited her numerous times since then, and she has visited me once in Vancouver. 

Sally and Gabi Hodes

Arrived Berkhamsted late afternoon.  Takes about 25 minutes to get there from Euston, after stopping briefly in several communities.  The train runs every 20 minutes or so, and is on time.  The end of the line is the next stop, Tring. Runs like a bus service, but it's more reliable, not subject to traffic constraints. The train was full, going and coming back to London, even in the afternoon during the week.  High demand for public transportation when there's a population of over 8 million. 

Sally picked me up at the station, drove me through the lovely countryside roads to Potten End.  She and Gabi have established a lovely garden, not at its best now because it's autumn, but still, it's lovely.  They often eat outside when weather permits.  Today is a sunny warm day.

Photos just aim and shoot, no editing done.  No time for this.

several apple trees and two plum trees

enjoyed several Moroccan dishes that Sally cooked