Getting ready for my trip to Europe...

Outside the shipping department of the Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Canada - 48 hours before takeoff. 

 

Getting my trusty BMW 1150GS Adventure ready for its flight to Gatwick Airport, London, England. 

Remove the windscreen and mirrors, drain the fuel, disconnect the battery and it is all ready for its flight.

My 'Air Transat' flight to Europe...  Somewhere in the belly of the plan is my motorcycle.

 

On flight navigation updates.  Almost there...

On the ground outside the shipping warehouse that's handling my motorbike. 

It took about 3 and a half hours to get my motorbike through shipping and customs and the fire alarm going off at the warehouse made me very worried about the whereabouts of my motorcycle.

 

The customs department making sure that we have all the correct paperwork.

Finally, I got my motorbike and began putting it back together.

You can put two bikes on each plane.  Here I am standing with Larry and his Honda Goldwing.  His girlfriend (Margie) took the picture.

We rode together for a while and hung out in London together.

 

From left to right...

(Blank - Male), Larry, Joyce, and Margie.  Larry and Margie are on the Goldwing pictured above touring Europe for four months.

 

Our first campsite - The Caravan Club - Crystal Palace, London, England.

 

Larry & Margie outside of Parliament.

 

Parliament Building - London, England.

Statue - Oliver Cromwell, Parliament Building & Big Ben in the background. 

The tower is really not that tall - it is called Big Ben because of the 14 ton bell inside.

Westminster Abbey - visitor entrance.

Westminster Abbey - front of cathedral.

The Albert - Built between 1845-1852 and rebuilt between 1865-1867.

The renowned Carvery Restaurant on the first floor is frequented by British Royalty, Cabinet Ministers, and Parliamentarians of note.  The latter being recalled to Parliament by means of "Division Bell", featured in the restaurant.

The ground floor bar features the original victorian hand-cut windows, together with gas lighting.

Buckingham Palace & The Victoria Memorial -  London, England.

The Victoria Memorial - Placed at the center of Queen's Gardens in front of Buckingham Palace.

The Victoria Memorial - Placed at the center of Queen's Gardens in front of Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace & The Victoria Memorial -  London, England.

The old Palace of Whitehall viewed from Hyde Park.

The old Palace of Whitehall viewed from Hyde Park.

One of the many memorials to soldiers that gave their live during WWII and earlier.

The old Palace of Whitehall.

(Panoramic)

A member of The Queens Life Guard.