botley train station england

When I landed in London’s Gatwick Airport the immigration official routinely asked me where I was going. When I told him Botley, I was surprised to hear his reply of a question, “where is that”? I explained to him that from what I could recall it was about a two hour drive southwest of London. He said, “I know.”

“So why did you ask me,” the conversation went. “I wanted to see if you knew.”

I can see that security at the England‘s borders are really on their top game. Several hours later when the train rolled into the quiet Botley station I walked across the pedestrian bridge over the rails, ran back, and waited to snap this photo. A cheeky welcome to London but a warm one from Botley.

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