Ruth’s Diary

We prepared our own breakfast again – Onagaga – as usual. Then we went to the Holland-American line – left our bikes. It was a good thing – because I had a flat tire on the way over, which I rode just the same. It took us some time to get our baggage straightened & get out some respectable clothes for London. We changed from our dirty clothes in a packing box in the baggage room & took a taxi to the Batavia (?) line which was to take us across the channel. Having disposed of our baggage, we took a train back to the city & over to the hostel. In a park opposite we had our regular lunch of sandwiches, tomatoes, pastry & fruit. After lunch we went shopping & to the American Express for mail. I had another letter from Millie & Lillian Atchison. I looked around Rotterdam, but bought little except a lovely piece of woolen plaid & a Dutch doll. We all returned to the hostel – leave together. The boat was rather exciting for a few minutes for a heavy thunder shower came up & we couldn’t get a taxi, they were so busy, so we got out in the pouring rain. We girls grabbed a taxi not far from the hostel so we didn’t get so wet. We had a grand roast across the channel – very nice cabins. I had failed to get enough money to pay for dinner on the boat, but had instead a sandwich & coffee. It was smooth crossing – fortunately. I slept soundly until early & then got up & looked around. It was still dark so I turned in again until 6 when we were awakened. We docked at Grave’s End. There we took a train to Victoria Station – from there we went by the Underground to the hostel. We left our things there & went to a Lyon’s for breakfast, a chain of restaurants.