In 1983 I took our son Thomas to England to  visit  my brother Dr. Jimmy Shirley, who was teaching at The Royal Military College of Science for a year in an exchange program.   Connie and Laura stayed home.  The flight over was direct to Gatewick, where Jim picked us up and took us to Shrivenham, about 80 miles from London, where the college is located.   Our travel was via Jim's Volkswagen and rail.  Our trip to France was rail to Dover, Hovercraft to Calais and Bullet Train to Paris.  That sucker does move.  Guess what?  Just reverse the above for the trip back.  Oh yes, in France the Gypsies manage to get my travelers checks and billfold.  I had my belt on tight or they would have gotten my pants.