Tuesday,
July 14, 2015
Today was laundry day so we
remained at home until two loads of laundry made their way through the washing
cycle. The weather was iffy and hanging clothes outside was a risk so we headed
to a laundromat to dry things. It was in fact a very efficient way to finish
the laundry and move on to other activities.
Today was market day in
Glastonbury. The Town Hall had tables of foods and other goods and there was a
short street lined with tents outside as well as a small fruit and veg section.
It took about 15 minutes to peruse everything that was available. We often have
to remind ourselves that we come from a community that is renowned for its
largesse in farmer’s markets. We are truly spoiled.
After a quick bite at Burns
the Bread, we moved on to Clarks Village in Street. Clarks Village is the
transformation of the original Clarks Shoe Company site from a manufacturing
site to a retail shopping complex. The site was beautifully designed and well
manicured. Flower baskets and gardens lined the walkways and added colour to
the overhanging roofs along the walkways. There are more than 100 stores in the
complex, anchored by a very large Clarks Show outlet and a Marks and Spencer outlet.
We wandered and browsed but really found nothing that we either needed or
wanted. Except for a pair of shoes from Clarks for Jim.
We had been invited for Afternoon
Cream Tea with Jim and Viola Nagel, friends of our exchange partners, at their
home. Overall, it was a lovely event. There was much rich conversation,
delicious and freshly made whole wheat scones, homemade strawberry jam and
thick Devon cream. Jim Nagel coincidentally grew up in Kitchener, attended
Preuter Public School and Eastwood High School. Although a few years older than
Jim and I, we recall his name from our University of Waterloo days as the
editor and the student paper, The Chevron. It was quite amazing after that
passing of more than 50 years, how many people we knew in common. We actually
shared a couple of quite close friends. It is an amazingly small world at
times!
We spent a pleasant evening
at home. The daylight extends until well past 9:30 and Jim and I regularly sit
at the dining room table with our computers, working on this blog or our photo
book or planning our next outings. It is wonderful to be able to look out over
the pasture land that is behind the house and observe people and dogs walking
along the river, cattle grazing on the grass, birds soaring through the air –
especially the swallows that catch the air currents and appear to float.
Tonight we were not
especially hungry for dinner because of the longlasting cream tea. We were
satisfied with a light salad that mostly came from the garden … crisp, fresh,
delicious!!
Wednesday,
July 15, 2015
Off to another market town
today … this time in Wells. We started with a late breakfast at Wetherspoons
Pub , a predictable hearty and inexpensive breakfast, consistently offered at
all the Wetherspoons Pubs, so you really know what you are getting. Eggs,
bacon, sausage, beans, hash browns, toast and coffee. Needless to so, you do
not leave hungry.
In some ways, it is a good
idea to go to a market when you are not very hungry. The colourful stalls of
delectable foods are interesting and attractive, but the wallet remains closed
for the most part. This market is a large outdoor market, a combination of a
wide range of food as well as crafts and other products. In contrast to
Glastonbury yesterday, this was the market to be at. We took loads of photos of beautiful
vegetable displays, eggs sold in half dozen boxes, freshly made scones,
pasties, and other pastries, fresh fish and meats, cheeses of all kinds –
cheddar and stilton are our favourites.
We came upon a stall that
specialized in Scotch Eggs, a hardcooked egg covered in a thick layer of fresh
pork, coated with a crispy topping and deep fried. Those of you who have known
us since our chlldren were small will remember our much beloved nanny, Morag.
She used to make scotch eggs for us and we loved them. We have not had one
since. And so we indulged!! There were so many flavours to choose from. This
vendor had perfected the art of scotch eggs and diversified the flavour using a
wide range of herbs and spices. When we finally made a selection and bit into
the egg, it took us back to the days that Morag was a part of our family. What
a treat it was in so many ways!!
We wanted to visit the Bishop’s
Palace but, alas, it was closed today and for much of the week due to the filming
of a major motion picture, The Huntsman, due to be released in April 2016. We
will be sure to go and see it as much of it was being set and filmed before our
very eyes.
We were able to visit the
Wells cathedral instead. What a large and glorious building it is! Stained glass windows, arches, pillars,
graves, a magnificent pipe organ in the choir … all cleaned and refurbished. It
was possible to read the dates on most graves, to read the names of those
buried under our feet, some dating as far back as the 1300’s. It must also be amazing to hear the sound of
the organ reverberating throughout the building during worship or concerts.
An interesting feature of
this cathedral are what are known as the scissor arches. After the cathedral
had been built, it was noted the towers were beginning to sink. So enormous
scissor-shaped arches were installed inside the cathedral below the towers to
provide additional support. When you think about the immensity of that
undertaking in a time when there were no power tools, no motorized equipment,
no health and safety standards, just an man with an idea and a very large work
force, it is remarkable what was accomplished. How did they get all those
massive stones raised high in the cathedral and accurately put in place?
We left the cathedral and
strolled the High Street in Wells, stopping for a refreshing cool drink and a
chance to observe people as they scurried past. We did drop into a shop or two,
looking for a replica of a beautiful lightweight blanket that feels invisible,
beautifully woven and warm as toast which our hosts have in their home. No
success on that count today.
We drove home along main
highway until Jim saw a sign that peaked his interest. Off to the byways we
went, passing through farmland with fields of corn, pasture and hay. Wild
flowers were scattered along the ditches so many colours and shapes and
sizes. Many photos later, we must have
the perfect photo!
Finally we found our way to
the main road again and headed almost directly home except for a stop at Tesco,
the supermarket, for a couple of grocery items and Tonic Water. We would not
have otherwise been able to indulge in the ultimate of summer drinks, a gin and
tonic! Whew! A near miss!
Thursday,
July 16, 2015
Thursday began as a much quieter
day. Jim is working on plan for the next several days, including a side trip to
Wales with Iain. Iain arrives in London on Friday where he will spend the
weekend. We will meet him on Monday at the train station in Bristol and spend a
couple of days in south Wales before returning to Glastonbury.
The weather was cool and
rainy in the morning. From our seats at the dining room table we are able to
watch the weather literally sweep across the hills and bring the rain and wind
to our doorstep. It is quite dramatic seeing the sheathe of rain envelop the
landscape and eventually coat the window and embrace the house. Weather here is
extremely changeable so what looks like a bleak day in the morning will often
transform into a beautiful sunny day by the afternoon. Such was the
circumstance today.
By the time we were ready
to leave the house, the sun was out and it was a grand day to go to the centre
of town. Our purpose today was to capture the character of Glastonbury as well
as the characters of Glastonbury through the lense of the camera. We strolled
the High Street looking for interesting shops and people and had no trouble
finding either one. I have described the shops earlier in this blog. Let me
just reiterate by saying this small town has a collection of some of the most
eclectic shops I have ever seen. And the people to go with it ….. Women sport
as many hair colours and styles as the eye can imagine. Clothing is often
colourful and wispy, with unique lines, lengths and patterns. Hats and lavish makeup
are commonplace along the street as well as tattoos and piercings. Facial hair
on men is common, especially braided beards. And long hair to go with it.
We paused for a coffee at
Market Square, followed by more strolling. I was delighted to find a lovely
place to get a manicure and I booked one for tomorrow. While Jim went off to
run a couple of errands, I was about to read a book at a shady table at an
outdoor café. Such pleasure.
Finally we stopped for a
late lunch at a café that serves only pancakes and crepes. We were reticent at
first but most cafes close by 2:30 so we knew we have trouble finding another
one that was open. My crepe was buckwheat filled with sun dried tomatoes,
sauted spinach, black olives and goat’s cheese. It was absolutely melt-in-the-mouth
delicious!! Jim’s was buckwheat filled with mushrooms and sauted spinach and also
delicious. We were so glad that we landed at this café through total accident.
We will return (if we have time).
We came back home for a
brief period before heading out for dinner with Jim and Viola Nagel (our cream
tea hosts). We met at a pub called Who’d Have Thought It, an ancient building
on a pedestrian thoroughfare. From the many delicious offerings on the menu, I
chose posh fish pie and Jim settled on the Somerset sausage plate. Both meals
were beautifully presented and wonderfully delicious. Good the very last
morsel. Wine and beer accompanied the meal along with lively conversation about
many topics. It is great fun to be able to ask locals questions about their
community. There is so much to learn about what makes a community work and,
generally as a tourist, one barely scratches the surface. We finished off the
meal by sharing a sticky toffee pudding, again a very good choice. We have
really struck it rich with food choices today. Mmm good!
With the Nagels, we walked
a short distance to the George and Pilgrim pub for cider. The G & P, as it
is called by the locals, is the oldest inn in Glastonbury. Its records date
back to the 1400’s. For the most part, it has retained its history and original
building style, creating an amazing ambience and building structure. Tiny, yet exquisite
stain glass windows welcome guests at the front of the building, a gigantic
fireplace which could feature a real roaring fire is part of the lounge
area. Original timbers and undulating
floors underfoot are also reflective of the age of the building. Over the many
centuries, paupers and kings have all slept here, including King Henry VIII
who, as the story goes, watched from his window in the inn, as the magnificent
Glastonbury Abbey was destroyed at his command. No one who lives here thinks
much of Henry VIII.
As the evening ended for
us, at the final bell in the pub, we bid farewell to the Nagels. We hope that
our paths will cross again in some way, whether in K-W or in the UK. They were
wonderful people to meet and delightful companions. A great way to complete our
day!
Friday,
July 17, 2015
Another trip to the
countryside … Following a leisurely start to the day, we headed out of town to
a pub called Sheppey Inn in Lower Godney. Once we left the main highway, the
roads became narrower and narrower until we began to wonder whether anyone
would actually come this far on these roads just for lunch. We passed through
the village of Godney (blink and you miss it) and the hamlet of Upper Godney
(another half blink) and then travelled for what seemed like a long way on
winding roads until we reached Lower Godney. A surprise awaited us. Lower
Godney was quite a good sized village with several homes all hugging the edge
of the road, a couple of businesses, a school, several B&B’s and, of
course, Sheppey Inn.
Most buildings in Lower
Godney were in very good condition with clean stone structures, brightly
painted doorways, colorful flowers hanging in pots and hedges that were
trimmed. Sheppey Inn is actually an old dairy barn converted to a new use. It
was in very good shape and inviting from the appearance of the exterior. The
only entrance was through a small grey door. Not knowing what we might find on
the other side, it felt a bit like Alice going through the looking glass.
Inside we found a wonderful
bar, fashioned totally from reused materials. We also found several dining
areas, each one occupying a room that would have been used during the dairy
process. At the back of the building was a large outdoor patio and a large room
that might have once been used to store feed and straw. It had been transformed
into a rather modern dining area, yet in keeping with the remainder of the inn.
We chose to eat in that room because of the many windows that allowed the
lovely light of the day pour in.
Drinks, as usual, are
ordered at the bar (an ale shandy and a Camden stout) and carried to the table.
The menu was extensive and innovative. Jim ordered a fish stew with both
shellfish and salmon in it accompanied by a thick sweet potato broth. I ordered
a child’s portion of the soup of the day (pea, mint and broad bean) and a
monkfish burger. The bowl of soup was huge and delicious. The monkfish burger
was a bit unusual – monkfish, thick bacon, a mustard dressing and arugula and a
bun. Not just any bun though. This was a squid ink bun. During preparation,
squid ink is added to the bun batter, turning it totally black. The
presentation of the burger along side fresh plum chutney was exquisite. The
squid had no flavour so it was like a regular sesame seed bun but it certainly
added a unique flair to the meal.
After lunch, we headed
across country on some new roads and came upon the Railway Inn near the
villages of Meare and Ashcott. Sadly, it was closed so we could not go in for a
beverage. We have been told that if we enjoyed Wilkins Cider Farm, we will also
like The Railway Inn. We will go back another day.
Back in Glastonbury, the
first stages of the Magic Festival had begun. Several magicians gathered in
Market Square to perform their shows. It was a pass the hat event. In order to
see the more professional magicians, it was necessary to purchase a ticket that
allowed entry into the Market Building which is where the Magic Festival is
taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Time will tell whether we choose to go or
not.
Tonight we are off to a
movie called A Royal Night based on a true life incident that has been
dramatically fictionalized about Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret as they
grew up. The premise is that they went out on the town on VE Night to celebrate
the end of the war and escaped from their chaperones. It is a very funny movie,
helpful to know it was a spoof before we saw it.
Saturday, July 18, 2015.
This has been a very quiet
yet productive day at home. My project for the day was to work on our photos
and create our photo book for this trip. I know myself well enough to realize
that if I do not create the photo book during our adventure, I certainly will
not get around to creating it at home. I must say that I am very happy with the
results so far. Now all I have to do is keep up the pace for the next week
until we go home.
Jim has continued to work
on our plan for the coming week, our last days in the UK. Time does have a way
of flashing past. We heard from son, Iain, today that he has arrived in London
and will spend the weekend there. We will meet him on Monday evening in Bristol
and head to Wales for a couple of days. Then back to Glastonbury to take Iain
on a whirlwind tour of the best things we have done and see during the time we
have been here. The list is long so those two days will be busy. Then, off to
Stonehenge and on to Gatwick where we will meet Paul and Maggie (our house
exchange partners) for lunch on Saturday. And we fly home on Sunday! Whew!!!
At the moment we are
getting ready to go back out into the countryside in to have a drink and maybe
dinner at the Railway Inn which was closed yesterday. We’ll see what happens
today.
Well, the Railway Inn was
open. And there were actually a few people there, all locals, if we can judge
by the way the conversation ceased as soon as tourists walked through the door.
It was a clean, quiet place with a well supplied bar, including glasses for
each brewery and cidery that were represented behind the counter. Jim ordered a local beer and I ordered a half
a shandy. It did not take us long to
determine that the only food available were the wrapped buns on the counter at
the end of the bar. Not today, thanks.
A few words were spoken as
we sipped our drinks and then we left. Although it was a cute little place in
the midst of the countryside, there was nothing about The Railway Inn that
would entice us to return.
Just up the road was a
large natural area that was a bird sanctuary. Walking and biking trails took
visitors to forested areas, grasslands, bird blinds and wetlands. Patches of
wild flowers including poppies frolicked in the breeze. It was too late in the
day for us to venture into the area. To bad we had not known about this place
earlier in our time in Glastonbury.
Back in town, we went to
the Bocabar for dinner. It is ranked as one of the top two restaurants in
Glastonbury and reservations are highly recommended. It was early Saturday
evening and we were not surprised to find that they were totally booked out.
Happily, though, they said we could have a table if we agreed to be finished
before 8 pm. That was fine with us and we sat down to what was indeed a
sumptuous meal. A delicious pork belly
dish for Jim and I enjoyed a crepe filled with salmon, topped with an Asian
sauce and served with a light salsa and a rocket salad. Both dishes supported
the fact that this was one of Glastonbury’s top restaurants.
Next on our agenda was a
play that was being presented in the Assembly Rooms downtown. It was a local
production called Good Morning, Glastonbury, a spoof on some of the unusual
characteristics and behaviours found in this town. The Assembly Rooms turned out to be a rustic
room in a very old building set aside for community activities and events. To
say that this play was low budget is the understatement. And to say that the
actors were amateurs is without question. The production was a comedy as much
for the silliness of the plot and for the lack of talent on stage as for the
occasional funny line. We left at intermission.
The next episode of Borgen
was waiting for us at home and that was a much more appealing option than Act
Two of Good Morning, Glastonbury!
Sunday July 19, 2015
We set off early to Wells this
morning. The Bishop’s Palace had reopened after the filming extravaganza this
week and we wanted to see it. The day was bright and sunny and we were
energized by the weather.
The Bishop’s Palace proved to be
a delightful place – beautiful gardens, lovely mansion, well manicured green
space – under the gorgeous blue sky it was idyllic. Families were picnicking,
couples were strolling, the outdoor tables at the café were filled with people
enjoying the beautiful day.
We walked past the front of the
Well Cathedral which is very beautiful to Vicar’s Close, oldest residential street in Europe. The original
homes were built in the 1300’s and are all still there. The chimneys added in the
1400’s. These houses were originally occupied by vicars who came to Wells to
sing in the cathedral, up to 8 services per day. The vicars began their musical
ministry in 1100’s. The dining room is in the space above the archway leading
into the street. What a quaint and well maintained street!
We enjoyed a traditional Sunday
roast dinner at Wetherspoons in Wells. It was a very full and attractive plate
of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, potato, vegetables and delectable gravy.
Needless to say, we did not need to eat again today.
It was a beautiful day for a
drive on country roads. It was lovely traversing the sun swept countryside en
route to Bath. Once there, we went directly to my favourite store – Mr. B’s
Emporium of Reading Delights. It was such fun to browse the shelves, read the reviews
written by staff and make selections for many people, including myself. Sadly,
we stayed a bit too long. Sally Lunn’s had closed before we could get there. No
world famous buns or cream tea for us today. Fortunately we have indulged before
as well as taken in other Bath highlights and … we know we will return
It was a lovely drive back home
where we spent a quiet evening doing laundry, catching up on the diary, and
watching another couple of episodes of Borgen, a Norwegian series somewhat
similar to West Wing. We must finish this DVD before we leave. It has to be
returned to the library.
Monday, July 20, 2015
We enjoyed our full English breakfast
at the Gastrobar, a highly recommended café in Glastonbury. While we ate, our
freshly washed clothes were tumbling in the dryers at the nearby laundromat.
Once they were dry and we had finished our coffees, we made a quick trip back
to the house to deliver laundry before heading for Bristol.
It was a rather soggy day. There
was no doubt we would need sweaters and umbrellas as the day went on. We drove
on the freeway to Bristol, a nice change and much faster than the country roads
we experienced in recent days.
The first thing we did was take
the full tour on the Hop on Hop Off Bus. Due to the rain we were not able to
ride upstairs with the open-topped roof.
Mostly we sat inside, often only people on bus, and had our own
personalized tour. We travelled through and heard stories about the city
centre, the suspension bridge, churches, theatres, old dockworkers homes,
elegant, well preserved and high end homes and a provate school along the way.
We then took a boat tour of the
old harbor area. A new shipping harbor has been constructed a few miles closer
to sea. The old area now houses sailing yachts, retired ships transformed into
nightclubs or high end restaurants, permanent houseboats, water taxis, ships of
historical importance open to public and many other vessels. It has once again
become a bustling harbor and a focal point of a city in transformation.
And still it rained …. We sought refuge in a dockside restaurant
with drinks and reading material. We finally felt compelled to order a light
late lunch as a way of justifying occupying the seats for so long. Finally the
rain relented somewhat and we returned to our car. We created out own personal
driving tour of city. We drove over suspension bridge, explored high end
residential neighbourhoods, and tried to find new shipping docks to no avail.
We could see them in the distance but we could find no road that led us there.
It was time to make our way to Bristol
Parkway train station to meet Iain’s train. Iain has been in London for a few
days and is now joining us for a short road trip into Wales. We headed across
the bridge that spans the Bristol Channel and took us to Wales. Our first stop
was for dinner at the Bell Hanger in Chepstow, a Wetherspoon’s pub. Then It was
but a short drive to our hotel along motorway. It was lovely to be out of the
car and into our room, all the while catching up with Iain and his London
adventures.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
We started our day looking for Chepstow
Castle. We were in the small town of Chepstow so how hard can it be to find a
castle. Well …. Let me tell you. The town is built on a very steep slope so there
is no visibility beyond the row of buildings on the side of the street. Signs
are limited. We finally learned that the ‘I’ sign for information also led to
the castle. And, the street are all one way and eventually lead to a one lane
access point through the ancient gate to the city. Lovely as the gate was, the
fifth time we passed through it was far less thrilling than the first. I am not going to share the conversation in
the car at that point!
Eventually, we found that castle!
At the very bottom of the hill! Not where I would generally expect to find a
castle!!! But there it was and it was well worth the struggle to get there.
Chepstow Castle was built on the bank of a river and into the side of a hill.
In order to explore the castle, it was necessary to continuously walk uphill.
Each room or section was on a level higher than the one below. Only very fit
people would have been able to live here …. Or you would get fit quickly! The
exterior castle walls and the walls of each interior space were very much
intact. There were still sections of the structure that were stable enough to
climb narrow staircases and actually get inside. The original doors of the
castle, dating from the approximately 1200, were on display in one of the
interior, sheltered spaces. It is always a marvel to me when I encounter
something that is so very, very old. It humbles me when I think that in Canada
we consider anything over 100 years to be very, very old. Perspective …. That
is what history is about.
After a very pleasant wander
through the castle, we left Chepstow behind and travelled toward Tintern Abbey
along a beautiful Welsh highway. Once we got on the correct road, the drive to
the Abbey was gentle and short. And the Abbey was impressive.
Built along the side of a river,
deep in a valley, the walls of the Abbey stood majestically in the sunlight.
What an amazing structure it must have been. Most of the walls were intact
along with many of the columns. The windows and roof were gone, allowing the
sunshine to pour through. It was glorious to wander in and out of the shadows
and imagine the routine of the monks each day … where they worshipped, where
they ate, where they prayed, where they slept. What a hard life, yet a deeply
spiritual life they must have had … and all within this amazing structure in an
absolutely beautiful and wild landscape.
The nearby cafes and gift shops were relatively discrete and did not
take away from the beauty of the experience.
Next we travelled to Monmouth
along another winding, shaded roadway Just outside Monmouth, we found the road
to Kymin, a National Trust property at the very top of a high, high hill
(perhaps considered a mountain in Wales). We made a sharp right turn and began
our drive up the narrow, one-lane road. It was a worry to consider what we
might do if we were to meet a vehicle coming down the same road. Happily, part
way up, we caught up with another vehicle that was also making its way to the
top. We followed as closely as we could, enjoying the fact that it was running
interference for us and would work out the details if we met a car coming down.
Happily, we made it all the way to the top without issue and gratefully parked
in the large parking lot at the site. (We also managed to leave Kymin at the same
time as another vehicle and deliberately followed it to the bottom. What a
relief it was to have someone ahead of us and also to make it all the way down
without encountering anyone coming up!)
Kymin is the property at the very
top of the hill. It provides vistas in every direction. The day was clear so
the visibility was amazing!! In one direction, a series of hills, a patchwork
of fields of crops, cattle, hap, woodlot. Such a variety of colour and texture
in the landscape. In the other direction were the town of Monmouth and the Wye
River valley far below us. Beyond the town was another array of agricultural
land and in the distance a beautiful set of rolling hills. What a beautiful
setting!
At the very top of Kymin is the
Round House, so named because the house was actually built as a round house.
This building was constructed in the early 1800’s by the Monmouth Picnickers
Club and was used for their weekly meetings including a sumptuous meal,
prepared in the kitchens in the Round House.
In its hay day, there was a bowling green, stables, picnic grounds and a
large playing field on the site. Now the house is primarily used for weddings
and other special events and the surrounding grounds are open to the public for
picnics, walks and general relaxation.
We carried on travelling through
South Wales, this time headed for the World Heritage Area of Blaenavon.
Blaenavon was the site where iron (1787 – 1904) and coal (1810 – 1980) were
first discovered in Wales. These were
the first significant mining operations in the world for iron and coal and influenced
mining and manufacturing in other major areas such as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
It was a thriving industry here for many, many years, attracting workers from
all over Great Britain as well as Europe. The production of iron ceased in 1904
while coal continued to be harvested until 1980. The World Heritage Museum in
Blaenavon provides a wonderful display of the timeline and history of the area.
The original mining buildings have also been restored and are open to visitors.
We travelled through some
surprising landscapes in this area. Under gray skies, we crossed bleak moors
covered with struggling grasses which supplied the food for the roaming herds
of sheep and cattle. We were afforded amazing
views while the wind howled across the landscape. Grids crossed the road to
separate herds of animals from wandering into other farms
From the moors, we travelled east
along the Heads of the Valleys Road, an area where all the rivers converge from
Brecon Beacons National Park to the north. The rolling countryside and the Welsh
mountains provided beautiful landscapes along the rise and fall of the roadway.
Sadly, we encountered very heavy traffic on the road and lots of construction, reminiscent
of home.
We arrived at our hotel (Days
Inn) about 6 and gratefully left the car behind for a short time. We used Trip
Advisor to find a suitable place for dinner. We were not disappointed. We
enjoyed our meal at The Star Inn in Treoes (just outside Cardiff). The food was
excellent and the service was memorable. Three young women were tripping over
each other to serve the Canadian table. It was cute to see them negotiate who
would describe the specials, who would take our order, who would deliver the
food, who would check in to make sure we were happy, who would replenish the
drinks. Maybe it was the presence of a handsome, young Canadian man since Jim
and I have never independently attracted such attentive service. Thanks, Iain!
As usual, en route to the
restaurant, the GPS guided us along a most interesting tour of countryside. We
travelled along stretches (miles) of narrow high hedged roadways, once again happy
that we did not meet any oncoming vehicles. We got totally lost at one point
and had to stop and ask at a house how to get to the Star Inn (so much for GPS
reliability!). On our return trip, Jim was happy to take us back along the same
rods. Iain and I both objected to going
back to hotel along the same roads as dark was descending. Indeed, we found a
route back to the hotel without the help of the GPS and without travelling
along narrow hedge-lined roads. It was much faster and less nerve-tracking to
say the least. I think that there is a setting on the GPS that encourages the
most circuitous route possible!
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
We had a frustrating start to
this day. After many, many wrong turns and confusion on the roundabouts, we did
eventually make it it to Cardiff!
Breakfast (now lunch) at another
Wetherspoons Pub. This pub chain provides modestly priced, consistently good food
and the pubs are generally easily to find. You order your drinks and food at
the bar and carry it yourself to your table. It is still entertaining to me to
be easting my breakfast surrounded by people, men and women, who have dropped
in for a pint of ale or lager. They sip it like a cup of coffee and then make
their way about their daily business. Prohibition in Canada has certainly
influenced the way we look at alcohol consumption!
We planned our day. iain wanted
to go to the Cardiff Castle and Jim and I wanted to ride on the Cardiff Hop On
Hop Off bus. Absolutely complementary activities. So off we went in our
different directions.
The bus tour was great. Nice
weather allowed us to ride up top, excellent for good viewing as well as easy
photographs. We passed through many parts of Cardiff – city centre, government
area, university, docklands, business area and back to the castle. An interesting feature of Cardiff is that it
was only developed as a significant city in the 1800’s so, like at home, there
is nothing there that would be considered really old. And as the city
modernizes and areas are redeveloped, there is far less concern about pulling
‘old’ buildings down to make way for the new ones. It creates an interesting
mix of older, traditional buildings and modern buildings with interesting
designs. When land was donated for the
construction of government buildings, university buildings and some museums,
there was also a restriction put in place that they must be built with Portland
stone, limestone from Dorset. This provides a similarity in colour although the
facades of these buildings are quite varied in style due to the ease of carving
and shaping the stone.
We met Iain in a nearby pub and
then spent some time in a Welsh gift shop. Iain had thoroughly enjoyed his tour
of the castle and found the history very interesting.
Back into the car and we were on
our way to back to England and Somerset. The weather lightened as we traveled
along and soon after crossing the impressive bridge over the Bristol Channel,
the sky cleared and the sun poured through. It was lovely.
We had time to take Iain to a few
interesting places as we made our way to Glastonbury. First stop was Cheddar
Gorge, a steep and precipitous gorge that is different from any other landscape
in Somerset. (We still did not buy any cheese in Cheddar.) From there we drove
on narrow country roads to Wilkins Cider Farm where we indulged in the
mandatory mug of cider, examined the barn, and gasped at the spiderwebs that
hung from every surface. Another interesting destination in Somerset.
Our final stop before home was at
Knights Fish and Chips. We had eaten dinner at Knights the day we arrived and
wanted to share the experience with Iain. The food was delicious and the
history of the building quite awesome. And then we were homeward bound where we
spent a very pleasant evening reading, writing, napping and enjoying the views
from the windows on this perfect summer evening.
