March 28 - April 12, 2003
Being a trip to England with Awanna, Rebecca and Gil including: the Cotswolds, the Southwest, the South and London.
I left Wichita at 6:00PM, while the others were making their way from San Francisco. This is Chicago's O'Hare airport (United terminal).
Illinois
United Kingdom
The queue for Immigration (passport checks) and then off to collect the bags.
We all managed to meet up in the airport, and being well famished, had our first meal in England at the airport Wendy's.
England
We picked up a rental Skoda at EuroCar, and then headed out by the most direct way to Evesham. There would be plenty of time to see the sites, later on. This is our cottage (Thatchers End) in Evesham.
The cottage was quite old (centuries) and there was little square about any of its corners. But, it was in excellent shape, and quite comfortable.
Walking down to the river (Avon).
St. Andrew's church on the ground of the old Abbey.
The National Motorcycle Museum is just outside of Coventry (at the site of the old Jaguar factory).
The Old Ladies Alms House in Coventry.
The Coventry Cathedral was infamously bombed in World War 2. The remains have been stabilized, and a new (far more modern) cathedral has been built next door.
The school in Rugby (the home of the game by the same name, and the origin of Soccer--or at least the name, if not the game).
The Coventry Bees are a team in the Speedway Motorcycle Racing League. Three of their top riders are from the United States (where speedway racing is almost unknown).
A walk to a local Evesham Mill, and then a returning loop.
Dinner in our cottage with the Martins.
Walking around town.
A tithe barn in Middle Littleton from the 13th century.
Stratford on Avon.
I purchased (in the store on the right) an elaborate small screwdriver for my glasses, which I continue to carry in my motorcycle pack.
Boating on the River Avon.
There is no mistaking that this is Shakespeare's town.
Lunch at the Red Horse Inn.
Faggot and mushy peas.
Cirencester; a Roman town.
Walking to the Roman amphitheater.
These hills are old, and once formed the boundary of a Roman amphitheater.
The Abbey grounds at Lacock.
Rolling rocks--an ancient stone circle.
The impossibly picturesque Blenheim Palace.
The Broadway Tower (built 1794 along Saxon lines) near the town of Snowshill, above Broadway.
I walked down to the town of Broadway (at the bottom of the hill), while the others took the car.
Broadway.
This was a day spent walking (25 miles, as it turned out).
Some was along streets, but most was on paths.
Still climbing to the top of the hill.
Finally, at the top.
A well-marked public path.
That's the village of Snowshill down there. I'd be walking through there in just a bit.
The pub was closed for food (although drinks were available).
A needed rest in Broadway.
Walking across the field (you don't always need a path)...
...and, then back in Evesham.
Up early the next morning we drove to Wells.
The spectacular Wells Cathedral.
This is one of the oldest clocks in England (I would see the still-working mechanism a few days later in London).
Our guide, Brenda.
Notice how the stairs flow to the left and to the right.
Brenda knew everything!
The Bishop's Palace.
Dinner at the Fountain Inn.
Where to go, next?
At the open market in Wells.
Painted ceilings (or colorfully painted interiors for that matter) are not common in English churches (blame enthusiastic reformers), although they once were the norm.
The Abbey ruins at Glastonbury.
Cornwall
The otter reserve near Launceston.
At rest at the Launceston B&B.
St. Mary Magdalene Church.
If you toss a penny over your shoulder, and it lands (and stays) on the good lady's back, you'll have a new set of clothes (or some other form of good luck, I suppose).
The castle in Launceston.
Our B&B.
Walking in Tintagel.
The ruins of Tintagel Castle.
Lunch at the local pub.
Across to the southern coast and Smallicombe and on to the town of Sidmouth for dinner at Ali Babba's pizza.
The B&B at Smallicombe.
This is the road we drove in on...
An early morning walk from Smallicombe.
The sheep like to be talked to.
Northleigh church.
Joseph Hull (on the list) is an ancestor.
At the Yeovil Fleet Air Arm museum.
A type of aircraft construction developed for the Concorde.
The Martin's backyard. A very enjoyable dinner of pasties, potatoes, salad and bread pudding.
Reviewing the day's photographs.
Our B&B in Salisbury.
Brought to you by Dennis.
Our guide: Dennis Martin.
Salisbury Cathedral.
This time, we took the steeple tour.
The views from the steeple.
Our rental car is returned at Heathrow.
At the Westland Hotel in London.
Taking the boat up the Thames River.
Hampton Court.
We came back on the train. This is Waterloo Station.
The views from the London Eye.
My day for more walking. This is the Kew Bridge Museum, which covers the sewer and water system of London. Perhaps it's not on tourist's lists (their loss) as I was the only one here.
The history of porcelain; or at least one use of it.
There were some extraordinarily large steam pumping engines on display.
More walking, and more trains. This time it's to the Imperial War Museum and the Holocaust Museum.
Walking back across the river to meet up with the others at the Savoy lobby.
The royal Drury Lane Theater for "My Fair Lady."
Awanna and Daniel do some walking. This is (1st) the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square.
Then, (2nd) the Albert & Victoria Museum (including a special Art Deco exhibit).
In drawer after drawer, it's the history of hand work.
And, then (3rd) the Science Museum.
The Babbage "difference engine" is just too stunning to believe. This was a mechanical computer of mind-boggling capability.
The mechanism of the old clock seen earlier.
Back at Heathrow, and then away.
