Crack...

After 4 miles, we arrived in Bradford (i was told that any town with a "Ford" in its name meant that you could 'ford' the river at that point) and had a quick look see.  Gorgeous place - former factory town of Avon Tires.  Then the women insisted we stop for a tea and scone.  Of course, accompanying the scone is the most dreaded English invention ever... Clotted Cream.  Imagine a dairy product with the consistency of softened butter, but the taste of whipped cream.  My sisters took to this like starving dogs to a steak.  They FORCED me to join them...

Heart attack on a stick.

The bus stop where I waited for a return trip to Limpley Stoke.  My sisters walked back.  

A small church in Bradford.  

A walk to Bradford-on-Avon

Part of my new-found religion of "Getting off my Ass" has found me in the need for activity.  I've been doing three days a week @ DYAD Fitness (Fitness Over 40!) since October.  I sleep better, my joints don't hurt and overall, I feel happier.  Cutting out working 40 hours a week helps also.  So, we decided to walk to Bradford-on-Avon, which is 4 miles away.  We walked along a canal, which paralleled the Avon River.  This country is all about walking and bicycling.

A local told us to cut across a farmer's field as a short cut to the canal path.  When in doubt, ask - a traveller's commandment.

Flat easy walk.  This canal boat is ready for the boneyard.

A beautiful canal boat.  These are available to rent, if you are feeling adventurous.  

A beautiful home

Girl trip...

After the Roman baths, we headed to lunch.  After lunch, we haaaaaaddddd to go to the fashion museum.  Oh gawd...

So, after that short trip, the women folk haaaaadddddd to go the Jane Austen museum.  Faa get about it - i headed to the pub.  Was looking for a shot of Grey Goose, with a lime (doctor's orders), but the bar keeps were swamped.  Instead, I wandered into Jolly's Tea Room.  Here's what I had.  

More Bath...

The coolest sight we saw on Saturday was the Roman Baths site.  Imagine backpacking for a week.  By day 4, you are getting pretty grody.  You would pay anything for a warm, hot bath - right?  Now imagine camping out your whole life.  A hot bath would only be available to the rich people. Except if you lived near the hot springs in Bath.  There you could take advantage of the hot water anytime you wanted.  What a treat.  So, I sat on the edge of this huge pool, and tried to imagine sitting here 2000 years ago.

On the walkway above the pool

The edge of the pool

The stream that feeds the pool.

Bath...

Rolled out of bed, breakfast, and a bus ride to Bath.  A beautiful town, all done in "Bath Stone".  It looks like this...

Spending cash like sailors returning from a WestPac.  $30 for a cell phone SIM, $15 admission to Bath, $20 for lunch, $13 for groceries... those are British pounds, not dollars.  Currently it's $1.28 US to a pound.  Most importantly, though... a pint is around 4+ pounds.  That's about 6 bucks.  

Here...

Flew all night. Towncar picked us up and delivered us to Limpley Stoke. Out for a bite.

Feel like warm garbage...

Bath tomorrow

Sea town

PDX to SEA in 27 minutes.  Now we're talking. We landed at gate s3 and our Virgin flight leaves from s9. We have 1.5 h to kill, so we are having a light bite at some fish place. BTW, I highly recommend afternoon flights. PDX was deadsville.

England 2017

This is a test, using Blogger on an iPad.  It may be a pain...

Test picture.
I wonder how this looks

When will I know

Leaving Thursday 4/27

Lisbon - fall 2014

Test... test