Day 6
Friday, December 19, 1997
The Cotswolds in style -- continued!
Some of the more memorable stops included:
Upper and Lower Slaughter
I love the names of some of these villages!
Apparently, these villages used to specialize in the "processing" of the sheep.
The "Upper" and "Lower" nomenclature dealt with which village was further up
the hill from the other.
Stow-on-the-Wold
Yet another picture-perfect Cotswold village!
We stopped for tea and to discuss how to structure the tour.
I step outside to take a few pictures and get a better look around.
There is a really cool, and very narrow alleyway between two of the buildings.
I don't know why... but I thought it was worth a picture!
Broadway
Perhaps the most well known of the villages, Broadway has a picturesque "High Street"
that runs through the center of town.
It is here that we stop for lunch at a pub next to a very old hotel.
After a fine pub lunch, we take a look at the hotel, since Fred is planning on adding
their services to the tour package.
The rooms in the hotel are all different and very distinct in their "Shakespearean" decorations.
A large fireplace in one of the drawing rooms (the original kitchen, we're told)
is puffing out just a little bit too much smoke for our taste, so we step outside.
FINALLY!!!
I get a picture of the "No Fouling" sign I wanted...
Now, if I can just get the "Old People Crossing" sign, my journeys will be a success!
<g>
Chipping Camden
A very old marketplace in the center of town provided the local farmers
a permanent, covered area to sell their wares.
Bourton-on-the-Water
This is a stunning small village with a lovely stream that flows through the center of town.
We stop for a moment, so that I can walk onto the main bridge (which really isn't all
that large) and take a picture across the park and towards the main portion of town.
It was only after I turned around that I saw the better view with the
small waterfall and nearby old stables.
Brian and Sarah are very nice and patient with me as I slip into "tourist mode."
We have some nice conversations about the area and "things British" and "things
American."
We even find a few things in the area that they had not done before!
We crossed a small ford (low water crossing) and saw a functional post box from
King George's reign (remember that we saw a box from Queen Victoria's era at
the end of the Edwards' lane last time!).
As I returned to the BMHC, I gave Fred my opinions of the day.
Since these tours will be offered in times of the year when fog won't be so much
of a problem, this should be a very popular (and profitable!) tour!
I bid Fred farewell and thank Brian and Sarah for a fine afternoon.
Dinner this evening takes a dramatic, but welcome, change.
We stop at an authentic "Chip Shop" for some true English fish and chips (so
authentic, that they're wrapped in paper!).
We take the yummy smelly bounty to Mill Cottage, the Edwards' 500 year old home.
They have recently made an addition that contains the new master bedroom and bathroom
and the dining room.
John's brother, Dave (the "Viking"), was the architect and had to have the plans
approved in advance, as the cottage is a registered historic building.
The fish and chips are devoured quickly and we settle in for a quick (ha!)
and lively game of the UK version (!) of Trivial Pursuit.
Mark and Roger emerge the victors!!!!
Since it is now very late and we had... um... "sampled" some incredibly
smooth 15-year old Scotch, John and Marianne offer the spare bedroom for the
night, rather than returning to King's Court.
Given the opportunity to sleep in a 500 year old cottage, I eagerly accept.
This way for more adventures!!!!!
return to the trench