Day 8
I am sitting in a room at the George Hotel in Amesbury, with the sounds of a choir from the Methodist church next door coming through the window. The hotel is a 17th c. coaching inn. Charles Dickens once stayed here, and mentioned it in one of his books.
We had breakfast in our hotel on the Isle of Wight. A very holiday-camp type atmosphere, with us as the only non-Brits. We felt sort of out of place. We immediately bolted and got the 11:00 ferry. (Ed. Note: We got in trouble for sitting at a breakfast table reserved for one of the “weekly” holidaymakers.)
We came right to Amesbury and checked in. We then got out our “Walking Britain” guide, after lunch of fish and chips, and a hamburger.
We then took an “easy” walk from town to Stonehenge, involving 2 “detours” (wrong turns). The round trip totaled around 7 miles. We had wanted to take the bus back from Stonehenge, but missed the last one. (Our guide had the time wrong.)
It was around 80 degrees as we started the walk, and sunny. Jill got hot, and tired later in the walk, but remained a trouper.
The walk passed through farms, gates, etc., and over the River Avon twice. Saw a pheasant, and heard lots of rustling in the hedges.
Our first view of Stonehenge was from over a mile away, sunlit through some brush far across the fields. (Ed. Note: What a great way to approach Stonehenge, via a long walk across the fields, with no sign of civilization.)
We had breakfast in our hotel on the Isle of Wight. A very holiday-camp type atmosphere, with us as the only non-Brits. We felt sort of out of place. We immediately bolted and got the 11:00 ferry. (Ed. Note: We got in trouble for sitting at a breakfast table reserved for one of the “weekly” holidaymakers.)
We came right to Amesbury and checked in. We then got out our “Walking Britain” guide, after lunch of fish and chips, and a hamburger.
We then took an “easy” walk from town to Stonehenge, involving 2 “detours” (wrong turns). The round trip totaled around 7 miles. We had wanted to take the bus back from Stonehenge, but missed the last one. (Our guide had the time wrong.)
It was around 80 degrees as we started the walk, and sunny. Jill got hot, and tired later in the walk, but remained a trouper.
The walk passed through farms, gates, etc., and over the River Avon twice. Saw a pheasant, and heard lots of rustling in the hedges.
Our first view of Stonehenge was from over a mile away, sunlit through some brush far across the fields. (Ed. Note: What a great way to approach Stonehenge, via a long walk across the fields, with no sign of civilization.)
It clouded over and cooled off at this point, which was welcome. We approached Stonehenge via a wide path across the plain, which was all grass.
The monument itself is amazing, when you consider the distance the stones had to be moved and raised. I hope the photos come out well; the light was sort of interesting, though the monument itself was not in the sun.
The monument itself is amazing, when you consider the distance the stones had to be moved and raised. I hope the photos come out well; the light was sort of interesting, though the monument itself was not in the sun.
Unfortunately we had to walk an extra 2 miles home due to no bus. But while we were waiting for the bus, who should I see but Tom O’Hara, SPAC New York’s Division Manager! We shook hands and took photos. He was in kind of a hurry as he was on a tour bus from London and had only 20 minutes at Stonehenge. Amazing!!! (Ed. Note: this still ranks as our most amazing travel coincidence ever, and happened at the beginning of a friendship that continues to this day. Neither one of us knew the other was in England.)
We headed straight to the pub for a pint on our return. Had the place to ourselves and chatted with the bartender for quite a while. He had just finished working a reception this afternoon for a couple, one of whom works for Drexel Burnham in Manhattan.
Haven’t decided where to go for dinner yet. The food so far hasn’t been as bad as we’d been told. Last night we couldn’t get into Henry VIII as it was booked, so went to Le Provence Cottage, which was acceptable. Went to a pub afterwards and walked home, down footpaths, in the pitch dark.
Things the British Do Well
Haven’t decided where to go for dinner yet. The food so far hasn’t been as bad as we’d been told. Last night we couldn’t get into Henry VIII as it was booked, so went to Le Provence Cottage, which was acceptable. Went to a pub afterwards and walked home, down footpaths, in the pitch dark.
Things the British Do Well
- History
- Pubs
- Road Signs
- Roundabouts (no traffic lights)
- Vauxhall car
- Public toilets
- Public phones
- Public footpaths
- Scotch
- Bathrooms (plumbing)
- Updated hotel facilities
- Radio stations
- Color coordinated clothes
- Parking
- Carpets
- Lampshades