eor | not a month yet

Finally managed to get this written:

Tuesday morning we started out fairly early walking to Bath. It was a fine morning as we walked along the canal path past Avoncliff and past the Claverton Pumping Station, a waterwheel that pumps water up from the river to the canal. Unfortunately it wasn't opened, so we could only look at the outside. Then we proceeded through Bathampton,which was very pretty and then into Bath, which isn't too shabby itself. It was a long walk first thing in the morning, 9.9 miles,and ended up taking us a bit longer than expected, 3 1/2 hours. Shortly after arriving at the train station we met up with K. We started with a cup of tea then wandered up to the Roman baths.

The Roman baths are done up well, with lots of information. I enjoyed seeing all the engineering that went into the making the baths and how much of it is still intact. The raised, heated floors were amazing, as was the fact that the plumbing of the baths is for the most part still intact. It is hard to conceive of a tall roof over the main bath, but that's how it was in Roman times.

Upon leaving the baths we went for a bit to eat at a little pub, because the Tibetan place we wanted to go was closed. Once we were revived we took a walk across town to the Royal Crescent then back down through the Victoria Park and downhill to return where we started. We bid K. adieu, made a brief stop at an Internet cafe (our first connectivity all week), then took the brief train ride back to BOA. The evening was a lazy time, with much couch sitting.

Wednesday we stuck about BOA. Visited the local bookstore where we each scored a book. Visited the one local antique store which had very nice things and corresponding prices. Stopped in at the sweets shop where I had a clotted cream milkshake , D. had a huge scoop of clotted cream ice cream and if we remember right M. had a toffee ice cream. Clotted cream icecream is major yum, although I can't think of anyway to describe it besides sweet and delicate.

Thursday morning we headed down hill to see the market. It was a small market, with only 6 or 8 vendors. However, the essentials were there: the cheese vendor had excellent cheeses and there was a pastry/baked goods vendor that even had a few gluten-free selections. I was bad and bought a pork pie because I was in England and had to have a pork pie. Just after we arrived the heavens opened and A. suggested we go to the tea room to wait out the rain.

The tea room is in an old building, with very low ceilings and a front wall that bulges visibly toward the street. The interior is done up with lots of pictures of Victoria. I wasn't able to find any in which she was smiling, though I'm not sure I saw them all. We each got our own pot of tea and D.and I split a slice of chocolate cake. Thus began my day of eating things that would not make my stomach happy: chocolate cake and 4cups of black tea! The tea was very good and was a good demonstration of just how much difference a particular blend can make. We had a nice little sit down at the tea shop and when we left it was less inclined to rain. D. and I ended up taking the train to Trowbridge so I could check on work issues. When we got back to the cottage we split the pork pie (also not good for my stomach) and then I added a rum and coke just to make the bloated, roiling pit of acid that was my stomach complete. In the evening, we walked down to the train station to meet S. & S. They had brought us multiple varieties of cider and crisps, so much animated talk around the kitchen table was accomplished.

Friday we met up with S & S again,stopped in at the Saxon church, then set out with the idea of a walk along the canal, but once again sought shelter in the tea house. It is truly a great way to spend a couple pounds. We did make it up to the tithe barn and then down the tow path to the Cross Guns where we sheltered from the rain with a couple of rounds of ciders and a lovely meal. I had fish and chips despite the fact that it is not good for me, because it was Friday, I was in England, and it's a Friday thing in England. By the time we got back to BOA we had gotten rained on enough for the day, so we sheltered in the cottage. Once in the cottage we were able to look out the window at the sun,but we had fun sitting around chatting.

Saturday morning we got up early to catch a fairly early train from BOA to Bath Spa, Bath Spa to London Paddington, tube from Paddington to Heathrow, lunch at Heathrow after getting through security. A trouble free flight of just over six hours. Almost an hour waiting for a bus to Portland, two hours to Portland. Twenty minutes drive from Portland to Freeport. Supper, exhaustion.

Not mentioned in detail is all the wandering we did around town. We wandered out this way, then this way, then that way. We were alway staking a different road just for the sake of taking a different road. One of the good things about being on vacation is just walking around getting lost is part of the requirement.