Tag Archives: Bath

Sunday, June 7 — Moving Day

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Well, it does appear we have minor colds, but so far it’s nothing like what our travel pals had (have?). Mostly we cough at night, and that’s about it. So it goes.

After rising I got most everything packed up: I just had, as usual, to wait for the toothbrushes and toothpaste and those can’t be put away until after breakfast. It appeared that we would avoid rain as we head down to the train station. Do we trust our weather apps. Nope!

Side Note: I purchased a lanyard for my phone. This is going to sound strange, but when we are above a river, or on a high spot, I have this irrational fear that I’ll throw it. This was especially the case when we were in Spain and Portugal and climbed any towers. I know, I know, it’s irrational and goofy, but you are reading my blog and some might suggest I’m irrational and goofy! I also thought it would be a good idea due to the phone thefts we’ve read about: cyclists or those on scooters will pass quickly and grab someone’s phone. Well, so much for my idea: the darn clasps that connect phone to lanyard don’t always hold. Yesterday I reached for my phone and it was just sitting in my pocket, the lanyard was hanging around my neck, phone-less. Note to self: find a different solution!

After I started this blog and Dan showered we went down to our 8:30 breakfast. It’s our final “free” breakfast, so while I thought I should just do something simple I opted to get that final egg breakfast. After this I’m sure we will do much smaller morning meals. (Heck, I don’t do morning meals at home, after all.) So Eggs Royale it was. Not that I could finish …

When breakfast was completed and all packing was completed (yes, mom, I brushed my teeth!), we were ready for the walk to the train. It was primarily downhill so not a big deal.

We got to the station and found our platform. Goodbye Bath. Thanks for no rain today. And a lovely papaver.

This first bit was a short, maybe thirteen minute train ride and we got on and found our assigned seats. Hello, coach A seats 9 and 10.

Only one shot from the train:

And then we arrived at Bristol Temple Meads.

We had a short wait for our train so we purchased some crisps and water (later, when I looked for it, my water was gone. I don’t know when it fell out of my daypack, but oh well.). Then we went to platform 5 to wait. When the train (a Cross Country train) arrived we had to wait in line to get on. And wait. And wait. I started to wonder if we would or even could get on! When we finally manage to squeeze in to the vestibule we were stuck for a bit, but hey, we have reserved seats so no problem.

Except.

Dan couldn’t put his larger luggage on the rack. People had piled their smaller pieces there rather than putting them above their heads in the smaller luggage racks. He even asked one person if he could move hers and apparently that wasn’t going to happen. He told me to go on ahead so I made my way to our seats. People were sitting in them. I asked them if they had reserved seats and they didn’t, so they got up. I put my small luggage where my legs should have been, thinking Dan would arrive and help me put it above. But he could never move from the vestibule! I finally told one of the women who had been sitting in our seats that she may as well sit down because he couldn’t get there. She, in fact, had her small luggage on the rack he needed and she said he could move it, but it would have taken more than that piece to get his to fit. Meanwhile, I had no place to put my feet! She had room in front of her, but I was cramped and uncomfortable. I ended up putting one leg on top of my luggage and the other slightly in her space. It was pretty darn miserable, but how could I complain? Dan was stuck in a cramped spot with other people after entering the coach and had to stand the whole time. He wasn’t at all happy when I saw him slightly over an hour later. In fact he was angry. When Dan is angry that’s a pretty big thing, as he simply doesn’t get angry!

Advice: if you have the chance to take Cross Country Trains DON’T. Period. End of story. They overbook, they don’t come by to help anyone who can’t store luggage, and it’s a miserable ride if all that happens.

When that ride was done it was Hello Birmingham. Or at least hello Birmingham train station.

Once we — especially Dan — survived that ordeal, we had train number three to catch. It’s always an adventure figuring this stuff out. Down a lift, up a lift, down a lift … you never know until you know. But our platform was found, and after we sat for a bit (Dan certainly needed to sit!), we went and stood at the track, ready to climb aboard. We had no reserved seats for this train, but thankfully there were a lot of seats. We got on, settled in, and rested. (I may have fallen asleep, in fact.)

Photos from the train:

And then we arrived. Hello Shrewsbury!

We opted to walk to our lodging, as it was an eight minute walk. Of course it was uphill, but we managed.

We are staying at Cromwell’s Tap House. Yes, it’s a pub, but they have five rooms. We are in room five and, according to the man who checked us in, it’s his favorite. (Hm. Maybe every room is his favorite, depending upon which key he is holding?) Due to being weary, we opted for dinner at the pub. Turns out the latest serving is 4:00, so early meal it is.

Our room is spacious. Our room is also very old and funky. And the floor is about as unlevel as can be. The bathroom floor is even more bizarre. It’s a very old building and that’s how these old buildings can be. But hey, it’s home for a couple of days so there you go. But the photos make it look quite nice, I think.

The view from our window (I’d love to stay there!):

When it was close to 4:00 we went back downstairs to dinner. While we could have had the Sunday roast, we opted instead for fish ‘n chips and nothing more (well, drinks, but no appetizers or anything). Typical me forgot the photo until I’d taken a bite or two.

And yes, Patty has ketchup with her chips. Bad, bad me.

Finishing up we went back to our room for a bit. I could barely make it up the stairs I was so full and so very tired. I knew, though, that sleeping now would mean no sleep later. Dan apparently didn’t feel the same. He conked out and I went and took a shower due to getting antsy legs. (Sure, I know you don’t need to know this, but I write what I write, wouldn’t you know?!)

After my shower I looked out and saw windshield wipers going and umbrellas out. I opted to blog more and then … whoops! … I fell asleep. I think our colds are making us more tired. I’m guessing the train issues might have added to the weariness.

Eventually, though, we went out to do a wee bit of exploring. And yes, it was raining. Some of the buildings here look like they could fall over any minute. The last one shown below was one of those.

We ran out of steam and walked back to our lodging. I felt so dehydrated and Dan said he felt the same, so we first went into the pub and had some non-alcoholic beers. It was nice to sit and relax a bit more.

Then back up the wobbly, uneven stairs we went. I finished writing this and Dan did Dan stuff.

Now I will attempt to stay up at least a little bit longer, as it’s too early to sleep. We’ll see how I manage, though.

Ciao for now!

Oh … and I really failed my watch today:

8,346 steps, 3.28 miles, 3 flights climbed (This last is totally incorrect: we climbed a flight at our B&B, we’ve climbed these stairs three times, and we climbed up the hill. Silly watch!)

Saturday, June 6

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After a bit of a restless night (my watch’s sleep report was disappointed in me although it was being gentle) I woke and told Dan I would do a pj laundry shower. Laundry showers are such fun. Or maybe not. But hey, pjs and I are now clean machines.

Side Note: Ah bathrooms! Ours have run the gamut. Large and small. Old and fairly new. And, on this trip, toilets that are rather persnickety. Seems like we have to baby them. I have several suggestions for places we’ve stayed: fix those toilets! Install a motion detector nightlight in the bathroom. And please please nix those silly little trashcans that you have to open with your foot. They are annoying. That, that is all. I’m sure things will all be fixed on our next trip.

But Side Note #2: Dan and I both travel with motion detector nightlights so we place them in spots to light our way and light the bathroom when necessary.

After starting this blog entry, annoying you with my Side Notes, showering, and dressing, it was time for breakfast so downstairs we went. For once we went lighter — poached eggs on toast. Done.

Looking at the weather it appeared we’d get rain. And then no rain. And rain again. We’ve learned, though, not to trust our apps. It would be what it would be and perhaps the rain jacket was a wise choice for the day. Or umbrella. Or both. Plus a rain hat. Or would I wing it and just deal? (I really dislike having to wear the rain jacket if it doesn’t rain.)

Final decision: rain jacket, rain hat, umbrella, plus daypack so I could protect my camera should it rain hard.

Down the hill we went. Again. The middle photo below is of a monkey puzzle tree. I’m not a huge fan of them except that they are just so crazy looking. Not great for shade, though. (Not that we needed any shade today.)

We made it to the meeting spot for the Bath tour just in time. I turned around to take a photo of what I call “Tortilla Jones” because sometimes my sense of humor is just goofy like that.

A large group had congregated, and one of the eight tour guides divided us up. We then went with our guide to the front of the Abbey Cathedral.

He explained that the doors were closed and there would be no entry until the afternoon because of a procession. That procession usually included the mayor, but he had had to resign because of something he reposted (when will people learn to check to see if something is true — and if it’s wise to post even if it is?). We had expected it to begin a bit later than it did, so we were right in front when they started. I took a video but please do excuse the bad filming: my hat blew off at one point! You might not want to watch the whole thing as it is over two minutes. (I hope it will even load due to the length!)

From there we did a good amount of walking and I did take photos while I’ll post below, but much of the time we were being rained upon. My hat was on, but then the umbrella came out as well. It never really did stop. Some of what we saw with the guide were at spots Dan and I saw earlier, but the information our guides (there was on in training who led part of the tour) was fun to hear. Not that I’ll remember much, but I will try.

We ended in front of an indoor market. I was thrilled to think we’d get out of the rain and maybe Dan and I would catch a bite inside. Well, it wasn’t quite the kind of market we’d expected. There was one place where small appliances were sold. Inside that area it looked like a hardware store. Some places sold Knick knacks or clothes. There were a few food booths, but nothing appealing and all the seats were full.

We walked a bit more and found a place to get some very healthy looking salads. Unusual for us, I know.

(Doesn’t Dan look serious about his salad?) Funny thing: the food there could be take away or sit down. We said we wanted sit down. They brought us our salads in the cardboard box but set inside a bowl. It didn’t occur to either of us to empty the salad into the bowl, where it would have been easier to eat! I only realized that’s what we should have done when I looked at the tables on either side of us. Sometimes we are just slow!

Outside again, and the rain kept coming. Our tour guide had told us about a free museum so we opted to go in there for a bit. It was nothing thrilling, but it was out of the rain.

Oh … but it also had bathrooms (really “toilets” as they are called here), and inside the women’s was some more art! I looked at the two pipes in a corner and then looked down. Cracked me up!

We left the museum and thought maybe we needed coffee. Not because we needed coffee, really, but because it was still raining.

As we walked there was a huge crowd of mostly men going the opposite direction, some of whom were quite noisy and, I’m guessing, a wee bit intoxicated. All we could think, considering how many there were, was that some sort of game had ended. Who knows, though. In any case, we walked until we finally ended up at the same place we had coffee yesterday. The biggest requirements were indoors and empty seats we could fill. As my sister-in-law Ruth Ann wrote, Dan looks rather dapper … don’t you agree? (He took this selfie. All credit to him.)

While we had our coffee and contemplated walking more in the rain I thought to check the map, plugging in our B&B. We are in a more residential area, so I had assumed there would be no eating establishments nearby, but I was happy to see I was wrong. About ten minutes away is a place called The Moorfield, and they had a reservation opening for 5:45. I grabbed it. The thought of eating down the hill and then, after said eating, walking up with a full stomach in, most likely, rain and wind, didn’t seem appealing to either of us. Besides, with all the rain we had so far enjoyed (hah!) we were just a bit weary.

So we agreed we’d head back to our room. When we arrived and started up the stairs a man greeted us and said something about us having had it with the weather as well. I guess he and his wife gave up and also returned.

In our room Dan did whatever Dan does on his iPad and I did more of this blog. Suddenly the wind got super crazy. How glad I was to be in our room!

Oh … and I’ve not reported on our colds. So far mine is so minor I don’t know that I can call it a cold. I’m hoping it stays that way.

We both ended up snoozing a little bit, but then it was time to head to the restaurant I had found. Of course it was raining again!

It was also a bit longer of a walk than I expected, but we finally arrived at The Moorfields and in we went. It’s not in a busy section of town, and I think it’s more of a neighborhood place, which I enjoy. Next to us were people with a tiny baby, I saw another young one as well, and in another room there was a family.

We ordered poblano peppers to share, and then Dan had a burger and I had chicken. Prices were quite reasonable, and my dinner was tasty. Obviously no desert was necessary!

Now about Dan and napkins. For some reason they fly off his lap nearly every time! I think I need to document this from now on.

After Dan paid the check we walked back a slightly different way. It seemed faster, but that might be because, miracle of miracles, the rain had stopped!

Now we are back in our room, and I’m having chamomile tea. I won’t tell you we had Kit Kat bars (which the B&B provide) because I know you would think less of us if you knew we indulged.

Tomorrow is moving day. Again. As always I’m pretty much packed, as long as the weather doesn’t cause me to change my mind. I’ll just have to add pjs and the toothbrushes to my suitcase, and put my iPad in my daypack and I’m ready to hit the road. Will we hike down the hill with our roller bags? We hope to. That, too, will depend upon the weather.

About our trains: for the first time it’s a three train day, each from a different company. First it’s Great Western Railroad (GWR), then Transport for Wales Rail (TFW — and no, we aren’t landing in Wales), and finally Cross Country (XC). All are fairly short rides, but it was how I had to put it all together to get to our next destination.

It’s too early to hit the hay, but still I will say goodnight.

13,382 steps, 5.31 miles, 12 flights climbed

Friday, June 5

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When we woke both Dan and I mentioned we might be coming down with a cold. Nothing horrible (so far), but I could feel an itch in my throat. We’ll see what we end up with. Since Greg has had something we weren’t at all surprised.

Once again we enjoyed a nice breakfast at our B&B. (When we get back home I am going to have to retrain myself and skip breakfasts, aside from my cappucinno!)

It began to rain, so we sat in our room for a time, waiting for it to die down. It also meant I could charge everything all the way.

Side note:

I’d been waiting for my iPhone to go down below 80% battery capacity. I had hoped it would get there before the trip because I can get the battery replaced for free since I have AppleCare (okay, okay, I pay for that so it’s really not free). Alas, it went to 79% during the trip. I can’t do anything here, as the replacement has to be in the states. Because of this my battery runs out quicker than I’d like, so I have to use my little battery pack to charge it. I mean, this is like a major world disaster. Or maybe not. Funny how we lived without these devices for the majority of our lives (those of us of a certain age, that is). When I came to the UK with a youth orchestra in 1974 I didn’t communicate with anyone other than those I was traveling with. My parents? Well, they got a postcard or two I think (maybe). And if I did send them I’m not even sure those arrived before I got back home!

Side note over ‘n out.

When the rain lightened up we left our B&B, although I did get distracted by the flowers right down the stairs.

Down the hill we went, and into the center of Bath (or at least I think it’s the center), where just a few stands were set up so I took a photo of the fruit and veg one. Then we headed toward the Cathedral.

Before entering the Cathedral we saw the free Bath tours that are given Sunday to Friday at 10:30 and 2:00 (Saturdays are only 10:30.) Unfortunately we had other things that conflicted today, but we are hoping to get back there tomorrow as we’ve been told the tour is quite good. Interestingly, the tour guides are not allowed to accept tips. That’s pretty rare!

Then into the Abbey Cathedral we went. I think I’ll just let the photos speak for themselves.

The organist was practicing while we were there.

And I also did a walk-around video.

We left there and went to find a not-lunch bite, passing by a bookstore and park on our way. Coffee and croissants were enjoyed. (Not needed, mind you, but still ….)

We were meeting Jan and Greg at the Roman Baths, so we headed that way. I have to say that I was skeptical about the place, but it really is rather astounding to hear about it and see what they did so very long ago. Again, I’ll just post photos and not go into the whole thing, primarily because I’m not only lazy but also forgetful so my facts would be off, I’m sure.

Oh … and one video:

My understanding was that somewhere during their baths I he Romans would enjoy a glass of wine. In order to be at least a little close to that we headed to the smallest pub in Bath for a pint. It was only right to do so.

Greg and Jan then took their leave for a time, and Dan and I walked a bit, mostly looking for a dinner spot for the four of us. Dan and I did laugh a bit at the lingerie store called “Bravissimo”. (Get it?)

Dinner was at an Italian restaurant and I didn’t take even one shot but you can see it on the far right in the photo right above this. I mean … it was pasta. Pasta is pasta. Use your imaginations if you wish.

After that we had to say our goodbyes. Jan and Greg leave tomorrow morning. Despite their colds (SO sorry for you both) it was wonderful to see them. I know they must be disappointed as they had to change plans and all, but I’m still so very glad we got together. (Get well, you two!) I will miss them greatly.

From there we went back to our B&B where I enjoyed some chamomile tea and Dan did shower laundry.

Tomorrow is our final full day in this area. We’ll see what we opt to do. Stay tuned!

Nighty-night!

11,079 steps, 4.33 miles, 7 flights climbed

Thursday, June 4

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We woke up (very slowly!) to the sound of wind. Dan had mentioned yesterday that he’d read it would be windy today — I think he said even windier than yesterday, and it was windy as we walked. Windy enough I had to take off my hat so it wouldn’t blow off.

We lazed around in the room since we had the later breakfast time. Eventually we headed down to the breakfast room and had a lovely breakfast. But first, Dan demonstrated how my iPhone could make me look absolutely stunning. I mean … really!!

Well, okay, maybe not stunning, but it makes me look a bit like a camel, I think.

Seriously, though, the reason he demonstrated this is because the other day I took a photo at our table of Jan, Greg, and Dan, and couldn’t post it because things were distorted. I think the three might frown upon me if I did put it up. So now I know what I did. (Which means everyone better be very nice to me or I’ll share a photo of THEM like the one above!) Oh … and yes, I have no pride at this point.

But back to breakfast …

As we ate it poured outside. Really poured. We would have to figure out what to do with our day if the weather remained that way. Meanwhile, though, I could start this blog and then have a “laundry shower”. Dan was journaling and then he, too, did a laundry shower. Clothes and bodies cleaned. Hooray!

This time I opted to wash a pair of my Woolx pants (Emerson pants which are quite fitting). Yesterday when I put them on I noticed that they were just plain dusty. I didn’t wear them on our walk, but we must have been in dusty areas at some point because if I pulled at the fabric and let it snap back there was a good amount of dust. Not good. (I guess I could have used a vacuum cleaner on them!) I’ll be curious to see how fast they dry. (For those who wonder how I do this on trips: I wash them in the shower using the liquid soap provided, ring them out — a bit of a no-no but whatever. Then I set out a large towel, stretch the pants out on it, wrap the sides over, and roll. I put them on the floor and “knee” them for a bit. Then out of the towel they go, and I lay them over my closed suitcase to dry. Please have number 2 pencils ready as there will be a pop quiz sometime later on our trip.)

I puzzled over what to bring when we finally were to go out. There’s always the question of rain jackets or umbrellas? If it’s too windy the rain jacket wins. Yesterday when we headed out we opted for the umbrellas and, indeed, it was too windy for those. For today I was waiting on Dan to see what option he’d choose and then I’d do the opposite.

No. I’m lying: I usually follow his advice. Emphasis on usually. While waiting for Dan I keep looking longingly at my wool shacket: I love that thing and it was so wonderful for Scotland and Ireland. The only problem is the rain. If I wear that and get wet I sort of smell like the sheep. That’s a baaaaad thing.

Enough. Comedy routine over ‘n out.

Believe it or not, we didn’t get out of our room until after noon. Some days, though, are best spent that relaxed, I think, when out on a slightly over six week trip.

Down the hill we went. Well, first we went down the B&B stairs outside, as you can see from the photo below.

The first destination I’d plugged in was Green Street. Don’t ask me why because I’ve forgotten! I put together a list from various sites I’d found, and Green Street was on that list. Unfortunately I didn’t think to say why I’d written things down. (Some, thankfully, were obvious.) While walking down the short street I saw a store with shoes I liked (men’s shoes, that is) and while looking the shopkeeper came out. He said if I liked those shoes I should go across the way and up some stairs and a woman there made shoes for women I might like. I knew I shouldn’t bother: no way could I afford them!

We continued our walk and, lo and behold, we saw Jan and Greg’s hotel. We weren’t planning on meeting up yet, so we walked by, but I did take a photo. Just because. Then we continued on to our next stop, the Jane Austen Centre. There were costumed people at the door and inside and, honestly, it just didn’t look like our cuppa. Perhaps I’ll regret not going in, but how will I know …?

More walking, and to another destination I’d plugged in: The Landrace Bakery. Well, bakery + us means we had to go in. Tasty little non-lunch!

For some reason Google Maps was losing my plan and I’d have to keep adding things back in so Dan took over. We were looking for the Georgian houses that were curved. We walked via HIS map and I shot photos along the way. There’s so much to see here!

Finally we hit what I thought we were looking for.

But Dan said that wasn’t it. He remembered it was not a full circle, as this place was (with breaks for streets), but just a crescent. So on we went.

And then we (he) found it! Funny thing is that now, as I write this, I’m looking back at my Google Maps entries and, sure enough, No. 1 Royal Crescent was on it. Until it disappeared.

From there we walked to the Royal Victoria Park. We sent a quick pic to Jan and Greg, saying Dan was still looking for a Beech tree as he stood beneath one, since we’d teased him about missing the huge one we passed on our Cotswold walk.

We walked through the botanical garden and I enjoyed the flora both there and on our walk toward Greg and Jan’s.

As we walked we saw a small entryway, behind one of the Georgian houses, for a Georgian garden so we entered that. There wasn’t a lot to see, but I loved seeing the Nigella damascena. Underneath was an identification for an aster and I wonder how many people will now see Nigella and call it an aster!

From there we went on a search for a dinner spot. We did walk a bit and came up with a few choices that we would pass by Jan and Greg. While walking I happened upon this store and thought of a particular son of mine!

We went to meet up with our dinner pals at their hotel, and then we walked to “The Oldest Pub In Bath.” Greg and I were duck buddies, Jan had a falafel burger, and Dan had fish and chips (which he said were the best he’s had on the trip).

We said our goodnights and Dan and I started our walk back. I had to take a photo at what I think was a studio for a show we watch that took place in Bath. Then over the river and up the hill we went, where I took just a few shots of homes.

Tomorrow we see more of Bath. Tonight we sleep.

‘night!

17,219 steps, 6.81 miles, 10 flights climbed

Wednesday, June 3 — Moving Day

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We had our final “free” (not really!) breakfast. I only mean “free” as in we didn’t have to pay for it this morning: we paid a good amount for this walk and breakfasts were included. From the breakfast area it was back to our room to just hang out for a bit since the train Dan and I would take didn’t leave until 10:55. Greg and Jan were still figuring out their next step as some of their plans had changed, but they later texted that they were catching the earlier, 9:55 train to Oxford to collect a rental car.

That didn’t mean we wouldn’t see them again, as we are all are headed to the same destination for today!

We woke to cloudy skies, and occasional showers. It appears we are now in for more rain on the trip so my rain jacket and hat are out, ready to be put to use. Goodbye, Moreton-in-Marsh. Goodbye, Cotswolds. I will miss you.

When it was time, we checked out and walking in light rain to our train. It wasn’t a long wait before we boarded. We would have about an hour’s ride to our first stop. The first photo below is from our room. The rest are just walking to the station. Thrilling, I’m sure. Should you wish to have a print of them I can do a stunning one for you. Or not.

Views from the train … including the “Oxford blur”. I hope you know that’s how one is supposed to shoot the Oxford train station. Or perhaps the train was moving too fast. Hmmm.

Then we arrived at our first destination of the day, Reading. (Rhymes with “wedding”. Not the Monopoly Reading.) Why Reading, you ask? Well, we would have arrived at our final destination too soon to check in and I thought, “Why not check out Reading on the way?) Besides we had to switch trains there anyway. So there we were. In the rain. We got of the train and first headed to a place called Top Gun Tattooing. It was time. We both needed tattoos.

Or maybe not. It actually was the place we would leave our luggage while we ambled. There are several companies that have this service and I used one called “Bounce”. You look up the city you’re in, see where spots are to leave luggage, and pay a fee to drop bags off. It’s quite handy. And you might just end up at a tattoo parlor.

So the luggage was dropped off, and we rambled.

We walked through a bit of a park until we came to the Abbey Ruins. Then it was getting a bit rainy again so we went out to look for a spot to eat.

We found an Irish pub. Yes, in England. It had a lot of TVs showing the Stanley Cup. It seemed odd to watch hockey in an Irish pub. I had a salad, Dan had sausages and mash, and we both had zero zero beer.

At that point we just decided to head back to the train station. I took exciting photos. You’re welcome.

We got on our train, kicked someone out of one of our seats (I would have been fine sitting in the row in front, but he moved so whatever). And aside from a few shots I spaced out.

And then we arrived … Hello, Bath Spa!

We made our way out of the station and stood in the taxi line. Traffic was awful so taxis were slow to arrive, but we did finally get one. The driver explained that road work was being done everywhere and it was messing things up. He did get us to our destination, though, and gosh, there were stairs to climb to get to the front door! We checked in and gosh, there were more stairs to get to our room! We are becoming experts at climbing stairs with luggage. Granted, the man who checked us in to this B&B offered to help, but pride didn’t allow me to take him up on his offer. (And now “Pride goeth before the fall” has a meaning I hope not to demonstrate.) Our room is sort of your typical B&B room, and it has a nice view outside. A view that showed me it had started to rain somewhat significantly again.

I started this blog entry (and hooray for a better connection that allows pictures to load pretty easily) and Dan started a short nap. (My writing took longer than his nap.)

Our B&B is on one side of the River Avon, and the main part of Bath is on the other. We are up a hill. It’s probably 20 or more minutes to get into the part of Bath we are going to want to see. We are going to have a great excuse to eat too much. (As if we need that.) I do look forward to investigating the area, but I sure hope it doesn’t rain every day.

We decided, finally, to take that 20 minute walk and headed down the hill and over the river.

We wound up at Sally Nunn’s Eating House. I’d seen a list of “don’t miss” things and that was on said list, although I believe it was more about the afternoon tea. They had room for us so in we went. we both had the “Set Trencher Dinner”. Loads more food than I could eat, but tasty. Comfort food kind of tasty — nothing gourmet, but quite yummy.

It was then time to walk back, although we took a small detour past the Bath Abbey. Then we continued.

It began to rain lightly, and it was rather windy. (And I had thought I was done with rain gear and warm clothes!) And then there was a rainbow. We continued our walk and the rainbow was still there. Lovely!

Then more walking up the hill. And up the stairs.

Tomorrow we can be lazy: we have a 9:00 breakfast since the earlier times were already taken. I’m fine with that. We’ve risen earlier so much that a little later will be enjoyed.

Toodle-oo!

(What with train rides and rain and all my stats today aren’t as great, but they’ll do! Plus, of course, when comparing all of our watches it makes it pretty darn clear these aren’t perfectly accurate!)
12,318 steps, 4.74 miles, 11 flights climbed.