Day Two

After a late start we headed out to the airport by tube. When there are two destinations for each track, it is best to check exactly which train you are boarding. Luckily Carol Jean was paying attention so we only passed the transfer station by two stops. (This would be a good time to remind you the next time you travel, pack light!). Hauling bags up and down stairs to multiple platforms is a less than gentle reminder you have overpacked. Eventually we and our luggage arrived back at Heathrow to pick up our rental car for the next week's adventures.

We picked up our gray Ford Mondeo with Janet in the driver's seat and the rest praying fervently in the passenger seats. We headed out. We made it to the interstate without incident and aimed for our first stop, Stonehenge. It was a gray, blustery day - perfect for contemplating the mysteries of the stones. It is an awesome sight - all those stones set so precisely on the broad sweeping plain.

Stonehenge On The Plain

We then headed to a second nearby stone circle much larger than Stonehenge, Avebury. It is so large a town was built within it. One of the estates built there in 1050's, now maintained by the National Trust, was our first stop. We enjoyed wandering through the home with docents in each room to tell us about the ghosts that haunt the rooms and gardens. We can not confirm their existence as none of them appeared to us. The gardens were beautiful filled with colorful dahlias and fanciful topiary.

Avebury Manor House

The Stones Of The Avebury Circle

Heaven On A Plate And A Tray 

After visit to the manor, we went to the tea room and had our first cream tea - tea and scones with strawberry jam and that most delicious of substances, clotted cream. Really, they should just call it heaven on a plate. We left and wandered past some of the stones, watched a little of a cricket match and jumped in our car heading for Bath.








Bath is a beautiful city filled with regal homes built of creamy colored stone. We arrived at around 8pm. Our goal was just to eat dinner at Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant and scope out a few stops for tomorrow. We ended up passing the Roman Baths which was to be our first stop on Monday, only to find them open to 10 pm. We decide to go tonight. We were so glad we did. There were few people there so we could wander unimpeded and as the evening grew dark the fire lit torches surrounding the baths reflected in the water and gently lit the stone walls - it was magical.

The Roman Baths At Night

We arrived at our hotel exhausted but satisfied we had completed a great day. Maybe we'll sleep in a little bit tomorrow.