Wiltshire-Somerset 24-29 July 2011

The last week of July was spent in the south-west of England.  Abby's, Church's and Castle's plus intensive agriculture.  A bit repetitive largely negotiated through narrow and very narrow roads where signage was overgrown so reading it was difficult and when read it was difficult to find the place on the map.  However the most difficult was usually getting out of towns if they had more than one street.  Here are a few visual impressions.

The Kennet & Avon Canal.  Developed to link London, via the Thames River, and Bristol via the Avon River.  Seen here at Bradford on Avon not far from where it enters the Avon River to enable passage to Bristol.  Locks were repaired in the 1990's to enable use by the present pleasure craft. 

Canal boat passing through a lock.  The owners spend their summers travelling the canals.  Boast is powered by a small diesel engine.

Many fields of grain, mainly wheat, throughout the area.  Harvesting had started and it appeared most was being dried after harvest.

Cattle graze adjacent to villages.  All stock grazing appeared in very good condition.

A church and graveyard is central to every village.  Some very ornate and well cared for with a few closed up with sufficient upkeep.

Some very narrow town streets.

 Frequently shared with farm machinery even in the main streets.  This one seen in Wells.

Various epitaphs to characters of former days appears in many village streets.

Fine historic houses and properties are preserved by the National Trust and attract a large number of visitors during the summer.  This one at Avebury, also where stone circles are to be found.

The stone ring referred to above at Avebury, south of Swindon.  Note also the trench whihc had be dug around the outside of the stone circle.

Not everything lasts for every but oak has a very long life.

Typical countryside.  In many places there was much more in crop.

The early inhabitants must have been quite short!  This height of this door frame was not uncommon in old buildings.

A tea shop in Lacock where the proprietor looks the part in keeping with the preserved buildings.

Now to touch on an Abbey.  This one at Lacock, south of Chippenham, Wiltshire set in its own extensive grounds.  Nearby in the village is the Fox Talbot Museum, housing his invention of photography.
The village, most of which is owned by the National Trust, hence the tea room scene above,  is frequently used as a film set as in the Harry Potter films.

A sign in the main street of Bridport.  This is the home town of George Ackerman Smith who emirgrated to Lincoln, NZ, where he farmed for many years and land he purchased is still in our family.  Could the sign have a relationship?

Wiltshire 23 - 25 July 2011

Three days around London and it was necessary to get out to the villages.  While getting into London was a simple process leaving was more difficult.  Instructions for picking up a rental car appeared simple enough and the clerk at the hotel had worked for the rental car company so was able to give more tips.  Take the tube from near the hotel to Heathrow, get off at terminal one, take the rental car shuttle to their depot then follow their map and instructions to the road system.  First part was OK but from there on became progressively more confusing.  Something like some quiz game where each section gets more difficult or a form of maze.  However after a few hours we were in the car but linking onto the M4 to go west required two attempts.  We were starting to experience the confusion of UK road signage.  Once on the M4 and heading west we were reluctant to leave it for some time but after an hour or so the map was less littered with larger cities and towns so we ventured off to a place called Hungerford heading south to more open space to the east of the Salisbury Plain.

The villages followed the publicity pattern with the historic pub signs.

Although the extent of intensive agriculture with grain crops ripening was a surprise and welcoming relief.  It was not long and farm machinery was a frequent sight on the narrow roads and in the villages.

Back in the village was the "local" pub.  This one the "George Inn"  in Fosbury.  We stopped here to get information about local accommodation while getting our first fill of photographing the quaint building with the immaculately thatched roofs.

We were directed to a B&B across the road.  The very helpful landlord was full but called a friend nearby who was very helpful and provided good accommodation.  We had now expreienced the British B&B system.  Dinner that evening at the pub shown above.
The photo shows thatch that has recently been repaired.  The house (B&B first referred to above) had been burned down just a few years prior and had been rebuilt as if very old, viewed from both outside and inside.  The thatch had settled and any hollows were being patched and the top ridgeline added to.  Frequently buildings could be seen that had a completely new layer of thatch applied.  The material used is long wheat straw.

Intensive crop fields beside the village.  Broadbeans in the foreground with wheat beyond.

Evening sky.

London 20 - 22 July 2011

Kath and Ray left Vancouver late on Tuesday 19 July after a departure delay of about 3 hours arriving Heathrow London mid-afternoon 20 July.  Our Days Hotel was a short distance by rail from the airport No 5 terminal to Hounslow on the Piccadilly line, then a 200 metre walk to the hotel.  Travel into central London then was a simple trip back on the train affectionately known as "the tube".  The Oyster card we had purchased in NZ for London travel was brilliant.  Just put it on the sensor at the people turnstiles at the entrance to the station or getting on a bus and carried on.  No fuss!  Once in London we just walked the tourist route over the two full days we we there, 21-22 July as it was mid-afternoon when we arrived on the 20th so got organised and experienced a Pub meal near the hotel.  Below are a few photos and comments of London.

The usual first stop Buckingham Palace.  Gates were open but we did not have an invite.

A visit to the Royal Mews was very interesting however the horses are not now kept there on a permanent basis.  Periodically they all are taken to the stables for the Queen to inspect and two where there when we visited for public interest.  All the coaches are stored here on display.

The gold coach has pride of place but is seldom used due to its weight and discomfort to ride in. Weighing 4 tonnes and suspended on heavy leather straps suspending it like being on a hammock. It was last used for the Queens 50th Jubilee.

A dress form in a window at Buckingham Palace.

Statues and figues everywhere usually celebrating the old warlords, monarchs or politicians.

A reminder that once the city buildings were heated by open fireplaces usually fueled by coal.

Then electricity generated by coal steam turbines located beside the river Thames to provide water and cooling.  This may now also be obsolete with the advent other systems.

A city of monumental historic buildings fully maintained and used to varying levels adding to the history and pagentry found in most European cities but nowhere more so than London being the home of the British Royal family and the pagentry that is maintained.  It is a tourist magnet.

They decend on the city from throughout the world, who together with itinerant workers in many shop and food outlets speaking broken English makes communication somewhat variable.  Here Kath crossing the Thames with Parliament Buildings and Big Ben in the background.

Typical evening skyline.

An overview from the top of the "Eye", the huge "ferris wheel" which is well worth the ride taking half an hour to complete a revolution.  Travelling so slow that it does not stop to get on and off.

London is not all old buildings and paved streets.  Parks and water areas areas exist.  However while there may not be a charge to walk on the grass or stand in the shade of a tree there is a charge to sit on the deck chairs seen here hence the availability!!