2001 England

Aug 06&07, 2001 - What a way to go - FIRST CLASS is definately on the "To-do" list when flying over to England. Once there, we didn't have a clue how to get to our hotel (or how/where we could even find a taxi). Once there, we napped and roamed around until we found a place to eat (be prepared for 2 1/2 hour dinners).

Aug 08 - Went running and saw Big Ben and the Themes. Hooked up with the family and spent all day at the Tower Of London (great jewels) but got our first downpour of the trip (more later). Saw Starlight Express that night (loved the music and had fantastic seats).

Aug 09 - Went for Buckingham Palace today but they cancelled the "Changing of the Guard" for the day. As we were waiting around to enter the Palace, we got a taste of English weather in August, a downpour. We got so wet that we went back to the hotel and skipped the tour. While Fiona and Marcia went to see "The Complete Works Of Shakespear" (all in 2 hours), Jillian and I "went shopping" (via the underground) but found everything way too expensive ($150 for a T-Shirt!?). That night we had our second London Expierence. Show time was 7:30 ... at 6:40 we tried to hail a cab but 15 minutes later decided to go for the bus. When the bus arrived, they said they didn't stop in that area so at 7:11 we decided to go via the Underground. We got on the first train but were cramed in like sardines and no one enjoyed my bad jokes (OK, wise cracks). Then had to walk 6 blocks (run?) in 5 minutes - trade our voucher in for tickets - get our seat and saw Lion King that night (60 seconds after we sat down) but was envious for My Fair Lady. Getting home was no big deal.

Aug 10 - Left London (don't ever drive in London, took an hour just to get out of the city). Some 6 gas stations later (for directions) we were on the right road for Winchester. Visited the Round Table and the gardens at the summer palace of Charles II and went shopping. Lots of shots of Winchester Cathedral (two more) and then headed to StoneHenge. Had to get multiple shots but you're not allowed to get too close, and no ... Fiona is not talking on a cell phone. Quick stop in Salisbury for a Cathedral and dinner, then off to Summer Lodge (got their late).

Aug 11 - Drove to Dorchester and spent most of the day shopping, getting haircuts and having an English Tea. A quick look at an ancient amphitheater (and a not so ancient Linden Tree). On the way to our next B&B, we did go thru some costal towns and found that the beaches at Lyme Regus were not like the ones in California. Got situated at the B&B and then went to dinner ... another 2 1/2 meal (they don't have fast food here).

Aug 12 - Went running and tripped on my shoe lace so am now bruised up (only saw 3 cars during the hour run). Some more English Weather (so glad Camelot behaved) and then we went to see where King Arthur was born (Tintagel). The town thrives on the Arthur Legend and we took it all, hook-line & sinker. A mock up of the Round Table and of his thrown. We all were getting tired and we hadn't even walked to his castle (birthplace) yet. A late lunch (early dinner?) and back to Tor Cottage for an evening at home.

Aug 13 - After another wonderful breakfast at Tor Cottage we then headed thru "The Moors". We saw the sheep, we saw the Foot & Mouth disease signs and we saw more 2-way streets that were barely large enough for a 1-way car (surrounded by 12' hedges). After a brief detour to Maniton (Church & Church yard ... aka, cemetary) and Lustleigh (town closed for the day), we had tea (lunch) at Chagford (opening for a City Council position available). We stop in Exeter for a cyber-fix and a look at another Cathedral (looked alot like the one in Winchester) and some horsing around. Listened to the girls sing all of the songs from "Grease" while making our way to Bath.

Aug 14 - Great city Bath, I like it alot. We spent the day in the Roman Baths listening to our "guide" and contemplating what it was like 2000 years ago. We even drank the water (sulpher). Then a stop to Jane Austen's House (actually, just down the street). After a quick nap, we ventured out on the roads to Lacvock, a small town where Pride & Prejudice was filmed (so we got filmed here too). That night I got my Internet fix by finding a Cyber Cafe.

Aug 15 - We check out of Bath, but only after I got a great 6 mile run in to see all the sights that I had missed the day before, and headed to the town of Glouster where the Holy Grail is buried under the Bishops Abbey. We also saw the Tor where King Arthur & Guinevere are buried. On our way we stopped at Wells where water is always running in the gutters down main street, naturally running. We then high tailed it over to Bristol for a matinee of JC SuperStar (wonderful production) and then did our last stretch to make it to Stratford-Upon-Avon and the Billesley Manor.

Aug 16 - A kick back day for Hank and the girls while Marcia explored the town. Some swimming, running and napping was the order of the day while the early evening did allow us all some time in Stratford. Marcia almost went to see Hamlet but changed her mind when she found out it was the uncut version (4+ hours). A family look at Stratford where one stop was at the Great Garden that the town maintains for Shakespeare lovers. We then went to his house where he died (or where the house once was) and found some opportunities to dream and dream). We did all manage to see 12th Night at the Royal Shakespeare Company that night (get it?).

Aug 17 - Off to Oxford where we spent the afternoon checking out the town and the college (which is really many colleges in one). We saw Romeo & Juliet (outdoors) at one of the colleges. Made for a long day as we got in bed by midnight.

Aug 18 - Went to one of the towns that we saw our last time in England (19 years ago), the Model Village. We all felt like Gulliver in his travels. We were definately the BMOC. We also had some fun trying to find our way through a maze in the same town. Home to the farmhouse for a quiet little dinner then we all piled in bed for "Ten Things I Hate About You".

Aug 19 - Marcia went to church while we looked at cows, or should I say ... the cows looked at us. We then went to Blenheim Palace (Winston Churchill's birth place). A quick wish, then a 2 1/2 hour drive later and we arrive in Cambridge for our last 2 nights stay. We went to a nearby pub for dinner where Jillian officially became a Lawson (ask her). We also were the only ones there and dinner still took 1 3/4 hours - go figure the English.

Aug 20 - T minus 1 and counting. Our last full day in England was spent in the town of Cambridge. We saw street performers, colleges and cathedrals (again, but only from the outside). The Colleges are nestled along the river that runs thru town and is quite pretty (much less confusing then Oxford). Had one of my best runs of the trip also - I felt smooth again.