A delightful day touring the Cotswolds area of England, about an hour west of Oxford. We first drove about 30 minutes to the little town of Chipping Camden and saw some really old buildings on the town walking tour:
– the old police station (1865).
– Campden House (1613-20).
– the Parish Church of St. James (500 years old) a gem of Cotswold wool churches!
– Almshouses (1612) built by Sir Baptist Hicks.
– Woodstaplers Hall (1340).
A typical building in the Cotswolds
I smiled when I entered the baptist church (rebuilt 1872) and saw the first drum set I’ve seen in any small church here so far! Well done! The slogan of this church is “making room for God” and indeed, they have outgrown their church building and now meet in a nearby hall. Even more so, they have planted two additional churches within 15 miles of here! Then we visited Broadway, Stanton, Snows Hill, the Cotswold Lavender Fields, Burton OnThe Water, and finally Lower and Upper Slaughter.
We talked with the most interesting people today! In Chipping Camden, we talked with Charles and Kelly from San Antonio, and exchanged best places to go in the world on vacation. In the Cotswold Lavender Fields, we talked Paul and Julia from nearby. He just retired and is hoping to take his custom-made melodeon a into production. We took pics for him, and even a video of his playing. In Lower Slaughter, at a pub near the canal, we enjoyed an hour long conversation with Russell and Kerry from Manchester. At dinner in The Talbot restaurant in Stow On The Wold we talked with Keith and Lynn from Suffix. Most of the time we just start up conversations, and occasionally they do. Talking to these people made the day extra special. Sue and I find that it is in talking to people here that makes the day sweeter and richer. I found a local-made dark ale I enjoyed called Hobgoblin, along with another local, Donnington Ale. Sue has developed a liking for cider – Bulmers and Rekorderlick.
This area is just beautiful. Rolling hills make for wonderful country roads in our small car. Ted has the left side of the road nailed now. “Left is left” is his mantra, and he repeats it at every corner just for good karma. So far so good. Many of these roads, however, are only one lane, but the patiences and politeness of drivers is the opposite of any town freeway or expressway in the world. The quick flashing of brights means “I’m giving you the right away”… And here, it is often a contest of who will be more polite!!!
On our trip to this area, we stopped at the Avebury Stone Circle. It is like Stonehenge, but you walk walk around and touch all of the artifacts and be amazed at their size. The circumference of Avebury circle is almost one mike.
Here we are at Avebury.
Please enjoy our pictures of the day.
The Cotswold Lavender Fields
A side door on the church in Stow on the Wold that inspired Tolkien when writing Lord of the Rings.