chase the light

Had to say goodbye to London early this morning and hop the train to Stratford-upon-Bill. We’re now graduating to the big trains from the light rail lines. The trip is only a couple of hours and we got to watch the countryside go by fairly quickly. See your favorite countryside stereotype… baas, moos, whinnies, greens, browns, blues, hills, pastures, walls, clouds, grass, & water. According to the sign… London 132 miles.

We got into Stratford and had to pick up the car. It’s been awhile since I’ve driven a car in mirror mode but picked it right back up. Mom felt strange sitting in the drivers seat without a steering wheel and grits her teeth as we drive on the wrong side of the road. Before coming over I bought the UK/Ireland SD card for my Garmin GPS but don’t have it out as the hotel is less than a mile away. We have a map! Who needs a GPS!? riiiight. A couple of wrong turns and we’re a little lost. Fortunately I was here for a day with Liza and kinda knew the town and was able to get us to the hotel.

We were really early so we left our bags and walked into town and went straight to Shakespeare’s birthplace. It’s like 400 years old! Oh ma god! We’re just teenagers there in L.A. After the short tour through the house we walked down to the river and along some of the canals and back to the hotel. Lots of geese and ducks paddling around. It was cold, but really nice out today. We rested a bit before heading out to town again and had dinner at Pizza Express. The town was very quiet tonight and of course felt even more so than London. Tomorrow were off to Cotswolds for a few days! It’ll be time to fire up the GPS so I know here the hell I’m going.

Still no mythical scone sighting. Loch Ness Monster? Big foot? Yeti? Well, throw Scone in there.