Drove through the gorgeous yorkshire moors to stay with some lovely family friends in Stockton, with a pretty impressive walk/run through wild moorland on the way. Day trips through the moors to the coast (pretty but crowded Whitby!) and Hadrians Wall ended with awesome home cooked meals and good company. Drove back down through the lovely yorkshire dales, looking very different from our last visit! this time the rivers stayed WITHIN their banks (thankfully). All through the Peaks district, moors and dales i had several squeal inducing moments due to thousands of gamboling lambs. I think i took more than a thousand photos of them alone. Visited my old favourite Fountains Abbey and had a practically private, incredibly informative guided tour. Next up was Stratford upon Avon, BEST ever: an incredible performance of Macbeth by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Then a super relaxed day in the Cotswalds - parked in the tiny Upper Slaughter and walked to the even tinier Lower Slaughter and the super touristy but cute Bourton-on-the-water. The next day we took a steam train through the lovely Forest of Dean before heading to the gorgeous Wye valley and Tintern Abbey! After this brief stint in Wales we headed back to england for 'the world's oldest watt-style beam engine performing its original task.' Michael got excited. I know there was water going uphill, that's for sure. Then we went back much much further - the prehistoric Uffington White Horse (and iron age hill fort AND dragon's hill aka Uther Pendragon's resting place! oh arthur...) and Stonehenge! (speaking of Arthur...) It was busy, sure, but it was free due to National Trust membership and still worth it. Very picturesque as well as full of history and mystery! Finished the day at Old Sarum, outside of Salisbury - once far bigger and more important than the latter until the cathedral was moved. Occupied in the Iron age, through to Saxons and Normans. The next day we made the most of our travelodge accommodation (15pounds! oh yeah) and spent the morning packing before exploring lovely Winchester. Travelled on through the south downs to the spectacular Petworth House, drove down to Arundel and across to the outskirts of Brighton before heading up toward the excellently named Ticehurst! Spent my birthday exploring its cute bookshop and church before picnicking at Scotney castle - cos its fashionable to have some ruins in your garden :) Then back to London! We handed Lupus back over and relaxed at the hostel before heading out for Thai - satisfying my three month long craving :) The next day was the royal wedding - CRAZY - then we moved to the Raddison. Which brings me to today! Explored Camden, Regent's Park, Trafalgar Square (and my favourite room of the National Gallery - the Sackler Room!) and Westminster Bridge with its spectacular views. I go home tomorrow. And hopefully to Greenwich. But mostly home. I do and don't want to go. Argh!
Anyway I'm going to keep putting my favourite photos on here and Michael will update it as he keeps travelling! Love love love
