Travel Journals - The UK Bits...
13-Jun-2008: Train to Southampton
Heading to Waterloo for our train. Dinner last night was lovely, Freida is a typical 1 year old, David is a typical father.
On the train:
On our way to Southampton (via Winchester on the Poole Train) These new trains are odd (and not what I expected of British Rail). There's nowhere to store your kit (luggage) and as B has stated "Its funny cause they're inter-city trains". Ok, there *are* luggage racks, but not really big enough for an over-night bag, let alone a rucksack or luggage.
Still not liking tourists as a whole. In groups they're loud, messy and downright ICK. Still too soon to see any proper country-side, lots of trees though (Which I really didn't expect). I wanted to sketch a little bit, but I can't get to my sketchbook right now. Plus, the rocking of the train isn't going to help my sketching skills any, writing is difficult enough. Though, admittedly the ride is rather smooth. Still too many trees and not much else...
13-Jun-2008: Southampton Yaay!
The night was heaps of fun! Eleanor had planned well. We got to her house at around 4pm. Its a lovely 3 storey house.
After freshening up a little bit, she took us to her gig. The pub where it was held had the Spanish San Miguel on tap (yaay!). We got to hear a number of bands playing (not just Trauma Pet) Even got a few photos of Trauma Pet while we were there :)
14-Jun-2008 Salisbury
Woke up this morning to the strangeness of the room, slept a little more, then woke again to the sound of roosters. Now I'm just waiting for the rest of the house to wake up.
Went to Salisbury and Old Sarum. It is terribly humbling to stand on stones much older than the nation one calls home (at least white settlement older, not geologically). After the Salisbury Cathedral, we drove to Stonehenge. It is much smaller than I had imagined. And less mystical due to the "all too close" motorways on either side, the fence, and the tourists. Still, it is an awe-inspiring mystery how people of old brought such stones to their current upright positions. Apparently there is also a Woodhenge... but due to the qualities of wood, only post holes remain.
In the evening, we headed off to a bbq at one of Eleanor's friends. Regardless of where you are in the world, one constant is true, bbq, booze and friends make a great evening.
15-Jun-2008 Off to Bristol after visiting Winchester.
Headed out to Winchester. Again Phil driving, as I don't know the roads here. Had a great time, bought a key-chain, saw the round table (and what Eleanor calls the "doors to Rivendell"). Also saw the inside to the old gate house (they've turned it into a museum, and kids can dress up and stuff). The Cathedral here is lovely on the outside, and not as impressive as Salisbury on the inside... but I think I prefer it.
After Winchester, we headed back to Eleanor's place (B and I checked that we'd packed everything, then said our goodbyes... must remember to send Eleanor & Phil some Tim-Tams)
Drove from Southampton to Bristol , motorways are fine, its the small streets without local knowledge that gets me. Met Jodi & Jason, they're awesome. They have loads of pets (mostly rodents, one cat) and a pretty nice house.
16-Jun-2008 West Kennet Barrow, Avebury
Went to Silbury Hill (sp) and the West Kennet Long Barrow. Oh and the White Horse they had in the area. The Long Barrow has to be the oldest man made structure that B and I have been in (its lithic, and possibly older than Stonehenge, being created around 5000BC or so.
After that, we headed to Avebury for lunch (with me falling asleep in the car on the way there) and a huge tramp around the Standing Stones there. They're very cool, also very awe-inspiring. Kinda what I expected at Stonehenge, though not as wide spread... I mean really, there's a village *INSIDE* the stone circle. From there, we headed to Lacock and wandered around a little. Dinner was back at Bristol. in the old Bristol Stock Exchange Building, now converted into an Indian restaurant called India House. Damn good Rogan Josh!
17-Jun-2008 Off to Stratford
Its going to be a little bit of an adventure heading from Bristol to Stratford... dunno the route, and the smaller roads kinda freak me.
Stratford and beyond:
Stratford on Avon was cool. The drive in wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Got to see Shakespear's grave and the house he was born in. Too many bloody tourists to go looking inside it though.
Memorable moments include:
- Finding an antique store with a rather nice rapier and a military saber I liked. Pity I can't bring it home, or even buy then ship it home.
- Shakespear is the man! I mean honestly, who else would curse their own grave?
After Stratford, we headed to Sutton Coldfield (or as B calls it, Sutton Bloody Coldfield) I can't believe they don't even have a town map!
Still, we've found a nice enough motel, and tomorrow we'll head to Leeds! (Pity about the schedule, as the Royal Armoury curator I wanted to meet is in London, so we'll not likely get to see the reserve collection) Yaay I get to see the collection! Hope we're out of Sutton Bloody Coldfield without incident.
18-Jun-2008 Pudey?Pudsey? Damn me, but I thought it was Leeds or BUST?
Headed from Sutton Coldfield at about 9am, the motorways were ok. And yet it still took the majority of the day to go from approximately BRUM to Leeds. I still can't get around how time and space seem to blur between one place and another over here. (Especially since the national speed limit is 70mph, and I know most people were doing more than that... hell, we were doing about 80mph and still being passed - 70mph is about 115kmh for you Aussies).
Got away from Sutton Coldfield and managed to get to Leeds by 12:30pm (yeah that's three hours!) Attempted to navigate the winding, busy streets that make up Leeds City Centre. (its like a mini London in that way) Got to the hotel we thought we should stay at, only to find out that they (and every other bloody hotel in Leeds) was booked out for some reason or another. Finally found a place to stay about 6-10 miles away from Leeds. Didn't quite get to the Royal Armoury, will try again tomorrow.
So right now, instead of Leeds, we're in a place called Pudsey. Its just out of Bradford (Due West of Leeds) Quite a nice surprise, considering we headed to a local pub and have discovered the best Indian food ever (the pub is called "the Farmers", in Deepest Darkest Pudsey) At least there was an upside!
19-Jun-2008 Yaay, finally, the Royal Armoury
Spent the day looking (admiring) the artefacts at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. While there, we saw some museum staff practicing the re-enactment tourney. Kinda neat, but ultimately, stage-fighting (cool though). Had lunch at the Nelson Bistro (within the Armoury building) then we admired more bits of steel. The Hall of Steel alone is awesome, the rest of the museum, even more so. After a bit of walking around, I had a go at the indoor crossbow range, and also at pretty much every target shooting simulation they had on offer.
Good to see all those lovely rapiers on display, plus there was also a display of Filipino Armour and some swords from the Philippines (Klewang)
After looking through the remainder of the Royal Armoury display, we popped over to their Menagerie and visited their animals. Some lovely birds of prey, and some horses used in the Tilt-yard. From there we headed to Manchester.
Right now, we're in another hotel/motel. This time in a place called Didsbury. Should be visiting Stockport in the morning.
More tomorrow.