We woke to rain, again! Early on we decided not to walk the muddy, indiscernible trails from Bourton-on-the-Water to Winchcombe. Besides Gloria-Rose had lost the tip of her walking stick in a mud bog yesterday as she tested the depth of the mud into which we were in danger of falling. We inquired of our hosts for alternate travel options and were advised to check the bus schedules in the town square. Much to our dismay the bus from Bourton-on-the-Water to Winchcombe only went once a week -Thursdays!
So, we decided our best option was to try our thumbs. Once we determined which road to get on we headed off. After a few near misses on the very narrow country roads, a construction lorry pulled up taking pity on us. He was from Bourton-on-the-Water and coincidentally (so he said) was heading to Winchcombe. We scrambled in.
Alisder was very accommodating - dropping us right in front of our new B&B. Our home tonight is an old tudor house dating from the 1600's. It's really quaint, with a terraced garden off the back. Our hosts, Trevor and Jean, are hospitable and helpful. We are in good hands.
We settled into our room where Gloria-Rose ceremoniously decorated our bathroom with wet socks and dainties. Then we set off to see the sights of Winchcombe.
On our way to St. Peter's Church we spotted a new tip for Gloria-Rose's walking stick. What a miraculous find! Apparently someone found it in a mud bog - cleaned it up - and put it on the end of a shiny new stick. So she bought it.
Several times over the course of our stay we had seen postcards entitled "Cotswolds Characters". We had no idea where they were located until we walked to St. Peter's. There on the exterior wall were the ugly, contorted faces - the gargoyles of St. Peter's - about 40 of them in all, depicting characters of the town, from the 1460's.
Inside the church we were greeted by a pleasant gentleman who gave us a brief history of the town church and what specifically to see in the town. A woman came in and relieved him as he finished briefing us. It appears the church members all take turns greeting the public as a service to visitors. This was a pleasant feature, making us feel very welcomed.
We had already decided to walk to Sudeley Castle, so after a brief stop at the tourist information booth we headed off. The walk was about a mile, meandering through green pastures, past a gate house and all on tarmack - no mudbogs!
The sun was shining by this time and we got rather warm. At the castle, full admission provided an escorted tour and a commemorative book, so we paid the extra and headed to the predetermined meeting place. Just as we arrived the clouds burst open again. Thankfully the tour was mostly indoors through the private quarters of Lord and Lady Ashcroft.
Finishing our guided tour we were once more outside and the sun had come out to greet us. We walked through the gardens and into the Queen's Chapel, where Catherine Parr, the last wife of King Henry VIII was buried. Her tomb was stunning.
On to the pheasantry where we saw a few really amazing birds. One of the owners was coming to clear us out as the castle was closing for the day, but she insisted we take a look at the peacock who had just begun to flaunt himself. The bird was exquisite. He looked like he had a painted face. She told us that this species had been extinct, but had recently been resurrected from DNA of a stuffed specimen. This was too cool.
Back through the gardens, down the tarmack and to the gatehouse where the large gate had been closed, forcing us to use the small human gate complete with mudbog, just in case we were missing them.
So here we are sipping shandy, in the White Hart Inn where Leslie is keeping her eye on a few local hotties -- well maybe not so hot.
A few shandies, a good meal and we can call it the end of another day in beautiful sunny England, where the term liquid sunshine takes on new meaning.
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