Week late post . UK

May 5th      This morning was spent revisiting the church ( started in 1300)and stone circle at Avebury. This World Heritage Site sports the largest existing stone circle in Britain, so large in fact that the village is partly contained within the circle itself. At about 340' across there is a berm and a ditch around it. Inside that are two concentric circles. It is quite an experience when I think about exploring something created by neolithic man about 2500 - 2000 BC. Hard to believe.Mister G says that in Alberta we would probably filled it all in and made farm land. I'm glad we got out walking there early, 8:15. By the time we left around 10 there we already tour buses arriving. It was so peaceful to have the circle to our selves before that.Just us and the sheep.

Outer circle at Avebury

Inner circle

Largest stones

Information centre

After that we were off to start our driving tour of the Cotswolds in the heart of Gloucetshire. The villages are enchanting, a delight to wander about. Each one seems to have its own ambience, slight un describable differences in architecture. Most buildings are made from "Cotswold stone", with some kind of slate ore tile roofs ass well as thatch. Wow I can hardly believe we are here. Pinch me!

We stopped in Northleach...  St. paul and St. Peter Church which dates from around 1300. On the floor are brass inlays memorializing sheep merchants. The churches in this area were built on the proceeds of a rich wool trade and are known as the wool churches. This one has some interesting stone adornments. Even a cat and fiddle and three mice.

Next stop Bourton on the Water. a charming place with a shallow water way running through it. The High Street offered an hour of browsing. and loads of photo oppourtunities. There is park along the water way with the shops on either side.

Stow on the Wold, some what larger is where we spent the night. The King's Arms was good enough for King Charles the 1st in 1645 so it did us very well too. The pub offered fine fare. What ever you have heard about English cuisine seems to be no longer true, the food has been very good so far.

PS mAY 9TH  We have been on the canals in a norrow boat for some days now. It is impossible to charge the computer and the internet connections are few and far between. I will post as I am able to charge and connect.