Have bus pass can travel! There’s nothing better than the front seat of a double decker
The number 66 from Sainsburys took us on a very scenic route to Stroud. Below was the first eye catching building
Once in Stroud we had a bit of a wander around. The Council closed the tourist information centre in March!
Then refreshment at The Lock Cafe
Volunteers at work
The canal towpath was made for very easy walking. Destination Brimscombe Port.
This restoration is attempting to link Saul Junction on the Gloucester and Sharpness canal to the River Thames. No completion date set!
We had a lovely walk along the very beautiful valley but ignored the very tempting Stroud Brewery
Mission accomplished. Six books and a CD for £2.50 and Tony had an ice cream while I browsed! This place is amazing not only books, but vinyls, CDs, tapes, jigsaws all at amazingly cheap prices. Hopped on the school bus back into Stroud. Not a happy journey! Then returned to Gloucester on scenic route 66!
Double decker gives way to four legged creatures
And prefabs circa 1946. They deserve a Grade 2 listing.
I have to comment on our bus drivers as they were excellent, so courteous to other road users and so skillful at manoevering on country lanes.
Another exciting action packed day and I completed 13, 743 steps I so can enjoy my Lindt chocolate bar whilst choosing which book to start reading.
It was with some reluctance we left Saul Junction. We picked up fuel and water so that we could run the washing machine on our return to Gloucester.
This is a very smart boat with a really roomy wheelhose
Once arrived we said hello to the Lock Keeper and then the Waterways Museum staff and collected a booklet about the River Severn above Gloucester. Then once having deposited our recycling in the correct bins we made another visit to the Lindt chocolate shop.
Now, Tim you will like this. We launched the dinghy to do our weekly shop at Sainsburys just forgot to take a photo! It certainly made passers by smile! We were struggling to get the dinghy back into position when a young man dining with his wife came, to lend a bit of muscle. I didn’t get his name but was so pleased! Thank you to him. Another example of the kindness of strangers
Forget Viking River Cruises! Here’s the Edward Elgar passing through the lock.
The following morning….Please note the time…There is no truth in the rumour that I never get up until noon!
Dredging in progress. It certainly rocked the boat!
We decided to walk to the village shop in Whitminster just a couple of miles away. The footpath passes St Andrews Church
The through the middle of a wheatfield
Bought our milk and then decided to looke in at the Garden Centre. Didn’t take a photo of our cake which was a mistake because the slice of coffee & walnut was absolutely fresh. Light sponge with the correct amount of filling, delicious!. We admired their lake and duck house!
We decided to return along the former Stroudwater canal that is in the process of being restored. We found it by a traffic island. More of this in alter blog
The start of the canal path
We walked along through fields of buttercups and daisies but initially no water evident. Note the wartime feature.
It was impossible to get to Berkeley Castle by public transport and a little too far to walk so we had abandoned all thoughts of visiting it. Then fate took a hand. We met Jenny and Frank walking their dogs along the towpath and as happens quite often, conversations start with passers by and Berkeley Castle was one of the topics of conversation. They declined a viewing of Matilda because the dogs needed feeding and so off they went.
The following day we were on our way to Gloucester when Jenny contacted us to say she would be very happy to drive us to Berkeley in the next couple of days. Anyway the upshot was that Jenny arranged to take us to Berkeley on our planned return to Saul Junction. Once again the kindness of strangers.
The path to the castle is lined with boards giving an outline of its history. There are also frequent guided tours. Our guide was Jane who certainly knew her stuff! Once we had been round with her we then went back to spend more time looking around
As it was in 1700s with the River Severn in the background and below today
Famous for the murder? death of Edward II, this is the room in which he was held
The billiard room is now laid out as dining room and has family portraits all wearing yellow coats of the Berkeley hunt and below the current Mr Berkeley. Note he does not have a title but he is High Sheriff.
A bit of family history. They owned property in Berkeley Square. Sir William became Governor of Virginia
And here is something I had never seen before. What is it? Answer at the end
The Great Hall above and below Queen Elizabeh left her bedcover behind
A suitable match was always important
Kitchens are always interesting. This one has an “automatic” spit so no need for a small boy or animal to turn it
Fire was a constant threat. Read the instructions carefully especially No 2
The Godwin Cup
Singing from the same hymn sheet An old manuscript
Many important folk have stayed here including William Harvey (1578-1657) above who discovered the circulation of the blood, Jonathan Swift, and below
Sadly all empty barrels and bottles in the cellar
Terrace gardens drop down to the old water meadows and below the stables where horses and hounds were kept
My favourite window Time flies!
And so to the church. Very odd because the tower is not attached
And finally Dr Jenners house It’s still standing and open to visitors. What a wonderful legacy he left.
Jenny & Frank came to pick us up and came aboard Matilda for tea and cake. We can’t thank them enough for their kindness and we hope to see them again in Worcester
Quiz answer: hurdy gurdy The hurdy-gurdy is a stringed instrument that produces sound by a hand crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to those of a violin
Friends from Devizes called in on their way back from a meeting. We went to The Three Horseshoes in Frampton on Severn for lunch. This pub had been recommended to us by several people and what a good recommendation it proved to be! If you like hearty fare then this is THE place! A proper pub, this pub has real ale and so many awards..
A good selection of pies Below a steak and ale pie for Tony
James & I opted for the classic steak and kidney. You make a lengthways cut and lift the lid and this is what you see. Almost half steak and kidney, the mash with a few veg and then cauliflower and broccoli cheese. A complete meal under the excellent puff pastry lid. Carol chose chicken and mushroom and that disappeared very quickly. This was home cooking at its best
We all agreed the pies were superb. My only complaint was that it was too big and these were regular pies not large ones!
Me with the Cook and Carol
We didn’t eat dinner last night just munched a few grapes!
On our next visit we shall order one pie between us!
Not a bad wisteria but every one is compared to Rosemundy!
Classic manor gardens
A surprise
Manor vegetable garden and below a bird scarer
A modern low maintenance garden
I think this was my favourite. At most six feet wide and just the length of the house. I had spotted it a few days earlier and admired it
This was a tiny narrow garden but the raised beds were full of interesting plants
I was very impressed by the peas and broad beans
After tea and delicious fruit cake that only members of the WI can bake, we set off to the last two gardens. Frampton Court was where Rosamund Clifford mistress of Henry II was born.
The leaning trees were intriguing
The last one was on our route home but we passed two homes with fantastic wisterias. The violas were blue and purple so the owner of this garden had chosen flower colour to complement the wisteria
So the last one was very attractive
Home made ice cream but the best place to eat it was in front of the fire in the summerhouse!
Look out for Cherry Moo ice cream. Choose the smallest pot as it is sooooo rich
Walked back along the Cotswold Canal towpath. 14,244 steps
After rain overnight it was a rather cool morning as we waited for a No 10 bus to Cheltenham. A regular ten minute service. Got the front seat upstairs! The bus stop is opposite the Municipal Offices with its excellent flower beds- daisies and tulips in shades of pink and red
Cheltenhams answer to the Trevi fountain?
There was a small market and we were lucky enough to spot our favourite pie maker. We bought a beaver pie, a deer pie and a penguin pie. I will leave you to guess the contents but two tourists actually asked if the pie contained penguin! Brocklebys are located in the Vale of Belvoir and have a good sense of humour as well as good pies www.brocklebys.co.uk
Cheltenham is a very smart town with lovely (expensive) shops including John Lewis. We followed the Montpellier walking tour after visiting the excellent museum and learning of Edward Wilson, More of him later
Former Britain in Bloom winners
As we walked we could hear the jazz festival. We walked past The Queens where Jolanta and I had a couple of drinks many years ago
On to the College the chapel and main entrance
One of its pupils was Edward Wilson who took part in two Antarctic expeditions losing his life in 1912. He was the expedtion doctor and artist
His home
The former 1930s Daffodil cinema now another eating house
More beautiful terraces
The past the Ladies College where Miss Beale was headmistress. There is an amusing rhyme about her and Miss Buss head of North London Collegiate School. The photo is from Wikipaedia
Miss Buss and Miss Beale, Cupid‘s darts do not feel. How different from us, Miss Beale and Miss Buss.
by G.H. Martyn & Sons, cabinet print
And just to get your bearings
And a query. How can the NHS justify the cost of such smart premises?
If you enjoy shopping and like archtecture and a rich cultural life then consider Cheltenham. We enjoyed our day out. The pies are in the freezer!
A lovely little museum with lots to entertain familes especially dinosaurs
My favourite historical character of the moment
There was stunning display about the RAF in Gloucestershire. These quilts were hand embroidered and in the circle bottom right are the names of the ladies who created them. I was very impressed.
And when you have finished here you can progress to
