Ironbridge and Calcutts House

So we finally arrived at our destination after taking a farm road over the hills for several kilometres. Dorothy, our GPS guide, likes to test us sometimes.

After lugging the bags upstairs, we went into village, crossing the famous bridge that set this place on the map. 

The lack of many of the buildings from those bygone days is a testament to the forces of nature; namely gravity and slippage.

Many areas are now vegetated in an attempt to prevent further land slips.

Welsh weather and the Wye Valley

When did it begin raining? Before we crossed over the Severn or shortly after?

But everything is so beautiful and green.

We had a coffee at Tintern. Too wet to admire the abbey ruins. We ventured forth to Ludlow, a pretty market town whose parking meter man has a daughter who is a dentist at Ocean Grove! You could have hit me with a wet fish.

We had an excellent meal in a quaint French restaurant. 

We made a mess of the snails.

And Eva polished off her seafood pie.

And I devoured the duck confit with gusto. Travelling builds up an appetite.

Breakfast on the road

So that we could get an early start, I decided to get breakfast on the way. 

We took one last look at this fine city from Alexandra Park before heading for the Co-op store.

The Velo Lounge is a family-friendly eatery that does a fine breakfast. Eva couldn't deny herself the fruit pancakes whilst I opted for the far more healthier avocado, tomato mash with a poached egg and a side of hash browns. Oh. And some crispy bacon. 

The place was a true culinary beacon amidst the beauty salons and betting shops on the high street.

Across the road, the Polish Shop sat defiantly against the Leave lobby.

Hope and Anchor, Midford

Just a short drive away, the Hope and Anchor in Midford was a real find. After sharing an entree of pierogi, Eva wrestled with a lamb shank while I took on a slab of pork belly.

Pierogi

Pork belly

Lamb shank

Best meal to date. 

Hop on hop off around Bath

Back into the city we went. Grabbed a coffee before jumping on board the skyline tour bus. 

Alighted at Prior Park to take in the mansion that Ralph Allen had constructed to show off the Bath stone that his quarries mined.

Now a private school, the mansion has a view over landscaped parkland towards the city.

A little tipple

Quite a nice drop partaken whilst England were undone by Iceland. 

England lost the Cod Wars and now this!

Burritos at the Lion and The Lamb

And where would they be, culinary wise, if it wasn't for the Mexicans coming over and introducing the humble burrito to the English? 

It makes a perfect partner to the Amber Ale that I had for lunch.

Roman Baths

The Romans come in and put up a thermal bath that is the biggest money spinner of all time and the Poms want to kick them and all of the other Continentals out of the country. Such gratitude. Mind you, if they did the same with Wimbledon, Murray might get a look in.

Room with a view, Combe Grove Manor

I can see clearly now. The rain has gone. The grey skies are behind me now. It's gonna be a bright sun shiny day.

Telling the future, Bath style

No need to read the leaves from your tea here. After you wash the cup out, you just know that you aren't going to be having another drink of the stuff that came out of THAT tap.

The Royal Crescent, Bath

After dinner at the pub, we went for a wander in the rain. Got as far as this row of houses before deciding that there wasn't much to see and returned to the car.

The Thames at Richmond

Picked up the car, a new Skoda Octavia, and took it for a test drive around the back streets and parkland of Richmond, before heading off to the gin distillery at Whitechurch.

The river was receding when the images were taken, otherwise Eva would have been standing in it.

Sam Wellers Pub

Obviously we were too hungry to worry about capturing a shot of Eva's beef and ale pie or my chicken tikka. 

Sam Wellers is a cosy, little corner pub with nice ales and good meals. Eva enjoyed her sparkling mineral water. I enjoyed a half pint of Nova from some Bristol brewery and a pint of Doom Bar from Cornwall. I recall that the former tasted quite pleasant while the latter exhibited an enticing aroma of resinous hop, sweet malt and delicate roasted notes. The mouth feel was a balanced, complex blend of succulent dried fruit, lightly roasted malt and a subtle yet assertive bitterness. The finish was dry and refreshing.

Yes. It is raining. No. It hasn't stopped yet.

Bombay Sapphire, Laverstoke Mill

What better way to shake out the jet lag than a visit to a gin distillery?

And the sun has come out and the bees and wasps are buzzing about. 

England in the summer time is wonderful.

Heathrow Sunday 6:05

Arrived at Heathrow. Overcast and 13 degrees at 6:05

Welcome, reader

Eva said that she didn't want to do anything special for her birthday. I thought "whatever".
Then she said that she wanted to go to Bath. As in Bath, England. I thought "wtf!"

That's my girl.

So we're off to England, Saturday arvo on the 25th of June.

Here is a link to the intended route, just so I don't get lost:

https://goo.gl/maps/929LiviYA3z