Sunday, February 24, 2013

A Trip to Avebury!



Sunday, 24 February, 2013

Hello!

The Red Lion - Avebury
Shrimp & Salmon Salad

Chicken Salad

Cauliflower Soup

Tomato Sout
Today was yet another gray and bitterly cold day.  We were up as usual around 7.  First, Robert got a haircut, then showers and finally another load of wash, this time blue jeans.  We are fortunate to have a well working towel warmer – it makes drying clothes without a dryer SO much quicker and easier!  Then we headed out toward Didcot to finally visit their Railway museum.  (We first heard of this museum years ago while watching an Inspector Morse mystery – and Robert has been wanting to go ever since!)  

Avebury - Standing Stones

Avebury
Avebury
It took about 45 minutes to get there – and here are true confessions!  We got out of the car and it was SO cold and miserable that we decided the outdoor railway museum could wait for warmer weather!  (Note from RJB: Besides, the trains weren’t running anyway, so what’s the point?)  So, back into the car for a driving trip over to Avebury and lunch.  Avebury is a very interesting village.  Unlike Stonehenge, which is a group of standing stones all by themselves, Avebury is a village surrounded by large standing stones, erected about 2,600 BC.  They are everywhere – inner circles, outer circles (maybe a mile in diameter!) as well as the approach “avenue” made of stones.  (I have attached a link if anyone is interested!) (Added note: It is astounding to realize that Goblecki Tepe, the “temple” in Turkey, was built about 11,000 BC – 8,400 years old before Avebury!)

Avebury

Avebury

Avebury
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avebury

At any rate, it is a lovely place to visit – possibly with the exception of today…
We passed through some lovely villages filled with thatch covered cottages, and once again, I made Robert get out and take pictures!  I really think there is something very old-world English about thatched roof cottages.  We made it to Avebury just on noon, and stopped at our old friend, The Red Lion for lunch.  I was thinking that there might not be room at the inn for us, but fortunately, we arrived in good time.  We were able to get a nice table near the fire, and get our orders in at the bar.  Half an hour later, all the tables were packed and there were huge lines at the bar!  So! 

Robert ordered their tomato basil soup for starters, and followed it up with a very nice salmon and prawn salad.  I started with their cauliflower soup, followed up an excellent chicken salad.  Exactly what we needed on this VERY cold day!  Then it was back outside for a look at the stones.  Fortunately, we have been in Avebury in much warmer weather, so our short walk through town, once around the Henge gift shop (Oh – need to clarify that this is a very metaphysical psychological kind of place, where you can get your crystals aligned, and your whatever polished…fits right in with Sedona and Bisbee!) and a look at some of the stones was fairly quick.  I did find a pair of REALLY warm hand-knit woolen mittens in the shop.  They have, quite oddly, a knit strip from one mitten to the other – I’m thinking I’m supposed to put them through the arms of my coat so I won’t lose them!  A very good idea, but by the time I manage my dress scarf and my wool scarf, I don’t have too much room to manage anything else! 

Took photos of some of the stones, and then decided to head back to Bibury.  I’ve been taking more than my share of antihistamines for the hives, and thought that a nap might now be in order.  Back to Bibury about 3 p.m. for a really lovely late afternoon and evening!  We had dinner here and have been watching several Agatha Christie’s on TV.  Early to bed tonight, that’s for sure!

More tomorrow!
m
Thatched Roof

Thatched Roof

Thatched Roof

Thatched Roof

The Red Lion - Avebury
xxx

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