We had a lovely day today, riding the train into and exploring Bath (parking is horrific with 2 million visitors annually). We first took a walking tour around town with a knowledgable volunteer tour guide. We spent 2.5 hours being entertained and wore out our feet. Next we climbed the tower of the Abbey. We were in the bell chamber when it struck 4 p.m and sat behind the clock that keeps the city going ....all 12 bells ringing wildly in our ears were awesome and it was a looonggg ways up! I guess you could say I got my bell rung in more than one way! Fortunately, my headache is gone and bruises are fading. The street entertainment was wonderful, opera singers, one man computerized bands, jugglers on 8 foot unicycles with great patter, white coated statues that weren't(!) and Polish snake charmers with 18 year old huge pythons. Where the Cotswolds were idyllic and pastoral, Bath is alive. Managed to lose one camera lens cap, one camera, and Rick Steves' guidebook...found all but the book! After 15 daYS, WE CAN CONFIRM Mark is the only guy in England wearing a baseball cap and I am, apparently, the only one in our family who likes snakes. Except Mason. Mason, you like snakes, right??!! Grandad wouldn't even touch it!! All around town were decorated Lions for auction for charity...much less imaginative designs than the pigs in Seattle and fish in Oly.
The Baths by the way, though built by the Romans, have been here for much longer. They figure the hot water, about 230,000 gallons daily at 120 degrees, has been pouring out for over 100,000 years. The English dudes need to speak with the Icelandic dudes about how to use this good stuff. BAck to "The Swan" in Bradford by train and then a stiff hike up the hills to "The Castle Inn" for dinner. Off to Stonehenge and surroundings tomorrow onthe way to the Isle of Wight.
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