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Monday, 3rd June - Saturday, 8th June 5 days in the Costwolds.
Summary: For years in the UK, Leb and I would drive over from High Wycombe to Stroud in the Cotswolds, so whenever we return to England it's always high up on the priority list to visit.
Family will always by #1 for Leb and she still has family there. So visiting Tina and Jan and family was alwys going to be central to this stay. Thanks so much to them for putting us up for a few days.
The days we spent there were very relaxing. We had a couple of lovely dys walking and we had a day popping around some lovely Stroud pubs, and a fantastic dinner evening with Ruth and her family and we even had a trip down the M4 to meet up with an old friend from Cornwall.
First Day in Stroud (Monday, 3rd June)
It was lovely to be reunited with my sweetheart at Stroud station. After a nice kiss and a cuddle we quickly drove off to Tina and Jan's for a delicious stew and dumplings.
Tina then gave me a lovely surprise... a couple of books rescued from the late Phil Smith's house which I must have lent to him twenty years ago. One in particular was very special, a signed copy from Elaine herself. I finished the day watching England beat Bosnia Herzegovina 3-0.
The Cotwolds are so beautiful.
Second Day in Stroud: Canal Walk (Tuesday, 4th June)
Day 88 ~ Lovely walk along the canal from Ebley to Stroud that started at a cafe by the canal where Leb met up with her old pal, Geraldine Ciubulskis.
It was a lovely walk along the canal into town.
Then a bimble around the town center culminating in the inevitable fish & chips dinner at Simpson's.
Later, after an afternoon snooze, a jolly to The Woolpack, made famous by Laurie Lee, for a couple of pints.
Back for a nice tea before ending the evening watching the lionesses earn a great victory in France.
Third Day in Stroud: Walking in the Woods (Wednesday, 5th June)
Day 89 ~ Pottering around Stroud. Walk in Standish Woods.
Leb was on a mission to rediscover some old quarry in Standish Woods she'd played in when she was a girl. So we set off through the lovely Cotswolds Woodland. I'd never been there before and I must admit I'd forgotten about how hilly it was around Stroud so I started to whine about going up and down hills.
After a bit of frustration not finding the quarry, I decided to head off to the pub and leave Leb to keep looking.
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| Not the Quarry! |
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| Leb did find the quarry... meanwhile I'd found a nice pint |
I had a couple of pints in The Vine Tree Inn and was then joined by Leb and so we celebrated with ... guess what, fish & chips!
Then return back to Tina & Jan's for a lovely curry with the family. So nice to catch up with Maurine, Poppy, Jon and Rebecca.
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| Post Hair Cut |
Fourth Day in Stroud: Pub Crawl (Thursday, 6th June)
Day 90 ~ Stroud pub crawl. The Bell in Selsley, Stroud Brewery, The Crown and Sceptre, The Retreat and The Golden Fleece.
Visit to Jonas (PooroldDad) Kukštas' grave...
The big news of the day was that the famous TV science and health matters presenter, Dr Michael Mosley had gone missing in Greece.
The day ended with a lovely evening dinner at Leb's old friend Ruth. The wine was flowing here too and I'm sorry but I think I had a few too many!
Fifth Day in Stroud: Down the M4 to Meet Nicky (Friday, 7th June)
Day 91 ~ Drove down to Sheppys Cider Farm to catch up with our dear friend, Nicky Brice and her new partner. Very lovely.
Then, we headed back to Stroud to watch a terribly disappointing England lose at home to Iceland at Wembley. Not the best preparation for the Euros.
Leaving Stroud. Hereford Stop on the way the Birches (Saturday, 8th June)
Day 92 ~ Bye Bye Stroud. After a coffee and most delicious brownies with the lovely Ruth Moore we set off for a brief stop off in Hereford before leaving for our next destination, The Birches near Hay-on-Wye, Elaine Morgan's second home as a mother where she started her writing career.
Stroud Financial Summary
Thanks to the kindness of Tina and Jan this was one of the least expensive parts of our trip.
Remember, "luxury" means "ale"!
Stroud Mood Summary
Another happy stay, this. I did have a few silly bad moods, notably two on the last day as I was feeling guilty and rough about drinking too much the night before and also about England's dire performance (albeit in a friendly) against Iceland. The Tuesday and Wednesday were particularly lovely, spent bimbling around the countryside in and around sunny Stroud.
Stroud Booze Summary
Apart from the big pub crawl followed by big dinner party day, when I had nearly 1.6 skinfulls, this was a relatively modest and booze-free week.
Summary so Far
So, with 91 days into the trip gone, representing about 38% of the total, the Stroud week was a most lovely addition to the itinerary.
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