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Our European Adventure 2018

A 6 month trip on a shoestring Read more

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Day 118
Monday, August 27, 2018 at 10:03 AM
⛅ 59 °F
Altitude: 213 ft
England Tillington 50.988166, -0.61101850°59’17” N 0°36’40” W
Petworth: Art and Landscape Architecture
August 27, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Petworth House has been owned by the same family since the 17th Century. It is surrounded by a deer park designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown, which features undulating hills, beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, serpentine lakes, and clumps of trees. Closer to the house is the Pleasure Grounds, with temples, huge trees, and flower beds. His designs were supposed to look natural, and they do, so much that one wonders if it was God's plan, rather than man's. Capability Brown designed 700+ parks in his life.Read more
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Day 117
Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 1:30 PM
🌧 55 °F
Altitude: 157 ft
England Findon 50.868561, -0.40711150°52’7” N 0°24’26” W
Housesit in Findon
August 26, 2018 in England ⋅ 🌧 55 °F
We are spending a week with Branston and Merlin--very affectionate dogs!

Here are some photos of Findon Village. Many houses and fences in this area are made of flint which gives a unique look.
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Day 115
Friday, August 24, 2018 at 4:30 PM
⛅ 55 °F
Altitude: 92 ft
England Thirsk 54.233849, -1.34137754°14’2” N 1°20’29” W
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Thirsk, a Charming Town
August 24, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
Alf and his wife, Joan, were married in St Mary Magdalene Church in 1941.

Thirsk was a market town, and in the central plaza is a clock tower. It replaces a water fountain that had troughs around the bottom for animals, and above them were drinking fountains for people.

In Thirsk there is a group of people who knit and crochet decorations for the town's celebrations, including this knitted model of an airplane for the 100th anniversary of the RAF!Read more
Traveler Wow
8/29/18Reply
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Day 115
Friday, August 24, 2018 at 1:30 PM
⛅ 59 °F
Altitude: 92 ft
England Thirsk 54.233849, -1.34137754°14’2” N 1°20’29” W
More of James Herriot
August 24, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Here is the BBC set for the series, "It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet", and more of the house, including the 1940s Air Raid Shelter in the basement.
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Day 115
Friday, August 24, 2018 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 57 °F
Altitude: 92 ft
England Thirsk 54.233849, -1.34137754°14’2” N 1°20’29” W
The World of James Herriot
August 24, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
After a morning visit with Jake and Jodie, they left on an excursion to walk with Alpacas in the North Yorkshire Dales, and we went to Thirsk to see "The World of James Herriot" museum. James Herriot is the pen name of James Alfred "Alf" Wight, the veterinarian who wrote several books based on his years of practice. He had wanted to write but was hampered by his long working hours. Finally, challenged by his wife, he began writing at age 50, and his books have been best sellers, spawning movies and TV series. We really enjoyed getting to see the building where he lived and practiced.Read more
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Day 114
Thursday, August 23, 2018 at 7:00 PM
⛅ 57 °F
Altitude: 30 ft
England Ryther Castle 53.847127, -1.16178853°50’50” N 1°9’42” W
Celebrating Jacob's 40th!
August 23, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
Jodie surprised Jake with a steak dinner at Rythre Arms, near York. We enjoyed meeting her parents and spending the evening with all of them. The cake (made by Jodie's aunt) was over the top!
Looks like a fun birthday party! SC
8/29/18Reply
TravelerHappy belated birthday Jake
9/1/18Reply
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Day 114
Thursday, August 23, 2018 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 57 °F
Altitude: 151 ft
England City Station 53.800755, -1.54907753°48’3” N 1°32’57” W
Leeds Central Library
August 23, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
We were exploring Leeds today, and had heard the Central Library was worth seeing. It was opened in 1884, and includes lots of marble columns, tiled floors and walls (some tile from the Ironbridge area that we had visited a few weeks ago), stained glass, and carved limestone.

The Tiled Hall Cafe used to be the Reading Room. The ceiling had been covered by a dropped ceiling in the 1950s and the walls were hidden behind shelving. It was all rediscovered during restoration.

From the Tiled Hall Cafe, we wandered into a small exhibition some of the earliest paintings owned by the art gallery, with busts of the people involved in spearheading the idea of the gallery, to improve people's lives.Read more
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Day 113
Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 70 °F
Altitude: 98 ft
England Winnington 53.273819, -2.52874653°16’26” N 2°31’43” W
Anderton Boat Lift
August 22, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
Boat lifts were used if there wasn't enough room for a staircase lock to be built. This one, called Cathedral of the Canals, was built in 1875 between the river Weaver and the canal. It has two caissons (tanks) of water in which the boats float. Then the lift brings the boat 50 feet to the next level.Read more
Talked to Carol and she plans to return sometime in Sept. Enjoying your trip very much, will update her when she returns. Avis & Frank
8/26/18Reply
TravelerGreat to hear!
8/27/18Reply
Very interesting! SC
8/27/18Reply
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Day 113
Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 11:00 AM
⛅ 66 °F
Altitude: 344 ft
England Foxton Locks 52.501215, -0.98232252°30’4” N 0°58’56” W
Foxton Staircase Locks
August 22, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
Created for steep gradients, staircase locks are made of numerous locks in a row and appear like stairs in the landscape. The top gate of one lock will also be the bottom gate of lock above. Foxton Locks was built in 1814 at a junction of two canals, has 10 locks and takes 45 - 60 minutes to move through the 75 foot gradient difference. There is a pond in the middle of the staircase, for boats to wait if another boat is in the staircase going the other way. And there are ponds at the side of each lock for water to flow into and out of the lock. In the shipping days, while a boat was going through the locks, it would be an opportunity for the shopping to be done (quickly!).Read more
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Day 113
Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 10:00 AM
⛅ 63 °F
Altitude: 344 ft
England Foxton Locks 52.501215, -0.98232252°30’4” N 0°58’56” W
Canal Locks
August 22, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
In our travels around England, we have enjoyed visiting the canals and their locks. Locks began to be developed in the 10th Century. Over time, many types of locks have been developed to deal with Great Britain's challenging landscape. There are narrow locks, wide locks (for two boats side-by-side), single locks, and double locks (two locks next to each other. Some are powered by hand: you need a crank to open the water valve, and the gates are pushed open. Some are electric, with a code to operate them. Some have operators and others are do-it-yourself.Read more
I did not realize there are all these locks in England! Some are so small! I am very familiar with the locks on the Mississippi River which are much bigger. SC😃
8/27/18Reply
TravelerWe went thru lots of locks during our Viking River Cruise.
8/27/18Reply
TravelerWe are amazed to find that there are about 2000 miles of canals here, and England is only a little smaller than Louisiana!
8/28/18Reply
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Day 112
Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 1:00 PM
⛅ 70 °F
Altitude: 417 ft
England Wing 51.903759, -0.70020551°54’14” N 0°42’1” W
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Ascott House and Gardens
August 21, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
This manor is from the 16th century. It is owned by some of the Rothschild family, and used by them as a summer house. Much of the house is private, and not open for tours. The parts that are open cannot be photographed as their personal belongings are not put away. But it is open just in the afternoons, to let the public view their collections of paintings (Dutch Masters and others), and oriental porcelain.

The gardens are beautiful! There are fountains, flowers, and hedges trimmed artfully, even a sundial made of boxwood hedges.Read more
Traveler Beautiful
8/27/18Reply
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Day 111
Monday, August 20, 2018 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 73 °F
Altitude: 423 ft
England Luton 51.89162, -0.42023551°53’30” N 0°25’13” W
Wardown House, Luton
August 20, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
We went to Wardown park, which surrounds a Victorian mansion that has been converted into a Museum. A large part of the exhibit is about the hat-making industry, which caused Luton to grow.

Before the Second World War, people wore hats most of the time. The hat symbolized social status and work trade, such as the bowler hat being worn by civil servants. Luton was a center for the hat industry, which started with straw plaiting and hat making in the 1600s. Women and girls would plait the straw into long lengths at home, and then bring it to the factories where it would be sewn into hats. This was actually a good-paying job for the times, and many women made more money than their husbands.

In the later 1800s, factories started making wool felt hats, which expanded after WWI. After WWII, styles changed and fewer people have been wearing hats, however, there are still some factories in Luton.Read more
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Day 110
Sunday, August 19, 2018 at 3:00 PM
⛅ 73 °F
Altitude: 43 ft
England Hemingford Abbots 52.330948, -0.12061252°19’51” N 0°7’14” W
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Houghton Mill on the Great Ouse River
August 19, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
Various mills have occupied this site since 969. The current Mill was built in the 17th Century and enlarged in the 19th Century. It has 10 pairs of grinding stones. The mill was decommissioned in the 1930s, and after WWII it became a Youth Hostel. When the lease expired, the town bought it and gave it to the National Trust. It now operates again, grinding flour from wheat raised on other NT properties as a fund-raiser.

The last picture is of something funny we saw when driving home from the Mill!Read more
Traveler Hilarious
8/23/18Reply
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Day 109
Saturday, August 18, 2018 at 10:00 AM
☁️ 64 °F
Altitude: 374 ft
England Ayot Saint Lawrence 51.835921, -0.26935651°50’9” N 0°16’10” W
Shaw's Corner
August 18, 2018 in England ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
Born in Ireland, George Bernard Shaw lived in England for most of his life. He and his wife married in their 40s and lived in Ayot St Lawrence from 1906 until his death in 1950, aged 94. The home is maintained just as he left it.

He wrote more than 60 plays including Pygmalion. One can imagine how well his home suited him for writing, being in a country-like setting. He is the only person to have won the Nobel Peace Prize and an Oscar. He also wrote many pamphlets about women's suffrage, to support his wife's efforts.Read more
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Day 108
Friday, August 17, 2018 at 1:30 PM
⛅ 66 °F
Altitude: 597 ft
England Waddesdon Manor 51.84227, -0.93750351°50’32” N 0°56’15” W
Rothschild Wine Cellar
August 17, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
Château Lafite Rothschild is an award-winning wine estate in France, owned by members of the Rothschild family since the 19th century. At Waddesdon, the wine cellar that has vaults containing 15,000 bottles of historic wines, dating back to 1868.Read more
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Day 108
Friday, August 17, 2018 at 12:30 PM
⛅ 64 °F
Altitude: 597 ft
England Waddesdon Manor 51.84227, -0.93750351°50’32” N 0°56’15” W
Bedrooms at Waddesdon Manor
August 17, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
When Queen Victoria came for lunch in 1890, she used the State Bedroom to rest, but didn't stay overnight.

The Fountain Bedroom and bathroom were used by Ferdinand's single sister known as Miss Alice, who helped him host the dinners. She was instrumental in keeping the furnishings and collections safe. For example, she believed in keeping the rooms dark, covering the furniture when not in use, and keeping smoking to the Smoking Room. Some of the rooms are so dark it is hard to take pictures of them, and the ones we did take had to be lightened.

Ferdinand willed the house to Alice, she willed it to a nephew, and he gave it to the National Trust. It is so wonderful that the family was able to keep it all together for us to see!Read more
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Day 108
Friday, August 17, 2018 at 11:30 AM
⛅ 64 °F
Altitude: 597 ft
England Waddesdon Manor 51.84227, -0.93750351°50’32” N 0°56’15” W
Waddesdon Collections
August 17, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
The Rothschild family were collectors. Ferdinand's decorating style was French 18th Century decorative arts with English 18th Century portraits, especially of beautiful women.

This is the Morning Room, where guests could go to read or to write letters. There were many beautiful desks around the room.Read more
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Day 108
Friday, August 17, 2018 at 10:30 AM
⛅ 63 °F
Altitude: 597 ft
England Waddesdon Manor 51.84227, -0.93750351°50’32” N 0°56’15” W
1
Waddesdon: A Weekend Party Place
August 17, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
The Rothschild family was in the International banking business, with different branches of the family in various parts of Europe. Ferdinand, a widower, lived and worked in London. He bought this property, which was a barren hill, and transformed it into an elegant place for entertaining at his famous Saturday-to-Monday parties. He delighted in showing the house, its treasures, and the gardens to friends.

The dining room is remarkable for its marble walls hung with tapestries. The table is set for 24 people. The bouquets of flowers are high, as the custom was to talk up and down the table, rather than across it. The food was legendary, and Queen Victoria enjoyed it so much, she sent her own chef to learn the recipes. Unfortunately, Baron Ferdinand had a stomach problem, and only consumed toast and water!Read more
Traveler Beautiful
8/23/18Reply
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Day 108
Friday, August 17, 2018 at 10:30 AM
⛅ 63 °F
Altitude: 597 ft
England Waddesdon Manor 51.84227, -0.93750351°50’32” N 0°56’15” W
2
1
A French Château in England!
August 17, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
This French Renaissance-style château was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in 1874 to entertain the fashionable world and to house his collection of fine art. We enjoyed seeing the house and its Victorian-style gardens with their fountains and statues. There was an Aviary and more gardens to explore, but we ran out of time and stamina! We had hoped to go back but it isn't open on Mondays and Tuesdays, and we have to leave the area on Wednesday. Oh well, we know we can't do everything.Read more
TravelerI can’t even imagine the cost of the upkeep for these places it must be staggering
8/22/18Reply
TravelerThis one is supported by the Rothschild Foundation.
8/22/18Reply
Traveler Do you remember what kind of flowers the yellow ones were?
8/23/18Reply
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Day 106
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 72 °F
Altitude: 210 ft
England Flitwick moor 52.0029, -0.46571252°0’10” N 0°27’57” W
Dog-Sitting, Greenfield, Bradfordshire
August 15, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
We are taking care of two Cocker Spaniels, Holly (the black one), and Cookie (the brown one). We spent the first day settling in as we usually do: laundry, shopping for groceries, and making soup. It gives us all a chance to get used to each other, and of course, we usually need some down time. The dogs are cute, affectionate and lots of fun. Holly absolutely loves to chase a ball, and when she returns it, she gives it a little shove so it rolls right up to our feet so we can throw it again right away! Cookie doesn't chase balls, but when she's had enough of Holly getting all the attention playing fetch, Cookie steals the ball and chews it to pieces!

We are in a very small village. The villages have installed "traffic-calming" measures, and none of the secondary roads go straight. We have to plan on twice as long as we think a drive will take, due to winding, narrow roads, and of course, sometimes Elizabeth (our GPS), gets mixed up and directs us us the long way.Read more
What a lovely place!! Dean is looking good!
8/20/18Reply
TravelerIt is a very nice home. There is a conservatory and a beautiful garden too!
8/20/18Reply
Looking good sir, sort of a Royal look for you.
8/21/18Reply
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Day 104
Monday, August 13, 2018 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 70 °F
Altitude: 69 ft
England Richmond Hill 53.791915, -1.53240953°47’31” N 1°31’57” W
Royal Armory, Continued
August 13, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
More armor and weapons, ancient and more recent.
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Day 104
Monday, August 13, 2018 at 10:30 AM
⛅ 66 °F
Altitude: 69 ft
England Richmond Hill 53.791915, -1.53240953°47’31” N 1°31’57” W
Royal Armory: Training
August 13, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
Boys learned how to wear armor and handle weapons starting at age seven. This armor weighs 16 pounds. By age 14 most boys had learned how to master a lance while riding.

We enjoyed watching some volunteers demonstrating foot combat techniques. They seemed to have a lot of fun as their sense of humor was apparent, but they were very good at choreographing the motions.Read more
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Day 104
Monday, August 13, 2018 at 10:15 AM
⛅ 66 °F
Altitude: 69 ft
England Richmond Hill 53.791915, -1.53240953°47’31” N 1°31’57” W
Royal Armory: Tournaments
August 13, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
Tournaments started out as mock battles used to prepare for battle. Then they became spectator events with elaborate costumes, and armor that was mostly for show. Tournaments lasted 600 years, and many were dangerous.Read more
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Day 104
Monday, August 13, 2018 at 10:00 AM
⛅ 64 °F
Altitude: 69 ft
England Richmond Hill 53.791915, -1.53240953°47’31” N 1°31’57” W
Royal Armory, Leeds
August 13, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
This museum houses a huge collection of arms and armor from around the world. The centerpiece is the Hall of Steel, in which over 2500 items are displayed. At the base are old cannons. Everything was so artistically arranged!

Included are life-sized dioramas of many uses from war, of course, to hunting.Read more
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Day 102
Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 1:00 PM
⛅ 66 °F
Altitude: 135 ft
England Foulby 53.646048, -1.39413453°38’46” N 1°23’39” W
Nostel Priory continues
August 11, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
Here is the State Guest Room, for the most important guests. Chippendale furniture was featured throughout the house but especially in this room. We learned a lot about Chippendale, and found out there are no pictures of him, he died penniless, and he was not famous until after he died. This room was decorated in the popular oriental themes of the day.

The desk in the library is also Chippendale.

The Tapestry Room is beautiful, but was only used for special guests.Read more
Hi Dean & Linda! we are enjoying your trip and so did Carol ! We are keeping up to date about once a week, but I cant say for Carol, as she is in MPLS now. Have a good remainder of your trip! We"ll be watching! Frank & Avis Thanks for including us!
8/14/18Reply
TravelerThanks so much for your note--we are glad you're along on our trip!
8/15/18Reply
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