Rest Day in Stonehouse

After a second day with no time to sketch, I decided enough was enough. Painswick was such a pretty town, and I was needing a bit of a break (10 days straight with no rest day is too long for this city slicker), so I saw J, A & E off at St. Mary's for their 11-mile walk, and turned back to town to do some art.

On the way up the hill, I'd spotted this lovely entrance and flower garden, so sat on a stoop opposite (using my rain poncho as an insulating cushion - it was chilly!) and sketched away, talking with passersby.

Then I went up to Juniper, a sweet local coffeehouse, for a chai latte to warm up with. The shop had one of these decorative window panes that look like the bottom of a big bottle, and it was fun to catch the wonky refraction of the roadway beyond.

A group of friends came in, and I caught one with her tea. Then it was time for my bus to Stonehouse.

At the bus stop, an older woman who looked quite refined was already waiting there, so we got to chatting. She told me about 4 Americans from Manhattan who were moving to Painswick and how, though the town of 2000 residents LOOKS provincial, it was NOT. Lots of well-traveled and international folks live there. I asked her about the wonky windows, and she explained they were the style in Victorian times.

It was a short ride to Stroud, where I caught my next bus for a half-hour ride to the town of Stonehouse, which my new friend had told me was "not good." It turns out she meant "normal," by our standards. Well, I should have told her where we were staying. Stonehouse Court Hotel is amazing!

The original owner of this property was deeded it by William the Conqueror (!!!) in 1066 (!!!) as recorded in the Domesday Book. In 1601, it was rebuilt and expanded. Lush dark wood stairways, stone window ledges with iron window frames, a big old carved stone piece over the mantle - it goes on and on.

I took a walk along the canal footpath, checking out the churchyard gravestones and the swinging bridge, when it started to rain, so I headed to the hotel and did some sketching in the lounge while waiting for check-in at 3pm. Lots of folks on holiday were gathering.

No sooner had I put my bags down in our room (number 12, on the third floor) than Joe showed up! They had just beat the heaviest of the rain. Whilst the day was by all accounts and easy 9-mile walk, I was glad I'd taken a rest day. Even so, I took a 2-hr nap. 😅

Dinner at 6:45pm was wonderful: 2 starters for me (pumpkin soup and a breaded fish cake) and steak & ale pie for Joe. Of course, cider all around. More wind is forecast for tomorrow, and I'll just be walking the first 7 miles of an otherwise 16-mile day. Woohoo!

6.3k👣 8 min 💛Leer más