England, 2017, Saturday 5/20/17

Again up early, 6:30, to dress and get to breakfast at 8:00.  DebC and Mark took a short walk prior to breakfast along a car path next to our cottage.  It descended down to the River Chum, across a small bridge and again up a hill.  We stopped at the river (really a stream,) and shot a short video of the falls and the stream.  Not sure if it will translate on this log, but we will try.  At the top of the hill, we noted that it stretched on for many a mile through fields and footpaths.  Only that we had brought our true walking shoes and walking staffs.  Something to look forward to next trip.  We returned, finding that road back up the hill was a bit tougher than going down.

On to the dining room for another full English breakfast, this one including black pudding, a treat for me, but scorned by others.

We departed after 10:00 towards Burton-On-The-Water and arrived at 11:00. The Park & Display machines were out of service, so we left a note on our dashboard to that effect and walked out of the car park hopeful.  We strolled on to this bucolic village and were rewarded with a typical touristy shopping experience; however, with this wonderful village, one can not begrudge the tourists.  After the crowd increased, it became increasingly difficult for those of our party that were grinchy-grouchy.  However, even with the occasional showers, we enjoyed our visit. I even stopped for a visit with the Hare God effigy, in the hopes of some restoration.  No evidence yet.

We left Burton, after a stop for a scone and tea, and then headed for Hidcote Gardens. This is a world renowned garden, the first to introduce the concept of garden rooms to the world.  It was established by Lawrence Johnston, an American who, with his mother, Marjorie Winthrop, purchased the 243 acre farm in 1907.  Mrs. Winthrop promptly departed back to New York to return to her societal life and Johnston  spent the next 40 years transforming over 40 acres into a world renowned garden.  In 1948, in ill health and with no remaining funds, he negotiated with the National Trust of England to take over the gardens.  They have subsequently becomes world renowned and are maintained as they originally were left.  They are magnificent.

After over three hours, we pulled ourselves away from the gardens and headed back to Colesbourne, with a detour through the village of Broadway, arriving in time for a quick cocktail and then dinner at the Inn.

This evening's meal included swordfish steak, asparagus and wild mushroom risotto, sea bass on a bed of warm salad, and again fish and chips (jumbo size.) We retired, happy and fed around 10:00, contented.