From London to Trowbridge

After leaving London on the Monday morning, we headed East around the M25 car park and then onto the M5 towards Bristol. At about 11 O'clock we started to feel a bit peckish and after a short discussion we decided on Mike Robinsons for Lunch, due to the Sat Nav having difficulty in finding it (it always does) for some reason it thinks that it is in the middle of a field with no roads. Arriving just on Midday we decided to take a bar meal, had looked at the blackboard, had a peek in the menu and just then out came a steaming plate of sausage and mash for the people on the next table, that made our minds up pronto. We ordered 2 of the same and ate a wonderful lunch in front of the blazing fire.

I do like visiting Mike when ever in the area, I have been three times now and have never been disappointed. Good home cooked food, always tasty and full of flavour. (I was unfortunately driving but would have loved to have sampled the real ale from the local brewery)

Next we set off across country to Trowbridge, getting there before dark parked up and went to our friends Steve and Jennies, as the evening meal (always arrive on time, if possible a little before) wasn't quite ready Steve suggested we go out for a couple of beers  round at his local, no sooner said than coat was on. On returning Jenny had made us a nice meal, shepherds pie, after which we sat around and chatted about there time in Germany, it was time for bed, as Steve had to be up early the next day to travel down to Exeter.



The Avon at Bradford



Next day we had planned to go into Bath, but Steve had suggested that we went to a small town just North of Trowbridge called Bradford on Avon. So after a spot of breakfast we went there and found it a smashing, charming, Olde Worlde town with an Olde Worlde tea room.

Incidentaly the round turret on the bridge is a medieval lock up, that was used as a drying out cell for those that had partaken in too much of the local brew.



A bridge across one of the many Avons

 





 



The Saxon Church of St Laurance, though search as we might, not a Saxon in sight, must have all been pillaged?

The river Avon once more with its flotilla's of ducks, couple of Swans bringing up the rear and geese, coots and ducks keeping watch on the whole revue from the shore line

The Bridge Tea Rooms (they also sell Coffee)

  

After spending a nice hour or so (if you spend any longer you will start to repeat the places that you have already seen), I promised my self that I must visit in Summer, which one? well that will be left until a later date. 

We now headed of towards Stonehenge. We took the road that passed Westbury and one of the famous Downs White Horses, it is also purported to be the most ancient.

A white horse looking down from the downs at a black comrade



A bit of a close up

There is a bit of a Story here as a couple of years ago I took Linda there as she had never been to Stonehenge, we arrived at dusk and there was nothing to see but duskness.

This time we made it late morning and walk around in a bitingly cold wind, listening to the Audio guide, this is a great improvement to the last time I was there, I have read much on the myths and legends that surround the standing stones, but to have them explained as you walk around them, is indeed very enlightening.  It was all very interesting but, why, oh! why do I seem to visit it in winter (I did many years ago do it in summer but it was in the days when you could actually go and touch the stones).
 

A bit of a far up


















With the sightseeing done we popped into the very nice on site cafe, it is clean, not over priced and the staff very friendly, I suppose they are happy just to have anyone at all to talk to in the middle of winter.

We now headed back towards Trowbridge to do a bit of shopping as we where going to prepare the evening meal for Jenny and the kids.

All in all a very nice day out, though the wind was bitter, I suppose it has its advantages it keeps all the normal sane tourists away!