It was lunchtime before we set off from Poole.
Our neighbour asked how long we'd be away. We explained it depended on the weather, circumstance and Marge. Our visit to Scotland last September left us wanting more, so we are returning this time to revisit some favourite places and to discover some new ones. And we hope you'll all come along too.
Late afternoon we arrived at Stratford upon Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Our home for the night ten minutes' walk from the town at Stratford Greenway, a five-mile cycle route along the old Honeybourne line.
All day parking here is just £3, and a barrier secures the area overnight. Marge is settled here alongside a van from Wales, whose owners are from Merseyside. The man's step mother lives just along the road from John's daughter Dawn, who we will be visiting on Saturday morning. Small world.
The short walk alongside the river Avon in to the town was beautiful. Plums grew wild and John couldn't resist picking a few. At the lock we watched as a narrow boat slowly rose in the bubbling water. The swans hungry for food caught our attention, and across the river a squadron of them paddled frantically between two people keen to feed them.
The town was quiet, unnaturally quiet for such a tourist hotspot. We sat by the colourful narrowboats a while before walking over to Shakespeare's statue. Then tired, returned to Marge, passing by the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) where a small crowd were gathering to watch an evening outdoor performance in the garden theatre.
Tomorrow we hope to cycle along the greenway before heading off further north.
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