Uley

 

 

There wasn't a whole lot to see in the little town of Uley when we finally got there. Which was fine, because we weren't really going to go exploring anyway. The pub/B&B/store, was good for dinner and relaxing though. And it was across from the Church/cemetery, which looked suitably misty for us to start off the next morning!

Day 1-Cotswold Way

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Our first day hiking started less than promisingly as it was a rainy day. But England is rainy and several people told us we had a nice, short walk, so we were still pretty excited. B started out with the right attitude smelling flowers and whatnot (top). (We got a late start, since we spent quite a bit of time walking around Wotton). After an initial climb up to a clearing overlooking Wotton, we went through some nice forest areas with lots of wild flowers (above).

Much to B's annoyance, we made a few wrong turns, adding to the journey. (Turns out the way is labeled well in some places and in others the many public paths get a little confusing). Below is a clearing after the second detour. Things were still going pretty well though.

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There is a big gap in pictures here, as with a little confusion in one town and more rain, B was really beginning to dislike hiking and our short walk was getting a little longer than we preferred. We took a short cut towards the end on the roads as a compromise and the picture below is from the final stretch!

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Rough Week

 

The aftermath of a bike accident. Almost all better now though!

Wotton B&B!

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Ahh, the Wotton B&B. It was a wonderfully strange place. The owner was a very aristorcratic Englishman. His family had apparently been in town for generations (he told us he was one of the trustees of some important building/landmark). Above, you'll see the portrait he had commissioned of himself to go with the portraits of his father and grandfather. You'll also see the various decorations from our room. It was a nice enough place, but a bit strange. We were in a kids room I think. We had twin beds and a sailing theme and apparently a 1970s tv! It was a little like Dwight's Beet Farm themes! Good times!

Wotton Under Edge

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Wotton-Under-Edge was one of the most charming little towns I've been to. The first picture above is of some of the fields on the bus ride there. Its a small place along the Cotswald Way and was where we decided to start our hiking journey. More on that later. We got there in the late afternoon, checked in (next post will be on the B&B), and then went to eat and check it out. English pub food is decidedly mediocre, but the atmosphere is lovely. The next morning before setting out on the actual hike, we walked around the area to some adorable little narrow lines recommended by the B&B guy. The picture immediately above is from the main street of town. Everything below is from the walk around the little lanes. You'll note the Ram's Inn, 10th century house (still occupied), apparently it is haunted!

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