W. Shakespeare slept here.

Where was I? Oh, yeah Stow-on-the-Wold. Up early and train to Oxford/Bus to Blenheim Palace. Nice house. (Note how I've taken up the practice of the English in understatement!) I was there along with a handful of other overly eager tourists who arrived before the doors were open. But that was OK because just to take a lap around the place and admire the garden, the riverview, the bridge, the Victory tower that dominates the hillside view took the better part of an hour and by that time somebody was awake and let us in. Blenheim Palace is still to this day the home of the Duke of Marlborough. When I packed up The Burrow to move, I thought I had too much stuff. If these guys ever move, it's gonna be one helluva yard sale (they call 'em 'car boot' sales). Do you suppose someone would haggle with you over the price of the bed Winston Churchill was born in? Well, considering the house has been in their family since the early 1700's, though, I don't think they're gonna move anytime soon.

I only did the Reader's Digest tour of the Palace with the intent of getting to Stratford-upon-Avon in time to do the town. Bus/Train connections weren't too bad but just enough off that coupled with torrents of rain (it had been nice all day, thankyouverymuch) as I landed in Stratford, that I bagged the idea. New plan changed to Stratford in the early AM, Warwick Castle in the late AM/Early PM and looong train ride to Bangor, Wales. That didn't work out because it would have short changed Stratford and by skipping Warwick Castle, I saved a bunch of £. Besides, I'll have the opportunity to see lots of castles. So Stratford it was-Shakespeare' Birthplace house and gardens, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Nash's House, Mary Ardens' farm and the Harvard House. (If you want more info, look it up!) After that it was the trains (4) to Bangor where I now sit. It's Sunday, laundryday and figureoutwhatsnextday. I only came here because there was no room at the hostel I wanted to get to but it turns this spot is almost better as a base for doing stuff in this region-Snowdonia.

I think that about catches up. Hasta la bye-bye for now.