http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , United Kingdom , England , Gloucestershire en-us Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:22:41 +0000 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:22:41 +0000 So I've just about finished packing and I'm actually amazed that everything fitted in especially since I am notoriously crap at packing Everything is feeling very real now and I'm feeling a weird mix of excitement and anxiety. I've said goodbye to my grandma and aunt today and it's just hit me how much I'm going to miss everyone although on the bright side everyone's been very generous with t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Cheltenham/blog-455816.html Had our 'Going Away' Bash last night so went out to celebrate with some friends We had SUCH a laugh the night was AMAZINGDidn't feel too clever in the morning though lol http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Cirencester/blog-439982.html Only 3 weeks to go ... Can't wait Started packing today so we're beginning to get REALLY excited Asia here we come ... http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Cirencester/blog-434366.html Another lovely day so we decide to go for a little drive to a little village called BurtonontheWater. not much to do there except to sit by the water and watch the world go by... It's a nice place to bring the kids and pets both were playing in the water.... http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Bourton-on-the-Water/blog-430185.html Hey everybodyWell SUnday July 25 I got up really early and headed by tube to London Victoria coach station. I didn't know that the Victoria line doesn't run Sundays so it was a bit of a time scare but I managed to get there right where I needed to be exactly when the tour was scheduled to depart Close calls these days Anyhow we started a driving journey of about 2 hours to Blenheim Pala http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Bourton-on-the-Water/blog-422965.html Hello from the English shire This is the first time I got to see the British countryside and it is absolutely lovely. One of the main reasons why I came to England my dear. Well there is not much more to say than telling you to come and visit me here sometime to experience it on your very ownKiss from your big sister Claireps. I saw pirates http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Gloucester/blog-419534.html Definitely A Change Of SceneryFrom Bath to Bristol took me through rolling hills and picturesque countryside for the short one hour trip. The minute we hit the city limits though I wished I was back in Bath.Bristol is a city of workers. Coming from it's history as a main sea port for Britain and from the major centre for the slave trade back a few centuries the city was damaged heavily in WWI http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Gloucester/blog-412912.html Well after what seems like absolutely ages in the planning and probably a fair bit of procrastinating and faffing I am finally ready for the off. The original plan was to get going by early June now the 24th is the eventual date still better late than never and hopefully this means that I'll have everything I need ha fat chance.After being made redundant earlier this year and always likin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Wotton-under-Edge/blog-411509.html Amendment It is so rare that I can get on line and I spend a good portion of all that alone walking time thinking up intro's to my next blog and talking to cows sheep horses and one llama asking unanswerable questions avoiding thinking about what my thesis is about misconstruing things investigating strange and macarbe objects at the side of the road ... but that's beside the point so I http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Cheltenham/blog-409810.html Monday morning finds me still lounging around at the 'hotel' King's Oasis a.k.a Adam's house with the grand total of zero miles under my belt. We did climb a hill yesterday to get a beautiful rained in view of Cheltenham and surrounds so I haven't at all been idle. Also for all those considering a stay at King's Oasis in the future dont think that it is all spa's and relaxation. There is at l http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Cheltenham/blog-406499.html ...The Journey BeginsSo finally the day has arrived I am flying out this evening from Birmingham airport and am extremely excited Its been a long time coming but the last few weeks seem to have galloped by at a rather frightening pace and the date that I have been quoting to all has finally arrived The British summertime has begun with a vengence gutted as I was quite looking forward to leavin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Chipping-Campden/blog-404788.html 70209 Today it was not snowing so we ventured out to Cirencester which is a fairly big town in the Cotswolds. After a walk around we had a warming hot chocolate and then drove to StoweontheWold where we had lunch in a cosy little pub. We had been to StoweontheWold previously but never before in the snow which gave it quite a different appearance.80209 Although there was some snow http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Bourton-on-the-Water/blog-399318.html 50209 It had snowed overnight and was still snowing off and on today so we decided to just walk around the town which was charming but cold. The schools were closed and we saw some children throwing snowballs and sliding on toboggans.We went to the Duke of Wellington Pub for lunch which was very warm and cosy and Ross had a pie and I had a ploughman's lunch. I tried the internet again bu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Bourton-on-the-Water/blog-392878.html I flew into Birmingham UK home to Black Sabbath and Judas Priest but I was seeking a different kind of British heavy metal. Rain streaked the jetrsquos window as we came in for a landing. Never a good omen. I hopped on to an east bound train to Nottingham to reunite with my Triumph Thruxton. Together we set off towards Landrsquos End at the furthest tip of Cornwall.It was 3 P.M. when I was http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Stow-on-the-Wold/blog-388555.html My new home http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Tetbury/blog-388303.html 40209We arrived at Heathrow Airport at about 8.30 am after a 12 hour flight. After a short bus ride we picked up our car which was covered in ice and headed off for the Cotswolds. Thanks to our GPS we drove into Boughtonon thewater two hours later. The scenery on the way and when we got there was just beautiful as everything was covered in snow. The river Windrush runs through this pictur http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Bourton-on-the-Water/blog-387889.html Just about to leave but thought I'd post some of last night's photos. Amazing party at the pub Thanks to everyone who came and made it such a brilliant night. I hope I'm better at walking than I am at skittles http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Cheltenham/blog-385519.html Ok one day to go. Trying to ignore the fact that my left knee has decided to flare up and is hurting quite a lot. It won't like being bent up in a plane for 8 hours tomorrow then. Almost packed just have to do things like get money clean my walking boots so they don't hate me on the plane mud take my car to garage deal with the small but insidious hangover I got by mistake last night tr http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Cheltenham/blog-385178.html By the time I come to fill this section out i'll have moved out of house and home and dumped a house full of bits and pieces in my childhood bedroom with my mam and paps. I should be training with my pack purchasing final travel items and getting ready to go http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Lechlade/blog-379899.html Am getting quite excited now i've booked my flights and insurance. The more I think about it the more it seems like the right time to stay away for as long as possible and be a bit of a globe trotter rather than 1 stop and home. Soon i'll have no job no house no ties so why not Presently i'm researching Asia totally different to Africa not too expensive to get to can be fairly touristy lot http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Gloucestershire/Cheltenham/blog-379891.html