July 17,2012 Ferry to Ireland

While in Wales we met a couple that were from the US but have lived and taught school in Germany for many years.While in Brecon we walked into town and they had a nice market going on where you could shop and sit and listen to the music.There was also a beer festival going on and the 4 of us stopped for a beer and a bite to eat.Here's Ed and Michele.

The next day Sam and I went to Pembroke Cadtle and St. David's Cathedral.Pembroke Castle is one of Wales restored ancient castle and also went to St.David's Cathedral.After seeing the castle and cathedral we went looking for a place to stay for the night.We are leaving tomorrow on the ferry to Ireland.We spent the night at amarna overlooking the water.It was pouring rain.Hope this weather gets better when we get to Ireland.

July 12,2012 St. Fagan's

After leaving camp today we wanted to see St. Fagan's open air museum.The is not like a museum in that it is all outside.They have 40 different buildings they moved here to show how the Welsh people worked and lived.There is also a Manor house and gardens and in a very nice setting.Because it started to pour down rain so we didn't get to visit all of the buildings.The weather here is awful.If you want to see things you have to just get out and go.They tell us that this isn't normally like this in July and August.We hope we'll get sunshine soon.

July 9,2012 Bath

Today we came to Bath one of our favorite places in England.We took a 2 hour tour of Bath given by the heritage volunteers.He told of the History and Architecture of Bath and we walked around to see the Bath house ,Circus,Crescent and Bath Abbey.This was all free and very informative.Bath Abbey is last Gothic Church in England.It has beautiful stained glass windows, columns of honey gold stone and a great fan ceiling.The Crescent was built As a semi-circle and was made for very wealthy.After we left Bath we went to Bristol and tomorrow we will be entering Wales.

July 8,2012 Update Cheddar Gorge

After we left Wells Carthedral and continued on to Cheddar Gorge.This is a nature reserve and is world famous for it's dramatic cliffs reaching to 450 ft and beautiful gorge.There were lots of people climbing and having picnics in this area.We were able to stop overnight along the gorge and enjoy the beauty of this great place.

July 8 2012 Abbey,Cathedral

Our first stop today was Glastonbury Abbey.It was a monastery founded in the 7 th century had a fire in 1184 and rebuilt in the 14th century.It was the richest and most powerful monasteries in England.It is said to be founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the 1st century.It has also been associated by the legend of King Arthur.

Our next stop was in Wells to see the Wells Cathedral.It was built between 1175 and 1490.Everything over here is old.The ceiling is an inverted arch.Scissors arches were made to brace and stabilize the piers so they wouldn't start falling.They have a astonical clock that chimes every quarter hour and the jousting knights going around.This is quite a large church and very nice inside.

July 7,2012 Still England

We've been moving along and find that I may need a phone so got one in Chichester for $20. and a sim card for $10.We need it to call ahead to some campgrounds to see if we can get in.This is the start of their busy season.We are noticing that everything is expensive here.Diesel has been around 1.56 pounds a liter.Campgrounds are high as well.We have the ACSI club card and have  been using it when we can.They charge you to park everywhere and they also have barriers so you can't get into some places.This certainly isn't Europe.All sites charge to see things so we bought the English Heritage card that lets us into a lot sites for free.We'll get our money's worth out of this card.We came to Portsmouth and wanted to visit the town,well of course they are not RV friendly.We finally found a street parking and hopped a bus down to the warf.Later we wondering where we were going to stay.The only place we could find was a campsite for 28 pounds.We took it but was complaining all night.28 pounds equals around 48 US dollars for the night.The next 2 nights we were able to stay at a ACSI campground for 14 pound a night. This was beautifully landscaped and had hardstandings to park the Rv very nice.It's been raining most everyday.Hope to have photos next blog.

July 2 2012 Battle of Hastings

After leaving Canterbury the next day we went to the Battle of Hastings.The Battle of Hastings is a very important date in English history.On Oct.1066 a battle took place between King Harold the 2nd and William the Conquerer of Normandy.This story is about the two men who were promised the throne of England.William says that Edward had promised the throne to him and Harold took the crown from the dying Edward.Harold said that the throne was given to him on Edward's dying bed.He was told to take care of his wife and gave the kingdom to Harold.A battle insued and William the Conquerer won.He became King and that changed the British history forever.I haven't been able to find photos of the castle and Abbey.There lost somewhere in the computer.Stay tuned for what's ahead.