Our goal today was to get to the Pulteney Bridge (featured in the Peter Diamond mysteries) and find the stamp shop. On our way, however, we were waylaid. First of all, by the Jane Austen Centre. There is a statue of Jane in front and a man, dressed as Mr. Bennett, welcoming us in. We were welcomed, but not admitted, sadly, because the computers were down. With lots to do, we decided to come back later.
Then we marched down to the bridge, but a beautiful view of the Avon River through the restaurant window distracted us both. The professor had seen the boy fall into the river from the weir just there. (In the 3rd book) And, he ran to save him down these steps. And there is the weir, and there is a canoe heading dangerously close to it. We ran to watch. (It was fine.) And there is a tour boat about to leave, let’s get on it! So we found ourselves going upriver in a small tour boat past low-hanging vegetation that looked just like what we saw on the Swamp Tour out of New Orleans a few months ago! Two miles upriver was a second weir, this one used to create power for the mill and quite beautiful. So lots of pictures and back we went. It was a very pleasant little ride.
Offloaded from the boat, we found the maze garden and played there a bit. It’s lovely. Back up the steps to the bridge, just one door away, was our goal, the Coin and Stamp shop. We had a nice talk with the proprietor, but John is very careful about his stamp collection and never buys anything without having a personal catalog along. So off we went to the Bath Abbey (has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?) and took a few pictures. For a small admission price, we went in to see the stained glass, the damage during WWII, the fabulous fan ceiling, and the crowning of King Edgar, the Peaceful, crowned here in 973. Outside, we went along the courtyard adjacent to the baths and stopped at the Pump Room (also mentioned in Peter Diamond). It’s a fancy tea room and they could take us! Adjacent to the Roman Baths, we could have easily gone from one to the other. Great chandeliers above, spacious seating, and a piano playing across the room. We had the savoury selection with Rooibus tea. Delicious. Afterwards, I even tried a sip of Bath Water from the fountain near the window! It tasted a bit like polluted river water, but is supposed to have miraculous healing powers!
We had a few stops along the way and I came away with a new dress which will vary my wardrobe from the mountain of golf clothes I brought. As John waited, he was stung on the neck by a bee! I brought Neosporin in the Rx bag that my friend Susan suggested. But it’s back in the apartment. The only treatment I could give him was sympathy. And he was soon fine. We stopped at the Jane Austen Centre on the way back for a quick look. At the Bath Abbey, I had taken a minute to watch the YouTube video tour of the museum. Exactly as Rick Steves said, not a museum, but a collection of look-alike items from the Regency period, and not very interesting. The ground floor was free and quick, and we were on a schedule.
After a short rest in the room, we headed out for our great journey back to the Basingstoke and then on to Heathrow. The circuitous roads through Bath showed us the city from a different perspective. We’ve done a pretty good job so far. An hour down the road, our GPS took us to a new housing development. Oops. Then reprogrammed and to the Basingstoke, where we collected the iPad (John gave it a little kiss) and we had a cool drink. While waiting, John’s phone rang. John2 was calling. He was on the ground, had his luggage, and had already been through customs. His plane had landed just 20 minutes ago!! It was great to hear his voice. His travels had gone very well so far—so good!
Glug down the drink, and off we went. Heathrow was clearly marked, but because of the train strike, trains were no longer an option for arrivals. The crowds were enormous! We were moving forward by inches to get into the Terminal 3 Short Term Parking, level 3. But time does move forward, and we finally met up, loaded the luggage, and crept away at a slightly faster rate. Happily, the M4 to Bath was free and easy. Zoom zoom and we were there!
It was too late for the Roman Bath, so we’ll stick to the plan for tomorrow on that. Instead, John2 and I got him into his posh YMCA digs (it’s a clean dorm, comfy bed, window with a bath down the hall. Breakfast included. Just fine.) John returned the car to the car park across town and, because Bath is a lovely small city, walked back to us in 10 minutes. John2 and I were already wandering the streets. Amazing how much he knew about the city just by driving through it to get to his Y! We looked at the front of Bath Abbey, where I explained the angels on ladders climbing to heaven, and then pointed out the fallen angel (aren’t we all always tripping on our way to Heaven!) With John, we searched for dinner and decided on—where else—the Giggle Squid! With such a name in such a plaza on such a lovely evening, an outdoor table there was just right. There was even a little entertainment when an irate customer somewhere in the plaza (I hope not American) shouted, turned over a table, breaking all the dishes, then ran. The waiter threw a cup at him and went off in chase. John2 was facing the right way and got the whole story in a minute. Something about an incorrect order. Really? Better to just go with the flow and get what you get.
It was late, and after such a long day, we made our plans for the morning and said good night. Very nice to have John2 with us!