Newport, England
Rain, sun, rain, sun, wind, clouds, rain, sun...well, you get the picture:) and temps 50's, I'd guess because I never took off my jacket
My morning started when I heard the tractor mowing the rigby field where I was camped. What time is it?!! 9 am?!! I need to get out of here! So I packed up quickly, lucky that he was mowing another field, not mine, waved to the driver, and left. A mile up the road there was an Abbey... Haughmond Abbey. It was rather spectacular.
Why do these ancient ruins impress me so? I'm amazed in the effort to construct them. I'm amazed in the design. I'm amazed they're still standing over 600 + years later. What structures of today's building will be around 600 years from now? Anything?
That and the weather were today's highlights. I enjoyed the town of Newport, but was busy doing my usual town chores: wifi and eating. Had a Cornwall Pasty today. They're like a croissant with a filling. They were how the wives sent lunch with their husbands who were miners: last night's dinner cooked up in pastry - half dinner, half jam for dessert. I missed having them last summer in Michigan but I think it's the same thing (right Bluebearee?).
Funny sign today:
Since Fuat left I've been kidding when asked how long I will I cycle for? Either a year or until the end of the month...we'll see. Well, month's end has come and I'm still out here! This is similar to hiking a long trail in so many ways, but without the trail family. Friends I make I have to leave behind. And I get up each day and do it all over again: same thing, new road. It sounds so romantic when you read about it.
Tonight's campsite is the side of a farmer's field of hay. I don't think I'll be hassled here. I got set up between downpours... that's the tricky part of traveling through rain. I now appreciate how the class of '03 (the rainy year) of the AT (Appalachian Trail, for new readers who might not know)...how they coped and stayed with it. You learn tricks to keeping your dry stuff dry...and a little water isn't the end of the world. Bedroll and fleece jacket is in a dry sac that does not get opened in the rain - no matter what. The tent gets dried as best as possible in morning and works okay even when damp. The critical part to keep dry is the inside of the floor. Fold it in on itself to protect that surface. Even in it's sack on the back of my bike all day in the rain, it's dry enough when I get to set up. That surprised me!
Then during the day, keep the body warm even when wet and I'm happy. That's when my umbrella comes in ever so handy...and my new coat. I'm glad I persisted and found peace with the rain. Maybe even enjoying it.
Got a story to tell. The other day as I was saying goodbye to the Hall Family and they were getting loaded on their bikes, the skies opened up with a cloud burst. Lyra, the 4 yr old, was on the back of her mom's tandem already so I grabbed her down and nestled her under an eave with me to stay as dry as possible. "Why am I under here?" So you don't get any wetter, says I. "But I love the rain!" as she proceeds to run out into the heaviest of the downpour dancing in the puddles! Dance on, Lyra...and teach us all to "dance in the rain"!
And I think what I miss about being around children and old folks is the wisdom they have to teach those of us in the middle:)
You just have to be patient enough to listen.
Oh, ya, the observation of the day: Welsh houses are made of stone and English are made of brick. And many of the old homes are really large. I counted one with 6 chimneys today. This area isn't as I imagined England to be. Where are those quaint thatched roof cottages?
Doing more backroads tomorrow now that the land has gotten flatter and I won't be surprised by a 25% grade hill. I've been worried about that. The green, red, and even yellow roads have been so, so busy. Even the boackroad I took tonight has more traffic than I like on it. England is a busy place:)
My favorite flower is a poppy, I think and I found them growing wild along the side of the roads here. Beautiful!
Popping BagLady
p.s. wanna see one of the first modern houses I've seen here?
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