Heading south in hope that the rain has cleared

It is now Thursday and it was time to start the trip back to London. Andy had been to Rosslyn Chapel and really wanted us to see it. It is just south of Edinburgh. Rosslyn chapel is famous for the Apprentice Pillar, a pillar carved by the apprentice in the absence of the master carver which is more intricate and beautiful that the others. Legend has it that the Master carver came back and was so upset and jealous that he hit the apprentice over the head with a mallet and killed him. More recently the chapel has been made more famous by the book the Di Vinci Code where it is suggested that the tomb of Mary Magdalen lays under the floor of the chapel. We arrived at the chapel at 10am but unfortunelty it is still an opperating parish and there was a funeral on and the chapel would not be open until 11.00. We suggested to Andy that we just go on but anyone who knows Andy would no that if she wanted us to see it we were going to see it. We were very pleased she insisted as it is quite different to any other chapel we had visited. The tour guide was exeptional with an amazing knowledge of Scotish history.

We were in for quite a long day in the car but managed a few interesting stops along the way. We stopped into Carlise for lunch and sat outside, THE SUN WAS OUT. It was hard for us to believe so there was no way we were sitting inside. The cafe was chosen not because of price or quality of food but because it had outside seats.

We had all heard of Blackpool and thought that would be a great place to spend the night. Unfortunetly not all camping grounds in England take tents and it appears that being a beach site resort does not mean you will find one that does. No camping with tents in Blackpool!!!!! and as it was school holidays we were unable to upgrade either. We stopped off wandered around the theme parks and looked at the beach. At least we can say we have been from east to west even it we could not stay there. Del, the navigator, got out the camp site book and we headed for a small farm/camping ground just outside Wigan. We drove for about another hour through country roads and through small towns just like the ones you see in British movies. Stone walls, stone houses and stone fences and pubs all call the Horse and Hound or something similar and all I suspect with warm beer and pub meals. The camp site was lovely, we set up Del did the veges and we sat down to another lovely meal and a glass of wine. It was beautiful, we were so please the rain had finally gone, not a sign of rain in the sky when all of a sudden out of the blue down it came!!!!!!! The language was a little unrepeatable but we accepted it as something we could not change, had a hot chocolate and went to bed. Thankfully the rain did not last and we were able to pack up semi dry tents in teh morning. back in the car for a day that we were basing purly on the weather. If it rained again we were going back to London! It was a toss up Bath or Cardiff, we chose Bath and decided Wales could be a whole new trip. What a beautiful city. Bath is surronded in hills covered in stone houses. It looks amazing. The city is a nightmare to drive around but a pleasure to walk around. Around every corner is something else to amaze you. The Bath Abbey is a former Benedictine Monestry which is now an Anglican Church. It was founded in the 7th centry and rebuilt in the 12 and 16th centuaries.

Bath is probably most famous for the Roman Baths built on a naturally occuring hot spring. I felt like I was in Rome. Hard to comprehend the long and varied history of the UK.

We decided that the sky was not looking good and we would head back to London. Andy and Del said they were taking us to Stonehenge as it was not far. We arrived after it had closed but actually it did not matter as the view from the road was perfect.

It was now time to head back to London. It took about an hour to get back into London and Andy took us through Richmond Park which is not far from her house. It is amazing!! A huge green park (looks like a small farm) on the edge of Central London. (Andy says in the suberbs) Red deer everywhere just sitting watching the cars go by. It is on the banks of the Thames. A really beautiful spot.

Finally back at the flat, we are all worn out especially Andy who has driven for 5 days solid and Del who has had a terrible cold the entire trip.

Thanks Andy and Del for fitting so much into such a short time in such rotten weather