In Which the E of D, LM, and LP Journey to the Wold of Cots, Travel on a Steam Engine, and Toure the Mille of Dan

And so we set off for the Cotswolds and further adventures in the English countryside.

No, not in that car. But it would have been fun, no? So very Grace Kelly.

Our first night in the Cotswolds we ate dinner at the Farrier's Arms, the most amazing country pub. Low ceilings, stone walls, thick oak beams, and all local people. The food was, in a word, amazing. We were so pleased with the place, we ate dinner there the two nights we were in the Cotwolds. This is the type of place I love to take my American visitors because it's just how we imagine England should be, but very often isn't.

Since our car wasn't nearly as cute as the one above, we consoled ourselves the next morning by taking a steam train tour ala Miss Marple. Yes, these trains were in use about the time Miss Marple was "born" (as a character) in the early to mid 1930s, and they would have been what she took on her trips to London, etc.

I just loved the little stations. I know they are total tourist traps now, but they were unbelievable cute and quaint.



The views outside the window were chock full of rolling hills, babbling brooks and... sheep. Positively idyllic. All we needed were some thatched cottages.




Instead we got castle ruins....



... bronze statues...


...flowering walnuts (haha)...

... and wisteria covered houses.
The village of Kidderminster (Actually I think it's a "town", not a village, but I digress.) was full of English cuteness...





...including a delightful little tea house where we had some very nice sandwiches for lunch, followed by milkshakes. Mint Aero milkshakes. Yum!!!!!!!

I think the parents were slightly disappointed that milkshakes in the UK are made with, quite literally, milk. Not ice cream. I probably should have explained to them that if one wants ice cream in one's milkshake, one has to order an "ice cream shake", but I didn't think of it. I guess I've been assimilated.



Dad and I thought Mom should buy this hat for church:

Smashing, don't you think?

She was not amused.

After touring Kidderminster in all its cuteness, we wandered over along the river to Daniel's Mill. They still grind wheat there, but mostly for the tourists. I just loved the name. Having a brother and a cousin named Daniel, it tickled me.

I know. I'm a dork.

After that it was back on the train to brave the wild rhinos on our way "home" (to the B & B). And, no. I'm not kidding about the rhinos. The train went past some sort of wildlife safari thing. There were rhinos. Near the tracks. It was all very exciting. So exciting I didn't get my camera out in time, so pictures of our train will have to suffice in lieu of wild rhinos.

That was pretty much the sum of our Cotswold adventures.

Fear not, my loyal readers! Ahead: The Cliffes of Insanity!!!!! (Otherwise known as the Peak District.)