Southampton - Day 6

Keith picked us up around 9 this morning for our Stonehenge/cathedral day. Originally we thought Stonehenge was like Castlerigg in that we could just walk up to it but after researching it discovered it was a whole tourist thing. There is a visitor's center and you have to be shuttled over to the stones. And they're surrounded by glass. You can't get right up to them. That being said I knew I wouldn't get the shots I wanted (which I knew anyway since we couldn't go at sunrise or sunset). When we took the taxi back from the train station after going to Bath on Monday, our taxi driver suggested a drive by instead of paying to go in. I brought that up yesterday at lunch and Keith agreed we could try that. It worked well enough. He drove by (slowly according to him ... Uh huh) and I snapped away. Then he turned around, I slid over the the other side of the car and snapped away the second time. These results aren't too bad going at warped speed from the window ...

Then it was off to Salisbury to see the cathedral. Of course you could see it from quite a ways away. It was an impressive image as we walked up to it. 

The first place we entered was the Cathedral Chapter House which holds one of the four originals of  Magna Carta written in 1215AD and is considered in the best condition of the four. It was redesigned to rebalance the power between the King and the barons and is the symbol of the rule of law in Great Britain, protecting the rights of the individual. Its basic principles have been used in the constitutions of America, Japan, Germany and any other countries. It will be 800 years old next year. No photography was allowed in the Chapter House but was fascinating to hear and see some of the history. 

Inside the cathedral was beautiful. Of course there are tons of memorials for people honored throughout the years since it was built. The stained glass windows are incredible. The architecture itself is amazing. It would be amazing to see something like that built today with all the tools available. But to know it was built hundreds of years ago without the ease and convenience of modern tools? It boggles the mind it does.

 

There is also a midieval clock housed there that is fascinating. According to the information it was made around 1386 and is most likely the oldest working clock in existence. How cool is that?

And here lies one of the oldest graves In the cathedral. 

We walked around a little more just checking the place out until we'd had enough and it was time to leave. This is the third or fourth cathedral we've seen since we've been over here so we are a little cathedralled out now. As gorgeous as they all are, since they were built around the same time period they tend to have similar architecture. So another couple of boxes checked. Thanks Keith!!

It was close to noon by now and time to start looking for a pub for lunch. Keith had one in mind in the New Forest. So off we went. Long story short, we took the scenic route and weren't sure we were going to find this particular one he was looking for but in the end ... Victory!!! We made it to The Queen's Head. Of course the food was good, beer even better. I got cider again - think I'm starting to like this cider stuff. Bob got another glass to add to his collection. And we enjoyed just sitting there enjoying a meal, visiting with Keith sitting outside in the amazing blue sky weather once again.  Everyone keeps saying how lucky we are that the weather has been so great. Yes, we know. We can't believe it either. We packed jeans, sweatshirts, umbrellas, rain jackets and so forth. Haven't needed any of them most of the time we've been here. 

On the way home we stopped by Keith's to see Christine. I had wanted to see some of her pergamano projects she had done and Bob wanted to see more of Keith's clocks. So we spent a hour or so visiting and looking at all their cool hobby stuff. Christine has some beautiful work. I'm going to have to give this pergamano thing a go again. 

Back at Joanie's we chatted the rest of the afternoon away and into the evening. One of the stories that amazed us was about having meters for electricity back in the early days. They actually had a meter under the stairs for electricity and they had to put coins in to pay as you go. Keith said there were times they were sitting around and everything went dark. LOL Time to fill the meter again!! We had never heard of such a thing before.

Joan had baked a chicken breast so we made sandwiches for dinner. They hit the spot too. Listening to all her funny stories is so entertaining. She keeps us in stitches, whether it's from the stories or her reactions to them. Her expressions are priceless. We have so enjoyed her. I dunno if she can say the same about us. LOL 

It's bedtime again. Our last night here at Joanie's. Very bittersweet. Gonna be hard to say good bye. Anyway, until tomorrow, G'night.