Bath

Google indicated that the drive from Stonehenge to Bath would take 48 minutes. Again, I’m not certain of the exact timing, but I know it was longer than the expected time. Jerynn and I settled into a comfortable navigation pattern, but the traffic in Bath did cause me some consternation. There were a number of one way streets and unusual signs and traffic markings. We followed the GPS and Jerynn picked out cars to follow through some of the trickier intersections.

We arrived at our BnB, Aquas Sulis, which we had packed primarily based on the availability of overnight parking. It had a tiny lot in front and with a five point turn, I was able to park the van in the only open spot. Once parked, I announced that I wasn’t sure what we were doing for the afternoon, but I wouldn’t be driving. Perhaps having seen the harrowing drive in Bath, noticing the very limited street parking, or not being comfortable with the wrong side driving, Ann didn’t offer to drive into town. Instead, we got checked in and carted our bags inside. Mom and I shared a room on the top floor, while Ann and the girls shared a room on the floor below.

Taking the direction of the BnB operator and the map he drew on for us, we walked into Bath. We stopped at a convenience store for water and at a sandwich stop for a very late lunch.

Standing: Jerynn, Ann
Seated: Dani, me

We cut through a park, following the instructions given to us. We walked to the Bath Crescent and travelled on to the Bath Circus (basically a roundabout). We walked down a high street and stopped in a few shops, looking for things Jerynn might take back to friends at home. We toured the Bath Abbey; Ann again making a donation for our entry. This was smaller than the Salisbury Cathedral and they were about to start evening services, so we didn’t spend long there. We wandered Bath for awhile, stopping at a tourist information shop, a gelato shop, and a shop selling hand blown glass decorations.

We eventually settled on an Indian place for dinner. It wasn’t my new favorite and didn’t deserve the high trip advisor rating it had. We ended up going to Waitrose (a grocery store) to pick up dinner for mom, Dani and I, as well as snacks for the evening. We tried to find playing cards, but were unsuccessful in that endeavor. We called an Uber to take us back to Aquas Sulis because we had walked more than two miles getting to downtown and didn’t feel like repeating the trip back.

From the left: Ann, Dani, Jerynn, me

The following morning, we took a city bus back into the downtown area to avoid the lengthy walk. We toured the Baths and picked up lunch at Pret. I think we continued our search for playing cards. I know we found them eventually, but I can’t remember where.

Dani at the Baths

Mom at the Baths

Dani with lunch from Pret

Jerynn, showing off in a shopping area in Bath

I mailed a post card from Bath to my dad, which arrived in Kansas on August 12. That card took an 86 day trip, including a stop in the Philippines (where it was postmarked, for some reason).