Since we got back last weekend, friends have asked if I'll post photos from the trip. Because of that and the fact that sharing some of these pictures with family will be easier if I've put them online, I decided to upload a dozen or so shots from our first day of our spring break travels. I'll get back to the project after the weekend and will add some more posts to cover the trip in manageable chunks. It certainly was a memorable experience and a trip worth documenting...
First, a couple of shots from the airport. My intrepid travelers:
The flight to London was smooth and the kids even managed to get a bit of sleep (the girl appears to have her father's gift for plane-sleeping). We got our car and hit the road to Swindon, home of Shopatron's UK office and the reason we'd conceived this trip in the first place.
After a decent dinner in the pub downstairs from our rooms, we finally collapased and slept pretty well. All in all, jumping time zones didn't seem to cause us much trouble.
The next morning, Brian was off to work, and the kids and I enjoyed breakfast downstairs. Then it was time to pile into the car again for the first of our three solo (ie, without dad) day trips. On this day: Stonehenge.
I will save the stories of driving a stick-shift on the wrong side of the road for another time; I don't have the time or mental capacity to relive them right now. Suffice it to say that I am confident I shaved a few years off of my own life with the stress of that effort, and my kids heard a few words that will bring punishment and suspension if they ever utter them themselves.
But Stonehenge. Stonehenge. It was awesome, in the original sense of the word. The kids enjoyed the audio tours that gave us fascinating details and filled us in on the (suspected) history.
Side note: Do you see that my children -- the oldest, in particular -- are COMPLETELY incapable of staying away from the edges of paths (and streets and hiking trails)?? If there is a physical boundary, they will push it.
On the return trip, I pulled off the road and into a parking lot, thinking that we might stop for a snack at this cute pub. But only E was interested in getting out; the others were feeling a bit of jet lag, I think, and were cozily ensconced in the back seat.
Eventually, we made it back to Swindon in one piece -- something I'll forever consider a HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT -- and stopped by Dad's office to say hello. One of his coworkers told us about a great park nearby, and despite the threat of rain we headed that way. It did dump and then drizzle for most of our time there, but the kids didn't care one bit. They could play!
The walk back to the Goddard Arms (our pub and hotel) took us once more by Shopatron, so the boys goofed and documented that, as well.
We hit a deeeeeelicious, tiny tapas restaurant for dinner that night and called it a day. Next up: Windsor Castle!
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