Just had a fabulous weekend near Stratford-upon-Avon, enjoying good company and clear skies (though not a clear head at a couple of points!)
Of course the whole pace is soaked in Shakespearobilia.
I confess no particular interest in the Bard and his world-famous outpourings. High School education finished William Shakespeare for ever for me. Months of my life were lost poring over Henry V. We read it, watched it, analysed it, memorised it and most of us agonised over it too. I cannot now remember one line. I thought he might be the chap who kept asking for a horse (turns out to be Richard lll) but now I recall he was the one who was one of the happy few and a band of brothers, all that kind of male-bonding stuff.
However, the sculptures adorning the garden by Nash's House were intriguing and we nodded sagely as one of our friends recited the quotations from Hamlet and Midsummers Night Dream adorning a couple of them.
The town itself is vibrant, buzzing with tourists, bars and buses. Banks and chain stores are disguised in traditional cladding and a plethora of eating possibilities assail the senses on all sides. The snack we enjoyed at Cox's Yard would have been more than enough to energise Henry V several times into the breach he insisted on revisiting.
We cycled the few miles from our campsite at Weston-upon-Avon (yes, I did it!). Friends had carefully planned a route avoiding any form of four-wheeled traffic along the Greenway.
A recently placed railway carriage (opened May 2009) on the greenway at the back of the Racecourse provides bike hire if needed and essential little bites to eat and delicious filter coffee to prop up flagging leg muscles and morales en route.
Sunday brought unexpected warmth and a walk along the riverbank to yet another hostelry.
We enjoyed a pub barbecue and relaxed in the unexpected warmth while watching an unfortunate boater whose engine spluttered to a halt. He and his crew drifted gently across to the opposite bank and spent fruitless time trying to fix the problem. At least it was a sunny wait for the rescue that eventually came their way!
