Wednesday...off to Shrewsbury

As per my usual routine I take the dogs to the off leash park for their daily run.  It's cold today but it's not raining...

One of the many markers implanted in the sidewalk to mark the distances along the Olympic trail.

I hop the bus and arrive on the main street in Shrewsbury.  Now which way do I go?

 After visiting Tourist Information I get a map and then start meandering.  It's not a large town and some very interesting roads and buildings.

 I have to have some lunch so I go to Market Hall...I was told that they have a wide variety of food booths here.  I have a coffee white with some red pepper/tomato soup.  Just what I need on this cold day.

From upstairs I look down on all the booths in this Market Hall.  Quite a variety of goods.

Then back outside to explore this town...so many really old buildings.

 

St. Mary's Church

This is the Regimental Museum

 

Shrewsbury Castle 

 

St. Mary's Church.

 

 

Butcher's Road...note the cobblestone!

 

 

It's getting late so I make my way to the bus terminal to get the bus back to Wenlock.

 

 Once home I realize I don't have anything for dinner so I feed the dogs and head over to the Raven for a bite to eat.

 

 

So cozy by the fire which is where I sit and have a pint of Guiness and a lovely dinner of Sea Bass.  Everything is local and very fresh.  I have the place to myself!

Tuesday in Bridgnorth

On Tuesday I decide to take the local bus to Bridgnorth. This is another small town about 20 minutes away.  But first I take the dogs for their run.  It's a cloud burst and we get caught in the rain. 

 It's hard to tell from this photo but being long haired dogs you can just imagine the mud and wet dog smell.  All I manage is a quick towelling off when we get home.

Thankfully Kate leant me her jacket.  When it really blows and pours my jacket just isn't enough.

 It suddenly clears up so I take a quick walk to the cemetery.  Very old.  The church on the property is very quaint.  The soil is soft and a lot of the grave markers have fallen over or are leaning precariously.

After catching the bus to Bridgnorth I walk along the castle gardens.  The view from here is beautiful.  The river Severn flows below. 

What's left of the castle.

 Beautiful gardens surround the remnants of the castle.

St. Mary's.

This is the old Cliff Railway.  It takes you from High Town to Low Town or the other way around depending on where you want to go.  I had to try it out.

 

Pretty steep.

Shakespeare was here??

 

High Street is the main street and has several interesting buildings. 

 

The Town Hall was erected in 1652.

In the soft sandstone under the castle grounds there are several holes and 400 years ago soldiers actually dug a tunnel towards the church up above.

Some of these  outs 'holes' were used for storage and also homes.  Speaking of home it's time to head back.  Great day at Bridgnorth.

The weekend

While walking the dogs I come across another "stone" in the park with another wonderful saying.  "Our most precious possession is health.  How do we nurture it, help it to grow? By exercise."  Great food for thought.

It seems that there seems to be a common theme...health and exercise...this was the start of the Olympic games back in the 1800's!

On the way to the monastery ruins I come across this bull?  Wouldn't want to be in the same field with him!

Then I get to the ruins.  There were two monasteries here....one for the monks and one for the nuns.  It was huge and today there are just these ruins left.

 

 Spiral Staircase

 

 

 

I loved touring the ruins but now it's time for a pint and something warm to eat!

 

This is the George...very popular with the locals.

Very cozy!

 

I'll be hitting the couch after this!  Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy.  Even the vegetables (served separately to keep them from drowning in gravy) were cooked perfectly.  A pint of amber ale and I was done!  No room for dessert.  This cost 10.75 pounds.

 

And a fire to make everything perfect!