A Country Ramble...

Well, the weather was pretty crapalacious yesterday, so I didn't get to go cycling. I did go for a long, hilly run, for which I'm paying today, as well as going to the Gap, hanging out with Paul, and generally farting around in town, so, not a bad day. Avi came over last night and we ate junk food and watched Terry Pratchett's 'The Colour of Magic'. Needless to say, I had some pretty wacked out dreams last night...

Anyway - today we had a big way walk in the countryside. Met up with Adrian and co this morning at 1030 at Paddington and took the train about to Cookham, about an hour west of London, in the Thames Valley. The Thames Valley is kind of a strange place - it has several small cities in it - Slough, for one - most of them horrible. The countryside though is very genteel, as are most of the small towns. Lots of Range Rovers these parts - not a pickup truck to be found. So, we tromped through the woods for about 10 miles. The great thing about England is that there is, codified in law, a 'right to roam', which means that you can walk across just about any private land - fields, forests, etc, as long as you stay out of cultivated areas and stick to designated public rights of way. Very different from the US! Anyway, you get six notorious homosexuals in one place, add a long walk, bugs, nettles, and a pub with good food and alcohol, you get a lot of creative carping that goes on. I'm not entirely sure the other pub goers appreciated our clever wit, but I'm sure it was good for them... ;-)

Pictures of the day:

I'm not sure I can come up with a politically correct comment for this one, so I will refrain...



Ah, another silly sign...



Don't we all look like we are having a good time? I think this is when Adrian was trying to figure out where we were supposed to be going...



Beech trees are cool.



David in the forest...



The village of Marlow - apparently Britain's 'Best Kept Town'. Much excessive cuteness... (and lunch).



Pretty view from Makeout Point (not actually sure what it was called, but it seemed appropriate).



Enormous willow in the Thames floodplain... Lots of mud!



David holds up an English Oak...



Lone oak in a field...




'Mos on the move (handbags at the ready!) ;-)



The Thames in Cookham - lotsa money here!



I have decided this is going to be my house - not entirely sure how, but that's beside the point!