Today we arose early and after a hearty traditional English breakfast, we drove an hour north to Avebury. We were fortunate to be off the highways on smaller routes and even some country lanes! Along the way we admired the lovely English countryside with its wide open fields and rolling green hills. It is remarkable that there is so much undeveloped land here considering the long history. The villages we drove through seemed just as one would expect with brick buildings, thatched roofs, and traditional looking inns. It would be great fun to village hop through the UK (without kids though and I can say that aloud with their agreement!). On some of the smaller roads, the hedges came right up to the roadside and we drove through one section where it was as if we were driving through a tunnel of trees with the way the canopies met overhead.
We turned off on small lane right before Avebury and drove next to the Ritual Procession Way. At one time this double line of stones standing in the fields marked the path between an ancient wood henge and the large stone circle.
The Avebury circle is one of the largest known stone circles--16 times the size of Stonehenge. It is so large that it encompasses part of the town and visitors cannot see the full circle. We walked in amongst the stones including pastures with grazing sheep right at the bases. The circle was surrounded by a 30 foot earthen bank which I had forgotten included a ditch just as deep when I encouraged the kids to run up to the top (drizzly day-wet, long grass...). This was a fascinating stop and one which have been fun to explore further if time had allowed.
For now we are off to catch a ferry in Dover. Isaac kindly agreed to ride up front as I was probably driving John to distraction with my door gripping and passenger side breaking. Mom, I shudder to think of you as a passenger on the wrong side of the road! ; )
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