Bedford, UK. June 1

Nic and I set out on foot to see all of Bedford together yesterday morning. It was warm and sunshiney - all you could ask of an English, June day. 

We started at Bedford Park, which opened up into a cemetery, where we found California Redwood trees

 Bedford School

John Bunyan is Bedford's son, for all of my fellow English literature nerds out there. It was fun to see the birth place of Pilgrim's Progress. I was way more into it than most other folks. Turns out many do not know or understand the deep repression handed down to us Anglophile countries from this deeply religious man and his extended metaphors. 

We found at least three churches along the way worthy of note with Norman arches and the scars of Viking conquest, and transitions from Catholicism to Anglicanism. Each were lovely and unique.

Our favorite was St. Mark's in the center of Bedford.

We met a very nice man inside, who I maintain was probably Nic's history teacher in the 5th grade. Nic felt reasonably sure he probably knew him. He gave us a lovely explanation of the stained glass throughout the centuries.

We walked the market and High Street. Nic informed the entire city looked like shit and had gone down the drain. I thought it was lovely and quite nice. 

We walked the river Embankment up to the Castle Mound (home to an ancient and now extinct castle from 1215). Along the way I met a swan family, complete with baby swans.

Castle Mound.

Recreation of Castle Grounds.

We rounded the day out with two tops in the pup. The first was Nic's favorite from his old stomping grounds, aptly named 'The Castle.' And the second, where we ate, 'The Ship.'

It was the best mac and cheese of my life, I'm not joking. Was I super hungry? Yes. Was it amazing? Also, yes!

Despite Nic telling me I would love English beer and it is the best beer in all the world and that it promised to revolutionize my beer experience, I am sad to report that it is good beer. I still don't really like beer all that much.

So there is that. But it was fun anyway and I will probably try it again, just for giggles.

Nic had meat pie, which he has waited for over the last three years. He assured me it was well worth it.

 

We wrapped up the day with a quiet visit with his mother and Nic's nephew, James and a cup of tea. I finished my book and checked in at home to make sure my ducklings were all ok. 

So far so good.