Lincoln

Well I tried to sleep in this morning, no thanks to the Church bells that decided to ring for half an hour straight at 8:00 am this morning! Alas my great view comes with a heavy price. After what I considered a lengthy breakfast William and I departed on what would be a 4 hour tour. After buying a little tourist map outside of the Castle we discovered that instead of exploring a quarter of the city last night we had in fact toured the whole outer west half.

Logically we decided to go east this time and so we did. First we scouted the times of some stores we intended to buy some nick-nacks at so that we could come and get them before the stores closed but also so we did not have to carry items for the entire walk. Some stores close here at 3:00pm some at 5:00pm. We scoured the entire east side and had some laughs. Finally we came to the southern most part of Lincoln where we found a Park of sorts. It was called a "South Park" (Which I found amusing) but it wasn't at all the kind of place that you think of (at least in America) as a Park. There was a place here mowed and clean for children that had swings and see-saws but at the back of the park was a bridge that crossed an overgrown creek and ended on the other side at a wooden fence. and on the other side of that fence was what appeared to me to be a cow pasture (although I didn't see any cows). To get into the Field we had to squeeze through a little gate very much like the kind that cow hands had to use in the old west to go into their fields. The grass was tall fescue and there were little muddy paths to and fro where people walked (you could see muddy boot tracks in the mud). There was a sign posted on a pool listing out rules and what not and after bill examined the rules as closely as any lawyer we set off to walk across the field to a tall hill crest on the other side. The top of the hill crest had another wooden fence that we could not cross but to look back was impressive to see how far we had walked. Keep in mind that when you look at these pictures that for all intense an purposes we walked from the cathedral that you see looming in the background.

We started out walk back, but not with out stopping buy little nick-nack shops, English equivalent of pawn shops, and whatever else struck our fancy. On our twisty turny path back we came to a little market area, it was very much like a flea market and I suppose it was. They had all kinds of bargains on purses, fruits, vegetables, candies, shoes and other strange odds and ends. Here i found a neat little Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton made of nuts bolts and all sorts of metal things. I couldn't resit it and bought it. I am however, very worried about getting it back to the U.S. in one peace. I hope they let me carry it on to the plane. After the market we were a stones through from the foot of the mighty Hill. Bill and I split up and he headed straight back to the Hotel and i ran to another couple of shops that had some other items I wished to purchase for my Claire Bear.

After a four hour walk (and a very hard walk for me as my little stubby legs have to stride fast and hard to keep up with the mighty pace of the long legged Wilhelm) the Steep Hill was far steeper than ever it had seemed before. I reached the top more than a little winded. Wheezing i returned to my room (up 3 flights of stairs might I add) and stumbled in and collapsed on my bed. I called my Love bug and intend to call her again in a few. She is with her parents today as they go to see her sister in a track meet in Tennessee.

I will likely nap before joining Bill again and going out to dinner. I saw a "United Reformed Church" on our travels and I hope to look it up and may have some brothers and sisters to worship with tomorrow, or so I hope.



I don't know if i will post again today or not, but whether or not I do, "That's the news, goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow."

Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape