7:30 AM, August 1, 2018 – Depart from home, Fort Bragg California
A 3-hour auto ride to Sonoma County Airport; a 2-hour, 45-minute bus ride to SFO. Almost 6-hours in, and I was just arriving at San Francisco International.
I cruised through, bag check, passport verification, money exchange, and security. And thank you SFO and British Air, there was a bar overlooking my departure gate. An 11-hour flight later, I landed on-time in London.
The next 30-days passed more quickly than expected.
I drove out of London less than 24-hours from arrival. I knew immediately I had not adequately prepared for this road trip adventure. What did these road signs mean?
I drove hundreds of miles; stayed in 23 hotels, B&Bs, and cottages; ate in more than 80 restaurants and pubs. I explored castles, churches, museums, farms, breweries, wineries, vineyards, estates, gardens, and a tea plantation. I traveled by train, jet, glider, auto, foot, canoe, punt, tour boat, van, bus, GPS, and just dumb luck.
Throughout my journey, I made notes, accumulated reference material, and photographed everything. I shipped 10-pounds of books home from Canterbury. Nearly 7,000 still photos and 47 videos need reviewing and sorting. There are over 15 stories that require writing.
I won’t share everything here, I haven’t processed it all. I’m still ruminating over the entire trip, I suspect it will take the rest of my life to fully digest.
Over the next months I will share the adventures, people, places, and culture I was privileged to experience in the stories I’m assigned.
For now, here are a few teasers in no particular order.

I was christened in the River Severn. A full immersion, when our canoe flipped in fast, deep water. My two canoe companions and I were unhurt, just a bit surprised. Nothing was lost or damaged. The day’s temps were sweltering. The Severn was warm. My wet clothes provided an air conditioner for the remainder of the 10-mile trip.

We made our way back upriver from Arley to Bridgenorth by steam-train after a pub stop for a warming beverage.

I went gliding on the Long Mynd in the Shropshire Hills. An angelic experience that I want to do again.

I met Eaton, King of the Herefords. My research on the cattle breed was more interesting than I figured. I met passionate breeders and producers, including the providers of exceptional grass-fed beef served at my hotel.
The Queen’s Box and her throne was my seat of honor at a jousting tournament in Kent. That night I slept in a thatched cottage.
- Queen MaryGo
In Herefordshire, the Country Fair President Tent’s wine and cheese was blue ribbon. I tried archery, tasted ale, tasted cider, and set eyes on all manner of prize-winning livestock and produce.
I dined with an European Parliament Member, toured the family vineyards, and slept in the estate’s 500-year-old Gamekeeper’s Cottage.
A farm where strawberries are grown at waist height was quite a sight. Acres and acres, all grown under white hoop houses. It made for cool and comfortable picking.

At a remote 11th-century church, I had a chance encounter with an expert on Pagan carvings. Our meeting place had Christian symbols inside and Pagan carvings on the exterior. She was knowledgeable and quite a character.
Hope you liked these teasers. Check out my Instagram and Facebook pages to see more. I’ll post many stories as they are published.
Thanks for riding along,
MaryGo
Can’t wait to read your stories!
Thank you Karen. I’m writing, and writing, and writing. 🙂