With London done, it was time to saddle up for the next part of the adventure. The over-analysis on the rental car paid off and the six of us easily fit into the Renault Traffic with room to spare. With Phil at wheel… and mostly on the right side of the road… the glass buildings faded into the rear view and we settled into the countryside. Hands down the favorite part of England for most of the passengers in the van!

First things first in the countryside. You go on a walk! I will admit that there was some back and forth on the destination and duration but we settled on a 5 mile path near Stonehenge. About 13 steps into the walk, we knew we had hit a home run. What a nice stroll! Complete with sheep and cows and a beautiful view! Kids think they’re ready to join the grown-ups on the next Coast to Coast. And yes, we did make it to Stonehenge but it was a little crowded so none of the photo-bombed pictures made the cut.

After the stroll through the fields, it was off to Salisbury to check in to our lovely accommodations at The Chapter House. The kids loved the unique rooms and the whole “staying in the upstairs of a neighborhood pub” vibe that Mere and I got to experience for a month the last time we were in England. I don’t recall if there was any roast served, but I do know I was able to grab a pint from at least one (or two) of the local spots.

The next day we cruised around the city, checking out the sights and popping into some of the shops. The Salisbury Cathedral did not disappoint! Beauty and history all under one roof. Wild to see a document (the Magna Carta for those not in the know) that’s over 800 years old and is in such great shape.

We wrapped our adventures up and settled into to the next hotel on our journey in Southampton. Don’t tell anyone but we even made a trip to Costco! Partly to check out how the UK does Costco and partly to pick up a few bottles of Bollinger for the long voyage at sea. If you’re going to dress like James Bond, may as well have a drink like him too, right?

Last night on land. Tomorrow we head to the cruise terminal!