Everyone we met in the Cotswolds was really nice - Richard and Tom from Horse and Groom, Paul from the Toy Shop where we rented our bicycles, Ian the taxi driver...
Going superlative
We got our bicycles late on the first day and had time only to get to Chipping Campden and back, but that was enough exercise for us. We had to return the bikes late because we were so slow. B was the hero of the day. She cycled for most of the way, while Miki and I walked parts of it, especially the uphill bits.
We were all tired out but thoroughly enjoyed the day. Food was excellent as well, especially at the Horse and Groom, and Miki went superlative with her praises:
"This is the best strawberries-and-cream ice-cream I've ever had."
"This is the best fries I've ever had."
"This is the best chocolate cake I've ever had."
You need to stretch
We were aching all over in the morning, except for B who had miraculously recovered. She said, "You need to stretch." She was big on stretching.
I had some of the sparkling water in the room and said, "This is the best sparkling water I've ever had," but Miki was in the bath and didn't hear me. When she came out, she started fussing over her "clear pantyhose" and whether to put on her jacket.
B: Just put it on.
Miki: But it looks funny.
B: When it's cold you're not going to find it funny.
We walked down to Moreton-in-Marsh to take a taxi to Lower Slaughter, where we bought a guide at the Old Mill and followed it to Bourton-on-the-Water. During our walk, the girls exchanged shoes once, B took off her tights, Miki tried to find places to change into the "clear pantyhose" she'd managed to buy and we saw lots of farm animals. Bourton-on-the-Water would have been more enjoyable if not for the crowd that had come out in full force for the sun.
Fully booked
Back in Lower Slaughter, the girls decided to put their tights back on - outside a church. We met Grace for dinner but Lower Slaughter Manor was full so we got a cab to George in Shipston-on-Stour, where Grace gave us a lesson on how to make confit.
We returned to Horse and Groom and did more stretching as our thighs were beginning to ache again.
