It was a much better day when we set off for the hour's run to where we planned to stop. Today is to be a day exploring the historical features of Chester.
It was a quite bright day at first but later on it was patchy - sometimes sunny but often overcast. nevertheless it remained sufficiently warm, especially when walking!
We tied up close to the Old Trooper pub as we had been told that the Park and Ride was close by and very convenient for visiting the city centre. Eventually it proved to be so but it took a couple of false starts to find the way - everything is signed on the basis that you are arriving by car! It was just over ten minute ride into the centre and we were dropped very close to the cathedral.
As a result we opted to make the cathedral our first visit but on the way we had a very short taster of the city walls.
The cathedral at the moment is hosting an exhibition of displays based on Alice in Wonderland, dotted around the various parts of the building.
Very prosaically, our first stop was at the cathedral cafe as we needed a drink - and a biscuit or scone! Not only was there one of the Alice displays (The Mad Hatter's Tea Party) but also a bright coloured stained glass window.
The Cheshire Cat made another appearance in the Cloister.
We had wandered quite some distance from room to room before we finally emerged into the nave itself, here seen first from behind the main altar . . .
. . . and here from the west end.
Jess wanted her photo taken in front of the huge west doors.
In return we caught her making the acquaintance of the White Rabbit!
Chester has unique surviving Consistory Court, dating back many centuries when, amongst other church matters, it also heard cases of slander amongst the citizens. Appropriately is currently hosting the trial about a plate of jam tarts.
Meanwhile, Christine and Alice had been taking a good look at a water sculpture in the cloister garden, and talked about the story it is based on.
Elsewhere in the garden a brightly coloured flower had successfully attracted a bee to do what bees are supposed to do.
Eventually we left the cathedral and realised that it was time for lunch. We bought sausage rolls and baps, along with drinks, from one of the shops and sat close to a couple of musicians playing underneath the statue in front of the Town Hall.
Lunch over an we walked out from the centre to the city walls. Just outside there are the re-constructed remains of the finest Roman amphitheatre that was built in this country. At one time it was a full circle and could seat 7000 people. (Not easy to take a convincing photo!)
Down then to the walls themselves - we joined near to the point where there is a good view of the river and the trip boats.
We skirted around the Castle and then reached the section where we could see the canal some distance down below us. Next time we come this way we will be down there looking up at the wall-walkers!
By the time we returned to the place where we first encountered the city walls we had covered well over two miles. There were a couple of items we wanted to look for in the shops (a replacement kettle was one as Mike dropped the old one and broke its handle last night) but the city centre shops seem ti have little other than clothes and mobile phones!
Time then to make our way to the bus stop, back to the Park and Ride and from thence to the boat. By now everyone was quite tired so a good read was the options for the girls (and lady!)
Well, that's our story of a day in Chester - a bit abbreviated as there was so much to see. We did not cover everything and there is not enough rook in the blog to cover all that we did see!
3.9 Miles - 0 Locks
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