OK, guys, let's see if these pictures work:
First up, the amount of crap we dragged along:
That's my friend Joan in the back and my daughter Kate in the front. 10 bags between us. No wonder people thought we were moving.
Here's where we were camping--very idlic:
Now, why this site is special:
Main gate. We got to fight in the area in the castle where that road goes inside.
Bridge to the keep. We got to fight on this because it had wood railings and there was little chance of actually falling off.
The keep. That flagpole is where I took the two high pictures from. There were lots of very cool details in Raglan castle that hinted at what a magnificent place it was. Too bad it got slighted in the 1600's after it fell in a siege.
Kate at Stonehenge:
I was really struck by the size of this, even though you can't get right up to it. I also liked the fact that you have a mile-plus walk from the visitor center. Gives you a sense of scale.
And what's the deal with these tiny hay bales?
One of the great things about driving around the UK is being out in the sticks and turning a corner to find stuff like this:
Tintern Abbey. A very cool ruin that I didn't know was there until I just stumbled on it.
This is where I was going on that day:
Chepstow castle. Much bigger and older than Raglan, but with fewer ornate details. It did have this, though:
Castle gates from the first major expansion. Dated 1192 dendocronology, so a mere 825 years old. They replaced them in the 1990's, I think.
A great trip. I'll be back!
Kirk