UK Trip (21 March - 1 April 2019) : Day 11 & 12 - Manchester and Home

John Ryland Library, built in 1890  

The library is said to inspire the settings of Hogwarts from Harry Potter

The producers of Harry Potter made a visit to this library even before they started filming the first movie

Unfortunately, Harry Potter was never filmed here

But that does not prevent the library's souvenir shop to stock up on some "Harry Potter" merchandise

Printer

Even the toilets at the library looks vintage! Note the brass taps

Rich wood furniture

Wooden toilet seat!

Note the lights and the water tank for flush toilet

Neo Gothic designs

Something new, something old, something borrowed

Waiting for Calvin to join us for lunch at Chimaek

"We are leaving you behind, Cal!"

Manchester Central Library at St Peter's Square

A random building at St Peter's Square

St Peter's Square and the tramway

Back to our apartment at 3.30 pm allowing time for last minute shopping, dinner and packing

Arriving at the airport at 6 am the next morning after a sudden panic. Our booked van was cancelled and we had to make a last minute booking on Uber. In our haste, Rygel's souvenirs for his classmates were lost, buried under the bedsheets!

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Etihad

Depart 9.05 am, Arrive next day 2 April 10.20 am

 

UK Trip (21 March - 1 April 2019) : Day 10 - Stratford Upon Avon to Manchester

 

Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Built in 1463, it was first lived in by Anne's grandfather who was a tenant sheep farmer. Her family later acquired the land but eventually sold it off in the 19th century due to financial constraints. Anne, the wife of William Shakespeare was born in this cottage in 1556

55 Lock Close, at the intersection between Warwick Road and Payton Street @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/x3qovpEfbPzTNjgq5. A signage for the lock is displayed as Warwick Road Lock No 55  

54 Lock Close @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/Gy5ZmL8Te36Guzcf9

On Maidenhead Rd, coming out from Lock Close @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/C4SnaiaG84i6tDQ56

Shakespeare St @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/Mn7EewBSNBoYi6RJ9. Note the old fashioned distribution of cables to nearby households 

Somewhere along Shottery Fields 

Somewhere along Shottery Fields

Somewhere along Shottery Fields

Overgrown

Somewhere along Shottery Fields

Somewhere along Shottery Fields

Somewhere along Shottery Fields

After visiting Anne Hathaway's Cottage, we took the walking lane which connects Cottage Ln to Church Ln @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/3qjg2uQ8CMxf75Yu9. Did not see this "Cycling Prohibited" sign until we returned home....Oops!

Thatched roof cottages on the walking lane between Cottage Ln and Church Ln

Quaint

The walking lane

The same walking lane...

...leads to Shottery Brook

Chapel St with a view of The Guild Chapel @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/ySJfzCXrE7NLPtYj8

Mercure Hotel

View of Stratford upon Avon

View of Stratford upon Avon

Back to our hotel at 11.30 pm for check out and to catch our National Express Coach from Riverside Bus Station aka Leisure Centre Coach & Lorry Park

Birmingham @ 1.40 pm

Short stop at Birmingham before the bus proceeds to Wolverhampton, Manchester Airport and finally Manchester city. We arrived in Manchester slightly past 4 pm. After riding back to our apartment, VT and Claudine then rode out to Calvin's hostel to help him load the bike boxes into the Uber. Calvin rode alone rode in the Uber to the apartment where the rest of the gang waited to help unload. He had dinner with us before returning alone to his hostel again 

Meanwhile, VT and Claudine rode back to the apartment via Castlefields. Here is a video of how a barge crosses the lock gates. 

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Bus : Nationwide Coach GBP 53 for 5 pax

Clarus Living Manchester Gate Apartments RM947

(Two Bedroom Penthouse Apartment, 2 double bed, 1 sofa bed, max 6 guests)

UK Trip (21 March - 1 April 2019) : Day 9 - Warwick to Stratford Upon Avon

Approaching Stratford Upon Avon, riding alongside River Avon @ https://goo.gl/maps/UVW33F2LqwiJiU5x5

Buffet breakfast at Holiday Inn Express

Holiday Inn Express, Warwick - Stratford Upon Avon on Stratford Road

Longbridge Is @ https://goo.gl/maps/F6YeD9PcVw3Axkxy6

Longbridge Is, not far from our hotel

Getting out of Longbridge Is (roundabout) and onto A429 @ https://goo.gl/maps/drLUfTgm7AVicm2c6

Bridge St @ https://goo.gl/maps/g3fayMwygTN47miz5

The gates to Sherbourne Park at the intersection between A429 and Bridge St were closed. Boss said we need to turn back but wait....horses are too friendly @ Bridge St

Bridge St

Retrace our steps along A429 and turned off at Watery Ln @ https://goo.gl/maps/61b5psoNX2kjR5oQA

Fullbrook Ln @ https://goo.gl/maps/Uq8qwqefqu3meYhR7

Intersection between Fullbrook Ln and Church Road @ https://goo.gl/maps/V2muENV2JQCXaEsK7

Fullbrook Ln, part of National Cycle Rte 41 @ https://goo.gl/maps/GHkVWdrFVMAtmqfp7

Cows!

Farmhouse @ https://goo.gl/maps/6f6rQe5pG6wQDkih9

Farmhouse

Still on Fullbrook Lane

Farm on Fullbrook Lane @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/xHCtwAJD5M2428Tc7

Note a gorgeous farmhouse on the far left, also on Fullbrook Lane @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/bF1L1h2tEN9dACVg7

Beautiful countryside

But it can be hilly for the untrained

Feilds ploughed and ready for the new planting season

Taking a rest

Approaching Hampton Lucy @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/dh88TxfM8L6hURBYA

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5CEwjVBqJayVXcCMA

Standing by the signpost @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/5CEwjVBqJayVXcCMA

Church St in Hampton Lucy @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/SiSQ58kSEE5QbpH7A

Still at Hampton Lucy junction with the church behind @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/rKUJCJNWzGaU5jSt9

Still at Hampton Lucy junction overlooking Bridge Street @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/1LAZo3p4iuYfB8vs8

The Boar's Head Pub on the left @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/7Z6PTfjHPkfLRfUk6

Cottages with thatched roof at Hampton Lucy

Leaving Hampton Lucy with the church in the background

Fields recently raked and primed for planting season

Leaving Hampton Lucy on Stratford Road

Gulliver in the Land of the Liliputians

...another Giant!

Fields of green...if only we know what is planted here!

Family photo

Endless beauty

Fields of canola flowers. 

View of The Water's Edge Guesthouse, overlooking River Avon @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/dcxX7dfZQaSGB5xR8 

Enjoying a quick bite; off Fisherman's Carpark; off Warwick Rd @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/dKXvVEBFbHAWMKbu7

Swan looking for a feed

As Stratford Upon Avon and our hotel is just 1.5 km away, we had time to feed the swans

...and more swans...

...not forgetting the ducks too!

View across the river

Bicycle friendly path

Gorgeous houses by the river front

This path takes you all the way to Stratford Upon Avon @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/DKHX593dVmf6XvRm6

More views of the rich

Perfect day for cycling

Weaving along the path

Leader of the pack

There's pedestrians too

The path ends at Stratford Marina

More glimpses of the river...

...and houses!

It must cost a bomb to stay in one of these houses

There's quite a few bridges to cross

Sometimes all you see are bushes

Cherry blossoms near Grosvenor Hotel

Grosvenor Hotel @ 1 pm

Apple break

On our way to the town center with a view of our hotel

Pro EU demonstrator

Fast forward to 1 February 2020 and Brexit was inevitable

Mark and Spencer at Bridge St @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/jNB2weQzNENzgG2v8

Barclay's Bank is housed in a building from 1821 which was once part of the Market Square. The original building from circa 1640 has been demolished.

Tea break

The Cornish Bakery, Henley Street

Henley Street

Henley Street

Shakespeare's Birthplace. Born in 1564, Shakespeare spent most of his childhood in this 16th century half timbered house

Library, late 15th century building

Meer Street

Havilands Tea Room, Meer Street

Fancy a kebab joint housed in a 16th century or early 17th century town house.

Rother Street. The White Swan Hotel is built in 1450

Rother Street

Markets on Rother Street

Markets on Rother Street

Shakespeare Memorial Fountain. This fountain with a clocktower was gifted to the town of Shakespeare by American, George W Childs to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. The sides with water fountains are now replaced with planter boxes.

Taking a rest at Bancroft Gardens with the River Avon behind. Note the barges in the river

Recce for dinner at Dirty Duck. It was 4 pm

Cosy

Cosy

Cosy

Note the duck feathers!!!

River Avon

The swans swam over when we are at the water's edge

All waiting for a free meal

Even the ducks join in for a meal

Lock gates control the water in the Bancroft Basin

Tramway Bridge was built in 1823, connecting Stratford Upon  Avon to Moreton. The tracks were removed in 1918 and ever since converted into a footbridge. It is also part of National Cycle 41 

Cox's Yard was named after James Cox, a timber merchant who supplied building materials to the town. This site is 160 years old.

A sample of the horse drawn carriage which used to ply the tramway

Shakespeare Theatre and the River Avon

Bancroft Basin with The Eye in the center

Back to Dirty Duck for dinner close to 8 pm after we returned to our hotel to check in and freshen up

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Grosvenor Hotel, Stratford Upon Avon

Best Western Grosvenor Hotel RM888

(1 double, 1 triple room)