Bath Blues: Friday, July 26th

There is a field beyond all notions of right and wrong. Come, meet me there. -Rumi, poet and mystic (1207-1273) 

Hi Sarge!

Hope Michele is managing. Have sent her a number of messages but please give her our love and condolences when you see her. On a lighter note, you obviously meant to send the malt message to The Millionaires! My upper range is for this WOW from Marquis:

2012 Cono Sur Riesling  Such a tasty Riesling! Light straw-coloured, it has a lovely perfume of spring flowers, citrus, and white peach with a touch of petrol. Made in a dry style with lots of opulent stone fruit flavours to balance the acidity, it is bright and lively on the palate and chockablock full of flavour with a refreshing finish. A delightful tipple and a perfect pairing for sunshine, BBQ chicken or Thai food. Reg Price $13.90  W.O.W Price $11.90

Recommend you buy a case or two as this is a wonderful wine, great for sipping on the patio, as  both Cora Lee and Flamin' would say!

Arrived in Bath yesterday afternoon.  After picking up our snazzy Ford Focus, (automatic!), Jim/Chris shepherded us through York. Thought that we might have lost them right from the start with snarl-up just outside railroad station where car hire is located! All went well after that but truck traffic on dual carriageway was ultra heavy for first hour or so. Bit of a strain as I wasn't ye quite used to everything, car width, merge lanes, etc. However, I soon felt pretty comfortable and had a chance to really practice my round-about skills when Navigator thought we had missed turn-off from M5 to M4. As we discovered, we could have continued on the M5 but before that had to do a bit of unnecessary dipsy-doodling before we returned to M5.

 Smooth sailing after that until we had a bit of trouble finding the Holiday Inn Express which Cora Lee booked online, (I've started calling her Flamin'!), from the car. In fact, quite enjoyed driving around bit of centre of city, getting an overview of place. Talked to a passing cabbie and he gave us a list of directions that could have choked a horse so I thanked him and set off in general direction. Stopped at a car dealership a few minutes later and directions Coriandre obtained led us to our home away from home.

 Quite comfy and we had a bit of a laugh as we are in a disabled-fitted room so we have to be careful not to set off any of the many alarms that seem to be in place for the elderly/infirm. Unfortunately we both qualify on those counts! Had showers and a change of clothes and went for an exploratory walk. There is an Indian restaurant right across the road from us so we thought we would probably have dinner there. Menu from Front Desk showed all the dishes that are gluten-free so pleased about that. Sainsbury but a block or so away so we planned to stop there for some cold wine for a drink before dinner.

 However, once we were strolling around we discovered that we were not all that far away from The Royal Crescent,"a street of 30 terraced houses laid out in a sweeping crescent in the city of Bath, England. Designed by the architect John Wood the Younger and built between 1767 and 1774, it is among the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the United Kingdom and is a Grade I listed building.[1] Although some changes have been made to the various interiors over the years, the Georgian stone façade remains much as it was when it was first built, "so we walked to take a look at it. Fabulously warm evening so enjoyed both the adjacent park and the RC itself. 

Then, just by chance, a few short streets away, we happened upon The Circus, "an example of Georgian architecture in the city of Bath, Somerset, England, begun in 1754 and completed in 1768. The name comes from the Latin 'circus', which means a ring, oval or circle. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building. Divided into three segments of equal length, the Circus is a circular space surrounded by large townhouses. Each of the curved segments faces one of the three entrances, ensuring that whichever way a visitor enters there is a classical facade straight ahead."  

On a side street leading into The Circus we literally stumbled onto a restaurant of the same name, (www.thecircuscafeandrestaurant.co.uk), which Cora Lee had read about. Decided to have dinner there and had a wonderful, wonderful meal, (Carmelized peaches/green peppers and crumbled chorizo sausage saladin; Lemon sole for CL; Calves Livers, on a bed of Rainbow Swiss Chard with a tangy mustard seed sauce for yours truly; paired with a 2010 Mas des Argrunelles L'Indigène, 13%, Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, from Coteaux du Languedooc, not all that far from where I'll be staying when we leave Cornwall/London.), and then we made our way back towards our hotel. Passed loads of pubs/restaurants, their patios filled with patrons enjoying the remarkable weather.

Stopped at Sainsbury's for two bottles of red, both from Languedoc, so that I can do my homework, and a Jura Elixir, only 12 years old and an anaemic 40%, but very tasty nonetheless, as we discovered when we had a nip for a nightcap before turning out the lights. Had been a long full day, both for the Navigator and the Pilot so we dropped off around 11:30 pm.  

Loads and loads to see and do today. At some point I might even attempt to ride from Bath to Bristol, (13-14 miles/21-23 k's, one-way), along a former rail-bed. Start of bike trail starts but a few blocks from our hotel, along the River Avon. One more night here so probably do it tomorrow.  Cora Lee sent a message to her 3rd cousin, Chris Durston, (Senior executive with Durston Garden Products in Street, Somerset, and we might meet him here as he is in Bath for his mother's hip surgery.

On a more somber note, Dusty is not all that well. He has been in hospital in St Anne, for last four or five days, with a lung infection. Seemed to be recovering and was to be discharged but just learned that he took a turn for the worse and will be taken by ambulance to Winnipeg, St Boniface, for more tests, etc. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pic:  Bath and a taken from our hotel: Room with a View!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/348560717#.UfK1tQso_m8.email

Just returned from a more than wonderful meal at The Mint Room. The service is warm and friendly and very, very efficient without being rushed. And the food is really quite something else. A fusion of traditional Indian fare taken to new culinary heights using locally sourced ingredients and inspired imagination. Everything from the Poppadum pre-appetizer to the appetizer, Rabbit Varuval, (chunks of rabbit meat tossed with onion, chilli, curry leaves and ground spices), which was almost a fantastic meal in itself, to the Masala Roast Lamb Shank, (pot roasted Welsh lamb shank braised with onion, tomato, yoghurt and ground sesame seeds), was succulent and incredibly flavourful. The sides of rice, (Pilau and Lemon), were so aromatic that my partner almost fainted upon inhaling the mouth-watering aromas, while the Chilli Garlic Naan reinvents this staple and makes the perfect way to finish off the delectable sauces. Had we had any room in our terribly satisfied tummies we would have ordered the sorbet but that will have to wait until next time. And we will be back, as often as possible to sample the array of outstanding dishes served at extremely reasonable prices. Cannot recommend The Mint Room highly enough. Reserve a table quickly, before the restaurant is discovered for the absolute gem it is and the line-ups reach as far as Bristol!  

Hi Sarge! I gather from the moving obituary in the Chronicle Herald that Sheila's funeral will be today. Please convey our deepest sympathy and condolences to Michele and all the rest of the Darrow family and extended relatives and friends. No update on Dusty as of this message, basically last night, due to time difference.

Really had a wonderful time yesterday, exploring Bath itself. Started off with a breakfast that set me up for rest of day: baked beans, (Much to Cora Lee's disapproval! I wonder why?), scrambled eggs, sausages, mixed fruit with yogurt, expresso java and mini-cinnamon buns.

About 9:30 am we walked into town along Avon Canal to stroll city centre, Lovely and cool at this time. Wandered charming streets enjoying the lovely hanging flower baskets bedecking the lampposts, taking in the Georgian buildings along the narrow, winding streets and bordering squares and larger intersections. Bath Abbey was a marvel, especially its fan vaulted ceiling and beautiful stained glass. More wandering past Roman Baths and Pump Room, (Apparently remains are remarkably complete. However, line-up was fairly long so we decided to save this museum for another visit (Cora Lee bought a SIM card for her mobile and a very attractive top, for next to nothing, at a charity shop), and then to Jane Austen Centre.

Very knowledgeable guide, (history student), gave our small group an overview of Austen's life and her time in Bath, relating it to her family, the social scene of the day, her writings and novels, etc. Then watched a short informative film which expanded upon her life and browsed the interesting collection of diorama-like period pieces, artifacts, manuscripts, letters and such on display. Jane and her family never actually lived at 40 Gay Street, Queen Square, which the Centre occupies, but rather in a similar home a few doors away. Nevertheless, the floor plans are, according to our guide, almost identical so one came away with a good impression of the living quarters Austen inhabited while writing two of her novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously. By this time it was just after 1:00 pm and I decided I had had enough culture so made my intentions known to Cora Lee. She was more than happy to be left on her own, unencumbered with an unwilling, impatient shopper so we kissed goodbye, making plans to meet back at the hotel around 5ish.

I made my way back to the hotel to change and put the Navigator together. Knew exactly where to go to the start of the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, ("a 15-mile (24 km) off-road cycleway, part of National Cycle Network National Cycle Route 4, with a 3-metre (9.8 ft) wide tarmacked surface"), as we had walked by the point where it comes up to street level from canal side earlier that morning. Once there I invoked my Garmin odometre and I was off, just before 2:00pm. What a magnificent ride, especially since I had no idea that I would be able to take advantage of this trail!  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/348560717#.UfK1tQso_m8.email

 Aside from anything else this was the first ride that I've been able to maintain a 20KPH AVG. Although terrain is much flatter than where I'd ridden in Yorkshire, it was still a steady pull up the grades to about the halfway point between Bath and Bristol. Route, once out of city takes one through incredibly lovely, green rolling hills, dotted with fields of grain and other crops. Almost perfect temperature as much of ride is through sun dappled tree tunnels which over-arch the former railroad way. Crossed the Avon a number of times and then had to negotiate one or two roads which cut across the cycleway. Didn't really go into Bristol itself, (It seems a much, much larger place than Bath from views one has as one descends into outskirts.), but stopped once actual bike path, as such, ended.

Turned around and having noticed a number of different paths which intersected one I was on, did a slight dipsy doodle along the Kennet and Avon Cycle Route, (I gather it runs along a historic canal which links the Thames and the Bristol Channel on its way from Bath to Reading), just to see where it would take me. Turned around when I encountered a dreaded bicycle barrier, a gate with uprights that force one to un-clip in order to twist and squirm through the maddeningly narrow opening, similar to ones I'd first had to negotiate with Jim in Yorkshire. (In fact, I think he chose these routes with malicious forethought, knowing my fear of the Burning Ground!) Would love to ride it next time as putting some of route together with B &B, I think I could easily log a 100K without any difficulty!

Once back from where I had turned off, didn't take long before I was once again carefully riding through the 200-300 metre long tunnel which I'd encountered en route to Bristol. As a matter of course I'd discovered that, as the sign at the entrance announced, it is not very well lighted. 

Furthermore, as one might imagine, one loses satellite coverage while inside, at times riding through puddles formed of seepage from the walls and steady drippage from the roof overhead. I first realized what had happened the first time I traversed this section as my AVG was 0 when I emerged from the spooky, murkily lit tunnel. Unbelievable difference in temperature as well. Quite cool and reminiscent of some of the temperature differentials we'd encountered riding through various rail line cuts in Yorkshire. Really is quite amazing how much cooler it is in such places, relative to temperature outside the refrigerated, subterranean quasi-subterranean passages, in the open, unshaded countryside.

Back to the hotel parking lot to dismantle the Navigator. Once I'd folded down back seats to allow for more efficient storage of both bike an luggage and re-arranged some of the bags we'd not taken inside, I returned to our room to find Cora Lee busy looking for next night's accommodation. 

Before I showered I was forced to open a generic Languedoc, from Sainsbury's, 2012, Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, 14%, £8.99/$14.22, quite intense black fruit, very nice tannic finish, just setting up our palettes for Indian food across the Lower Bristol Road from our luxurious suite at Holiday Express!

Bottle polished off we made our way to The Mint Room. The service was warm and friendly and very, very efficient without being rushed. And the food wasi really quite something else. A fusion of traditional Indian fare taken to new culinary heights using locally sourced ingredients and inspired imagination. Everything from the Poppadum pre-appetizer to the appetizer, Rabbit Varuval, (chunks of rabbit meat tossed with onion, chilli, curry leaves and ground spices), which was almost a fantastic meal in itself, to the Masala Roast Lamb Shank, (pot roasted Welsh lamb shank braised with onion, tomato, yoghurt and ground sesame seeds), was succulent and incredibly flavourful. 

The sides of rice, (Pilau and Lemon), were so aromatic that Cora Lee almost fainted upon inhaling the mouth-watering aromas, while the Chilli Garlic Naan reinvents this staple and makes the perfect way to finish off the delectable sauces. Had we had any room in our terribly satisfied tummies we would have ordered the sorbet but were content to simply ask for our bill.

However, before it arrived we were treated to a complimentary chocolate mousse with shaved curls of more choclate. Sent along by manager whom I'd chatted with earlier. I mentioned we were from Vancouver and he said he's had an offer to open a restaurant in LA. We encourgaed hiim to do so as one of Ayn's favourite spots in Studio City is Bollywood, a very, very good but more traditional Indian cuisine establishment.

Cora Lee didn't even realize it had arrived as she was cradling an 11 month old Senagalese/English baby girl. Her parents were sitting at next table behind us and I when I pointed out the infant to "Nana" she turned around, "pulling a Patrick", and never spoke another word to me until we left restaurant! She even offered to babysit while parents went dancing! I exaggerate not, Dear Reader!

Wonderful, wonderful meal and atmosphere and just across the way so we could stumble home without having far to go. I f we lived close by, we'd be back, as often as possible to sample the array of outstanding dishes served at extremely reasonable prices. Cannot recommend The Mint Room highly enough. Locals or further afield Brits, reserve a table quickly, before the restaurant is discovered for the absolute gem it is and the line-ups reach as far as Bristol! 

Keep us up to date on Dusty's condition  Wayne

P, Amira heads into the semis tomorrow against Japan. It will be a tough go. 

Rode 80 kms lasterday to York up the Humber (humbling) Valley.

Mark is shopping in the Cape. W