Aug 12

Warwick

We toured the castle, spending the day doing lots of the ‘tourist’ things. We saw two falconry (well, osprey, vulture, owl, eagle, and faclon) displays with amazing large raptors. Several flew close enough to the crowd so people ducked.

Vulture demonstration: Warwick Castle

Bald Eagle

Sea Eagle

We saw a couple of jousting matches, where rival ‘knights’ duelled for the ‘king’s’ favour.

We toured parts of the castle (though that was abbreviated, as all of us had toured here extensively in March a number of years ago).

We saw the trebuchet fire a flaming fireball the length of a rugby pitch.

We also toured the town and saw the parish church where one of my great (x lots) aunts is entombed. Katherine Mortimer married the Earl of Warwick, and both have a magnificent memorial tomb at the front of this large parish church.

Yesterday, I went with new-found friends to Birmingham to a quilt show where they were exhibiting. I helped with striking the show, and then they took me to their home in Devizes, where I picked up my car, returning to the boat in Warwick. We took the car to Stratford on Avon today, touring that very well preserved (and touristy) town of Shakespeare fame.