Day 2 - Monday, April 18th 2016

After delicious meals shared among three locales hosting the forty-three of us, we set off towards the church of the Bronte family with its large town clock displayed prominently. The attached graveyard is littered with natural spring flowers that had once been under the stewardship of Mr. Bronte.

Getting Ready for breakfast in one of the eating rooms at the Ashmount

Enjoying some breakfast tea and toast

Sandra sharing a meal with her sweet mom

Part of the graveyard that separates the Bronte's parsonage from the church itself

The Bronte Parsonage

The Bronte's church

Our group in front of Bronte's Church

Walking among the graves of thousands of people buried by the church

Sandra discussing the life of Emily Bronte growing up in this very church yet rejecting the Truth she had heard weekly in these pews.

The parents praying for wisdom as they raise their own children in the Truth

Students praying that they will use all the resources they have been given and exposed to, to live a life that follows Christ

David Caldwell imagining what it would be like to have preached in an old English church hundreds of years ago

Today the wind was whipping us and ravens talked above our heads while we walked up the hill, as there are many in these lands, towards the moors. On the way we passed deep, green horizons that holds stone houses, old as dirt, yet still charming as ever with smoke billowing out of one of one of their three chimney stacks. Farms littered with sheep, chicken and dogs pass our view as we push against the wind towards our destination "THE" moors.

Heading out to the moors

The view of the moors

On the hike

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Payton and Jamo reading a little Hamlet

If you've not read either of the Bronte's work, then perhaps you've read about the moors through the Sherlock Holmes series or even Charles Dickens. To be in England and to be a significant writer of earlier times, the moors possess a character all their own in respect to nature. It's as though the wind is talking to you, informing you of tumultuous times with which to grapple in the moment. Then when you've hiked up to the crest of a hill and you look out among the vast lands perfectly displaying a tranquility that can pull you in, causing you to realize that God is absolutely majestic! He can create ideas as you ponder at the site of this country.


Speaking of writers, our next local is Stratford upon Avon, the home of William Shakespeare.
Stratford upon Avon, as we learned from one of our students, means Stratford upon the river. This Shakespearean town is our first exposure to many wonderful waterways. The waterways here are anywhere between 25-100 feet across. The water doesn't flow too swiftly and they are one of the many pleasant sights that beckon you in this country.

Our hotel sits upon this waterway and we have several other enjoyable water experiences before this part of the trip is let up - more on that later.


Upon our afternoon of arrival we walk down busy streets of shops and cafes. Blustering about are a flurry of school children dressed in dark uniforms, as well as university aged young people. Why not, when this town of commerce attracts those interested in furthering their education upon the very homeland built where William Shakespeare's legacy stands.

The street where Shakespeare's house is on

Our literary travelers learn many interesting facts while in Shakespeare's rustic childhood home. This is followed by our students observing actors and then acting out their own rendition of Romeo and Juliet - one of the most popular dialogues in the world. Love is one of those well known themes, after all, in which every human can relate.
Speaking of true love, we've felt the Lord's hand in His abundant blessings of protection, good camaraderie, and sunny weather! Praise God!

Our group in front of Shakespeare's birthplace

Carl and Brooke reciting Shakespeare

Before expanding on what we've done in the sun, let me dive back into the river. After walking through Shakespeare's home, we went "punting" on the Avon. That is an English term for rowing a boat. There is much laughter and mishaps because many of us have no idea how to navigate punting a boat. It certainly provides some for some good laughs. 

Our group ready to start punting

This group claims their boat didn't work so they had to push along the edge of the Avon River

Before scaring off all the geese and white swans out of this lovely river, we then take a boat cruise through the locks for dinner. Is that more lingo that makes no sense, you say? Let me explain. We step down inside a long narrow boat where many windows meet right above water level. We find our dinner tables and as we are eating, we're able to look at at attractions like The Royal Shakespeare Company theatre or Holy Trinity Church. The other point of interest is in watching these men glide along side our boat as they lock up the river water. They do this through a crank system causing the river water to hold while the boat sinks down. Then back up we go to the right level as the men continue to work this system along the two-hour boat ride.

Our boat for the dinner cruise

Waiting to board

Ready for a nice relaxing dinner down the Avon River. A nice way to end the evening!