We dragged our stuff and kids through the Tube to board a train north, leaving the hustle and bustle of London behind and we sped through the vibrant green countryside.

We spent a quiet five days in Newark-upon-Trent, walking around town mostly. With a compact downtown area, we were able to walk easily to grocery stores, a used book store, a shoe store for some much-needed replacements, playgrounds and parks, and a beautiful cathedral.

Traveling on foot to our lodgings with the entire circus plus supplies in tow isn’t fun, but we’ve managed to find lodgings less than a mile from train stations. (An aside: dragging two suitcases, a backpack, and a heavy food bag (Nic’s job) and carrying Jude and a backpack and holding Morgan’s hand (my job) cannot be classified as easy, even for half a mile, with cobblestones and the wondering stares of passers-by. At least the British are so far too polite to comment on our family size.

We took a day trip to nearby Nottingham to see a petting farm and to visit Robin Hood’s territory. We stayed dry, but we are chasing the chilly tail end of winter a bit as we travel north.

As time passes, we are less and less impressed by the age of each church and castle and historic building. How many hundreds of years old was that place – seven, nine, more? We have forgotten! Every town is full of ancient, beautiful buildings. And at least in the towns we’ve visited, most buildings are pleasing to the eyes with their straight lines, multiple chimneys, black iron fences, and durable red brick. Whether wild or well-tamed, the landscaping or natural foliage is similarly pleasing. No one here seems particularly impressed by the blooming bulbs, but we have really enjoyed the beds of daffodils and bits of crocus lawn. Things are quaint and charming in a way that maybe only old parts of New England can imitate in the US.

We traveled north again today to York. We’re about as far north as Edmonton, Alberta. With castle walls and other ancient beauty all around us, and a promising weather forecast for the days ahead, we are excited to get out and explore!