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UNITED
KINGDOM TRAVELS, JULY AND AUGUST 2002
STEAM RALLY 
Sunday, August 11th, was the big steam rally in Hay on Wye. We had
learned about this when we were talking to the Grandpa at Hawkswood Farm,
and Don really wanted to attend. Expecting 5 or 6 engines, we decided
that the event would take about an hour, and so I would go explore the numerous
book shops in Hay while Don went to the rally.I had a wonderful time looking through stacks and stacks of musty old books, and found two excellent gardening books with fabulous photographs of flowers. I decided I must have them both, because each book has something different and useful. So I forked out my 5 pounds ($7.50) and bought them. After an hour, Don and I had decided to touch base with our walkie-talkies, so I went outside to an open 
spot and sure enough, Don called. I could hear chugging and clanging
in the background, and he was elated. He told me there were hundreds
of steam engines of all sizes, vintage cars, motorcycles, bicycles and more.
He wanted to spend at least another hour, and so we agreed to touch base
again in an hour. I continued my exploring, now going to specialized shops—travel, children’s books, mystery novels, etc. I had just come to a shop that specialized in gardening books, and had found some great deals in their bargain rack (50 pence or 75 cents), when Don called. Oh! Darn! I never got to go into the main shop. Well, maybe that is just as well. I now have 4 books, and that is enough to lug home. I love them all. 
We went off to lunch, “Sunday Roast”, which is a great, huge meal for 5.50
pounds, about $8. It includes roast lamb or beef, roasted potatoes,
Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, gravy. We
were stuffed. Then we both went back to the steam rally. I am so glad I went too. It was an amazing display of old steam engines of every kind. There were some steam-operated calliopes too, and I had fun watching two little boys who were entranced by the mechanical monkey, which pulled up on a bar and flipped over continuously. |
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