Great Adventures II - The Beach & Corfe Castle

After seeing Stonehenge, we drove an hour further south to a town called Bournemouth where our apartment was. It's a coastal town which quickly drew us to see the beach. Though we were all hungry, we made our way to it just a couple of blocks away and the kids started collecting shells. They tip-toed through some very cold water which soaked halfway up their jeans.

A just-girls picture.

Melanie and I

"Everybody act silly now."

Shawn is the only one aware of me taking a picture.

They loved wading in the water momentarily as it was FREEZING!

Austin looks a bit cautious.

Stellan was very much on our minds so we tried adding to his name gallery in the different places we visited. He is doing better but has some big changes coming up very soon. To read more about him, go here. 

The next morning we made our way to Corfe Castle in Wareham, Dorset. According to the "National Trust", "Corfe Castle is one of Britain's most majestic ruins and once a controlling gateway through the Purbeck Hills, the castle boasts breathtaking views and several waymarked walks. Steeped in history, an interactive exhibition uncovers many stories of treachery and treason. Defended during the Civil War by the prudent and virtuous Lady Bankes, the castle fell, due to betrayal from within, and was subsequently destroyed by the Parliamentarians. Many fine Norman and early English features remain."   

We had to walk a little ways along a path with a stream and as we were coming around we would see different parts of the castle as we looked up. 

Can you find child #3 in the photo?

What an amazing sight.

Homes and buildings with thatched rooftops are common in this area of England. They are pretty to look at. I took this picture from on top of the hill that the castle sits on.

I couldn't help but think of Jesus when viewing this part of the castle.

Austin, Sydney and Cooper

Beautiful.

This is the entry into the castle.

It's difficult to see, but they were all doing a letter with their hands to spell "Stellan".

My best friend.

Grant, Cooper, Melanie, and Sydney

Don't you just love the architecture?

Where's Austin?

I hope you enjoyed the tour of Corfe Castle. I know I did. Have I mentioned that the weather was gorgeous throughout our entire time down in southwest England and in London? It is totally uncharacteristic of how it can be much of the time...rainy, that is.

Just a quick tidbit about Stonehenge since a couple of people asked. English Heritage says, "The great and ancient stone circle of Stonehenge is unique; an exceptional survival from a prehistoric culture now lost to us. The monument evolved between the later Neolithic period (c. 3000 BC) and the middle of the Bronze Age (c. 1600 BC) and is aligned with the rising and setting of the sun at the solstices, but its exact purpose remains a mystery."

It took hundreds of men to carry these massive stones and they traveled across tens and sometimes hundreds of miles to get them there. I really appreciated being able to see it up close. 

Our next stop was to see "Durdle Door". I'll write about that in the next day or so. In the meantime, may the Lord bless and keep you. May he make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. 

Carol