Day 5- Sunday in Avebury

Our day started today with an early hike to the West Kennet Long Barrow which is a 5000 year old neolithic burial site. There are burial chambers inside the barrow which have been excavated so that we were able to go right in and look inside. We were not the first ones to arrive this morning as the aroma of marijuana hung heavy in the air inside the barrow and someone had left offerings for the gods (pagan?) of a silver ring and £3. We left those alone and only took some flint souvenirs from a nearby farmer's field. Flint is everywhere!

Next was Silbury Hill which is a prehistoric chalk mound. At 30 metres high, it is the tallest prehistoric structure in Europe and quite impressive considering it was dug with antler picks and oxen shoulderblades. This area is kind of a Neolithic wonderland and it is all within walking distance. Stonehenge is nearby, but that is too touristy for us! 

The village of Avebury is actually partially within the stone circle. We started just outside the stone circle with Avebury Manor and garden. The Manor was the subject of a BBC series called The Manor Reborn, where the National Trust allowed a decorator, gardener and all their minions to go wild (within limits) to make the Manor over in an accessible way. You are allowed to touch anything, sit on chairs and even lie on the "Tudor" beds if you take your shoes off. 

After I fell in a rabbit hole in the Manor Orchard (just call me Alice) and stepped in a fresh green bit of sheep poop, we returned to the Red Lion Pub (the only pub in the world in a stone circle) and were each hugged by our friend the owner who was happy to hear that the damsels in distress arrived at their B&B alive. Gillian however now has a cold and was dropping tissues like bread crumbs all over the town, which she dutifully picked up. I wasn't going to touch them! 

We happened to be at Avebury at a special time apparently as not only did we see the Super Moon rise by the stones, but we have been convinced by some of the locals to set our alarm for 3 am to see the lunar eclipse. It's a magical time here right now.

We have just finished our evening cup of tea and shortbread biscuit watching the new episode of Downton Abbey. All I can tell you is that Carson and Mrs. Hughes are having issues planning their wedding. I leave the rest to your imagination.

Number of steps today: 22,223

Cheers!