I can smell autumn in the air, and the leaves are starting to change colour, so it’s the perfect time to tell you about about my summer adventures for 2019! For previous summer adventures, check out my Vancouver Visit – Summer 2018, as well as Mini-break to Bournemouth! and Summer Outings Round-Up in 2017.
Hunting for Vegan Pub Grub
We had planned on going for a Cotswolds walk in July, but it was too rainy. Instead, we decided that a pub lunch would be a nice alternative. However, finding vegan or lactose free pub food that is actually appetizing (and not spicy) can be tricky. Thankfully, we found The Royal Oak in Tetbury. It was delicious! I ate way too much food, but have no regrets from devouring the tofu and white bean burger, and vegan sticky toffee pudding. Moreover, the sun came out so we were able to eat in their charming pub garden. If you’re in the Cotswolds, be sure to check it out! We also took a short walk to a local Long Barrow, a Neolithic tomb, and had an impromptu field photo shoot.
Kew Gardens
In July, Lucy and I went to London to visit Kew Gardens. It was also the same day when the country had record levels of rainfall. It rained so heavily that all we could do was laugh as we sloshed around the gardens, huddled under umbrellas. Dare I say it, the rain made the gardens more beautiful!
The gardens were fairly quiet, misty, and had a tranquil atmosphere. We went mainly to see the glass sculpture exhibition by Chihuly. I don’t think I’ll be able to enjoy the gardens as much once the exhibit is gone. The glass work beautifully complimented the garden designs and was just breathtaking — my photos don’t do it justice. If you’re in London, it’s a bucket list experience for sure!
St Ives, Cornwall
Our mini break this year was a four day trip to St Ives. We stayed in an Airbnb, which was perfect. We had amazing weather for a beach day, but the sea was too cold for me so I sat and read my book under the umbrella. Lucy called me ‘Victorian’… I guess sitting in a cardigan under an umbrella at the beach is a bit odd, haha! We really lucked out with the weather since the following weekend had festivals cancelled due to wind warnings.
St Ives was heaving with people but I loved wandering the back lanes and popping into the galleries. The food was great as well! I think my favourite part was having an ice cream by the harbour (it was worth the discomfort of eating dairy). If you visit St Ives be prepared for hills… every direction is up!
On the way back from Cornwall, we stopped at Castle Drogo to use some National Trust gift cards I got for my birthday. It’s England’s most recently built castle, and has been in a state of construction since the 1900s due to poor roof design. The grounds were really beautiful and it’s definitely worth visiting. However, I wasn’t a fan of driving down the narrow hedgerow lanes to get to the castle!
Pitt Meadows, Canada
Last, but by no means least, I made my annual summer trek home in August to see my family. Thankfully, I managed to see my brother for a few days as he was in between field work and field school. Pitt Meadows has lots of lovely walking paths so I spent most of my time reading, walking, and lounging in the hammock. Here we are with Watson picking blackberries by the Fraser River 😋.
That’s all for my summer adventures of 2019! I’m sure I’ll get up to some fun adventures this autumn — work will certainly keep me busy!
