July 20 Ludlow

I had choices today and after thinking about it quite a bit, decided that I had not sufficiently  exploited Ludlow and its environs, so I cobbled together three walks, and yes, there was a  bit of redundancy, but this is such a lovely town—I looked it up and Ludlow is not a city even though it has traffic lights, and supermarkets that are open on Sunday (albeit with abbreviated hours) and everything.  

First I did a three mile town walk, then an eight mile Ludlow and East of Ludlow walk, which was absolutely lovely. 

 

There are walks, such as the circular walk Max and I took at Bishop's Castle, which make you ask, "Are we there yet?"  And then there are walks like this one that you wish would go on another five miles.  

After some lunch, topped off the day with a two mile sort of highlights walk.  

Photos and commentary are totally out of order because the wi-fi here is the worst, but does it matter?

Outside someone's cottage:

Ahh, now I know that these are Mexican Cigar plants!

View of Ludlow from up and away:

Men's stylish hair cuts/dos are a big business in these parts:

I don't have a photo of Dinham House (not sure why not), but wow, lots of big names in its lineage of ownership:

I am loving the four singing men!

And the job as Reader seems pretty cushy:

A Music Shop:

Oopsie:

Pet cemetery at the church:

Also at the church, an exhibit I would loved to have seen, but missed it by about a week:

And the museum was closed, but just for today!

No idea what this critter is supposed to be:

A dog?

Here is a story for you. (Click on it to enlarge to read; it is worth it):

Feathers Hotel  is quintessential Ludlow:

Out in the countryside, there were a few people out on the  road, like this jogger:

And a  big black cow:

And other cows.  See the brown and white cow pushing at the gate...and all her friends behind her?  Well, guess what?  I GOT THERE FIRST!  (Thank God!)

This sign, reminiscent of Gilbert and Sullivan, made my day!  A Constabulary, Yes!  We would be better off if we had more words like that!

How depressing would it be to live on this street?

Did you know that Ludlow was.....

No?  Well now you do.

Since I was now in town and not in the country, this sign puzzled me:

Then I saw this vending machine area where you could buy fresh milk, very fresh, one assumes:

I passed an art gallery that promised original art, and went in.  The paintings were of two kinds:  lovers male and female male and male and so on, and all looking exactly alike and  in similar postures:

interspersed with representations of animals.  

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The medium was acrylic (?) mixed with sand;  the effect was ugly to the extreme.  The artist was in the shop, so I asked her about the technique, but she said it was secret because it is scientific and she is the only person in the world who uses it.  (Thank God!)

The River Teme one last time: