LaughAloud

Shropshire

We survived our first British driving experience in one piece and made it to Tibberton in Shropshire yesterday (Thursday) evening. Chip drove, and stayed remarkably calm, even in the hellish traffic circles. Navigating was much more stressful than I expected, especially since sitting on the left hand side meant I automatically kept checking the mirrors, except I couldn't see anything out of them!

Today we had a relaxing day starting with sleeping in and a home cooked English breakfast. Chip slept till almost 9am which is unheard of! That driving on the wrong side really did take a lot out of him. We had a tour of the Lilleshall sports training facility later in the morning, which is amazing, both in building, scenery & training facilities. The core of the training center is a old English hunting lodge (ie mansion in the woods) with more modern facilities built around it.

After our tour, I finally got in the cross-Atlantic coaching session I've been waiting for, and found I have a lot of work to do, but am doing better than expected in some. But mostly have a lot if work to do. I expected that, but now I have a better idea of how to direct that work.

I'm falling behind in posting pictures so below are a few from today. In order: our home for the next few days, the view from the top front window (see the sheep?!), and two shots of Lilleshall.

Car Cat

Oberon likes to ride in the car. 

When we had a little truck, he didn't have much room, but liked to sleep up on the dashboard.  Traveling from Chicago to San Diego in a packed CRV, he had lots of room to climb around and find different boxes and pillows to sleep on.  He was so good he even used his litter box in the car.  Yes, in the car, while we were driving on the highway.

We spent three nights in Colorado with my Aunt and Uncle, where Obi got quite comfortable, and even got to meet their dog, Cassie.  He didn't like Cassie very much, and let her know it, but that didn't stop him from exploring the house.  The night after we left Colorado, we stayed in a hotel in Nevada.  That night Obi threw a huge fit, as if to let us know, this was not an acceptable new home, and he liked the place he had just been better.  Of course, I slept through the whole thing, but when I woke up there was litter all over the room, and Chip said Obi had been wailing all night.  Luckily, he didn't do that when we arrived in our new apartment and seems to be adjusting just fine.

Smokestacks

These smokestacks are one of my favorite parts about the drive from Chicago to St. Louis.  They are right along I-55, just after Springfield.  Speaking of Springfield, if you're ever there, you must check out Augie's Front Burner.  They have the best food, and when you request your meat rare, they actually cook it rare, bloody even.  If you're into that sort of thing :) 

Landscape on 55

The drive down I-55 between Chicago and St. Louis is in many ways a boring ride.  The landscape changes very little once you get out of the Chicago area, and you have about four hours of the same basically flat, golden fields, solitary barns and the occasional tree.  But the thing is, its really beautiful too. Especially when the light is just right and the fields look like they are actually glowing.  Every time we drive down to St Louis, I think that some day, I should drive out there without anywhere to actually go so I can get off the highway and go down into the fields and take lots of pictures of those old barns and fields with maybe one tree.  It would be a great place to try out some infrared film.  So far the best I've done is take pictures from the car window.  We'll see, maybe someday I'll do better.