Rest Day - Richmond. August 21

We slept in somewhat today, enjoyed a salmon and scrambled eggs breakfast (a very nice change from protein and fat overkill!), and Ben and Judy met Jenny and Barry for a mid morning "cuppa".  Joe, Toni, Judy and Ben then explored Richmond: castle, theatre, and town.

To say that Richmond is picturesque and historic is to understate the experience.  One feels surrounded by 1000 years of history.  The castle was built in the 12th century by Norman nobility appointed by William the Conqueror and was enlarged by generations of Plantagenets.  However, the 100 years war between France and England forced the Dukes of Richmond to take sides and, when on the losing side, they lost their control of Richmond.  Control seesawed for decades. By the 15th century the castle was in ruins but Richmond grew in power and influence as a key market town and center of wealth.  The town itself retains the character of an ancient fortified village.

An interesting sidebar to Richmond history is the incarceration of conscientious objectors during WWI in the castle.  The "Richmond 16"  were imprisoned for refusing to perform any actions which would help the killing of anyone.  These men were influenced by Quakers and their plight helped to advance the Quaker pacifist view in England.  This part of Richmond's history was particularly interesting to Ben, whose extended family is Quaker and whose father was a conscientious objector in WWII.

The Georgian Theatre is the lone remaining theatre in England which retains all of the details of a theatre from that time.  All others have been demolished or modified.  Much of the interior is original.  It is tiny by our standards and packed audience members in like cord wood.  Seating nearly surrounded the stage (an ancient equivalent of "theatre in the round" today) and many audience members sat mere feet from the actors. Our tour of the theatre included watching a rehearsal by a youth acting group of the "Pied Piper" story.  It was fun to see their youthful energy superimposed on the ancient facility!

At about 6:30 pm Joe and Toni escorted Ben and Judy to the bus stop for their bus ride to Darlington and train to Manchester.  This was the "parting of ways", leaving Joe and Toni to carry on along the trail and Ben and Judy to explore the southwest coast of Ireland.  We bid each other good travels and look forward to reconnecting again in Los Altos and sharing our further adventures.  We part better friends than when we started, an additional blessing from our adventure!