Today is the last day of the tour. We pack up and leave the hotel for Chester where we have our last lunch and say goodbye. We do have a few sights along the way so it isn’t over yet.

First stop is to the National Shrine of St Winifrede. Winifrede was a Welsh martyr from the 7th century. As the story goes her intended chopped off her head when she told him she decided to become a nun instead of marrying him. Her already sainted uncle, St Bueno was at the scene. A healing spring sprung up from beneath her head and it rejoined her body with the help of St Bueno and her intended died on the spot.

Supposedly water from the well heals all manner of things and people still come daily to swim in the small pool.

Most of our story was on the fact that Lord Stanley, Margaret Beaufort’s husband built the shrine and whether he did it for himself or she was behind the whole thing. There was quite a debate among the historians on it. Some firmly that is was all Margaret’s doing others thought Stanley dissappointed for not being elevated to a higher status after the battle of Bosworth did in hopes of gaining additional approval.

It was a pretty sight and I did try the water but I don’t believe it worked for me. I guess you have to believe it. They had a lot of old canes on display of people who walked away healed. I guess I should have gotten in the pool. Maybe another trip. there was also a lot of early graffiti on the shrine dating to 1600-1800. So some true believers.

From the shrine it was just a short drive to Chester. Getting through the crazy traffic in Chester to the hotel was another story. The bus went round and round until we found the right road to miss the pedestrian areas. I felt like I was in the European vacation moving. We kept passing the same things over and over. It tools us about 30 minutes but we finally pulled up at the hotel and headed to the church.

The Chester Cathedral was amazing. We did not get guides so we just wandered around on our own. It has some lovely mosaic work on the walls. Not gold nd bright like Venice’s St Marks but still very pretty.

There was also some nice regimental flags which I love to see.

And a Lego display of the church.

We had a bit of time before lunch so we walked around town a bit. Chester is a nice place that hopefully I will get back to some time.

We did stop in an art gallery and saw work by Boy George, Johnny Depp, Richard Connolly and James McQueen, who is an unknown actor

Lunch was quite long but good. It is always sad to end the tours. We have already signed up for next year so not so sad this time.

I could have titled this the never ending bus ride but since it was free that felt wrong. Normally we would have had to find our own way back to London but the tour provided the bus and most of us chose to ride it. The trip started off well with us singing along to the radio but it went down hill fast. I thought I would sleep some but no such luck. we stopped about half way for bathroom and food which was good but then we still had quite a bit to go. We thought we would arrive around 8 but it took us about an hour to get to the stop in London. So the last few miles were excruciating. We finally made it and ever ran to get Ubers or taxis so it was not the goodbyes we usually have. The bus ride was long but a car would have been as well and would have cost us about $400 so I really can’t complain.

We have about a week in London before we head home so a lot more left to see and do.