Youthful exuberance in Devon and Cornwall, October 2003

Dwight Peck's personal website

Late summer 2003 -- A few weeks in Devon and Cornwall

We've had lots of fun near Oxford and now we're on our way to Devon (on the wrong side of the road).

But wait, let's stop off at Wells

You may not find this terribly rewarding unless you're included here, so this is a good time for casual and random browsers to turn back before they get too caught up in the sweep and majesty of the proceedings and can't let go.

Wells Cathedral, not shabby, looms everywhere.

Oh Goodness!! -- it's time for lunch. We dash into the The Crown at Wells for soup, etc., and then proceed.

The Bishop's Palace at Wells.

I had a place like this once, in Oklahoma, but the upkeep was murder.

Still, for sentimental reasons, I did look in at the Bishop of Wells' office to see whether this great stone pile might be going on the market anytime soon. But it was not to be.

Intimations of Mortality

It is not now as it hath been of yore;
Turn wheresoe’er I may,
By night or day,
The things which I have seen I now can see no more.
Just giant tombstones all over the lawn.

OOooff, VERY large church. There has been talk of converting some of the interior into handball courts, as a budgetary gesture, but how could the religious folks if any continue to pray in peace?

More cathedral, round the back. An entrepreneurial eye can see commercial opportunities all over this charming old-world scene, from interactive advertisements on the walls to Tasty Tofu stands between the pillars.

Traveling companion Kristin dashing about the cathedral close looking for Barrister Jeremy, but with no luck.

-- No Jeremy.

The cathedral close -- it's been reliably said that Barrister Jeremy lives here, or at least hides out here from time to time, but there's no sign of him now, out mowing the lawn or stoking up the barbecue. We'll come back when we have more time and pound on all the doors till we find him.

He might be peeking out and waiting for us to leave.

Wells Cathedral with automobiles.

We've just been four days near Oxford and had a nice walk round Wells, to view the cathedral and seek out Barrister Jeremy unsuccessfully, but now it's time to dash on to the north coast of Devon to visit the Tims.