Shrewsbury

Still moored at the Market Drayton.( Home of the Gingerbread Man)

The Metrological service just don't seem to be having much luck with the weather forecast lately, as today turned out lovely and warm with just the odd cloud here or there. We gave the bus passes another airing today with a trip to Shrewsbury which is a 55 minute bus ride. As usual the bus went all around the villages and even into the military base at Tern Hill.

Beside the WWII aircraft hangars still dotted all around the place we also saw farmers busy bringing in the potato harvest. The country scenery around here is fabulous with the old houses giving that Olde English feel about it all. You could be looking at a 19th century painter's piece of art work.

The bus station in Shrewsbury is well situated right next to the railway station and in the heart of the shopping centre. Our first mission was to find the castle which is well sign posted and also close by. It was a bit of a drag up the steps from the bus station but we made it. It was certainly well worth the effort as the gardens inside the castle walls are a blaze of colour and a not a blade of grass out of place, a credit to the groundsmen that take care of the place. After climbing yet higher to the the Motte which is the highest point in the castle to admire the 360deg view of the surrounding countryside. Laura's Tower at the top was built by Thomas Telford of the Canal fame.

I must admit that the view of the railway below was unbelievable as I could see so much track work leading in all directions from the station. The original signal box was something else standing 3 floors high to enable signal men to be able to see all around the system especially as the the box was surrounded by track work on all sides.

After spending quite a while up on the Motte trying to take in all that we saw before us we headed back down to the castle and the Military museum housed within. At £1.50 each it was well worth visiting. The history of the Shropshire regiments goes back to the 1700's with all the battles fought,uniforms through the ages, armaments and equipment, honours awarded and some very interesting film footage now saved to DVD. Considering that the museum was the target of an IRA terrorist act in 1992 and nearly destroyed it is a credit to all involved in what they have restored and salvaged before being re opened in 1995.

By the time we had been to the railway station and had a bite of lunch it was time to head back to the bus station to catch the 3.15 back to Market Drayton otherwise it would be getting too late in the day and we didn't want to get caught up in peak hour traffic.