Breakfast at the hotel was from 7-10am...I made sure to be down in the lobby at 6:59am. I love breakfast so much, it's the best meal of the day. And since we were going to have to buy our own lunch, I made sure to fill up on cereal and fruit and yogurt and hot chocolate! We were out of the hotel by 8:30am and on our way to Caerphilly Castle which according to our politics professor is the best castle he's seen in Europe, and I guess he's seen a lot of them!
Well...it's my favorite castle I've seen so far too! This place was impossible to get into, the layout of it ensured that no one could invade. I mean...it had a moat and then two outer walls and...lots of other things! We ran around the castle for a while, up and down the spiral stone staircases and of course...stopped by the gift shop! I have to say something about my purchase...sheep poo paper! It's made out of sheep poo! And I got a card to send to a lucky boy in Argentina named Josiah! I'd be happy to get a card made out of sheep poo!
We departed from the castle and took the scenic route to...the center of town where we had a few minutes to grab lunch! It was Subway for me today...and I got corn on my sandwich! They should start doing that in the states..I've been craving corn everyday here. And now I'm craving it as I type this in my bed. If I hadn't brushed my teeth already I'd go to the store and get some. But not really.
After the stop to get food we picked up our tour guide... whose name escapes my memory... and started our marathon of church site visits! This was the beginning of my favorite part of our trip to Wales! I didn't realize how much of an impact the first missionaries in England and Wales had on the growth of the Church and people learning about Restored Gospel. A few missionaries came over in 1837 and split up between different areas of the UK. The first site we visited was The Hill Farm, where the apostle Wildford Woodruff taught in John Benbow's (owner of the farm) home. This is where a lot of people heard the Gospel for the first, and we went down to the little pond where many were baptized...this is it!
I would love to live on a farm and have all the land like that. The view of the valley was so gorgeous! So open and green! Next up was the Herefordshire Beacon, where Wilford Woodruff and his companions would go to get some peace and quiet and just think about things. Escaping with nature is the best way to clear the mind, so this was the perfect place to go! I guess I should explain what the Beacon is...it's a mountain with the most beautiful view. Even better than from the Hill Farm...you're surrounded in every direction with green hills and ponds! The hike up to the top was steep, I loved it! It made me want to be able to spend all day hiking. I've realized after being here just how crazy I would go living in a big city for a long time. I just want to hike and camp everyday and ride my bike everywhere and live in the woods. That's my idea of a happy life. It was so windy at the top, I felt like I was...in a hurricane. It was the perfect day for a hike, I can see why the missionaries chose this spot to go for inspiration and meditation!
Through more countryside and narrow roads we drove...and ended at our last stop, the Gadsfield Elm chapel. This little building is the oldest (we think) meetinghouse for the Mormons and is where services were held. They packed a lot of people in here and would spill out the doors.
We went inside and sat in the pews, I loved imagining how this was the same place maybe my ancestors had been. We sang Spirit of God to close and most everyone teared up and we all left feeling uplifted and really grateful for everything the generations before us had done.
Ope, and there's a sign! That's me! haha We pulled into the little gravel road to the building and this was there to mark the spot. After our visit the the chapel we started the drive back to London..stopping to get what else, fast food! My favorite...not really. But any food is better than no food I always say! I don't know why but the bus ride home was exhausting, and I was super happy to be back to the centre after a long day of driving!
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