Previously on Cascadian Nomads: Bethany and Jason left the pets behind to attend Bethany's English pen friend's wedding. The Cascadian Nomads humanstoured Manchester, Peak District National Park and Northern Wales. All of these places were dog friendly but none of the dogs were corgis.

Typist: Bethany
Jason and I have been tempted to visit the UK for what seems like forever but it took Jane inviting us to her wedding to finally make us leave the pets behind and journey across the ocean. We couldn't travel all that distance and not make time to visit our friend Martin in London. So although Jason and I loved everything about Greater Manchester as well as road trips with Jane and Steve, we boarded a South bound train to The Big Smoke.

I still cannot believe we saw so much of London in just two days. Martin gave us an amazing tour of his hometown. He took Jason and I to as many of the cheesy tourist spots any of us could handle. Much of our visit was spent seeing places Martin enjoys spending time. He took us to two beautiful parks, Camden Locks and for a stroll along the River Thames. We walked more than Martin had intended but I just love long urban hikes even if I don't have Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley by my side.

Our second day in London consisted of almost all things touristy. We saw Big Ben, Parliament and Westminster Abbey. I was inexplicably drawn to the medieval tower across the street from Parliament, Jewel Tower. It is very plain compared to the huge, ornate buildings around it, but I loved it.

Martin took Jason and I somewhere in London he had never been before. Going to this famous London locale seemed kind of silly but it was even more fun to visit than I had imagined. Martin took a fantastic photo of Jason and I there. This UK trip has made many travel dreams come true and this was one; I will never forget crossing Abbey Road!

London was a wonderful place to visit, thanks mostly to Martin. With the heat and humidity, I doubt Jason and I would have seen very much of The Big Smoke on our own. Instead, we had a rapid whirlwind of seeing almost everything there is to see in the massive capitol. And we were exhausted. The cats of London definitely have the right idea.

Wondering what Wilhelm, Brychwyn, Huxley, Amelia and Leo did while Bethany and Jason gallivanted around the UK? Find out tomorrow!

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Previously on Cascadian Nomads: While in the United Kingdom with Bethany's English pen friend, Jane, and her new husband, Steve, Jason and Bethany toured Manchester, England then road tripped to locales South, East and North of the city, Stockport, Peak District National Park and Dobcross. The Cascadian Nomads pets did not accompany the humans on this journey but plenty of fur traveled across the sea.

Typist: Bethany
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to visit Wales. I didn't want to go there just to see corgis in their native country. I have always admired photographs and films of Wales. The wildness of the country, the contrasts of the cliffs, valleys, meadows and the sea attracts me. So when Jane and Steve suggested a road trip to one of my bucket list countries, I just about hit the ceiling with enthusiasm. I tried my best to contain my excitement, after all, my friend was a newly wed. Maybe a long road trip wasn't something she really wanted to do. But the places that Jane and Steve took Jason and I are among their favorites too. I should have known. They were excellent tour guides and, although brief, my visit to Wales was better than I had dreamed... minus a corgi

Next Jane and Steve took us on the Cwm Idwal, Ogwen walk in Snowdonia National Park. We walked along stone pathways, through massive carved rock formations, along a mountain stream and lounged next to a glacial lake. All in the shadows of massive mountains with views of rolling Ogwen valley. LikePeak District National Park in England, here were plenty of dogs enjoying a walk with their humans. One dog even enjoyed a swim in the lake, still respectfully on leash. I was very pleased and impressed. When Jason and I heard a dog working cattle high up on the hill above the lake, we thought we might finally spot a corgi and, better yet, a corgi doing what it was bred to do. But even though the herding dog was too far off to get a good look at, we were almost certain it was not a corgi.

Our last stop in Wales was in the Victorian seaside town of Llandudno. This town was very different from Conwy and also stunning. We first walked the seaside boardwalk. Then we had a fantastic fish and chips dinner washed down with Welsh beer (which Jason says was his favorite beer of the entire trip.)  Next we followed the white rabbit up the hill to meet Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. No, I didn't have too much beer. Llandudno has an Alice Trail to honor the Alice who inspired Lewis Caroll's classic tales.

Did I mention there were lots of dogs in Llanduno? Well, there were. But none were corgis. Nothing takes the disappointment about not seeing a corgi in Wales away like Welsh sheep and Kashmiri goats. I suppose getting to see Ireland, The Isle of Man and Scotland as well as a spectacular sunset from The Great Orme Country Park probably helped a lot too.

The only reason that I have not already moved to Wales is that I would have to change the name of my blog. That and I think that Jason and I wore Jane and Steve out. Obviously, the country I have always dreamed of going to was even better to visit than I had imagined. Surprise road trips can be fantastical like that, even without a corgi.

Last stop on our UK journey: A Dog And Cat Fur Whirlwind Tour Of London, England.

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Catch up on our UK adventures so far here and here then check out our adventure in Wales!

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Previously on Cascadian Nomads: Bethany's English pen friend Jane (yes, as in writing with pens to street addresses) invited Jason and Bethany to her wedding. Manchester, England was a perfect place to visit, mostly for it's similarities to Seattle but also for a particularly good-natured bobby.

Our first road trip stop was in Castleton, Derbyshire, where we dined on scrumptious cream tea below ancient Peveril Castle. The outdoor patio of The George Hotel, Pub and Restaurant where we sat was dog friendly and so was the indoor pub. There were dogs everywhere we went in Castleton so obviously I found wandering this stunning old English village just that much more fun.

Next Jane and Steve took Jason and I to a stately home; Chatsworth House, Bakewell. The grounds around the house are another dog friendly part of the Peak District National Park. We opted out of paying for a tour of the homes interior and gardens and instead enjoyed a rainy trek along the River Derwent then up to the home stables.

The second best English phone booth photo I took on our UK trip was in Stockport. I took a lot of photos outside of the Plaza Cinema, where Jane and Steve were married. Remember that Jason and I went to England for a wedding? It's okay. I kept forgetting too. I did, however, enjoy learning about  the differences between a US and an English wedding, even through a non-traditional ceremony like Jane and Steve's. The biggest difference was the signing of the registry. I know some US weddings make signing the marriage license or certificate a part of the ceremony but in the UK the registry signing must occur during the ceremony either in front of the guests, like Jane and Steve did, or elsewhere on the ceremony property. The other major marriage celebration difference between Jane and Steve's wedding and celebrations that I have attended in the US were the speeches during the reception meal. When Jane's university friend suggested we have a "sweeps" to bet on the times of the speeches, I assumed speeches was just another way to say toasts. So I bet on very short times. But these were not toasts. They were twenty minute or more stories of the bride and or groom's life. Granted, the speeches were funny and entertaining but my champagne went flat! Anyways, the sunset the evening of the wedding was exceptional. And The Plaza was such a fantastic place for a wedding. Yet another thing to add to the list of things my English pen pal and I have in common is an interest in cinema as well as awesome art deco architecture. Apparently, we also both love a good wedding!

See more photos of Stockport here and continue our UK trip here with "All The Way To Wales To See Two Unique Towns, A National Park And Zero Corgis."

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