June 16, 2026

June 16, 2026 – Chester, England and Conwy, Wales

Today we were off to Chester, England, a historic walled city with centuries of history. Before arriving in Chester, we stopped at Lakeland Farm, where we met an authentic farmer working his family’s farm. He raises both sheep and cattle and shared the joys and hardships of running a family farm.

Steve and Jeff volunteered to feed baby lambs with bottles, which was a highlight of the visit. 

My favorite demonstration, however, was watching the farm dogs do their job of corralling the sheep. It was amazing to see. With either a sharp staccato whistle or a short verbal command, the farmer directed the dogs exactly where to go. The sheep responded immediately, running together as the dogs guided them. It was truly beautiful to watch and a wonderful example of the partnership between farmer, dog, and livestock.

Back on the coach, we continued on to Chester.

Once there, we visited the famous clock on Watergate Street, known as the Eastgate Clock, the second most photographed clock in England after Big Ben. We also walked along the medieval city walls and visited the magnificent Chester Cathedral.

Buskers are big in the UK. This young girl sang opera and songs from Phantom of the Opera.

For lunch, we stopped at Katie’s Tea Rooms. The restaurant was built in 1325 and occupied four floors, and right in the middle was what looked like a garage sale! Guests could purchase all sorts of items, including a used iron, games, puzzles, children’s clothing, and even a Crock-Pot. It certainly made for an unusual dining experience.

In the afternoon, we boarded the bus for our next destination, the Quay Hotel & Spa. We learned that “Quay” is pronounced “Kay.” As we pulled into the driveway, six to eight staff members stood outside waving and welcoming us. The bellmen quickly unloaded the bus using luggage carts, and our bags arrived at our room within minutes.

We were delighted to find a beautiful room with a sliding glass door leading to a balcony overlooking the marina. In the distance, we could see the impressive Caernarfon Castle.

While Steve and Jeff took a walk around the marina, Susie and I settled into our room and prepared for dinner.

That evening, we enjoyed a tasting of local Welsh foods paired with Argentine wines at the Ebb & Flow Restaurant in the hotel. Steve and I both chose the lamb, which seemed especially appropriate after spending the morning on a sheep farm!

After dinner, we met Jeff and Susie at the bar and played our first game of I Hate This Game—otherwise known as 5 Crowns. Susie won, and I proudly claimed last place.

Good night, Conwy!