Today was the day Mike has been waiting for. We finally got out on bicycles and explored the National Cycle Trail network this morning. We found that it is mainly off-road and discovered a nearby park called Coate Water that has a big lake and a bunch of trails surrounding it. Given that there are diving towers in the lake, it seems that you can swim here when the weather is warmer. Today we were bundled up against the wind so swimming was not on our radar!

As you continue riding there is a spiral trail that takes you up and over the M4 highway. I opted to head back and explore the trails in our neck of the woods a bit more today but Mike went over to check it out. Evidently it leads all the way to Salisbury so we will have lots to explore on future outings. After lunch we are heading to Birmingham to see a Cirque de Soleil show with the Intel Social Club. I find it funny that we have never been to one of these shows on our many trips to Las Vegas, yet here we are trooping off to Birmingham, England to do so.

...Back from Birmingham and the show was a lot of fun. I'm not sure I will have much need to return to Birmingham during the remainder of our stay but they do have several theaters and a network of canals running through that area with nice places to eat or just stroll along. On the way to the theater our bus was diverted off the main road because a person had jumped off the bridge into the oncoming traffic. As we passed you could see them lying on the pavement - it was very disturbing.

Today is actually Father's Day, although it doesn't really register when your kids and your father are on the other side of the ocean! Mike is looking forward to our skype calls with everyone later today. We spent the morning taking a run (or slow jog, in my case), doing laundry, running errands and having lunch at a Mexican restaurant. We did not have high hopes for the restaurant given the variety of fabulous Mexican food we are used to in Phoenix but we were pleasantly surprised! They put roasted veggies like squash, corn, aubergine, sweet potatoes, onion and peppers in with the chicken and it was amazing. Good to know that we can get a fix of food that reminds us of home when needed.

Again, Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there....