Kidlington – Day 18 of 2025 England Pilgrimage

Monday 10/6/2025

Jennie had to go to work today so she was out of the house before we were up. (I’m sorry, Jennie!) Today is our last full day in the UK so before going downstairs for tea and breakfast, I worked on repacking my suitcase. Gregg had worked on his last night. I think we’ll be fine to not check a bag again. It tends to make life so much simpler, especially through customs.

I fully enjoyed my day on Sunday and didn’t even consider working on the blog. So I spent time this morning documenting the full and satisfying day we had yesterday.

By that time, it was after noon so Gregg and I decided to go for a walk into Kidlington for lunch. We first stopped by a pub, The Jolly Boatman, nearby on the tow path. They serve Greene King food – a brand that is common in pubs. It is tasty but we decided that we had a hankering for a toastie and (wait for it…) a milkshake. So, back to Stanley’s Sweets and Treats in “downtown” Kidlington we walked.

We took a new-to-us route to walk into town. Taking the footbridge next to The Jolly Boatman, we walked on paths through “woods” and around already-harvested fields. Finally emerging in a neighborhood, we wound our way through the streets until we came to something we recognized from previous walks, ending in town.

I made a “huge” discovery during our wanderings! A flag with green hand prints and the words, “Monkey Trail.” By George, those aren’t human hands, they are monkey hands! NOW I had a good clue to solve the mystery of sidewalk markings throughout the village. They are part of the Kidlington Zoo Trails which were created after the Covid-19 Pandemic lock down to encourage children to get outside and have fun. There looks to have been five different trails. I think the symbol that looks like chromosomes used to have a head and was their logo for being active outdoors.

Note to my Crazy Love Flamingals – the Kidlington Zoo (which is no longer) had flamingos! See here in the Kidlington and Gosford Zoo Trails video. (I’ve been hunting flamingos all trip for these friends. 😘)

Once at Stanley’s, we decided on a cheese and tomato toastie and a chicken, pesto, and mozzarella toastie. We swapped a half of our sandwiches so experience two. We both agreed that we liked the cheese and tomato the best (although the other was tasty, too.) We never though to put slices tomatoes on a grilled cheese sandwich. Although, a toastie is technically a bit different from a grilled cheese sandwich in that it is pressed so that the edges are sealed.

Bryn, that wonderful “grilled cheese sandwich” maker you used to have actually made toasties! 😁 Who knew?! 😋

As before, the milkshake was delicious. They make it with soft serve ice cream, a little milk, and “Simply” brand of pumpkin spice (coffee) syrup. Guess who is on a hunt for Simply coffee syrup? 😇

We walked back to the house through a neighborhood, over the train tracks, over a footbridge to cross the canal and along the towpath. Our timing was just right to see a boat going through the locks just below the footbridge. How fun!

Once home, it wasn’t long before Jennie returned from work and Steve returned from the gym (he is keeping his MS under control with lots of exercise – please pray that his MS doesn’t progress.) Steve had planned to make dinner for us but we all decided to let someone else cook and clean up. We walked down the towpath to eat at The Jolly Boatman. (The same pub we had considered for lunch.)

Jennie and I had steak and ale pie with mashed potatoes, gravy, and mixed veggies. Very good! Steve ordered lamb chops and Gregg ordered lasagna. Very curiously, in England, lasagna is always served with chips (French fries). And to top off the carbs, this meal came with garlic bread. We all enjoyed our meals.

Steve had planned Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert so we walked home via the sidewalk along the road the dark – good thing Gregg and I had brought our “torches.” Steve baked the dessert and topped it with crème fraîche. We enjoyed it in the sitting room followed by a cup of tea and talking past our bedtime.

Thank you, Steve and Jennie, for being the most wonderful hosts. Your hospitality has been a huge gift to us and we thoroughly enjoyed time with you. 💝

We fly “over the pond” tomorrow from Heathrow to Dulles.