Mary Beth Williams
@mbwilliams
Made from Maine Wabanakiak, Isles of Shoals fishermen, and Welsh coal miners. Exiled to Oregon. Constitutional law and state/tribal/fed gov't wonk (JD). North Atlantic historian obsessed with wampum, cod fishing, and dual-host pathogens.
Back in Lyme Regis, having a pint, awaiting fish and chips, enjoying the stiff breeze and view while the youngest fossil hunts.
Got a couple of shots from the car as we drove through Avebury the other day, so I guess I can join #StandingStoneSunday for once.
Should really include a shot of the Jurassic Coast east of here. The youngest has a meet-up tomorrow with another geology student she met in Lyme Regis when we first arrived, so we’re back to hunting ammonites. Seems so much easier for young people to make connections here.
Spent the afternoon at the tide pools on Sidmouth beach. The third heat wave in the month we’ve been in the Southwest finally seems to be easing off. Just in time for us to head back home starting next week.
Those folks upset with Helen of Troy portrayed by a Black women probably don’t want to know that “Cheddar Man”, a Mesolithic settler of England—who shared the same MTDNA haplogroup as me (U5b1)—likely looked like this:
It’s been going on for over an hour—people are spread out due to the heat.
Strange to realize that we passed within miles of Brexit-villain and recent murder victim Ann Widdecombe's home just last week. Of course, that wouldn't be so surprising if we were in London or such, but it was freaking Dartmoor.
They may have cancelled Eugene's Pride Parade this year, but that's not stopping K, our youngest, as we join Bristol's parade today. Last year saw 25K participants, and even with temps hitting 36.6/98 yesterday, folks are already turning out along the route. Photo below from last year's festivities.
Falmouth is the warm up our heading to Pride in Bristol this weekend.
This weekend we're in a lovely 3rd floor flat above a restaurant in the Barbican (old port) in Plymouth, about two blocks from the Mayflower Museum on one side and Plymouth's only surviving gin distillery on the other. Temps are expected to be about 22C/72F and sunny. Out for coffee and pasties.
Well done. This is what appeared when I clicked on one of Trump's Truth Social posts this morning while staying in Plymouth, Devon.
I’m honestly surprised at how carrying around an extra [large #] pounds for 25 years makes it practically a breeze to handle serious climbs now I’m an average BMI. I managed this one (Birch Tor, 438m) without breaking a sweat in Dartmoor yesterday.
These are the zillion stairs we must climb to reach our rental flat behind the blue townhouse, which provides this view of my ancestors’ quay (The Kittery), which they sold during the English Civil War to finish their 20 year-long move to Maine.
For all the "Turn: Washington's Spies" out there (seen today in Exeter Cathedral):
If anyone has any questions, just happen to have my copy here in our cabin on the QM2. Now checking the index for feline ownership of national properties. 😆
Since we’re traveling to both Devon and Cornwall, I’m preparing the two halves of my scone to make both happy (or incensed.)
I'm out of the country for three days and they drop this shit: www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
My kitties are back at home, but this #Caturday have some previous pics of my eldest’s kitty, Nox, who carries around a ball in her mouth like a pacifier.
Seas are getting a bit rougher. We can now feel the ship sway down here on deck 5, whereas previously it was almost indiscernible.