In Indiana, we have roundabouts but nothing that compares to the white knuckle ride of the Magic Roundabout.
On this trip, in an effort to push his own creative envelope, Steve is juggling multiple cameras by himself. On some stories, like today's effort on the Magic Roundabout in Swindon, Steve has attached several tiny cameras to the inside and outside of our vehicle to capture the dizzying ride through England's most complex roadway of circles.
In Indiana, we have roundabouts but nothing that compares to the white knuckle ride of the Magic Roundabout.
Kevin Beresford, the President of the UK Roundabout Appreciation Society (membership 29), says Swindon offers a "mother bout" with five "orbital bouts" challenging drivers with the inner circle leading drivers in a clockwise direction while motorists circle the smaller bouts in a counter clockwise direction. Confused? We were.
Since you drive from the passenger side of the vehicle and in the opposite lane from America, you must concentrate even more on the flow of traffic, especially from the right side.
The Swindon fire station, located next to the Magic Roundabout, allows firefighters the opportunity to watch the craziness and the confusion that sometimes erupts outside their window. But the young firefighter who talked to us said there have been no fatal crashes, only minor accidents.
We continued our search of Harry Potter film locations by exploring the beautiful Gloucester Cathedral. We saw the spectacular hallways where filmmakers chose for "The Philosopher's Stone" and "The Half Blood Prince." I learned filmmakers spent about 100 days on site but only used 7 minutes of footage in the two films.
Finally, we continue to hear frustration from pub owners in England about high taxes on ale that they believe is leading to pubs closing across the country.
We are staying in a pub/inn called the "Linden Tree" in Gloucester. The owner blames the England government for slapping taxes on alcohol that pushes the cost of each beer to the equivalent of $5 to $6 US, creating thin profit margins. It is forcing some pubs to close and other traditional pubs to increase food sales to try and survive.
We are having dinner tonight in his pub.
Good night from Gloucester.
