Markets and castles

For Wednesday's trek, Sam and I headed to the small village of Louth with Neil and Linda.
Louth is a market town of about 16,000 that lies south of Waltham where Neil and Linda live. The name Louth is derived from an ancient word meaning loud because year's ago the River Lud that flows through the city was quite noisy.
The river must have been raging centuries ago because today the River is no more than a small, gently flowing stream.
Since we arrived on a Wednesday, we were lucky enough to experience a market day.
Vendors were camped in the middle of the town square selling a variety of items, from clothes to produce to used books and magazines.
We browsed for a while and didn't buy anything except for two pieces of homemade cake, one white and pink and another Belgian chocolate.
Examining wares in markets and shops is a different experience in England than it is in the United States.
In England, vendors don't try to sell you anything or ask you what you're looking for. They simply sit back and smile.
If Sam and I had been at the farmer's market in Idaho Falls or anywhere else in the U.S., many vendors would have definitely asked if they could help.
In England, I think, vendors are more than willing to do the same. The main difference is the potential buyer has to make the first move.
It's interesting to note the little quirks of each culture.
After we finished at the market, we bought some sandwiches and headed for the local park, called Hubbard's Hills, for a picnic.
The park is called Hubbard's Hills because long ago, a glacier cut a small valley (or what Southern Missourians might call a holler) where the River Lud flows today. On either side of the river are steep, wooded ridges that, at their peak, stand about 125 feet overlooking the stream and parts of Louth.
Visitors to the park can climb the 54 steeps to get on top of the ridge and can traverse a shaded path.
It was a nice walk and the end of a great day in Louth.