Stonehenge, England: Day Tours, Barefoot Pagan Circles and Travel Meltdowns
Hello and Welcome to CompassChaos13: A Real Travel Podcast where Compass Plans, Chaos Rules - Connections Happen Memories of Global Adventures
HEATHER (V.O.): I’m Heather, your adventure narrator and warm body for the hosts for this flying circus. Today we are adventuring back in London, the first true day May 12th 2026..
COMPASS: It started with a relentless search of AI, Google, Viator and Get your Guide
CHAOS: It ended with new friends and ancient connections.
HEATHER (V.O.): Before we depart on this adventure, a few safety checks. First: any brand we mention is one we actually use and trust. We get zero monetary gain for these—if that ever changes, we promise total transparency. Second: this flight is for adults only. Expect questionable language, emotional turbulence and not so subtle adult references of many kinds. Finally, there are no warnings when the unexpected happens, because there are no warnings in real life…
COMPASS (V.O.): I’m Compass. My plan is to experience the top tourist things. But, as usual, my head-space companion Chaos has other plans.
CHAOS: Hey Hey Chaos here! I am the patron saint of "we’ll figure it out,". I bring the unexpected, and the reason you want to hear travel tales.. that are actually worth listening to! And this one I promise is worth a listen.
COMPASS (V.O.): Together, we bring the connection.
HEATHER (V.O.): Sit back, relax, and push that share button because we all have unexpected adventures when traveling.
Chaos; I can't believe how stupid American tourists are. I'm sorry but not sorry fellow Americans. I am currently as I write am sitting on a bus tour to go to the inner part of Stonehenge.. let me tell you something listen to your driver…of he says the seats in the front are reserved they mean it… don't just fucking ignore them like a fucking privileged fucking Duke or duchess.. your not. No American is entitled to shit..
Compass: ok calm down… it wasn't that bad, we have seen worse. They just didn't listen. It's not that they were demanding something that they didn't pay for … they didn't read.
Chaos; no that was another couple that took a seat behind some friends that reserved their front seat spots.. . they didn't read their tickets and couldn't figure out why their friends got reserved seats and they didn't…did you fucking read or pay for it? No, well there's your answer.
Compass: 1. They were bitching to friends and not the driver and 2. does it really matter? We are going to be in the inner circle of Stonehenge, does it matter what others are doing..
Chaos: only when they are holding up shit up, then it matters. Here we are on the Golden Tours half day trip to Stonehenge where we get to go to the inner part of the circle not just walk around the outside.
Compass: you might fall asleep before we get there, you always take a nap on the bus…
Chaos: yeah this isn't going to be any different.. the driver Armando, had a fantastic personality! As he gave his tour guide commentary on the sights we were passing, he also threw in some dad jokes… some of the tourists were a bit late to the punch .. but laughed when that caught up As Armando finished playing tour guide also. He had multiple hats…
Compass: and that is where Chaos stopped writing everything that was happening and took her nap. So while she was napping I had to go in and edit a few things since I don't want to take Armando’s tour dialogue. It was nice and peaceful that hour before we were set to arrive.
Chaos; Armando had woken up the bus as we approached a short stop. He advised that due to not having traffic there was time for a quick stop for a beer, little Stonehenge and a stretch.
Compass: we stopped at what really appeared to be the only restaurant on route that could accommodate a bus or two in the parking lot. Which is fine since there was time to kill.
Chaos: Little Stonehenge was laughable, since it was a very tiny replica of the park just at the parking lot of this stop.
Compass; laughable but you still wanted to see it..
Chaos: Yeah I just woke up from a nap I needed something to laugh at.
Compass; We crossed the street to a little restaurant that was open and appeared to be the only one closest to the site, besides the cafeteria that is on site. We grabbed a soda and headed back out to the bus.
Chaos: With people still in the restaurant and roaming around the 3 foot little Stonehenge I wanted to talk to Armando.
Compass: Vape in hand and all… you went right up and just started talking to him.
Chaos: I know isn't it great!! Can't even remember what we said to him first. But after that what a great conversation. We talked about logistics of the tours, the anger people get when they realize that doing a tour with 3 things plus the roundtrip drive doesn't leave much time at the sites and how the driver and or guide get the brunt of the anger. I highly doubt our kin would flip out on a driver or guide for something they booked but never looked into the logistics of the tour. If they have FOR SHAME!!
Compass: whoa before you go shaming anyone you called out a guide on an NCL Pompeii transfer about logistics
Chaos: damn right I did Naples to Pompeii is 30 to 40 mns without traffic, so round trip 1.5 hours.. if I have 4 hours on transfer time it is a total drive roundtrip 90 mins… 1.5 hour is not proper math… there is still 30mins unaccounted for. If anyone thinks they can see Pompeii in 1.5 to two hours your delusional. We have been twice 4 hours fully there on own and touring… we still haven't seen everything they have already uncovered.
Compass: The description said two hours at Pompeii in own .. yeah the poor guide did not like being called out and the passengers were not happy.
Chaos: the guide fucking tried to tell us it was an 1 hour there and 1 hour back.. but everyone had to be back at the bus 30 minutes before leaving. And people actually bought that shit!!! The other passengers were like you have to factor in for traffic on return…
Compass: Thank the Goddess's that Heather was able to hold her tongue with your words. What you want to call that passenger was horrifying
Chaos: I don't think calling him a fucking clueless entitled do it for me American tourist that doesn't use either of his two heads that his mamma give him to hold any logical reasoning, horrible. I call it truth.
Compass: ok… right now We are not talking about Pompeii. This is Stonehenge not even the same country. Having those 7 minutes to speak unconfined by corporate PBS to Armando was great. We knew right away Armando loved giving tours and driving. He was proud to share his knowledge even if he had to keep it mainstream for the groups.
Chaos: My fav part of that whole conversation was knowing that the people that are boots on the ground punching bags for the guests feel like we do still. Corporations are trying cram a streamlined experience for a buck. Pro Vet Tip: Avoid booking more than two attractions in any full day tour especially if it comes with at least an hour transfer each way. Example.. 6 hour tour.. 2 hours round trip transfer but 15 min cushion each side so 2.5 hours on bus.. 3.5 hours for two attractions.. figure 45 min to an hour tour of the attraction then 45 minutes of free time if your lucky.
Compass: it doesn't leave much to experience yourself. Armando agreed that he enjoyed these single to double experiences much better than the three. Which he had done one with Windsor, Stonehenge and something else… I'm just going to say Goddess' ancient and new bless that man!
Chaos: Tour guide is a tough job… rewarding as hell… but that is a job where you must strive to make everyone happy.. even crazies like me! I was good on this tour… craziest thing I did was run around barefoot!!
Compass: Not crazy, perfectly sane cause I agreed with the shoeless decision. We can't walk in the foot steps of our ancient ancestors and not walk as they did… but we are not there yet. Back on the bus and all accounted for on ward to the real Stonehenge. We had 25 on our bus. We arrived at the visitor center having about an hour to kill before the last of the general tours comes back and the park closes to the general public. The cafe was still open and it was advised that if hungry now would be the time to snack since only the gift shop and bathrooms would be open when we got back.
Chaos: Having a breakfast of fruit, yogurt and eggs.. odd combo for when we don't have the munchies… then hitting a little cafe for a latte and a super cinnamon pastry.. oh that was a good recommendation from the barista! So not hungry we explored the grounds… they have replicas of what is believed to be huts of the builders, they are in the process of building a new education center that replicates a community area of the ancients. They also have a small museum with artifacts and bones.
Compass: It was a wonderful hour spent. Then it was time to get on the bus that takes you to stonehenge. At some point I'd like to come back and do the whole walk but another Life Adventure Goal to add. While seeing Stonehenge was a Life Adventure Goal finding a tour that goes into the inner circle well… that is next to our swimming in the Nile!
Chaos: The full inner circle group was broken up into two groups.. since only 30 people were allowed inside at a time. Which was more than fair I thought.. Compass on the other hand
Compass: I would have like to see it limited further but I do understand the delicate balance. The bus ride was only about 3 minutes, we piled out and they split the group. The first group went into the inner circle for the first hour. We followed out guide around the immediate outer part of Stonehenge.. our guide pointed out the mounds in which bones of piglets 9 months were found and other things. As our eyes scanned the fields surrounding the area it was easy to spot huge earth mounds that dotted the landscape. There was peace in the air.
Chaos: as we walked around the immediate outer circle we studied the standing stones with our naked eyes. The elements had created the perfect environment for moss to grow. With an hour outside the immediate inner circle I had Transport go back over the earth mound ring and stand with a foot out of her shoe ….
Compass: it was a bit awkward… I mean only one…
Chaos: It was respect and testing the feeling of the earth. This is and has been scared land for more than 5000 years.. England at that time would not have been all fields it is today. Where we were standing yes a wide natural Opening surrounding by bigger patches of old forest with smaller fields and smoke rising from distance villages… Next time we come from the river…
Compass: As Chaos felt the earth with one foot… It was awe-inspiring to stand in the literal shadows of the stones.
Chaos: We were called back to our group. As we gathered just at the entrance to the inner circle we waited for the other group to leave, our guide asked who would like the experience to be the First inside the circle.. Transport yelled me and raised her hand… the guide had a shocked look like only one person… he said ok let's try this again.. and repeated his question.. this time louder and hand up air Transport yelled ME!! He said ok I'm going with the first and only person I heard and looked at us.
Compass: Up through the middle of the group we go.. again!!
Chaos: at least transport apologized as she went through the middle
Compass: She said sorry for being the only one paying attention.. that is not exactly an apology.
CHAOS: it was the perfect response to their scowls and whines ..
Compass: You both acted like asses… you could have shown some humility…
Chaos: We did as soon as we stepped in and there was no one else in the inner sanctuary but us. That was powerful even if it lasted 5 full seconds… it was worth it. I was soaring I was so happy
Compass: oh I know… once everyone flooded in you had Transport run around to find the places were people weren't yet.
Chaos: I needed to feel energy of the ground and with everyone else tramping around it was a scamper more than anything. PRO VET: when spot become too crowded it's usually because someone stopped to take a picture and then the herd mentality set in so everyone else followed. Walk away from that, 98 percent of the time there is a better spot that no one has seen because they are too busy watching the herd and not the horizon. Always watch the horizon over the herd, you'll find things that others miss. So I kept having to scamper to find solitude in a group of 25…
Compass: Well you found your spots for solitude and once you were content it was now my turn. Walking around I had Heather up close and very intimate with the standing stones. Armando had finished up taking Pics of the others in front of what is thought to be the entrance to Stonehenge and asked him if we wanted a few… which we did, barefoot and all. Since we were the last to have our pic taken Armando asked if we wanted to see something cool .. Yeah!!
Chaos: Armando showed us where Sir Christopher Wren the architect that designed St. pauls carved his name… then showed us a few places where there are stone axe cravings from the Bronze Age… the axe and dagger markings were my favorite.
Compass: After talking with Armando for a few seconds more he got pulled away to assist another tourist.
Chaos: Back to exploring. We had about another 20 minutes to wander the inner sanctum before having to head back to the bus to the visitor center. We were not going to squander this opportunity. We approached the stones that had fallen in a pile in the center… there was one it was still standing, crooked but standing. On one edge only, the right there was a man carved channel down the whole side. I automatically went to blood channel for sacrifice. We were at the supposed alter area… sacrifice of animals was common practice of our ancient ancestors in Europe. Collection of blood as we see from Greece, Rome, Germanic tribes carved channels into the stone alters and surrounding material so that they could collect the blood neatly and channel it to one area ..
Compass: or it could have been part of a bigger stone that was made to interconnect with it as a door or a fitted wall. So having our own battle of why this channel which was fairly wide and deep down the whole side of this stone, Heather decided she was going to take it to the Stonehenge guide. She found him and brought him over asking about the channel and showing him.
Chaos: Honestly, can't remember what he said because it was some scripted crap that they tell you when the professionals just don't know but the professionals can't say that so they craft something that sounds good and people swallow because it makes sense.
Compass: Well thank you for not arguing with him about how that stone doesn't look like it came from somewhere else. possibly at a later time since if we look back to the first pictures of Stonehenge we can see this stone and that was in 1800, yes there were sheep all around but no fence around the henge itself to enclose them so it wasn't for animal pens…
Chaos: Hey it's hard to argue theory without proof. Most logical for that time is alter and blood collection. If the stone we examined was set with the channel facing up on an edge of an altar, at a slight slant with a stone basin it's perfect. When it fell from its spot on the altar, the channel is now vertical instead of horizontal as we see it today. That would explain why the larger surface appears unweathered .
Compass: it's a theory and like you said it's hard to argue without proof… sadly our time was ending and the Stonehenge guide started collecting his people. With one last silent respectful goodbye we departed the sacred space and made our way back to the bus heading to the visitors center.
Chaos: on the bus ride back I saw campers parked on dirt roads just outside the fences of Stonehenge… no shit, how did I miss that coming in!! I want to camp by Stonehenge… instead of a car for our first driving experience in the UK let's do an RV!! Now that is a Life Adventure Goal
Compass: Why do yours always have to involve possible injury or death and anxiety?
Chaos: it's driving on the opposite side of a road… it's not extreme sports like skydiving or para sail, para surfing or base jumping… though 3 out of 4 I would do…
Compass: oh boy… at least you took out 1 of the 4. Anyway we were shepherd back to the visitor center and to our Golden Tours bus back into London. The description had advised we would be dropped off at another location and Armando had made it very clear several times that the return drop was going to be at a different location and if anyone needed directions to the underground or needed recommendations on food he would be happy to assist.
Chaos: That's when Transport realizes that we didn't stop at an ATM for pounds… we have been using our digital payment app for everything that we had forgot. Compass begins freaking out wondering how we are going to tip. Da Da Da Here comes common sense to save Compass…
Compass: I know I panicked… it was stupid of me… if you have a cell phone chances are you have some sort of direct payment app hooked up.. PayPal, Venmo, Applepay… whatever…
Chaos: See you can step into the digital world…
Compass: Yeah I still don't trust it.
Chaos: No shit Sherlock… that's why we have extra security on our phone and all our cards are backed by fraud protection.
So ha Compass was having a minor meltdown about how we were going to tip the driver…. I had Transport be the last to jump off the bus so we could ask Armando if he had Venmo or an app we could tip him over. Which of course he did.
Compass: As I now try to scramble to get the app up …
Chaos: it was laughable since I was still in control of Transport for the most part… but Compass was fighting for hand control.
Compass: it was awkward and bumbling…Thankfully Armando saw the struggle and said that the app generates a QR Code that all we have to do is scan and pay…
Chaos: Technology really is convenient when it works and used for the right reasons. So a quick scan and a tappy tappy moment later, Armando was tipped and on our way…
Compass: I really have to go back and do the math .. I really don't think we tipped him enough… I have to make the time to pull up the bill. If we didn't we are going to rectify that asap!!
Chaos: You worry too much… I'll go back and pull the tip… I think we are fine but we will double check he was great so I don't mind doing some math and work on this one.
Compass: (sarcasticly) Gee.. Thanks for the help!
Chaos: Anytime friend!
Compass: That's not what I… nevermind!! So now it was just about 9pm. We had found a restaurant we wanted to try near our hotel so we hit the underground at Kensington Station to make our way back to Bayswater instead of Queensway.
Chaos: (laughing) is there where you got all fucked up… at some point on the circle line we got messed up at Edgware Station and doubled backed to Kensington… I can't remember the day but remember the headache you gave Transport and I.. you even had Transport calling herself fucking stupid out loud.. people were looking it was great!!
Compass: No, that wasn't the day… that day was when we went to St. Albans then headed on over to Brunel university to scope it out it for my bestie and my niece.
Chaos: sadly we just missed the last campus tour by 20 minutes but the ladies at the desk said we could just walk around it was an open campus. I really liked the layout of that campus. Naturally we had to go during exam times… so everyone is in the uniform or robes, running around, blowing off steam in the quad with frisbee or walking with friends talking about the last exam which was “super easy” .. I didn't even think kids still said that… I guess when it is .. there are no better words.
Compass: Another story.. another time.. that was our last full day in England Solo .. this is the end of our first real day in England. Which means that this was the first time we used the circle line and did splendid. We stopped at Charlie's Kitchen right by Bayswater ordered a chicken Gyro to go, went to the store grabbed only one soda because we forgot that the room came with a mini fridge.
Chaos: Not sure how she forgets since she researches, confirms and books the hotels…PRO VET TIP: 1. Breakfast always included 2. Cancellation no more than three days prior, 24 is the strive 3. Mini fridge and coffee maker…
Compass: Not completely true .. depends on location, time of year, how long the trip is, are we making other hotel stops and the experience we want… there is one out of the 3 that I try very hard not to bend but there are times that it can't be done and that is the cancellation policy.
Chaos: I think I'm finally wearing her down kin!! Albania helped pull that stick down and England loosened up your asshole a bit ..(laughs)
Compass: undiginified ass. We got back to our hotel about 10 1030 ready to shower, eat, text our baby girl and call our hubby.
Chaos: You only call him hubby when your feeling Lovie dovie… aweeeee did you miss him…
Compass: Yes and I have the tits to admit it…
Chaos: Absence makes the heart grew warmer and fonder!
Heather: Hello Kin.. it's Heather cutting it off here before these two get into another … something. Now it's my favorite time, reflection. As always here are 6 things we hope you take away along with whatever else you got from this:
Your driver and/or tour guide is not the person responsible for the rushed schedule or itinerary. Only two parties are to blame: 1. The tour companies for over packing attractions in tours and marketing it as an experience.. it's a checkoff not an experience 2. The person that booked that tour for not reading and understanding what they were booking
If there is something in your bones, screaming in your spirit to do… don't ignore it and don't settle for mediocre. It might take hours, days or even weeks to find what your looking for.. don't settle. it's about patience, instincts and luck.
Use every available tool and resource, which includes AI to find the path that gets you to the experience your looking for. When a tool and search thousands of sites in seconds and spit back just a few of the top… use it, but you are still responsible for your own reading and understanding of what you are getting into. Not reading isn't ignorance, it's stupidity and you deserve what you get.
Remember you're always a 1 and something.. when you are just a number or another face in the crowd, STOP! When a group pours into a historic space or tourist site, ninety-eight percent of them drop anchor at the exact same spot because the person in front of them stopped to take a picture and the rest just blindly followed. Walk away from that. Look away from the crowd and look to the horizon. Scan for the empty corners. Ninety-eight percent of the time, there is a better, more powerful, and completely solitary vantage point right behind you that everyone else is missing because they are too busy watching the herd instead of the landscape.
Respect often is tied to humility. In ancient times it was one in the same. Whether it means kicking off a shoe to ground yourself and feel the energy of five-thousand-year-old sacred soil, or just shutting your mouth for five seconds to take in the literal shadows of history. Independent travel sovereignty isn't just about conquering a destination or checking off a list; it's about connecting with the earth on a primal level and understanding you are standing on sacred ground where our ancestors long forgot once survived, not lived.
Not hitting an ATM or having cash on you to tip is just an excuse for thinking you're an entitled jackass. The boots-on-the-ground drivers and guides are the punching bags for the entitled corporate dicks all day, and they deserve their tips. In a highly digitized world, technology is a tool for your self-reliance. Put the proper security protocols and fraud protection on your cards before you leave home base, and then use the direct payment apps or QR codes to handle your business. Technology is convenient when it works and when it’s used for the right reasons—so tap the app, tip the person who took care of you, and stop whining.
I know this was a short one this week. After the last few weeks of having over 45 mins over random side shows mixed in with my memories, the internal battles and everything else, I thought the Global Kin needed a shorter episode, I know I did! I hope you enjoy my memories and have some laughs at the real conversations that go on in my head. Before I bring the ladies back, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has followed from day 1, Greatly appreciated. I may not be able to see your names to give a personal shout out, but I see you!! For the ones that have recently started to follow, I see you! Welcome to my flying circus. Here’s to make you feel normal or seen, Safe Travels and Memorable Adventures. I am going to turn this back over to the voices to say their farewell’s.
COMPASS (calm, professional tone) On that note… we hope you enjoyed this episode of CompassChaos13.
Join us every Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern, or 1300 hours for our fellow travelers in time zones unknown. Next stop: Bermuda with our bestie of almost 20 years but no matter what, you can bet we’ll be forging even more unforgettable connections.
CHAOS (excited, playful): Sadly our Alyssa won’t do cruises so she passed on this adventure, but we had other kids to play with…. hey, the chaos? Always memorable.
COMPASS (mock patience): Listeners, help me out here — please engage with us.
CHAOS (interrupting, smirking): Compass please just stop!! That pleading really hasn’t been working so let’s try something else… Keep your shit to yourself. We will go on talking about us because we have plenty of stories going back to 1995 and we have plans on the books for the next two years to make more!! I think we have them nailed down.. So keep silent, we only need your ears and a finger. Sure you can use the middle one if you want to, go ahead, in fact I encourage it.. Then you can take that finger…
COMPASS: CHAOS!!
CHAOS: and put it right on the share as you post this and the finger to social media using the tag @compasschaos13 … Don’t forget the ONE .. THREE at the end kin.. Very important….if you want us to know what you're saying. If not, you can just talk ABOUT us not to us…. You love us or hate us, either way your talking baby.. Mauh!
COMPASS (cutting in, mock sigh) Please Stop. The show’s over. Kin, no matter what Chaos says we do want to hear from you. Tell us where you found the most human connection… the human hug & kiss from locals. I want to hear about it. (sound tired) I’m Compass — bringing the planned direction.
CHAOS (proudly): And I’m Chaos — bringing the unexpected!
CHAOS (in sync): Together, we make global connections.
HEATHER (narrator / flight attendant tone) Welcome back to the present. On behalf of your dueling hosts, Compass and Chaos, thank you for adventuring with CompassChaos13.
Before you stand, please make sure your pants are dry, your eyes are clear, and your snots are wiped — we don’t do refunds for emotional turbulence.
Some of what you heard today may sound unbelievable, but rest assured — it’s all true, and no one on this adventure is innocent.
For photos, travel tips and to read our blogs wander over to www.CompassChaos13.com.Thank you for connecting with us today. We hope YOUR layover in OUR world brought a little curiosity, a bit of laughter, and a lot of connection.You ARE TRULY APPRECIATED
This is CompassChaos13 — signing off.