Today clouds and rain returned as we drove from Yorkshire into the often-rainy Lake District. Couldn't photograph the landscapes well from the bus but it changed from high, wide treeless moors to narrow valleys with lakes and rivers between high craggy treeless hills. I can't compare it to other scenery, it seemed to combine the hills of the desert Southwest with the water of New England or New York State. Or a little bit like California around Santa Barbara. Anyway, the rain did not diminish its beauty.
In Yorkshire we drove thru the spa town of Harrogate, the Bronte sisters' territory that inspired Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, and then into the Lake District and the largest lake Windermere. Close by was a house, donated by Beatrix Potter to the national trust and rented out to a family, where we had lunch! I've put in a picture of the 3 cakes she gave us for dessert. Beatrix Potter apparently bought up a lot of unprofitable farms to donate to the Trust. Sheep raising couldn't continue here without hefty subsidies, our guide said there's no market for the wool walking around the fields - shearing costs more than the fleeces.
After lunch we saw Wordsworth's home and gravesite in Grasmere, then finished up at our hotel near the highway and a walk to the grocery store to check out the local produce and enjoy some sunshine. We ate dinner with one of the other couples who proved again how deceptive appearances can be. They'd seemed grumpy, but over dinner we discovered they were well-traveled Presbyterians who volunteer for Habitat and love BBC tv shows. We had a good time dissecting Inspector Morse shows and I gave them a few new titles to check out. They had some good tips on other ways to travel sans group tours. By now the group has started to fray somewhat from the hours of coach travel. Tomorrow, off to Edinburgh via Hadrians Wall.
In Yorkshire we drove thru the spa town of Harrogate, the Bronte sisters' territory that inspired Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, and then into the Lake District and the largest lake Windermere. Close by was a house, donated by Beatrix Potter to the national trust and rented out to a family, where we had lunch! I've put in a picture of the 3 cakes she gave us for dessert. Beatrix Potter apparently bought up a lot of unprofitable farms to donate to the Trust. Sheep raising couldn't continue here without hefty subsidies, our guide said there's no market for the wool walking around the fields - shearing costs more than the fleeces.
After lunch we saw Wordsworth's home and gravesite in Grasmere, then finished up at our hotel near the highway and a walk to the grocery store to check out the local produce and enjoy some sunshine. We ate dinner with one of the other couples who proved again how deceptive appearances can be. They'd seemed grumpy, but over dinner we discovered they were well-traveled Presbyterians who volunteer for Habitat and love BBC tv shows. We had a good time dissecting Inspector Morse shows and I gave them a few new titles to check out. They had some good tips on other ways to travel sans group tours. By now the group has started to fray somewhat from the hours of coach travel. Tomorrow, off to Edinburgh via Hadrians Wall.
Boats on Windrrmere
Globalization
Big swan!
Beatrix Potter house where we lunched
Cakes!
Door from 1608
2 foot chocolate bunny in Grasmere
Wordsworths church
Wordsworths Dove Cottage
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