It’s been a busy, kind-of-stressful 2 days at work. Yesterday afternoon Gloria asked me what I do to de-stress. I told her sometimes I crank my music up loud (mind you, it’s not the typical crank-up-loud kind of music!) or watch a funny movie, or read, or take hot, relaxing bath. In this case I’m eating cereal for supper. Delicious, slightly stale, apple cinnamon cheerios. It’s good for a de-stress, de-constituting, de-composing, and whatever de-words might or might not apply.

So, let’s us present to you the next phase of The Trip – England, or at least a part of it. We only spent 7 days in England, but we got a lot seen! And left twice as much unseen.

We left Scotland on the train, and ended our journey in England at the small train stop in Gargrave.

It was cute little town and we pulled our luggage up the street and across the stone bridge, back and forth, to and fro, seeking our apartment.

The directions didn’t quite make sense but we eventually got ahold of the landlady and found it. It was in a row of apartments, 2 story, with 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.

That wagon with the door hanging open was our chariot for a few days.

It wasn’t fancy but it was cozy. We had little grocery store within walking distance.

 

The view of the delightful little garden from our kitchen window.

This was my room, It was just big enough to hold a single bed and a little furniture but I was thankful for it, nonetheless! Pardon the unmade bed. I think we were leaving.

The owner couldn’t imagine why we would only stay three days when we had rented for a week. It was cheaper to rent cottages for a week so we did. We usually made supper after we got back from the day’s trekking. We often packed a lunch to take along. Yes, you did have to plan ahead but it saved much $, or rather pounds (where is that symbol?). Eating out for lunch could cost $10 American and up, and the evening meal was usually $20 and up.

I didn’t get any good pictures of the quaint town but here is a shot as we were leaving of it’s quaintness, including the quaint trash truck. There is a chance that they call it rubbish instead of trash or garbage. I can’t remember for sure. There are many things so quaint that they overuse the word a bit. Not that I would overuse it or anything.

After the first night in Gargrave, we caught a train back to Lancaster to pick up the rental car. We had come through there the night before but the car rental was not open on a Sunday. My sister was brave and did the driving. My uncle and aunt lent us their GPS, which was a lifesaver!!! I had planned to purchase one that had Europe maps as well as US but they offered the use of theirs. Leaving Lancaster, which thankfully was a small town, we giggled and lurched our way up the highway. You’re driving on the “wrong” side, sitting on the “wrong” side, and shifting gears on the “wrong” side. Wrong here being a relative term.

By the time we got to Windemere, in the Lake District, things were beginning to settle down a bit. I was riding shotgun and keeping Lois posted on the GPS directions, as well as reminding her to stay in the left lane. Plus deciphering their funny driving terms. Like “over-take” for “passing”, and ”give-way” for “yield”.

After attempting to eat lunch near the lovely lake, but the demanding swans who nearly plopped themselves in our lap, combined with threat of rain, chased us into our vehicle.

My sister said that was indeed the mood of the day.

And it’s a little hard to eat with an angry bird glaring at you. Not that making sandwiches and eating in the vehicle was that much less stressful. Yes, we are frugal. We freely admit it.

And then things got a bit dicey. We took a ferry and this was the warning: Use correct change or get dumped overboard.

Okay, so I might have slightly taken that out of context.

As I mentioned we were now in The Lake District National Park and need I say it’s gorgeous??? If you’ve seen or read Pride and Prejudice you might remember that Elizabeth was going to go with her aunt and uncle to the Lakes and due to something (memory is shot) they toured the Peaks (I think) instead which was closer to home and of course made the stop at Pemberly.

 

Our next stop was the Hilltop, the home of Beatrix Potter. But a mile or so before we got there, was this:

And GUESS WHAT????

They have lots of sheep in England, too. (see previous post about Scotland.) Of course, you already knew that’s so let’s move along.

But not before we take a look a little lambie-wambie.

It’s good there was such sweet thoughts to share with you because here the story turns very, very sad. As a photographer it is a most frustrating thing to do to oneself. I purposely deleted a bunch of picture, actually almost all of the Lake District pictures, off of my memory card because I thought I had downloaded them already. I tried to download every evening but apparently that one evening I forgot. And I forgot to take an extra card along for the day. And I was shooting in RAW a lot which takes up mega bytes. Get the pun? har har. So I thoughtless through away some gorgeous scenery and I could’ve about cried when I figured it out. By that time I had used the card several times and I didn’t even know which card they had been on and and the attempts from 3 different recovery programs didn’t help so I chalked it up to a painful lesson.

These next few pictures are not mine. Beatrix Potter’s House:

Some of her house is included in her illustrations. See her little entry way up there ^. And click this link: Tom Kitten. See the little roof?

The house is set up as if she would still live there. Unfortunately they don’t allow photography indoors. 🙁 It was worth the stop, we thought.

More of the Lake District which I did not take:

Yes, the roads are really narrow. And many of them are lined with rock fences/walls so there were times I was leaning into the car to keep from getting “scratched.” You can read Carolyn’s take on this including some quotes HERE.

This photo ^ does not do justice to the beauty of that spot. The photo also brings to mind a funny story. We had stopped to take pictures and just enjoy the view. Ruby and I were on a little bridge there on the right, looking this direction. A few sheep were closeby and I called out, “here sheepie, sheepie, sheepie.” Then tried to “Baaaa,” which was baa-aa-aad sounding at best. Ruby said, “Meow!” And we both burst out laughing and sheep ran far, far away.

We stopped in Keswick to have tea and dessert at a little restaurant, and to give Lois a break from the tight driving. Keswick is actually pronounced Kezzick.

 

Yorkshire Dales and James Herriot’s Museum coming up next.

 

Meanwhile, here are a few pictures taken from a moving train or car, which have no significance other than English countryside.