Ok so leading on from Steve's "East meets West" thread this little story began last year on a dark and wet evening in November when Her Ladyship and I were discussing where to go for a UK break with the hooond that we hadn't been to before ... she suggested that we went NORTH, yes NORTH of Wolfland and into a place called "The Lakes". ! :eek: :eek:
Well one can imagine the horror on my Southern Softy Peroni drinking face when she said that but I was put at ease when she told me that it was "close" to Scotland, looked a bit similar and they spoke a sort of Scottish dialect. Well my learned friends that was it, that was the blue touch paper for getting things booked and this is how it went .................
We booked into a lovely little place at Bowness on Windermere that was just big enough for the 2 of us and Molly (the Border Collie) .... Laura is currently doing her AS levels and said she wouldn't come ... err till a few days before and then as all women are entitled to do ... changed her mind ! So 3 humans and a K9 stuffed into a fiesta headed Norffff ... a total of just under 6 hrs driving and 350 miles, a couple of breaks and we were there .... :yes: Fantastic view of Lake Windermere from the lounge and the hot tub ! Oh baby.
We had 3 days of great weather, the middle Wednesday was shocking and the last Thurs and Fri were ok, so mainly dry meaning we could get about and appreciate everything.
Now, so as not to bore you too much here are a few piccies to interrupt my drivel .............
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps906c0968.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps906c0968.jpg.html) This was the view from said Hot Tub .. fantastic !
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps6d5f8078.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps6d5f8078.jpg.html) And this was part of our "back garden"... over the stone wall and off we went ... for nearly 2 hours and there was no one except for sheep a few coooos and some deer. Can't argue with that !
The first afternoon was spent just in the local village ... a Cream T was calling and then a nice walk back for a spot of home cooking and bed .... knackered.
Next day dawned as a BH so things were a little more busy ... another walk in the garden then onto a small car ferry over to Hawkshaed and Coniston ... a bit of a picnic whilst Molly played and cooled off in the freezing water ... the swans didn't mind, just so long as she didn't get too close !
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zpsceadbd76.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zpsceadbd76.jpg.html)
Then it was a little walk into Coniston where the girls went to the very busy local butchers to purchase the meat for forthcoming BBQ ... and Molly and I wandered across the road into St Andrews Churchyard where I found this fellow ......
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps22b87967.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps22b87967.jpg.html)
There are some here who like me love this "old war stuff" so I shall allow you to Google him and read for yourself about the amazing story of this local lad ... and he was a lad in both age and spirit. So there I was standing at the foot of a VC winner who I had never heard of, who had died just a few months before I was delivered into this world and fought for his King and Country. I spoke to him briefly and felt humbled just being there in his presence.
Here of course is the result of the girls trip to the butchers ............
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps0843ed9b.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps0843ed9b.jpg.html)
Having managed to get out of bed the following day it was time to pop up to Ambleside to meet Mr Wolf .... he called us up and told us to meet him at a local pub ... we were standing next to it .. how spooky was that ? A great lunch was had whilst sitting outside and Steve was able to stay for coffee afterwards in the very nice pub that of course like all places up there will let dogs in no problem .... suitably stuffed Steve managed to get back on his bike and making sure the suspension adjuster was up a turn or two made off for home ! In the meantime we preambulated down to the pier to sample the local mint ice cream dipped in hot chocolate ..... surely we had had enough but no we found a great Tapas bar for the evening, and my dear colleagues it was excellent dining !
Now ... more piccies ......
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps657f5e10.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps657f5e10.jpg.html) Lots of swans and ducks and smaller birdies too .........
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps3c26571e.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps3c26571e.jpg.html) For those of you who like a little boating.
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zpsf4a70569.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zpsf4a70569.jpg.html) The dockside at Bowness in the evening ... as you can see just luuuvly. :yes:
The last couple of days were spent on boat trips, lunches, more walking, oh plenty of "more walking" and of course an occasional pint of local ale.
This next piccy shows Molly guarding "her" part of the harbour at Newby Bridge as we sat in the National Trust picnic area having a Cumberland Sossy Sarny ....(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps4de76699.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps4de76699.jpg.html)
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zpse6c3a42e.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zpse6c3a42e.jpg.html) I loved this place "Lazy Daizy's" in Windermere. Surely you can't beat this twin menu? Cream teas AND a variety of Pimms ? What Ho !
So there you have it everyone. I went North, Norther than Wolfland and survived ... better than that we shall being going back without a shadow of a doubt and I hope to return with some work chaps for 2/3 days of biking .... In the meantime a lovely pic of myself with MollyMoo. It was truly a super place to visit in many many ways and I hope it stays like that for ever.
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zpsce91b20c.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zpsce91b20c.jpg.html)
Great write up and pics Rusty, Molly looks like a lovely dog too...... hope you saved her a sausage from the bbq!
Nice one Rusty..............and yes that double menu needs exploring................just don't expect me to walk afterwards :punk:
And I have to put up with all that for 365 days a year....plus the occasional suvvern softie visitor of course :mfr_lol:
Glad you enjoyed and TBH I could have safely predicted your threat to return :yes:
Bah, It's grim up north. :whistling:
Well now you've gone and done it, all the riff raff from down South will be wanting to come up here now, buying derelict farmhouses for renovation, not forgetting fetching their Chelsea tractors up and generally cluttering the place up while speaking some sort of weaker variation of the English language that nobody will ever get a grasp of. :mfr_lol:
Lovely photos as always, were they all taken on the Ipad if so they've come out very well indeed? Love the one of Molly guarding as you put it, she's a lovey dog despite having similar tendencies to our Milo! Pleasure meeting your good lady as well, hopefully she didn't mind being dragged, albeit relatively briefly away from her holiday to meet one of your biking buddies, she's obviously a very understanding lady. :clap:
Weather-wise our break seems to be following the identical pattern to yours, day of arrival and the following two days excellent, todays weather, damp, misty etc but reasonably ok although more wet weather is forecast so I'm told. TBH I don't really care, its what you make it at the end of the day.
See you again in a week and a half at the Belfry! :yes:
Indeed .... The Belfry is going to be well attended this year ... :yes:
Quote from: The Wolf on June 02, 2014, 12:02:55 PM
Well now you've gone and done it, all the riff raff from down South will be wanting to come up here now, buying derelict farmhouses for renovation, not forgetting fetching their Chelsea tractors up and generally cluttering the place up while speaking some sort of weaker variation of the English language that nobody will ever get a grasp of. :mfr_lol:
Go back up there in the 1st week of August and you will see all that and more.
There will be Chelsea tractors and underpowered cars towing oversized caravans and coaches by the cubic mile. :no: :gun_bandana: :help:
Ella and I are also planning a Lake District visit but not until September,.. after the little ba..... darlings have all gone back to school!
Where I know not but her Brother has a second house up there somewhere (he's from Derbyshire so only southern-ish).
Quote from: Boomer on June 02, 2014, 02:02:46 PM
Go back up there in the 1st week of August and you will see all that and more.
There will be Chelsea tractors and underpowered cars towing oversized caravans and coaches by the cubic mile. :no: :gun_bandana: :help:
Ella and I are also planning a Lake District visit but not until September,.. after the little ba..... darlings have all gone back to school!
Where I know not but her Brother has a second house up there somewhere (he's from Derbyshire so only southern-ish).
No need to wait that long George they are already here :gun_bandana: