Home again, Home again

Home again, Home again, jiggity, jig, jig, jig.

We arrived home on Tuesday evening. Coming out of Hancock Airport in Syracuse, I was struck by the scent of home. It smelled of early summer, green and growing things, new mown hay. I hadn’t really noticed what England smelled like, but standing on the sidewalk outside of the airport, I realized it hadn’t smelled like home. It was wonderful visiting England, but it’s good to be home.

This morning, standing in the quiet, closed library, I breathed in the scent of books and looked at the book lined shelves, filled with stories, adventures, other places, other people, knowledge, information and entertainment. I’ve spent that last few weeks traveling around another country, but these books also offer ways to reach other countries, people, places, times, cultures, adventures and stories. I haven’t read much in the last few weeks, other than road signs like “oncoming traffic in the middle of the road,” “layby closed,” “loo,” and even “don’t be silly,” so I think it’s time to dig into a good book and discover other worlds. But this time it will be through reading instead of traveling. See you soon at the library!

Last Day - Windsor Castle

Well, we head home tomorrow. It's been a great trip. Kind of sad to leave, but also totally exhausted, so coming home sounds good. Today we went to Windsor Castle for our last hurray in England.

Here's the view of the castle from the outside. Windsor is the oldest and largest continually inhabited castle in the world.



Here's the inner wall, once you come through the outer wall.



We visited the state apartments which are used by the royal family for state functions, but you can't take any pictures inside. Here's the walk up through the gates toward the state apartments.



The castle also has it's own church. It's called a chapel, but it looks more like a cathedral.



Windsor Castle is like a little village of it's own, within the castle walls. Here's the staff housing area.



Well, we fly out tomorrow morning. See you all soon.

We are winding down

Well, we are coming to the end of our trip. Friday we went to the British Museum and the National Gallery. The British Museum, with it's Egyptian, Greek and Roman treasures, was like traveling all around the world. Here is a tablet of hieroglyphics.



And a mummy's tomb.


We couldn't take pictures at the National Gallery, but we saw VanGogh's, Renoir's, Monet's, even a couple of Rembrandt's. Then we went down to Westminster Abbey and attended Evensong. We had hoped to hear the choir sing, but instead it was just a hand full of tourists doing the singing. Here's the Abbey.



Saturday, we went to see the home and chapel of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. Here's the chapel from the outside.



And the inside.



Today is was Kew Gardens. Here's the Palm House.



There are statues of the animals from the Royal coats of arms outside the Palm House. Here's the griffin.



And finally a funky flower!



Tomorrow it's on to Windsor Castle and then we fly home on Tuesday.

London

We arrived in London yesterday. Hurray, no more driving on English roads. Instead we took the train into the city and boarded one of the Big Bus Tours. Spent the day riding around London. Went to Hyde Park and to the Natural History Museum, as well as seeing Parliament, 10 Downing Street and Westminster Abbey.

Here's the Horse Guards.



And Big Ben.



Today we went to the Tower of London. Here's the armor of a knight on his horse.



Here's a couple of Yeoman Warders, the guards who live at the Tower and do tours.

Wimpole Hall

Well, we went to Wimpole Hall today - a estate built in the 1600's. And we finally saw Peter Rabbit. Here's Farmer McGregor and Peter in the walled garden.



Along with a manor house and gardens, Wimpole has a farm park which contains many rare breeds of livestock. Here I am riding a rare Blue Sheep.


Here's a Long Horn calf.



And finally the three little black sheep.

Yorkshire, Puffins and English Breakfast

Well, we've had an action packed few days, covering large parts of England and seeing many sights. Not the least of which was finally having a real English breakfast - eggs, sausage, bacon, beans and tomatoes. We even got a picture of it!



We visited a few places in Yorkshire, including the Ryedale Folk Museum which highlights Yorkshire life and farming in the 1800 and 1900's. They have a few old breeds of livestock, including the Lincolnshire Curly coated pig. Isn't she a beaut?



Then we took a boat cruise along the chalk cliffs of eastern Yorkshire, where over 200,000 seabirds nest each spring and fall. They include razorbills, guillemots, gannets and puffins. Here are the cliffs with a colony of gannets. Gannets have over a 6 foot wingspan. They were almost extinct in England and have made a great comeback in the last 20 years.



Finally, we saw a few of the more elusive puffins. You probably can't tell from this photo - it was hard to get up close and personal, but here's a puffin. If you look closely you can see it's telltale white cheeks.

Of Sheep and Roads

We leave the Lake District tomorrow and head down through Yorkshire. So today, we just took a little trip to the nearby town of Sedbergh. We toured an old woolen mill, did some walking and of course took pictures of sheep.

Here's a lamb using Mom for a warm and comfy bed.



And of course, the ubiquitous border collie, waiting for a 4-wheeler trip out to the sheep field.



And here are the roads I've been complaining about. This is the bridge on the way into Sedbergh.



Here's Main Street. Do I really want to drive down that?



Yes, this road is for two way traffic. But wait there are cars parked, so where am I supposed to drive?

Beatrix Potter and Herdwick sheep

Wednesday we went to Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's home. We took the ferry across Windermere Lake and then the bus up to Near Sawrey, the village where Hill Top sits. Here's the sign at the ferry, telling the cars not to drive in to the Lake.



Beatrix Potter, the author of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit," used the royalties from Peter Rabbit to buy Hill Top. If you've seen the movie "Miss Potter," you may know much of the story. She moved from London and lived at Hill Top writing and illustrating more books. Unfortunately, we didn't see Peter Rabbit! She also became active in preserving hillside farms in the Lake District, helping keep the countryside available for all to enjoy. Here's her home, Hill Top.



We also finally found the elusive Herdwick sheep. Beatrix Potter was a breeder of prize winning Herdwicks, so it only makes sense we found these beautiful black and white sheep on the hill farms surrounding her home. Here's a Herdwick!



And now for the animal of the day. It's horses!

Sizergh Castle

Tuesday we went to Sizergh Castle. (Don't ask me how you pronounce it!) The original part of it, the tower, was built around 1320. It has thick stone walls and only had one room per floor. It's been added on to and rooms subdivided since. The same family has lived in this castle since 1320, too. Newer sections were decorated in the 1800's, but the original tower definitely had a medieval feel. Here's a picture from the gardens.



The castle had a lovely rock garden, with fringy Japanese maples, tumbling water and pools. Here's a picture.



It was the day for cows, too. A few dairy cows were grazing near the castle. They came over for a drink and photo opportunity. Bruce was taken by the blue roan. Here she is.

The Lake District

Well, we are in the Lake District now, the land of lakes, peaks, hiking, Beatrix Potter, and sheep, sheep and more sheep. Yesterday, we visited Castlerigg Stone Circle, not as famous as Stonehenge, but over 4500 years old. And just as important to the people of the time, as a ceremonial site. As great as the stones were, the sheep grazing around it were the best part, I think. Although, you had to be careful where you walked! Here's a picture.



Then we did a bit of walking near Bassenthwaite Lake. Here's that.



We've seen sheep everywhere and could easily take pictures of nothing but sheep. Here's a typical farm house. Stones are everywhere, as well as sheep. Stonewalls, incredibly close to the road. Stone houses, barns, circles, etc. etc.



And of course, the sheep. Here's a few Cheviot lambs looking into our back garden at the cottage we are staying at.



And another Cheviot lamb.


We kept thinking these guys were Scottish Blackface, but they are Swaledales. Here's a lamb.


And a ram.



We are still looking for the elusive Herdwick. A breed found almost exclusively in the Lake District. Not like anything we have in the US, they are black with white faces. Seen a few at a distance, but no pictures yet. But stay tuned, hopefully we'll find one!

Chatsworth House

Saturday, we went to Chatsworth House. For all you Pride and Prejudice fans, this was Mr. Darcy's Pemberley in the Kiera Knightley version. Alas, no Mr. Darcy, but some house.

Here's the 6th Duke's dining room. He was a bachelor - do you think he has enough elbow room?



There was room after room of pictures, sculptures, treasures of every kind. But this guy was my favorite.

Tudor England

Drove north on the highway today. No billboards on the roadside, but there was this one we couldn't resist at the service area.

Then we visited Little Moreton Hall, a house built originally in 1504. It was added onto by each of the next four generations, leading to a rambling home with pretty interesting angles! A real English Tudor home. And the families religion changed with every monarch, to keep them on the good side of the current king!

Then because we couldn't soak in the Roman Baths, we decided on a hotel with a jacuzzi. So here's where we are staying tonight, Friday. Had to eat a lot of grill cheese last week to help pay for it!