Day 7: Ullswater and the Howtown Hotel

On Ullswater

A very sedate day today...we drove to Pooley Bridge and parked the car and walked to the Ullswater Steamer dock.  The Victorian boats that ply up and down the lake used to be steamers and despite the fact that they were converted to diesel in the 30s, the name has stuck.   It was a dullish sort of day and as we set off we realised that there was a marked distinction between the dress of the younger and older passengers with the older passengers, us amongst them, wearing layers and coats and the younger ones in shorts and t-shirts!  There were a few goose pimples!  But not ours!

At Howtown we disembarked (!) and walked the short distance to the hotel.  Peter had phoned to book a table in the morning.  Can we have lunch at about 12.45?  No, we serve lunch at 1.00.  We should have remembered.  This is the oddest hotel.  We went there for lunch with Eliot and Nancy when Abe was a few months old.  We were the only people asking for lunch then and they made a polite fuss about not knowing if they had any food.  In the end they produced soup and cold meat and salad and some kind of pudding.  It was eerily quiet and we had coffee afterwards in the pale green and silent lounge.

On this occassion we arrived in time for a drink and went round to the public bar where the light was good enough to read the paper. 

The public bar

The other side of the bar

This is an old fashioned hotel with pleasant old fashioned service and a smell of beeswax in the air.  The gong may have sounded for lunch but we were already on our way round the outside (no access from the public bar to the rest of the hotel - this is designed to keep the muddy boots of the walkers off the carpets). This time the dining room was almost buzzing.  A couple of guys in pink shirts, another couple about our age, a softely spoken trio of elderly folk leaning in to hear each other and a party of people who spoke in plummy voices that could have carried right across the lake, and probably did.    Again, no menu, just soup or fruit juice and cold meat (beef, ham, chicken, duckling, pork or salmon), salad and hot potatoes.  The salmon was delicious. Peter opted for the beef.  I had plum tart and icecream for dessert and Peter had fresh fruit. We partook of coffee in the garden and then Peter went in search of someone in order to pay our bill.  Quite a difficult task, but in the end he got the barman to sort it out.    Back on the steamer and a quick dash to Penrith to pick up some bread and a gift or two then back to Curlew Cottage to run the vacuum cleaner over the carpets and get everything ship shape in time for Joe and Helen's return at 5.00 pm.  A nice cup of tea, followed by a bottle of wine and much catching up.  Dinner in the evening at the George and Dragon.

Helen and Joe

And so ended the holiday.  An excellent and relaxing week. 

Day 6: Kendal

We set off for Kendal by a back route, just for the fun of it.  A winding road with grass growing down the middle and some diving into the hedge to avoid oncoming traffic (two cars actually).  Then we were completely stopped by a small farm vehicle loaded with sheep dogs parked smack in the middle of the lane.  We waited patiently as befits city folk not wanting to appear pushy and eventually the farmer jogged down the road from the gateway where he had been having a chinwag with a mate and gave us a wave and a sheepish (ha) grin.

I'm not sure if we've been in Kendal before, we certainly went to the Abbot Hall museum about 4 years ago.  Just to make sure we parked near the museum in Peppercorn Lane car park and had a walk round.  A busy town with some fine architecture left over from its days as a rich wool town and a myriad of 'courts' or alleys leading off the main street and several large archways leading to what would have been coaching inns.    We had coffee and read the papers (and I must confess to a toasted teacake) in an old coffee/tea shop.  Very old!  The shop's account book going back to 1800 was on display as well as the original tea containers.

Tea containers

The coffee department

A bit of humour

A street in Kendal

We were going to have lunch in the museum café but they only had one bowl of soup left and we decided against a bread based lunch...so instead we wandered back to the main street and found a greasy spoon (aka a café were almost everything is fried!) and Peter had quiche and chips and I had sausage, egg and chips!  We would have been better off with a sandwich after all...

Then we went back to the museum, only to find that they were between exhibitions so although we enjoyed a small collection of water colours and some fine pictures by Romney there wasn't a great deal to see.  The Barbara Hepworth's for the coming exhibition were in a dark corner, firmly shrouded and marked 'No photography' though what harm a picture of a cloth wrapped shape would do I wasn't sure.  However I obeyed the signs.

We returned to Askham by a more orthodox route and made a supper from left overs and more rhubarb from the garden.

Day 5: Around Askham

Lowther Castle

We got plenty of exercise today without going very far as the crow flies.  We walked downhill through Askham to the bridge over the Lowther river, turned right and walked along a woodland path beside the water.  After a while a friendly dog walker told us that to reach the castle we would have to make a sharp left.  This led us uphill (again!) and we eventually skirted the front of the ruin.  We had hoped to enter by the front but as you can see the ruin is in a semi-restored state.  It's never going to be a home again but work is going on to make it safe enough to walk around inside.  Apparently a lot of money was squandered in the 30s and a fire took off most of the roof and the family abandoned the castle and moved into something more manageable, Askham Hall.  However, there was no way in at the front so we had to trudge uphill (again) around the side of the castle and between the sheep until we reached a gate to the drive and then back down the drive to within a stone's throw of our original point.  Phew!

I went up in a balloon to get this shot. Oh yeah!

View from the summer house

A trust is now running the ruins and the gardens which are very much a work in progress having also suffered neglect for years.   There are some good notice boards and old photographs to tell you what it might have looked like.    It reminded us of the Plantation Garden in Norwich, though on a much larger scale - a Victorian construct which fell into disrepair.  We bought a roll, crisps and water at the café and wandered off into the grounds for our picnic.   We came across a summer house by a pond which was a perfect lunch spot once my Paddington stare had caused the couple who were sitting in in to cede their places! 

Reflections

 After lunch we strolled along the woodland paths and along the edge of the grounds on a mown path looking out across the valley and over to Askham.

In the woods!

Although we arrived back at the corner of the property where we wanted to exit, we did not have the nerve to vault over the clearly barred gate so we went back to the entrance, up the drive and through the sheep again.  This time we took the quick path down to the river which turned out to be very narrow and steep and not easy going for some with varifocals and poor balance and weary legs!   We made it though and crawled back up through the village, stopping at Askham Hall for a cup of tea.  We were planning to see the garden there, but just didn't have anymore energy.  So we toiled back up through the village to Curlew Cottage.

After a rest, a few emails and a wash and brush up it was down to the village pub (we chose the Queen's Head) for curry night.  Chicken or Lamb Rogan Josh with a poppadum and a pint of Black Sheep.  The curry was fair to middling!  Interesting to sit in the corner of the pub and watch people come and go.  They all know each other.  We speculated what it must be like to live in a village where everyone knows your business. 

Day 4: Carlisle

Peter about to enter the city!

Today was not a walking day...or rather, not a walking day on the hills.  We decided to give our muscles a rest and get a bit of culture instead.  We drove north to Carlisle, a border town with a Roman and Scots versus English history.   We made a few wrong turns and eventually found a car park under the western walls with a staircase going up and emerging near the cathedral.  Perfect spot! 

We made our way to the Tullie House Museum and started in the cafe with coffee and the newspapers.  No rush!  Then we realised it was 1.0 pm and a sensible time to have lunch.  Eventually we hit the museum, laid out in three sections.  The lower floor devoted to Roman history, the upper floor to Scottish, English and local history and then somewhere in between the old house with pictures.  Excellent exhibits that had us looking, reading and listening for a long time.  They have some excellent pre-Raphelite paintings and a 20th century collection that included Nash and Spencer. Walls were decorated with some splendid Victorian tiles.

Wall tiles

Just as we were enjoying the paintings we realised that we had a few minutes only left on the parking...so we hurried back down the walls.  It seemed pretty quiet so we purchased another ticket and set off in another direction to explore further and buy some supper.  We had a notion that Carlisle was where we had found an attractive dress shop but we couldn't identify the right area.  We may have been mistaken and it was frustrating to say the least to have Peter resigned to looking at clothes and no dress shop worth stopping at in sight. 

Instead, we walked to the station for a glimpse (Peter has all sorts of interests!) and then found a butcher and an M&S food hall and bought supper before driving home.   Cooking on the Rayburn/Aga is an art that I have not quite mastered.  Peter stays out of the kitchen as much as possible while I am huffing and puffing!   It turned out fine though and took our minds off the England v. Costa Rica match.  

Day Three: Askham to Pooley Bridge

Horses, standing still

Another beautifully warm and sunny day so we decided to take another walk.  Straight out of the front door and up the hill and down the other side to Pooley Bridge at the northern end of Ullswater, three miles away.  A long steep climb up the hill to start with and then a flat bit and then a steady descent to Pooley Bridge with a great view of Ullswater on the way.  Towards the start of the walk we came across a group of horses standing by a wall.  They were strangely still and didn't show any interest in us.

Ullswater in the distance

At Pooley Bridge I tried and failed to buy walking trousers and we had fish and chips at the pub.  The portions were positively American!  Neither of us could finish the chips but the huge pieces of cod were delicious.  Really fresh fish, not previously frozen!

Back down to Askham

The climb back up from Pooley Bridge on a full stomach was not great.  My legs were burning and I made frequent stops, ostensibly to look at the scenery.  Peter just walked on and waited when he realised I wasn't in sight.  However, despite the pain, the scenery again was wonderful and at least the way back home, once we had skirted the last hill, was downwards.  We passed the horses again.  Some had moved away from the group, but not far, and a couple were grazing but the rest were still immobile in group.  Supper at home including salad picked fresh from the garden, followed by rhubarb, also from the garden.

PS I have now done my homework and the 'horses' are Fell ponies bred for their stamina and ruggedness.  There are fewer and fewer breeders now and the Fell ponies are on the endangered list of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Apparently the Queen rides one....well!

Day Two: Walking round Wet Skeddale

Looking over the resevoir at Wet Skeddale

Not a long walk, probably about 5 miles, but very up and down and a bit boggy underfoot where the path is unmarked. We had to ford a river using stepping stones - not nice flat ones and not in a straight line.  Peter fell in!  Much unfolding of the map and scratching of heads in one or two places, but we could almost always see the reservoir and our car parked on the other side.  A great comfort!   We enjoyed our picnic and the weather was perfect. 

Came back to Curlew Cottage and sat and dozed in the summer house and read and finished off the day with supper at the Queen's Head.

Crossing the footbridge

Looking back the way we've come

Up through the foxgloves

Lake District: Day 1

The holiday begins with a stroll round the garden and watering duties.  Watering cans and taps everywhere.  This is a beautiful garden! A lot of work goes into it.

 Through the wildflower meadow

The front garden

The veg patch and summer house

Little details

A side path

Looking up from the patio

The kitchen

Inside the house is just as lovely...
I'm beginning to sound like an estate agent!

The sitting room

The boot room and a few maps!

The rest of the day was spent re-discovering Penrith, having coffee, doing a spot of food shopping, having lunch, reading the papers, have a drink at the pub and watching football! 

Holiday in the Lake District - arrival

We are in Askham, a village on the eastern edge of the Lake District, south of Penrith.  We had a terribly long journey to get here from Norwich.  Delays on two of the major roads, one unexplained and one due to a multiple vehicle crash had the traffic backed up for miles.  We did some great detours and, having left home at 10.30 am, finally arrived at 8.30 pm.  What should have been a 5 hour journey took 10!  Mind you, we did stop a couple of times for refreshment and to stretch our legs.

North Yorkshire

The last part of the journey was a detour across the North Yorkshire National Park where the road snaked through beautiful scenery.   We knew when we saw Lowther Castle that we were close to our destination and finally, we arrived!

This is Curlew Cottage, the home of friends Joe and Helen.  They have gone to Scotland for a week and we're going to enjoy the Lake District and their lovely house and superb garden.

Lowther Castle

Our home for the week

The view down the village

Just time to make a quick supper, unpack a few things and fall into bed!

What is it with cakes?

I always feel nervous when I set out to make a cake.  Although they often turn out alright and people say they like them,  they don't know about the failures.  I always regard success as something of a miracle.   So what goes wrong?  In the first place I don't always remember to add all the ingredients.  There have been times when I've put the cake in the oven and then spotted an essential ingredient sitting on the work surface.   I've been known to whip the cake out and try and stir in the forgotten item.  I recently made a batch of banana muffins without the sugar which were swiftly consigned to the bin.  And I had been so looking forward to them!

Then I don't seem to be able to humble myself enough to follow instructions! I think there must be a quicker or less complicated way to do something.

Well this morning, in anticipation of a friend for coffee and youngest son coming for supper tonight, I made an orange cake and counted out all the ingredients in advance and followed the instructions to the letter.  The cake rose and browned evenly and didn't burst out of it's crust like a volcano BUT, BUT I hadn't greased the tin sufficiently and it was a devil to get out in one piece!  Why, oh why, can't I get it 100% right?

Add caption

However, despite a few cracks round the edge, turned away from the camera, the cake tasted WONDERFUL.  Light and tangy and spongy!  I've cut one half off and wrapped it for son no. 3 to take away and I'm having a great deal of trouble not cutting just one more slice off the remainder!

A Norwich walk and lunch

Norwich Cathedral

Bishops Bridge

An enjoyable walk along the river yesterday with Monica, stopping to admire the old bridge and the cathedral.  We walked through the cathedral close to a restaurant for lunch where Monica was looking forward to trying the king prawn linguine again.    We ordered a small carafe of wine to keep us going , which was just as well as the food didn't arrive for 45 minutes.  We made representations at intervals and found the waitress had messed up the order.  When she asked us if there was anything she could get for us to compensate, we foolishly suggested more wine!  Having had too much wine I was unable to resist the chocolate dessert.  Oh dear!  And my walk home wasn't exactly a straight line.

View along Bishopsgate

An attraction at the cathedral is the peregrine falcons' nest.  They have had 4 chicks which have fledged but are still being fed by the parents.  The webcam is focused on the nest and I've only just got round to looking at it so now all I can see is the wind ruffling some discarded feathers.  Too late!  The cathedral close was rather cluttered with vans - a theatrical production in the cathedral cloisters.  Shakespeare I think.  So much going on in Norwich it's hard to keep up.

Afternoon Tea at the OXO Tower with DIL

Afternoon Tea?
OXO Tower?
DIL?

What's this then?

Well DIL, aka Simon's girlfriend Tania, and my honorary daughter in law, has been promising me a special outing for my birthday - a personal present from her to me.  I had no idea where we were going when she collected me from the Barbican and we wondered down past St. Paul's Cathedral and across the Millenium Bridge and turned down the south bank of the Thames.  Eventually we darted into a doorway and all became clear.

The OXO Tower restaurant is on the top floor of an art deco tower.  The building was originally constructed as a power station for the Post Office, built towards the end of the 19th century. It was subsequently acquired by the Liebig Extract of Meat Company, manufacturers of Oxo beef stock cubes, for conversion into a cold store. (Thank you Wikipedia).   Afternoon tea is anything but!

Here's the menu:

NOT AFTERNOON TEA SELECTION

  BERRY FROZEN

Raspberry and vanilla ripple parfait
Strawberry mille feuille, white balsamic pearls
Blueberry and yoghurt sundae
Blackberry lolly

with Ice Pop
Absolut raspberry vodka & Cointreau blended with
vanilla sugar and lemon juice  

PENNYS HERB GARDEN
Lemon verbena and sour cherry mousse
Thyme panna cotta, apricots
Peach and bay leaf trifle
Mint cake, black current ice cream 

with An English Summer
Biddenden English wine & Chase elderflower
liqueur shaked with green tea & hibiscus liqueur.
Bitter lemon charge 

CHOCOLATE BARS
White chocolate coconut cherry mousse
Blond chocolate and butterscotch parfait
Milk chocolate peanut nougat
Chocolate raisin hazelnut crisps bar 

with Not For Boys
Koko Kanu coconut rum & Appleton Estate
rum shaken with coconut milk and Mozart dark
chocolate liqueur

BLOOMING LOVELY
Elderflower and gooseberry fool
Lavender macaroons, blueberry cream
Rose, lemon and polenta cake
Hibiscus and pomegranate jelly 

with Pretty Please
Green tea & hibiscus liqueur, elderflower and
lemon juice charged with HN Prosecco

It was hard to choose, but I had Pennys Herb Garden and Tania had Blooming Lovely and very were delicious - the cocktails and the desserts.

We sat and chatted for a good two and a half hours. I subjected Tania to all sorts of mother in law style intrusive, personal questioning but she didn't flinch!  It was a great treat.  Thank you Tania for a very happy afternoon.

Before tucking in

Tucking in!

From the restaurant balcony

Not Afternoon Tea
£24.50 including one bespoke cocktail
£34.50 including two bespoke cocktails.

1. BERRY FROZEN
Raspberry and vanilla ripple parfait
Strawberry mille feuille, white balsamic pearls
Blueberry and yoghurt sundae
Blackberry lolly

Served with ICE POP
Absolut raspberry vodka and Cointreau blended with vanilla sugar and lemon juice
2. PENNY’S HERB GARDEN
Lemon verbena and sour cherry mousse
Thyme panna cotta, apricots
Peach and bay leaf trifle
Mint cake, blackcurrant ice cream
Served with AN ENGLISH SUMMER
Biddenden English wine and Chase elderflower liqueur, shaken with green tea and hibiscus liqueur with a bitter lemon charge
3. CHOCOLATE BARS
White chocolate coconut cherry mousse
Blonde chocolate and butterscotch parfait
Milk chocolate peanut nougat
Chocolate raisin hazelnut crisps bar
Served with NOT FOR BOYS
Koko Kanu coconut rum and Appleton Estate rum shaken with coconut milk and Mozart dark chocolate liqueur
4. BLOOMING LOVELY
Elderflower and gooseberry fool
Lavender macaroons, blueberry cream
Rose, lemon and polenta cake
Hibiscus and pomegranate jelly
Served with PRETTY PLEASE
Green tea and hibiscus liqueur, elderflower and lemon juice charged with Harvey Nichols Prosecco
- See more at: http://www.harveynichols.com/news/2014/06/02/not-afternoon-tea/?restaurant=the-oxo-tower#sthash.Apq3eLAJ.dpuf

Not Afternoon Tea
£24.50 including one bespoke cocktail
£34.50 including two bespoke cocktails.

1. BERRY FROZEN
Raspberry and vanilla ripple parfait
Strawberry mille feuille, white balsamic pearls
Blueberry and yoghurt sundae
Blackberry lolly

Served with ICE POP
Absolut raspberry vodka and Cointreau blended with vanilla sugar and lemon juice
2. PENNY’S HERB GARDEN
Lemon verbena and sour cherry mousse
Thyme panna cotta, apricots
Peach and bay leaf trifle
Mint cake, blackcurrant ice cream
Served with AN ENGLISH SUMMER
Biddenden English wine and Chase elderflower liqueur, shaken with green tea and hibiscus liqueur with a bitter lemon charge
3. CHOCOLATE BARS
White chocolate coconut cherry mousse
Blonde chocolate and butterscotch parfait
Milk chocolate peanut nougat
Chocolate raisin hazelnut crisps bar
Served with NOT FOR BOYS
Koko Kanu coconut rum and Appleton Estate rum shaken with coconut milk and Mozart dark chocolate liqueur
4. BLOOMING LOVELY
Elderflower and gooseberry fool
Lavender macaroons, blueberry cream
Rose, lemon and polenta cake
Hibiscus and pomegranate jelly
Served with PRETTY PLEASE
Green tea and hibiscus liqueur, elderflower and lemon juice charged with Harvey Nichols Prosecco
- See more at: http://www.harveynichols.com/news/2014/06/02/not-afternoon-tea/?restaurant=the-oxo-tower#sthash.Apq3eLAJ.dpuf

Not Afternoon Tea
£24.50 including one bespoke cocktail
£34.50 including two bespoke cocktails.

1. BERRY FROZEN
Raspberry and vanilla ripple parfait
Strawberry mille feuille, white balsamic pearls
Blueberry and yoghurt sundae
Blackberry lolly

Served with ICE POP
Absolut raspberry vodka and Cointreau blended with vanilla sugar and lemon juice
2. PENNY’S HERB GARDEN
Lemon verbena and sour cherry mousse
Thyme panna cotta, apricots
Peach and bay leaf trifle
Mint cake, blackcurrant ice cream
Served with AN ENGLISH SUMMER
Biddenden English wine and Chase elderflower liqueur, shaken with green tea and hibiscus liqueur with a bitter lemon charge
3. CHOCOLATE BARS
White chocolate coconut cherry mousse
Blonde chocolate and butterscotch parfait
Milk chocolate peanut nougat
Chocolate raisin hazelnut crisps bar
Served with NOT FOR BOYS
Koko Kanu coconut rum and Appleton Estate rum shaken with coconut milk and Mozart dark chocolate liqueur
4. BLOOMING LOVELY
Elderflower and gooseberry fool
Lavender macaroons, blueberry cream
Rose, lemon and polenta cake
Hibiscus and pomegranate jelly
Served with PRETTY PLEASE
Green tea and hibiscus liqueur, elderflower and lemon juice charged with Harvey Nichols Prosecco
- See more at: http://www.harveynichols.com/news/2014/06/02/not-afternoon-tea/?restaurant=the-oxo-tower#sthash.Apq3eLAJ.dpuf

Not Afternoon Tea
£24.50 including one bespoke cocktail
£34.50 including two bespoke cocktails.

1. BERRY FROZEN
Raspberry and vanilla ripple parfait
Strawberry mille feuille, white balsamic pearls
Blueberry and yoghurt sundae
Blackberry lolly

Served with ICE POP
Absolut raspberry vodka and Cointreau blended with vanilla sugar and lemon juice
2. PENNY’S HERB GARDEN
Lemon verbena and sour cherry mousse
Thyme panna cotta, apricots
Peach and bay leaf trifle
Mint cake, blackcurrant ice cream
Served with AN ENGLISH SUMMER
Biddenden English wine and Chase elderflower liqueur, shaken with green tea and hibiscus liqueur with a bitter lemon charge
3. CHOCOLATE BARS
White chocolate coconut cherry mousse
Blonde chocolate and butterscotch parfait
Milk chocolate peanut nougat
Chocolate raisin hazelnut crisps bar
Served with NOT FOR BOYS
Koko Kanu coconut rum and Appleton Estate rum shaken with coconut milk and Mozart dark chocolate liqueur
4. BLOOMING LOVELY
Elderflower and gooseberry fool
Lavender macaroons, blueberry cream
Rose, lemon and polenta cake
Hibiscus and pomegranate jelly
Served with PRETTY PLEASE
Green tea and hibiscus liqueur, elderflower and lemon juice charged with Harvey Nichols Prosecco
- See more at: http://www.harveynichols.com/news/2014/06/02/not-afternoon-tea/?restaurant=the-oxo-tower#sthash.Apq3eLAJ.dpuf

Not Afternoon Tea
£24.50 including one bespoke cocktail
£34.50 including two bespoke cocktails.

1. BERRY FROZEN
Raspberry and vanilla ripple parfait
Strawberry mille feuille, white balsamic pearls
Blueberry and yoghurt sundae
Blackberry lolly

Served with ICE POP
Absolut raspberry vodka and Cointreau blended with vanilla sugar and lemon juice
2. PENNY’S HERB GARDEN
Lemon verbena and sour cherry mousse
Thyme panna cotta, apricots
Peach and bay leaf trifle
Mint cake, blackcurrant ice cream
Served with AN ENGLISH SUMMER
Biddenden English wine and Chase elderflower liqueur, shaken with green tea and hibiscus liqueur with a bitter lemon charge
3. CHOCOLATE BARS
White chocolate coconut cherry mousse
Blonde chocolate and butterscotch parfait
Milk chocolate peanut nougat
Chocolate raisin hazelnut crisps bar
Served with NOT FOR BOYS
Koko Kanu coconut rum and Appleton Estate rum shaken with coconut milk and Mozart dark chocolate liqueur
4. BLOOMING LOVELY
Elderflower and gooseberry fool
Lavender macaroons, blueberry cream
Rose, lemon and polenta cake
Hibiscus and pomegranate jelly
Served with PRETTY PLEASE
Green tea and hibiscus liqueur, elderflower and lemon juice charged with Harvey Nichols Prosecco
- See more at: http://www.harveynichols.com/news/2014/06/02/not-afternoon-tea/?restaurant=the-oxo-tower#sthash.Apq3eLAJ.dpuf

Second walk of the week

Yes, I'm a glutton for punishment.  Not quite as hot today as it was when we were walking yesterday, thank goodness.  Plenty of sunshine but a little covering of cloud here and there to give us some respite.  There were 5 of us from my regular Wednesday (once a month) walking group.  We drove out to Banham, about 40 minutes drive south of Norwich, and parked on a delightul green near the church.  I was leading the walk so I strode off with the OS map in one hand and an outline of the walk in the other.   It took us a while to find the first footpath as it set off between houses and through someone's garden and was a grassy path with flowers on each side. Ir looked inviting but most unlikely.  However, the way underfoot soon deteriorated.  There were three problems with this walk.  1. No signposts.  Well, actually we saw two. One was lying on the ground and one pointed the way to a path we didn't want.  2. The farmers had planted right up to the hedge line leaving no margins round the fields so the footpaths were obliterated and we had to force our way through thick greasses and crops.  3. Other footpaths were overgrown with nettles and brambles and other prickly and sticky vegetation.  And this was the day I decided to be adventurous and wear my walking shorts!  Ha!

We found a shady spot for lunch but didn't hang about long after the picnic.  Towards the end of the walk we had to completely abandon the idea of a) finding paths or b) using them.  Nevertheless, it was enjoyable to be out in the empty countryside.  No photos of today as I was too busy holding the map and fighting off the nettles.

First walk of the week

A great day yesterday.  Hot and sunny.  Miriam and I drove to the iron age fort near Warham (pronounced Worram) for a brief look.  We've been there many, many times with the boys when they were small but Miriam had only just heard about it.  This is what the fort looks like from the air.  A great defensive earthwork with the river forming one boundary.  We stood on the rim near the massive oak tree.

We drove up the road into Warham to a small cottage where Miriam had had bed and breakfast on her recent walk about.  The lady there was expecting us and had some plants for us (aquilegias and verbenas) and also welcomed us in for a cup of tea.

Sue in her kitchen

Sue also let us park at her house and we walked north from Wareham to the coast and then turned left along the coastal path to Wells, having our picnic lunch on the way.

We walked through Wells and up to the little train station for the miniature railway which goes between Wells and Walsingham.  As we were only going one stop, the conductor let us share a ticket! 

The train sets off after dropping us at Warham

The train gets up steam

On the way back to Warham we passed a pretty cottage and an interesting doorway. 

As we plodded on our hot and weary way to Warham we planned the cold drink we would have at the pub. I told Miriam they always used to serve home made lemonade and we both started drooling.  We walk into the pub and waited at the bar (unchanged since my last visit several years ago).  In the end someone came and announced that she was closed and couldn't serve us.  We appealed, she said she had to go home, but that Miriam could use the loo.   Off went Miriam and I sat in the bar while the woman took glasses in and out of the dishwasher.  Miriam was a good few minutes during which we could have got our lemonade!  I sat there glaring, but mine hostess was unmoved.   A good example of lousy customer relations!  

The pollen count was very high today and my eyes were burning by the time I got home despite the antihistamine I'd taken.  Just found the energy to put up my plants and given them a good watering before falling asleep!