| Headley and it's very, very foggy |
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| Last time we wrote we had just
caught up for dinner with the Baileys in Windermere.
After the factory we had a nice lunch sitting on a fence in Keswick
then hopped into the car for a drive to Ambleside and onto Tarn Hows. To
get to Tarn Hows it was a single lane road in. A beautiful spot it is too.
Marvelous mountain and lake views.
We then tried to catch the car ferry across the lake back to Windermere. It was a huge queue and the estimate was 3 hours wait. Way too long so we turned around (17 point turn in narrow road) and took the long way (which was shorter) back to town. Dinner was a really nice Pizza place ... everyone had a really good night chatting in an extremely relaxing environment. Next morning we headed for the car ferry early and only a short queue so we could get to Hilltop to see Beatrix Potters home. We'd passed it the day before but time was running out. The home was really quaint with wonderful antiques and paintings. In each room you'd find one of Beatrix's books with an illustration that featured a part of that room. Back into the car and next stop was Chester on the border of Wales. Nice little walled city but not as intriguing as the next stop which was Conway in Wales. Main feature was a magnificent castle on the river with an old three mast sailing ship on the banks nearby. At the tourist office we arranged a B&B near Llanberis at the foot of Mt Snowdon. The B&B was on a farm run by an grandmother called Mrs Jones. She was a lovely lady although the beds were very saggy. The place was warm and friendly. Mrs Jones taught the girls a few words of Welsh. In the morning we walked around the farm to meet the sheep, cows and horses in a nearby field. We also watched a fly fisherman in a stream. The farms main business is a butchery and also some engineering.
Llanfair PG was a tiny town with a couple of shops and lots of tourists. From there we headed to Beaumaris for lunch of a simple sandwich ... very nice ... and a short walk around Beaumaris Castle which has a moat. Kim loves castles with moats. It's amazing to see these wonderful castles so close to the town. This one even had a playground for children right next to it. Quick trip to Carnarfon (Carnavon) to meet the Baileys and a walk through another wonderful castle. This particular castle is where Prince Charles was crowned Prince of Wales. This particular castle is one of the best preserved (restored) in the country. Amazing.
Next day we met up with the Baileys in Beddgelert for a nice long walk along an old train line, through a tunnel and back beside a fast moving stream. Beautiful countryside. We headed back to town for a quick lunch before saying our farewells for the last time. The drive to Winchcombe in the Cotwolds was longer than expected. Narrow roads, fog and slow trucks in front. We finally got there and had yet another wonderful meal at a local restaurant before heading to the B&B. At the restaurant the waiter played "Waltzing Matilda" and "Tie me' Kangaroo down sport" on an organ. The B&B was really nice. We've been so lucky on this trip ... just about everywhere we've stayed we've got two rooms. This one was a cottage with a really nice sitting area, kitchen as well as upstairs bedrooms. Breakfast was in the main building and beautiful full English it was. We then drove to a nearby steam train exhibit, then to a lovely old town called Stow on the Wold. From there we headed to Lower and Upper Slaughter and onto Bourton on the Water for a look at the Motor Museum and a mini railway exhibit. Lunch in the car and onto Bath. Bath was further than expected and being a Saturday got caught in the traffic associated with an Antiques Fair and major Rugby game. No time to stop but a chance to get a feel for the town from the extended drive through. Last stop before the Trubys to pick up the big black bag was Stonehenge. Unfortunately the slow traffic meant we didnt reach the stones until 4.20 ... 20 minutes after closing time we then found out. Not to worry ... it was mystical just walking around the stones particularly in the errie light created during the sunset through fog and smog. Found the Trubys and picked up the bags then off to the Browns. Browns was a little harder to find but fortunately Phil's mobile works in England. It helped to guide us in. Great to see Adrian, Kathy, Georgina and Robert. The place is wonderful and we sat up for hours catching up whilst sharing a lovely cooked salmon dinner with great wine. Expect nothing less from the Browns. Next day, Sunday, Adrian had to work at the conference centre. We sat round the house, did some washing then late in the afternoon headed to Witley Park for a walk with Adrian. Very relaxing but amazing fog made it difficult to take in the full splendor of this estate. Dinner was again very nice, this time chicken in a nice lemon and wine base.
Anyway, Adrian has just arrived home and it's time to light the
fireworks we bought in Bourton on the Water. Each night we've heard fireworks
going off around us for Guy Fawkes Night set for Wednesday. Seems there is
no set night to do it so tonights our night.
More later. |
San Diego
Yosemite, Death Valley and Las Vegas |
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Next day we headed out early to Keswick to see the Derwent Pencil
Factory Museum. The girls really enjoyed the visit with a chance to watch
a video on pencil making and the history of graphite. Amazing to learn the
term "black market" comes from the smuggling of pencil graphite in the
mid 1800's. Apparently pure graphite, which is unique to the area around
Keswick and discovered by accident after a storm, cost as much as $3,000
per kilo back then. In the late 1800's a Frenchman discovered a cheaper
chemical method of producing graphite from impure materials and hence the
end of mining in Keswick. 
We then headed off to the Isle of Anglesey and Llanfair PG (place with
the longest name) since Mt Snowdon was covered in fog and cloud. We had
planned to catch the train to the top but not in this weather. 
The castle closed at 4pm so we then walked around the town for a couple
of hours, had a drink at a pub then went for dinner at Stones Bistro in
"Hole in the Wall". The bistro was perfect for our last meal with the
Baileys. Great food in a comfortable atmosphere. Huge servings. 
This morning Georgina headed to school at around 9.00am, same time as
Adrian headed to work. The girls enjoyed doing pretty much nothing ...
writing, reading and videos before a chance to ride Dela the pony. This
was a major highlight. The smiles were enormous. 