Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
And here it is- part II of out amazing family adventure!
Chapter 4- Carlisle
Chapter 5- Scotland
Chapter 6- Cambridge
Chapter 7- London (Take II)
Chapter 4- Carlisle
From London we hopped a train to Carlisle, the closest station to our first destination, Chapelburn House B&B. We arrived in time for dinner and a short sunset hike in cattle fields by the River Irthing. Inspired by the rock stacking we saw at Vik, Kevin built a few rock sculptures of his own by the banks. The next day we hired a car to really begin our journey around the north of this small island. Out first undertaking was to explore locations around and surrounding Hadrian's Wall Path: Birdoswald Fort, Milecastle, Lanercost Priory, and Housestead's Fort where we saw two unreal sights- a Roman Centurian preparing for a photo shoot and a full double rainbow streaking across lamb spotted fields. Upon returning to Chapelburn, we concluded the night with game of cards, a good cup of tea, and inadvertently enjoyed the company of a very friendly cat. The cat appeared outside a window, which only opened at the top. When I opened the window to reach out and pet him, the cat pulled himself up and into the room by his two front paws and proceeded to take turns curling up on everyone's lap.
The next day's venture was a journey through the Lake District with a stop at the medieval Brougham Castle along the way. Once in the Lake District National Park we stopped along a few points: Ullswater Lake, Aira Foce Waterfall, and Whinlatter Park. On the way back to the B&B we stoped in Workington to take a look at the Irish Sea. That night we had "reservations" for coursed dinner at Chapelburn. Before dinner dad and I decided to take a walk up to a nearby church, Wesleyan Chapel, built upon Roman foundations. The walk was nice however, it began to pour as soon as we reached the chapel. When we returned to the B&B, drenched and catering to the amuseument of mom and Kevin, we dried off and prepared for a delicious dinner: stuffed rabbit and black pudding, steak, and apple blackberry crumble pudding. After some silly after dinner antics we spent our last night at Chapelburn before the drive into Scotland.
Chapter 5- Scotland
We determined to drive up to our next desination via a road in the Trossachs National Park next to the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond. A winding, nearly one track road awaited our fearless driver and navigator. After some time avoiding other vehicles on the harrowing roads we found a small village called Luss, to lunch on the lake. Following lunch we drove to the top of the Trussochs and past Loch Awe into the town of Oban. Once at out B&B, the Ariogan Farmhouse, we enjoyed tea and I was surprised to find a fiddle hanging on the wall. When I asked about it, our host took it down for me to play. She told me that her father-in-law, a retired barber, had made it and that I was welcome to play anytime. I began to play some fiddle tunes and within a few minutes she was holding a phone up in the room. After I finished a tune, she told me that her father-in-law was coming over within the next 10 minutes. He arrived with two more of his violins and we exchanged tunes and stories for a couple hours before my family decided it was time for dinner. While finding dinner in town we were greeted in our first night in Scotland with a few bands of Scotish bagpipers. We stayed in town until evening, when the sunset over the bay creating an entirely pink sky.
We determined to take the advice of a few friends and booked a tour to the Isle of Iona, the seat of Celtic influence in Scotland. We set out on a rainy day and began the journey: we boarded a ferry from Oban to the Isle of Mull; got on a bus for an hour long ride across the island; where we saw highland cows and caught a glimpse of the Isle of Staffa (the location of Fingal's Cave); and finally boarded another ferry to the Isle of Iona. Our quide punnily told us to "soak up the culture" and of we went to explore the tiny island. Iona is the home to Iona Nunnery and Iona Abbey, as well as the burial ground of the kings of the Picts and Scots, including Macbeth. The Abbey, one of the first christian monasteries in Scotland, may have been the starting point for the Book of Kells. After a few hours on Iona, we returned via ferry and bus to Oban.
We left the Inner Hebrides the next day, making our way to Stirling and Falkirk. First stop was a tour of Stirling Castle, the home of Mary Queen of Scots and then an afternoon venture to Falkirk to witness the engineering of the Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift. Near the wheel was something that I have never seen before, single person benches- I guess for those lonely Scottish wanderers. One night spent in Stirling and the next day we were back in Carlisle, returning the car and taking a train down to Cambridge, but not before dropping eaves on a posh British couple planning a dinner party.
Chapter 6- Cambridge
Following our evening arrival in Cambridge we made dinner and planned for the next few days. Our excursion in Cambridge involved a trip to the Fitzwilliam Museum, shopping in the market, and taking a ride in a punt on the River Cam. The next day we met up with our good friend, Daniel Orwin, and his three charismatic children. We were treated to a lovely afternoon of cream tea at the Orchard in Grantchester, a place frequented by the likes of Virgina Woolfe and John Keynes. The day wouldn't have been complete without a walk by the river and a juggling performance.
Chapter 7- London (Take II)
We left Cambridge to return to London for one last day of excitement before the Heathrow departure. In the short space of time between arriving in London and traveling to Heathrow, we spent time out in London's parks and inside Harrod's department store. After a trundling tube ride to Heathrow we enjoyed dinner and, of course, a good old game of cards.
Even a three week trip was too soon to see family leave, but we will see each other soon enough!
- comments