Monday 24 July

We had an early morning walk and took several more photos though the light wasn't good. I helped our hostess Hilary with her new scanner then scanned and emailed some of our photos and our next travelogue instalment home before finally leaving around 11.30 AM.

 We finally entered the Lakes District and everything we had ever heard about its special beauty was understood and understated. The mountains, valleys, lakes, incredible view and colours! Of course our photos couldn't really reflect much significance due to the overcast drizzly conditions!

NOW, in my limited experience: 1st Wonder of the world; Giant's Causeway, 2nd Wonder, MAGNIFICENT Scenery through the Lakes District!

We lunched at Windemere .....home of Beatrix Potter William Wordsworth and Australian Prime Minister Andrew Fisher, and shopped at the Beatrix Potter Centre. Another very beautiful, old village adorned by glorious hanging baskets of colours. An incredibly busy, tourist populated area with craft and tourist shops we could barely move in, overcrowding onto narrow footpaths and then, onto very narrow roads.

We called ahead to Blackwell Farm B&B near Carlisle, one I had found on the Internet before leaving home. We travelled there from Windemere village, around the far side of Windemere Lake. Once again a narrow winding mountain road but oh so beautiful. Lots of B&Bs, youth hostels and camping areas are dotted around the lake.

 Blackwell farm is another wonderful old farm house; a working farm (beef and dairy). The house was specified on an 1812 town plan but they don't know how long before that it was built. This young farmer is the 4th generation owner and he has a young son; at present though not showing much interest in carrying on the tradition.

I went out after dinner (after 8.30 PM) and did a sketch of one of the out buildings. It is younger than the house and is dated 1860

Russ says pity about the low doorways...................OUCH!!!!!