Normanton Church
Barnsdale HallOur 'digs' - yes, both floors!
Chris, Gill's husband, Gill and AnnRutland Water
Sunset over Rutland WaterAn Easy Part of the Trail!
A Welcome Rest Stop!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Rutland Water
I was so surprised to find that I was able to post this picture that I didn't follow it up with a description! Somewhat after the fact, I'll now do just that...
Rutland is the smallest county in England, but Rutland Water is the largest man-made body of water in Europe. Rutland is located in the Midlands and happens to border on the county of my birth, Leicestershire. During my UK travels, I visited my three cousins, Ann, Gill and Judith, who still live either in Leicester itself, or in the nearby village of Stoughton. We cousins enjoyed several different outings together, often including a meal in a local pub! Ann and I managed more than a brief outing, spending a week very close to Rutland Water, at picturesque Barnsdale Hall. We were blessed with beautiful weather, so were able to get out biking several times, and in the course of our pedalling, managed to make it most of the way around Rutland Water (25 miles, some on the level and some more challenging...) and back again. The scenery was quite spectacular and it was amazing to think that many feet beneath the water lay buildings, trees, farmland and even a church, forever submerged when the land was flooded to create the reservoir which came to be known as Rutland Water, officially opened in 1976... Normanton church, located at the edge of Rutland Water, is actually only partially submerged, and houses a museum, unfortunately not open during the winter months. The church itself, however, made a very pleasant rest-stop along the way, where we were able to bask in the unexpected, but most welcome, winter sunshine....
Rutland is the smallest county in England, but Rutland Water is the largest man-made body of water in Europe. Rutland is located in the Midlands and happens to border on the county of my birth, Leicestershire. During my UK travels, I visited my three cousins, Ann, Gill and Judith, who still live either in Leicester itself, or in the nearby village of Stoughton. We cousins enjoyed several different outings together, often including a meal in a local pub! Ann and I managed more than a brief outing, spending a week very close to Rutland Water, at picturesque Barnsdale Hall. We were blessed with beautiful weather, so were able to get out biking several times, and in the course of our pedalling, managed to make it most of the way around Rutland Water (25 miles, some on the level and some more challenging...) and back again. The scenery was quite spectacular and it was amazing to think that many feet beneath the water lay buildings, trees, farmland and even a church, forever submerged when the land was flooded to create the reservoir which came to be known as Rutland Water, officially opened in 1976... Normanton church, located at the edge of Rutland Water, is actually only partially submerged, and houses a museum, unfortunately not open during the winter months. The church itself, however, made a very pleasant rest-stop along the way, where we were able to bask in the unexpected, but most welcome, winter sunshine....
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
My Carvynick Experience in Cornwall.....
Since arriving here at Carvynick I have been keeping on the move, thanks to the 'Western Greyhound' buses - a 'Ride Cornwall' ticket in one hand and my camera in the other. (For my North American readers, who may well be thinking large, long-distance motor coach style bus, travelling in comfort, think instead small, school-bus type transportation, of size appropriate for travelling along narrow, winding, one-track country lanes, flanked by stone walls, topped with high hedges of brambles....) These sturdy vehicles definitely take a person off the beaten track, along the road less travelled. I know I have visited places, in the last few days, that I never would have seen, had I been travelling by car. In addition, I have been entertained by the conversations and comments of fellow-passengers. The scenery has been spectacular, with great vistas of golden sands or surf flying high in the air as it pounds on the rocks, flocks of sheep grazing in impossibly green fields - and we all know why those fields are so green! (lots of rain) - as well as getting up close and personal with wind turbines - and we all know why they do so well here! (lots of wind). My travels have taken me to Penzance and Land's End (in the rain and fog) Porthleven (in a gale) the cathedral city of Truro (in brilliant sunshine) Marazion (where I was able to view St. Michael's Mount from all angles atop my double-decker bus) Newquay (where the surfers were out in full force and where I wondered whether I would make it up off the beach before being cut off by the tide...) plus villages, hamlets, coves and harbours too numerous to mention - but captured on my camera! These excursions tend to be quite lengthy, even though the distance from one place to another, as the crow flies, may be quite short. I always keep my eye on the signposts and often notice that, after driving some time, we are actually farther away from our destination than we were when we set off.... but we always do get there , eventually. 'Taking the scenic route' is certainly the order of the day!
The Carvynick part of my Cornish experience refers to the place where I am currently hanging my hat. The views from the windows of my Carvynick cottage are spectacular and the surroundings are quiet and peaceful. - all of which make for a very pleasant place to stay. My daily walk into the village of Summercourt to catch the bus - about 20 minutes, depending upon whether I am heading to the bus for Newquay or Truro - takes me up a quiet country lane, then along the main road for a short distance, into the village itself. From there, the bus meanders its way along to my destination of choice, where I then change to a different bus - or a train- and so the day's adventure unfolds....
Most of the time, the buses leave and arrive at their detination on time, but yesterday the bus from Helston, Porthleven and Marazion was held up along the way - a van parked in such a way that the bus couldn't get through until the driver returned, a tractor insisting on pushing its way through, even though the bus had right of way etc., etc. - to the point that we arrived late in Penzance and I missed my connection for St. Ives. Added to that, Plan B, taking the train, was a non-starter, as the train had been cancelled. I shall try again, by a different route, tomorrow - and 'as I am going to St. Ives', I shall definitely be keeping a sharp eye open for that 'man with seven wives' - plus sacks, cats and kits.! (If you can't remember just how the riddle goes... Google it!)
Then, once I return to Carvynick, it will be time to pack up, ready to head out on Saturday - to Plymouth, for an overnighter, then on to Bristol and Chipping Sodbury. The countdown is definitely on - I fly to Toronto a week tomorrow...
The Carvynick part of my Cornish experience refers to the place where I am currently hanging my hat. The views from the windows of my Carvynick cottage are spectacular and the surroundings are quiet and peaceful. - all of which make for a very pleasant place to stay. My daily walk into the village of Summercourt to catch the bus - about 20 minutes, depending upon whether I am heading to the bus for Newquay or Truro - takes me up a quiet country lane, then along the main road for a short distance, into the village itself. From there, the bus meanders its way along to my destination of choice, where I then change to a different bus - or a train- and so the day's adventure unfolds....
Most of the time, the buses leave and arrive at their detination on time, but yesterday the bus from Helston, Porthleven and Marazion was held up along the way - a van parked in such a way that the bus couldn't get through until the driver returned, a tractor insisting on pushing its way through, even though the bus had right of way etc., etc. - to the point that we arrived late in Penzance and I missed my connection for St. Ives. Added to that, Plan B, taking the train, was a non-starter, as the train had been cancelled. I shall try again, by a different route, tomorrow - and 'as I am going to St. Ives', I shall definitely be keeping a sharp eye open for that 'man with seven wives' - plus sacks, cats and kits.! (If you can't remember just how the riddle goes... Google it!)
Then, once I return to Carvynick, it will be time to pack up, ready to head out on Saturday - to Plymouth, for an overnighter, then on to Bristol and Chipping Sodbury. The countdown is definitely on - I fly to Toronto a week tomorrow...
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