London - Take 2

We spent Sunday with Judith's friend (Branka) and her family just outside of London. They were the ultimate hosts and we had a lovely time with them. Bessy was being hard to get along with and had closed Windsor Castle on Sunday....the very day we wanted to see inside. Apparently something to do with the annual scout ceremony. Paul tried explaining that he used to be the grand poo-bar of the best Scout Group in the whole of Australia, but it accounted for nothing and we were escorted 'out' before even getting to the front door.

Many thanks to tour-guide Pete and Branka for showing us the sights of Eton and Windsor and to their girls for giving up their bathroom.

Monday morning we returned our car after 3 weeks and 2,900 miles around the UK, and caught the train back to London.

That afternoon, and today, we have spent time on foot covering a lot of territory while the sun is shining.

Trafalgar, Piccadilly, Hyde Park (again), Buck Palace, Pall Mall, Oxford Street, Covent Gardens, and ultimately St Pauls Cathedral.....which by the way is freeking awesome. We also climbed the 500+ steps to the top of the dome for a wonderful outlook over London.

We were going to queue and watch the changing of the guard, but the wall deep people already in place with over an hour to go was ridiculous....so we saw the guards ride down The Mall which was just as good.

Traf Square

Buck Palace

Horses at end of changing the guards

St Pauls Cathedral....apparently you're not meant to take pics inside....so lets keep it our secret. :-)

We remain well...although philosophical...about the coming two weeks left.

Love to everyone

P+J

Lakes District - Chester

Today is a milestone being 4 weeks this weekend since we arrived in London....and boy we have managed to squeeze a bit in!

Having left Lake District we drove through Hawkshead a village famous for Beatrix Potter (Harry's sister?). A quaint little village of 'chocolate box' standard. Note the weather has changed and is now somewhat greyer.

Then into Warrington to meet Judith's half brother on her dad's side of the family. A wonderful meeting with a few surprises.

While in Warrington we wizzed down the road to check-out Chester - a town best known for its buildings and it had the first shops on the first floor over the balconies of the footpaths. The black-n-white buildings are also very typical of Chester.  The town also has a city wall (like York) which we walked around.

Off to Windsor today to check out one of Bessies pads. Then back into London tomorrow.

Love to all

P and J

Lake District

The last 3 days have been spent in the Lake District back in England....AND WE LOVE IT.

The drive down from Fort William was initially breathtaking through some more highlands and then we hit the motor way to travel around Glasgow and down to the Lake District. Boredom ultimately took its toll.

With two full days in the LD we have undertaken 2 x 5 hour walks and a few additional drives around the area. One walked was up a mountain with magnificent views. We were also 'buzzed' by the RAF that use the LD for training flights flying low amongst the valleys. A couple of the roads were ridiculously steep (25-30% grades!) and only one lane. We also found some location stones akin to Stone Henge.

The weather has been sublime. 18-20 degrees and the locals are melting. Blue sunny skies. We came away with layers of cloths and thermals.....didn't think to pack hats and sunscreen!

Some other general observations about the UK...

- they allow dogs into most pubs
- they don't know what a good cappuchino is
- chocolates sprinkles on the cappuchino are optional extras (what's with that????)
- no iced coffee anywhere to be found (heathens)
- wine is ordered by the glass as small medium or large and is measured out first
- no plentiful options for bubbly by the glass at a reasonable price (bloody heathens)
- you can buy wine and spirits in the supermarket and the equivalent of a 7/11 (OK...so they have some redeeming features)
- constant walls and hedges next to the roads
- houses right next to their roads (no fence, front yard, footpath)
- they don't need to slow down past road works
- you don't need to look for snakes when bush walking

We are both having a ball. Tomorrow we continue our track southbound to London via a) Judith's 1/2 brother and b) her friend in Wadebridge

Love to all....

P+J

Scotland

Since our last update we have spent 3 night / 4 days in Scotland. And WE LOVE IT !

We have run up a stack of kilometres driving and walking the countryside and its ALL stunning. I'm not sure how else to describe the days.....but imagine driving all day and around every corner your gob drops open and someone says "look at that". 

Barren wind swept hillsides, deep ravines, snow capped mountains, crystal clear streams, waterfalls, rugged coast lines, blue skies and 15 degrees. OMG. WE......LOVE....SCOTLAND.

Details....we spent 3 nights in Drumnadorichit (side of Loch Ness). Drove up to the rugged NW of the island and a whirl wind trip around Isle of Skye.

Photos will speak for themselves.

Back into England and the Lakes District tomorrow.

Bradford - York - Edinburgh - Loch Ness

Well....a bit has happened since our last blog a few.

Today was special as we reached our northern most point in Scotland at a landmark known as Bowfiddle. It is also 3 weeks until we return home. A stunning section of Scotish Coast Line and a beautiful sunny morning. We then arrived at Loch Ness where we will spend the next three nights.

But to wind back the clock a few days....

York.
A lovely old city with quirky old medieval buildings. The old city is surrounded by a wall that we walked (about 3.5km)

From York we travelled up to Edinburgh via Whittby Castle. The castle ruin was amazing, albeit windy and cold. Then over the Yorkshire Dales (also windy) and over the border.

Edinburgh.

Another city full of old stuff. Of course we spent 1/2 day at the Edinburgh Castle, and also the Mary King's Close (an old street, now underground the main city, showing how narrow and close people lived).

Following Edinburgh we headed further north to Portsoy via Aberdeen and Stonehaven. Just south of Stonehaven is an old castle on a headland (Dunnottar Castle) that was simply stunning. This was the castle where they buried the Scottish Crown Jewels a few hundred years back. We met up with Judy (another friend of Judith) who then took us to Findlater Castle ruins. Paul was like a kid in a candy shop clambering all over these ruins. Both Dunnottar and Findlater raised the obvious question : "Why"....build a castle in such remote locations.

Which brings us back to today.
We have already mentioned Bowfiddle on the northern coast. This drive also included some lovely coastal villages. And we then arrived at Loch Ness mid afternoon.
We have the next couple of days around this area and also plan to get to Isle of Skye.

Love to all
Judith and Paul