November 8 - and off to the Yorkshire Dales via Grasmere, Bowness on Windermere and Beatrix Potter

from my journal:
"driving towards Grasmere, we both agreed that while this area is stunningly beautiful, we both enjoyed the North Pennines and the ancient history there, much more. Driving past mountains, fields and old houses, sheep, fences and poplars, I just didn't feel as if I were in another country. The landscape is so similar to much I have seen at home in Tasmania, country NSW and Victoria. the only thing missing was the eucalyptus!!"
that said, it is still beautiful and we have enjoyed our three days here.

As we drove towards Grasmere, our chosen stop for morning tea, the scenery changed, while Ullswater is more wilderness similar to Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, Grasmere was looking more like Bowral or Mittagong in the southern highlands of NSW.
There is village after village and we cannot stop at every single one to have a look. What I keep reminding myself is, that I will have one whole month in Cornwall, to explore every village if I wish to. And that is really the purpose of my trip here to England.. the north is a little detour for a short time.

Morning tea at Grasmere.. another scone.. this time we share, because I had asked Joe to help me control myself with these things. They are lethal. Scone, butter, jam and clotted cream..this one was homemade in an AGA and it was the best so far.. I began to wish that I had not shared.. oh, and the cup of tea..[note to self: begin to make pots of tea at home again]. The tea here reminds me so much of my Pa.. a real, good cuppa!!

then a walk around Grasmere, to see Wordsworth graves, to the PO to send some postcards..

[Jemima Puddleduck at Beatrix Potter exhibition]

and then on our way to Bowness on Windermere to Beatrix Potter attraction... something I would normally not do, but it sounded brilliant.. and yes, it was.

Joe in Mr. McGregors garden.. naughty boy!

a quick lunch in the Beatrix Potter tea rooms [roasted butternut and sweet potato soup (with small chunks of sweet potato in it, served with a ham sandwich.] and we were off towards the Dales!!

finally, the scenery begins to change..at last, we feel as if we are in Herriot country

and we are!...

so we are in Yorkshire... the road in to our chosen village was across the top of a moor
 Whitaside Moor.
once, the moorland provided turf, peat, timber, heather and game. As well as lead and coal. now it is National Park. however,original farms are still allowed to operate. Thank heavens that this kind of area is now protected from exploitation!!

as we drove along the dales roads, thinking of our favourite TV show, we both started to hum the theme song of James Herriot.. and burst out laughing.. but if fits so perfectly to the landscape.

the stone walls here are absolutely amazing. field, after field, after field they dot the landscape. dividing the land into a patchwork of green. workmanship of generations after generations.

looking down into farms & farmhouses, green rolling hills and every so often, a village. we are in the Swaledale area, [Yorkshire national park]

We are staying in the little village of Reeth, which has a village green and a pub. Tiny little laneways where houses sit right on the edge of the street. All connected somehow. It is divine, really. Our cottage is called Moor View [most probably, mid 18th century built for landless lead miners or quarry workers].. and on arriving we collected the key from Clive, the caretaker, who welcomed us, told us that there was plenty of coal for the fire, milk in the fridge and left some shortbread for us. He also told us that this village and area was actually where the series James Herriot was filmed. Yet another serendipitous choice.  Why did I choose this village? I have no idea, it just happened, as things seem to be doing on this trip.
So here we are. In the little village of Reeth, wind howling outside, in a Yorkshire cottage called Moor View, with a coal fire burning ~ what dreams are made of.

a year later - 2013
I will never, ever forget coming upon The Dales from Whitaside Moor. The view as I am sure I have mentioned was breath taking. This is the moment when Yorkshire stole my heart and it only got better. We were adopted, welcomed and loved by the villagers in the short time we were there. The cottage was perfectly brilliant and the wind was to order. *sigh*.. I will return to Yorkshire oneday.