A Gondola, Rabbits & Jets - Oh My!

 SONG - Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree by the Andrew Sisters

Day 17 - Wed. May 16

Can you guess where I am today?

The photo above is of the roots of a 100 year old Bramley apple tree 

that was lovingly cared for by Beatrix Potter.

I am at Hill Top in Near Sawrey which was Beatrix Potter’s home for many years  

Of course I am here with my best bud, Mr. B but did you know that he has a special bond with this place?

Because he was Mr. McGregor in his kindergarten operetta!

Miss Potters bedroom 

A portrait of Beatrix done by a friend

I didn’t find any rabbits in her well cared for garden but I did find a very old one inside  

As well as some of her sketches for her books

Miss Potter’s Brambly apple tree that she planted

We left Hill Top with joyful hearts and headed over to Lake Coniston about 20 minutes away.  Once again hedgerows on small roads that Mr. B has mastered competently! We had a quick snack at The Bluebird Cafe at the launch before boarding our boat for a tour of the lake.

And here she comes now to pick us up.  Isn’t she, “Gondola”, a beauty?  

Sir James Ramsden, Director of the Furness Railway Company, had been to Venice in 1850 and recognized a way to link a pleasure cruise to his railway line in Coniston.  

She is pulled out of the water every winter so they can refurbish everything onboard including every piece of wood that gets varnished 3-4 times.  

Here is the man who keeps the hot fire burning so we can have a steam powered boat. 

And he ties us up when we pull up to a dock. 

Here is what she looked like in her early years and notice there wasn’t any wheel & crew housing up top originally 

And our Scottish Captain who kept us on a safe route and told us about the fascinating happenings around the lake over the years.

As we arrived back at our lodging, we sat in our rooms bay window and read.  Suddenly out of nowhere came two RAF fighter jets who flew close to the water and made a cracking loud noise.  

The above photo is not my picture (it’s from a British newspaper) as they move so fast you barely had time to look up and they were gone.  It was a stunning flyover just like at baseball games!

We had a decent steak dinner at our hotel’s bistro and there Mr. B spotted a sweet little Westie sitting near us.  After a good cry (because I missed our dear Westie, Maggie) I finally pulled myself together to go and meet her and her parents.  They were both from Glasgow but had been living in England for the last 40 years  His accent reminded me so much of my Grandad John.  

                                        Goodbye Poppy and I hope we meet again soon!

The Lake District

 

We found ourselves in Near Sawrey this morning visiting Beatrix Potters home.  She had a dominating mother and at the age of 39 she found out that her little children's books had made her a wealthy woman so she was able to purchase this home & farm in the Lake District. 

 

Just guess who I found in her garden?  Mr. McGregor!

 

There was an apple tree there that was over 100 years old and the above bee box in the garden. 

 

We walked by a lot of Herdwick sheep that are an old variety of sheep from North England. Beatrix brought them back into popularity here. 

 

And here is a great name for the cottages around here "Bend or Bump".  Most places have signs to "mind your head" due to low ceilings or entryways. 

Next we headed to Hawkshead to see the National Trust Museum of her drawings.  Spectacular!

 

We are staying on Lake Windermere but we drove over to Lake Coniston to take a ride on the steam gondola. It was raining and cool so we did the next best thing.....

  

Mr. B drank Old Mans Ale and I had a glass of wine in the covered outdoor Bluebell Cafe and we watched the boats go by & the children play.  Cheers!

Word of the Day -----

 

Meaning?

....the road crew is taking out the reflector bumps in the middle of the road!  Of course!