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Location: Blogs Simon and Melody's Blog |
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| Posted by: supersi |
Friday, August 25, 2006 |
The other weekend we took a couple days off work to head up to cottage country. Well, actually it’s called the “Lake District”, but if you can imagine a mountainous version of Muskoka then you’ve got the idea. All the land in England higher than three thousand feet above sea level lies within the Park. But with a 6 hour drive it’s more like going for a weekend in Timmins than Muskoka. Funny how that drive takes us half way up the length of the country here, whereas in Ontario, man you’re just passing the first moose crossing! (Ontario is 1000 miles long).
The Lake District is renowned for its beautiful scenery, and we did get to see just how lovely England is. The weather was decidedly as English as the countryside, but thankfully it did clear up half way through. Apparently the climate in this region is the wettest and most unpredictable in all of England. We stayed at a B&B just outside the national park, and if you’re looking for a place to stay there, Sue and Fred can certainly take care of you! I have been wanting to taste a top notch England breakfast, and Sue certainly delivered. Sausages, bacon, eggs, tomato… kept us going until mid-afternoon.
We started our second day with a hike around Lake Buttermere, and when we returned to our car two hours later, we found that it had adopted a flock of sheep. The sheep are resident everywhere you go in Cumbria, and they seemed to have taken it for a big, black mother sheep. There were about 10 of them sitting and sleeping beside the car. I think the car was getting a bit nervous that they all had milk on their minds. Ouch! Get away from my tailpipe!
Probably the highlight was driving up to the Kirkstone Pass. You start at Wast Water valley, where the mountain rises up out of the lake and looks something like the entrance to the Mines of Moria. You then drive several miles up winding road on the side of the mountain. When you finally get to the top, you can explore the ruins of an ancient Roman fortress and get a breathtaking view of the valley below. We also visited Lake Windermere and drove through some of the more touristy towns. They were all very nice, but quite crowded.
With a six hour drive I don’t think you’ll find us in the “rush to cottage country” that describes those heading north out of Toronto every summer weekend. But, definitely worth the visit!
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Re: Cumbria Cottage Country |
By Anonymous on
Wednesday, September 06, 2006 |
Simon,
I clearly picture you as becoming a country squire. dressed in riding pants and crop in hand. Out exercising the horses on the weekend. Evenings by the fire with a pipe. Maybe a fox hunt now and then, loyal hounds by your side... |
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Re: Cumbria Cottage Country |
By Anonymous on
Sunday, September 17, 2006 |
| Six hours only gets you to Englehart. It's another couple to TImmins! |
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Re: Cumbria Cottage Country |
By supersi on
Sunday, September 17, 2006 |
| I suppose I should know that... I once drove from Sarnia to Timmins in one day! :) I think for Darrell and Wendy's wedding. |
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