Rickerby Grange Country House, Portinscale to The Elleray, Windermere
2 buses to cover the 30 miles
"Travel teaches toleration". Benjamin Disraeli
I feel that I typically am a very tolerant person and respect other cultures and customs. Traveling across England has reminded me of how similar this country is to my own, America, and yet, how a bit different. The people here are not quite the same as at home. Just because we speak the same language, sort of, hard to understand some accents, and physically there are similarities, this is a different country.
Today while attempting to eat a chicken and mushroom pastry on a bench by Lake Windermere something happened that I didn't quite tolerate. A very Large, White, SWAN, with an ankle bracelet, came and stood directly in front of me. At first it was exciting as I took photos, then it kept standing and staring at me from about two feet away. Swan began to edge closer looking at my meal. Lois began to say things like "back, back up swan". Swan didn't budge. Finally held up a trekking pole as a barrier between us. I was getting prepared to stab swan if it came any closer. Lois lost her tolerance with a beautiful white bird. Soon a Japanese couple came and thought Swan so adorable and began taking their own photos. Lois used the opportunity to escape bird fierceness.
Japanese. Windermere is over flowing with bus loads of Japanese. Sidewalks streaming with Japanese tourists. All with expensive cameras with gigantic lenses. It was hot here today, but many of the foreign visitors must have felt it was chilly as they were wearing plaid cashmere scarves (newly purchased). Many others of the Japanese women had beautifully colored parasols held over their heads. Those were Not umbrellas but objects of art.
Caught a bus in Keswick (walk the 1.5 miles from B&B into town) in front of the Booths supermarket, to Ambleside. Thought I would do one last walk, amble about while still in the Lake District between Ambleside and Windermere. When I got off the bus realized my knee was hurting, and I was tired. Headed out of town towards the path up to the small mountain, but turned back. Just didn't have the will to do it. Caught another bus and rode the 5 miles to Windermere.
Arrived too early to check in at the B&B so decided to give it a try going down the hill on the sidewalk to Bowness-on-Windermere a touristy town at the bottom of the hill, and on the shores of Lake Windermere which is 18 miles long. Today the lake was almost covered with boats of every type from simple rowboats, wooden canoes, steamers, sailboats, sculling boats for 8 rowers (they seem to be having lessons), standup paddle boards, etc.
Across the lake up in the hills somewhere is where Beatrix Potter had lived and did all her famous drawings and wrote the books about Peter and his friends. There are numerous stores here catering specifically to her, along with a sort of museum, and an "attraction" called The World of Beatrix Potter". Maybe that is what the Japanese have come to see and not the fantastic Fells.
Met a tiny pet being carried by its human mother who lives locally. Had never seen that type of animal before. It was a Tanuki, also called a racoon dog. Native to Japan (ha ha), Siberia and China. It made a little squeaky noise when I stroked its nose. Learned it doesn't bark like a dog, just squeaks.
As I was writing this blog entry, while lounging on the bed in my room on the 2nd floor (here called the 1st floor as the lower level is the "ground" floor and not the 1st floor), the window is wide open (hot here) and a tour bus went by below, the double decker kind, and a person with a microphone was describing the sites "and this is the center of Windermere...." traffic stalled and I looked out into the street below - the bus was full of Japanese.
Happy Father's Day to all the various fathers in my extended life, but especially to Gary, the Super Hero Father to so many. Much love and appreciation to you!
"It is good to have a end to a journey, but it is the journey that matters, not the end." Ursula K. Le Guin
This has been a great journey, but I am ready to go home in 3 days. Manchester tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment