Southward bound with a stop in Leicester to visit Lesley. Enjoyed a nice walk around Foxton Canal and enjoyed watching the long boats go through the series of locks.
And then another most delicious Indian dinner.
Onward to Dorset via the Fosse way.
Author Archives: Chris
My beautiful and diverse homeland (6)
Our last day in Yorkshire and on the moors. Another perfect day which ended with a visit to Whitby Abbey and a picnic on the headland overlooking the North Sea.
Good old British grub!
Into Whitby to the Humble Pie ‘n’ Mash Shop for dinner!!! Oh! My!
.. And as we stepped outside with full tummies and a wonderful feeling of well-being, we noticed the invitation on the bench.
My beautiful and diverse homeland (5)
Being in the boonies in Ruswarp, we drove over to Whitby to meet T&D after breakfast. The tide was out again and we enjoyed the huge expanse of sand and I even paddled a little in the brisk North Sea.
We all piled into our little Fiat 500 and set off up the coast to Staithes, one of the few fishing harbors on this part of the coast. A quaint and lovely little place.
From there inland onto the moors and unintentional getting lost, but loving it! We found our way out though, but discovered a Sunday afternoon cricket match and some beautiful vistas. And did I mention a pub? For a brew!
My beautiful and diverse homeland (4)
The drive from Durham to Whitby was short in miles (as the crow flies) , but we made a few diversions. First stop in Redcar and a walk on the endless beach which was also enjoyed by many dogs and their owners – they, the dogs, made us smile and miss Lucy.
Maerske by the Sea, from where Dennis’s great-grandfather emigrated to the U.S.
Ruswarp – where we are staying – a couple of miles from Whitby. We enjoyed the country walk along the river into town and back . Met up with Tom and Doris for fish and chips at the #1 fish & chip place in the UK! Whitby was crazy busy! Saturday night at the height of summer!!!
My beautiful and diverse homeland (3)
We left Ecclefechan, after tromping around overgrown cemeteries trying to decipher the inscriptions on the stones, for another picturesque and beautiful drive eastwards.
Our first stop was Holtwhistle – the geographical center of Great Britain. Hmm! If Scotland secedes that will all have to be reconfigured! Anyway, another charming little town.
Hadrian’s wall – I’ve always wanted to see it. We followed it east.
Next stop Hexham – on the spur of the moment to see if we could find a cobbler to repair my beloved gladiator sandals. Success! They will probably last me another several years. What a gem of a town though – very medieval and an amazing abbey in the center (c.673).
Our destination, Durham, another place that’s been on my list. Our B&B a couple of miles out of town – very nice – but Durham itself is beautiful with the castle and cathedral in the town center, and River Wear bisecting. The cathedral is huge and absolutely beautiful as well as being an architectural and engineering feat in the 11th century. Oh! And I forgot to mention the delicious Indian dinner!
On the Carlyle trail – tracking down our heritage
Tom, my brother, and I are having a terrific time (our spouses also, but to a lesser degree?) visiting little hamlets, church yards, and castles that are mentioned in documentation of our strain of the Carlyle family.
Our first stop today was Torthorwald (pronounced here “Torthorwool”) where one of our great-great, etc. grandfathers was First Lord of Torthorwald, and lo and behold we found his castle! We were unable to see the inside of the church, where supposedly there is a stone with a cross-flory and sword built in.
Onward to the lovely little town of Annan and to the museum where we came acrOss the book “The Carlyle Country” by J.M. Sloan (edited by Mary Hollern) which we promptly bought.
Next stop Hoddom Castle, the birth place of a number of ancestors, which is in better condition that Torthorwlad, but the estate and castle are now used as a caravan site – a lovely one at that!
Our final destination – Ecclefechan, from where all this Carlyle madness radiates! We are staing at The Carlyle House, which turns out is directly across the street from the house where the famous Thomas Carlyle lived. By the way, The Carlyle House is amazing – an exquisitely restored Georgian home.
A jaunt to the local pub – The Ecclefechan Inn – brought us into conversation with Joe, the publican. He spotted the afore mentioned book laying on one of our tables and exclaimed that he knows Mary Hollern and asked if we’d like to meet her! Wow! This could be leading somewhere in helping us solve the problem of linking our great-great, etc. Robert, his son Odard to Crinan (back in the 1000’s). Joe promptly called Mary and arranged for her to meet us at 7!!!
Over to the church yard to look for headstones we went, but it was way to hot, the sun at the wrong angle and we will return in the morning!
My beautiful and diverse homeland (2)
A glorious day spent driving around the coast of Solway Firth and visiting little villages and small towns. A walk between Rockcliffe and Kippford; Kirkcudbright (pronounced Kirkcoodbree), Castle Douglas, Beeswing, and New Abbey. The area home to the belted Galloway cattle
Dinner at The Steamboat Inn in Carsethorn with a delicious assortment of fresh seafood.
Rockliffe to Kippford
Kirkcudbright
New Abbey
My beautiful and diverse homeland (1)
The Lake District and across the border to Dumfries area and Solway Firth. A traditional B&B – The Old Shop in Carsethorn – with view of the estuary. 10.30 p.m. And still light outside! Great pub food! Good to be back on this side of the Atlantic:) Oh! And did I say we have an adorable Fiat 500 rental car)
More fun times in Belfast with the Dutch….
We are so happy to have Agnita, Henk and the girls here again (before they return to Amsterdam:(
It was especially festive with the Arts in the Park weekend, being on the waterfront and all the activities surrounding the visit of the Lynx, and celebrating their 20th anniversary.
(The) Lost Kitchen .. Debut dinner in Freedom on July 4
Erin French, proprietor, decorator, hostess, and cook is an artiste! Her restaurant officially opened with a 5-course meal in the beautifully renovated Freedom Mill, and it was flawless! Each item on the table had been carefully thought out, and each course lovingly prepared using the freshest of ingredients and cooked to perfection. I can’t wait it go back!
They are back on the east coast
Kat, Ian, Peter, Greyson, Colby, Lincoln and Moxie arrived back in Maine on Friday night – after three-and-a-half years absence. It’s good to have them here for a couple of weeks before they move to New Jersey.
