Ulverston May 21

 

After breakfast at the Park Plaza Hotel, we crossed the street to the train station. Information helped us find the right platform for Ulverston. We had about a 2 hour trip on the Northern Rail to Lancaster. At Lancaster we had 10 minuets to cross the tracks to take the Transpiennes Express to Ulverston. After a 35 Minute ride, we hoisted our packs to our shoulders and walked up to our Bed and Breakfast at St. Mary Mount.

Keeping alert

 

Who are my friends?

 

We introduced ourselves to Jerry Bobbett who showed us to our cleverly refurbished attic room where gladly left our packs.

Jerry recommended The Farmers Pub for sustenance. We enjoyed a delicious lunch of mushrooms in a spicy Indian sauce and stir fried vegetables over rice washed down with a pint each. The food was excellent.

 

St. Mary Manor

 

Attic room watch your head

 

 

A toast, hope we will make it

 

Joan is always first

 

After lunch we decided to find the beginning of the Cumbria Way. It is a good idea to take a little walk after a scrumptious meal. We wanted to see what the Cumbria Way markings looked like. Of course we didn't bring the instructions. We found the shinny brand new initial 3 inch circular medallian without difficulty. We followed its lead. Maybe it was the beer at lunch. We walked and walked until we met two lovely women that told us we were way off the track. You can see by the pictures that what we missed was a crack in the wall that led to the fields we were to walk across. If only we had read the instructions. We did learn one important point. I will have to protect the directions from rain while reading them and checking them off. This will disallow the use of walking poles. Not markers but descriptive directions will make the walk much slower. I will be reading out load and Joan will be looking while the rain descends. We can't wait. Oh for the yellow arrows of the Caminos of Spain.

 

Statue of the Way

 

Approaching the Start

 

The start of the Cambrian Way

 

The Squeeze through the wall

 

 

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Leeds Day One May 20

The start of the day found us once again eating. Our "English Breakfast" turned out to be a buffet, including meats and eggs breads and fruits. There were baked beans and cheeses and a variety of cereal and yogurt.

We then walked up to the shopping district which is quite close to the hotel. We went to the Leeds Minster. This is a Church of England. We were fortunate enough to meet the Virgil. He is in charge of everything to do with the church. He gave us the background of both the church and Leeds it self. Some interesting facts are: churches are generally built at the crossroads of rivers. The church has a service to embroider or cross stich the sitting pads that the individual or business designs for a cost. This particular church costs 28 pounds an hour for maintenance. Its stain glass in the nave was from the 15 th century while the rest of the church's glass was from the 18 th century. He recommended that we visit the oldest church which is St Johns the Evangelist. It is 350 years old.

On our walk we met a couple that stopped to talk and point out the beautiful archades we should see.

The Search is on

 

Display is Important

We also met a Charming woman named Claire who was surveying those who rode bikes as to making improvements of road ways around Leeds Center. It seems there is a big push to get people running and or cycling to improve health. The government is putting in marked running paths and bicycle lanes and trying to get feedback. All in all we had a very full morning and unlike Spain Stuart got to talk and ask questions.

Claire, Very Pleasant Woman

 

Joan found Malcolm who knew on the fourth floor there was a John. He kindly opened the door for her.

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York to Leads May 19

 

We started our day with a smaller English breakfast. They apologized profusely that they would be unable to offer eggs. What is an English Breakfast without eggs. The regular cook, a lovely 24 year old man, had a day off; and, the other cook did not know how to turn the stove on to cook the eggs. It was not a bother to us, because there were so many other dishes to chose from. It did cause a stir with a few of the other quests. Quite a fuss over.

The after breakfast plan, to work off the most delicate croissant I have ever eaten, of course with more butter and marmalade, was to walk for two and a half hours along the river paths including one section of city wall. It was sunny and warm.

 

 

 

 

Vincent promptly arrived at noon to drive us to Leeds. At lunch Vincent made a comment that those who share part of a camino to Santiago, become supportive friends for a life time. He sure proved it to us. On his day off with an evening wedding planned, he picked up two friends, Tim and Barbara who were part of his Ryan Air fraternity, drove two hours to pick us up in York, drove us 1.5 hours to Leeds and then treated us to a spectacular fine restaurant meal. Vincent we owe you big time. Just get on a plane with Mona and fly to San Francisco. What a show we will put on for you. Though the lighting is way off for a more flattering set of pictures, they must be included. Tim is a retired Ryan Air pilot teaching part time as a simulator instructor. His flying stories were very entertaining. Barbara is a retired stewardess

Tim and Barbara

Vincent is in the left background. He is an active Ryan Air Pilot

Again many thanks Vincent...

 

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York Day Two May 18

It is a beautiful Sunday. We have chosen to visit two Museums. The Yorkshire museum houses both archaeological and geological finds. This museum tells the story of York from prehistory to the cities medevil times. It has both. Interactive galleries to AV shows. The museum is surrounded by beautiful gardens that stretch down to the river and encompass archaeological walls and structures. It was a lovely sunny day so the garden was a perfect place to picnic and enjoy the sun

 

 

 

 

Of the York Castle Museum, Rick Steve's says the visit is "The Closest Thing to a Time-Tunnel Experience." The street mock-up had sounds of horse and carriages and the odor of horses!
Visiting the prison cells where in one 7 died of asphyxiation! 40,000 over time were incarcerated. 50% were found not guilty, 500 put to death and the rest were sent to either Australia or America
Your imagination was continually challenged. How could present day men and women live like they.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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York Day One May 17

The first night of sleep following body and mind adjusting to time zone travel is restless with long early hours of reading and napping.

At 0730, our first breakfast was a typical English breakfast, egg, bacon, sausage, blood pudding, tomatoes and mushroom. Cereals, fruit, yohgart, juice, croissant, toast, butter and jam. It is now 1600 and we are still full.

Endless Breakfast

We walked to the tourist information office and purchased a walking map of York. Being of ancient origins the centre city is surrounded by walls along which you can walk between the grandly constructed entrance gates. We just happen to arrive at the red hop on hop off bus stop. We hoped on and took the city tour. This has always been the first activity of arriving in a city that has these buses. The upper deck seats provide excellent visibility.

From the Red Hop on Hop off

The railroad museum is one of the finest in the world. The age of steam stands out as an era of romance and travelling grander. A picture of the engine. The coal stocker had to shovel a ton of coal an hour to keep this beauty travelling well over an hundred miles per hour.

 

The Mallard, holds world speed record for a steam engine

This map shows the center city streets. Narrow and much like they were in times past - of course many, many pubs. The orange line follows the wall. The city is surrounded on three sides by two rivers. The small cluster of gray-purple streets make up the old center of York.

 

York, City map

 

Joan walking the wall

Joan shambling down Shambles Street, yesterday's meat market

 

Hundreds enjoying the Bars along the river

The River, Ouse

Settling?

when was the wood added?

Still standing

 

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York Arrival May 16

 

We planned on walking to the bus stop in time to hop on the 1645 bus to the San Francisco Airport. We waited 45 minutes. Fearing we had made an interpretive error of the bus schedule, we called our dear friend, Mary Joyce, who without hesitation, offered to pick us with the stipulation, if the bus came, we would take it. Of course, the bus arrived first.

Thank you Mary!

I checked with a fellow retiree, a fine English Chap, John Searles, the best course to take once landing at Heathrow. We followed his advice to activate our Britrail pass at the airport, take the express train to Paddington, take the underground to Kings Cross and finally load ourselves onto a fast train to York.

There is no way he could prepare us city neophytes with the huge dimension of a very big city transportation network. I was fortunate to speak the language. I just kept asking questions of everyone. When the train to York came up on the leaderboard and the platform 6 announced the rush was on. We just joined in and passed all the first class coaches to gain two seats near the foodbar..

I am writing this while speeding through fields painted with spring yellow flowers. Upon arrival in York we will walk to our hotel, whose tariff was greatly reduced, by applying air miles. If you find your hotel through the united airline web site, you can slide an indicator that reduces the dollar costs as it increases the mileage points. The hotel is the Marmadukes hotel 4-5 St. Peter's grove. Very fancy. We will stay in York for three nights.

Upon settling into our hotel we were informed the best fish and chips were served at The Old Star Inn on Seagate Street. A suggestion to the older wanderers who haven't been physically active during the day: buy one meal and share it. Just look at Joan's portion!

York is a must see city. For the next two days we will traipse around the back allies. The breathtaking Cathedral took 250 years to build and contains England's greatest concentration of medieval stained glass. more tomorrow

 

Too much for one

Must start somewhere. cheers to All

York Minster. magnificent from any angle

Bootham Bar entry to the City

The bed the size of the room or visa versa

morning breakfast, snacks before the main course

Chow Hound

Common Room Marmadukes

 

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Our Bags are Packed and We Are Ready to Go...

Tomorrow we will take the 1600 bus to the San Francisco airport. We are flying United Airlines direct to London. Upon arrival, we will activate our BritRail pass, navigate through London and hop on the train to York arriving around 1900. A shower, sheets and a good night's sleep will bring us back from a tiring trip.

We plan to spend three nights in York. Our friend, Vincent Obrien, has graciously volunteered to drive us to Leeds where we will share a meal and catch up. Vinney walked part of the Camino Frances with us. A picture of us can be found at caminowalkabout.blogspot.com. I will add a picture to this page after we get together.

From Leeds, we will take the train to Ulverston for an over night before starting the walk along the Cumbria Way.

We will add tot his Blog as WiFi permits. Thanks for joining us.

 

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