Day two in the Lakes: Rydal Mount

To get warmed up on my first full day in the Lake District, I decided to walk to Rydal Mount, Wordsworth's home for nearly 40 years before his death in 1850. As I set out, in tennis shoes, I thought the ice was likely to be a problem. I moved from cleared sidewalks to roads to paths as I could, trying to avoid the slickest areas and get a good walk in too.

Some cool buildings in Ambleside. Once I got outside town on the Rydal road, I walked until the sidewalk disappeared and then followed a woman and her dog into a public path to the right. Totally unfamiliar in the snow, but I thought this was the way to take up to Rydal Hall. I asked a group of students hiking the other way, and was told that yes, this was the very path! Always nice to be going in the right direction.

Once on the footpath, the views quickly became spectacular. I could not walk fast because of the ice, and it was probably better at a bit slower pace than I like. Here are a few pics of the walk:

When I reached the walk up to Rydal Hall, I knew I was getting close:

Unfortunately, the hill down from Rydal Hall to Rydal Mount was slicker than the rest of the journey had been. I took a tumble and landed on my backside. No major damage. One fall in a 4-mile hike is not bad, I guess.

After dusting myself off, I continued down the hill and found myself once again at Wordsworth's home. Not as pretty as it was in May of 2005, but it was still nice. I know that no pics are allowed inside, but cell phones make it too easy:

I was particularly drawn to Wordsworth's study, an add-on on the third floor with spectacular views. I can see how he did good work in this place.

As a scholar trying to revive Anna Barbauld's reputation, I could not help snapping the "Wordsworth's Contemporaries" board. Not too many women here. . .

Then I went outside again. I did not attempt the summer house this time. Too much ice. But I got a nice shot of the house and garden on the way out.

On the way back, I saw an Art Yurt (Donna, this would be a perfect place to show your work!).

I also saw (and heard!) a bunch of sheep running to the hay brought by a worker for them. Snow makes grazing hard work!

Finally, I arrived back in Ambleside after a brisk, and mostly injury-free, walk!

Next--a walk to Windermere. . .

In the Lake District!

Well, the problem with a travel blog is every day I don't write something, the backlog of experiences--and pictures--grows. I'll try to catch up a bit today.

On Saturday, I set out from Richmond to journey to the Lakes. I was carrying way too much luggage, including a giant red suitcase that entertained a lot of people along the way (I'm betting. Wait til you hear. . .). I'm afraid my Tube journey was filled with difficult moments--running late, delays, lugging suitcases up and down steps. No pictures. But I can say that a nice man at the Victoria station told me to cross the steps to the left in order to get to Victoria Line train platform 4. So I lugged my suitcases across the bridge, only to see that platforms 1&2 were there. Back across the bridge, and across another one. Platforms 5 and 6. Back to the middle, and lo and behold, platform 4 was right next to platform 3 where I had arrived. If I had ignored the man and walked straight through an opening between platforms, I would have been there! Oh well. The best intentions and all that.

Anyway, I finally arrived at the London Euston station at 1:33. Whoops! My train had just left at 1:30! Luckily National Rail was being kind and said I could use my ticket for the later train at 2:30. So I killed an hour walking around and sitting to rest my now-aching back. At 2:20 or so, my train was ready to board. Again that suitcase! Where to put the darned thing? It is as big as a bus, and it seemed to be as heavy. I finally found a seat and a luggage slot in which the massive bag would fit. Lucky the train was not busy. I had another bag, my backpack, and a heavy coat. Two seats worked out nicely!

Anyway, the train ran on time, and I took a few pics along the way:

As these pics show, this snow was a local phenomenon in the UK. A blizzard in the Western part of the Country, rain and ice slush in London (of course), 8 inches of snow in Ambleside (where I was going), and a mixture of snow-covered and green fields along the way. After a train switch in Lancaster, I soon arrived in Windermere and grabbed a bus to Ambleside. The suitcase was a source of entertainment there for two students from the University of Cumbria (are they hiring?). We talked a bit, and they told me the best bus stop to use.

Finally in Ambleside:

The Gables, where I am staying, is a very pleasant place. But my room makes Red Roof inn rooms look super-spacious. Really. Hardly room to turn around, and no closets or shelves. I finally perched the suitcase on top of a wardrobe to make some room to breathe. Then off to Sheila's Cottage, a restaurant a couple of blocks away where I got a small discount as a Gables resident. Then off to bed. . .

Walk to Ravenscourt Park . . .

In my travels on the Tube, I always liked the sound of the third stop from Richmond: Ravenscourt Park. It sounded pretty elegant and intriguing. So I decided to walk there and take the Tube back. It was about 5 miles out, a good walk, and I expected to see some new places along the way.

I headed out into the deer park first, walking down to the Sheen Gate.

Nice weather, as this pic shows!

Once I got into Sheen, I continued walking toward Mortlake and took a few shots of the shops and buildings along the way:

I crossed the Thames on a railroad bridge, and had to stumble carefully across the tracks to get to the pedestrian path. "Mind the Live Rail." Which ones are live? I jumped nervously over all of them. . .

On the north side of the Thames, I walked along a terraced area that was quite pretty. First green layers, then an actual terrace behind a bunch of housing running down the river.

In those last pics, you can see a cormorant enjoying a meal of fresh fish. The bird reminded me of all the Anahinga we saw in Florida. From Lakes Park to the Thames. . .quite a change of venue.

Once I reached the end of the terrace, I turned up into town, eventually reaching St. Peter's Church as the map said I would.

From there, it was a short walk to the Park itself.

A bit of a disappointment, really, especially after Richmond Park and others I had visited. Oh well. . . The Tube station was right around the corner, and I was soon on my way home.