Look what happened now...
Ready, Set, Jet!
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It's September and it's time to make the crossing again. I was whining and crying about leaving the UK - but the cruise was lovely. We had a wonderful time. The seas were smooth, the food was great and service is always top notch with Cunard. This was our 3 trip to date sailing with them. Read about the first trip here and our trip in January here. We have made the crossing with other cruise lines, and each has its perks. But for overall calmness Cunard wins hands down. I just like to be left alone- let me lie in the sun, gamble or read. I don't need constant stimulation - I want to relax for God's sake. This voyage we sailed from Southampton (UK) to New York City (USA). We lazed out and ate take out while in Southampton. #GoodTimes And didn't do much else. The cruise terminal is very organized and there is very little "stand up/wait in line/move one foot and stand in line" like some places I've been. We arrived, dropped bags, checked in, went through security and then boarded. Easy Peasy. We pushed off and were on our way. Steady sailing to New York. I walked 2 miles every day and then enjoyed just being on deck. The closer we sailed to American the warmer the weather. See you at the airport-
*Warning* Picture Heavy Post For Part 1 Click here. We had a more than a full day exploring the Lakes in Cumbria, England late last July. The day was overcast, so some of the pictures are a bit dull and gray. The area is beautiful and for it to be July, the crowds were manageable, "The Lake District, also known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous for its lakes, forests and mountains (or fells) and its associations with the early 19th century writings of William Wordsworth and the other Lake Poets. Historically split between Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, the Lake District is now entirely in Cumbria. All the land in England higher than three thousand feet (914.4 m) above sea level lies within the National Park, including Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England. It also contains the deepest and longest lakes in England, Wastwater and Windermere." - from Wiki People were sitting, walking and just enjoying the view. It was nice to get away from everything and just be there. We pushed on and went to visit more of the lakes, the Slate Mine and more iconic areas. It is a lot to see in one day. I suggest at least a three day weekend. Then you can take your time and really enjoy yourself. While driving around in the fells - My friend got car sick. Many very small roads (which are very curvy); with drop offs and amazing views = the need to get out or be sick in the car. UGH! You also have to remember that New Orleans in below sea level and this was a big change for her.
We stopped on this stretch of road because there was a car park for people hiking/climbing the mountains and I was starting to feel a bit ill too. We go out of the car and just walked around a bit. The view was amazing and everything was so green. I took these pictures of the mountains and the sheep and then a man arrived on a ATV with his sheep dog. I was lucky be there at the right time to watch him round up the sheep off the steep mountains and bring them down. I had heard about such, but never saw it before. (It's the same/different from what cow dogs do in Texas.) It was amazing to watch the dog work and take its cues from his verbal commands. The sheep were brought down quickly and safely. They made it look very easy. To be honest there will be a few things I will miss...Others NOT SO MUCH! This has been quite an experience! Let's see what have I learned and what will I miss? So it all comes down to friendship and chocolate!
See you at the airport- Thursday we board the QM2 in Southampton. (Yes, that's a picture of the Queen Victoria - but it's MY picture I took in January. If you want to read about the January cruise click here.)
But back to me being SUPER EXCITED! WooHOO! See you on deck? Yesterday we left for Southampton. I still have so much to do and honestly I think I'm dragging my feet because I'm not ready to leave northern England yet. I really like it here. I made some really good friends and still have so much I want to see and do! But between Visa issues and projects I MUST attend to in the states - its time to return to the U.S. :( The plan was to prebook a taxi to take us to train station in Penrith. Between traveling to Glastonbury, Glasgow and Inverness I have spent more time at this station than I have anywhere else. (Click to read if you missed any of those picture heavy posts.) Our village (very quaint and lovely has no train station or local cab company. So that was arranged days before. At the appointed time I moved our bags out in the alley, (remember I sent via courier most of the bags on to the hotel?) and waited for taxi, that didn't show up. He did call and say he could not find me. But he did offer to wait for me at the cross roads at the top of the hill, if I could please find him and then he would drive me back to house to pick up bags...ok sounds good. Off I go.. Run to top of hill.. No taxi. Hmm run back down and try next hill (These are steep hills too, people) and still no taxi. At this point I return to the house to see if he has noticed luggage piled up and driven there. Nope. Attempt to call him. Call fails... Run back to cross roads - no cab- Cuss self for not jogging more often...catch breath and start again. Run down the other hill to the store. Ask if he had stopped there looking for me? It's a long shot, I know, but my cousin from Washington state did that in Texas (a town of 7,000 + people) and stopped at a random store and asked, "Do you know Sarah? I'm not sure what her surname is?" And of course someone in the store replied, "Tall women with long hair?" Because that's just life, right? But my British cabby didn't stop and ask at the store. (They know me there too. How many women from Texas who have Canadian accents can live in a village of 800?) See part of the problem is nothing in the village has a house number, so gps will not work. Everything is named and the names are really all similar. He was on wrong cross roads! He found me and we loaded up the cab with our bags and off we went! After waiting a bit for road construction we made it to the train station with plenty of time to spare. (I took all this in to consideration when I planned my time line.) You never know in rural #England if there are going to be sheep on the road or what.... After a few mishaps and a couple of delayed/changed trains we made it around 11:30 pm to our hotel. #Success!
So look for me in Southampton for a few days and then we start the journey to USA. See you at the airport~ I'm spending this week packing, saying goodbyes and tying up loose ends. So many people here have asked when I will return? I made so many friends and had so much fun! I'm so sad to leave. Picked up rail tickets and then off to have a lovely lunch with my newest Australian friends. We met up at the Narrowbar in Penrith. I took no photos because we were too busy eating and catching up. Saying Goodbye always sucks! We all promised to write and stay in touch. They are so kind! I feel like I've known them for years, already. And then home for a nap. (Do I know how to live or what?) I am exhausted from the stress of leaving, I think. It's still just under a week, but so much to do! My friends in the USA are sending VIBER texts and emails - trying to arrange meet-ups already. (I feel the love, trust me I'm not complaining.) Oh yeah, there is work too. My office here looks like a hurricane hit it! But Im gonna spend the rest of the evening enjoying the plants and reading.
*Warning* Another picture heavy post! On one afternoon, in late July, my buddy from New Orleans and I sat off to explore some of the small villages around us. We walked around Kirkoswald 1st. This is the same village I visited for Market days and blogged about HERE. It was raining that visit too. Err, this doesn't really look like a church? I think we made a wrong turn and ended up in someone private yard. Opps! Lazenby (pronounced Laz-on-bee) was a prehistoric town. It's name is thought to come from a more recent Norse word, "Leisingbi" meaning the village of the freedman or a man called Leising, around 900 AD. Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Normans all had influence over the village and its development. (From the leaflet shown in photo.)
I left the northwest of England (north of Manchester - see the map) and headed down to Glastonbury to fetch my friend from her retreat. The plan was to spend the night at a B & B, fetch her and then go over and see my oldest, dearest friends in England, (They live a bit south of Glastonbury), spend one night with them and take the train back home. I took a train most of the way down and then a bus. I was beat by the time I made I arrived. I cabbed to my B & B..which turned out to be only a couple of blocks away. LOL the charge was only 3 pounds sterling and the driver didn't even want to charge me that. But my phone was not cooperating, I was wet from being out in the rain and more than ready for a warm shower and bed, so it was MORE THAN worth 3 pounds to me. #Win We had a wonderful supper and a great visit. The next day he kindly drove us to the train station and we were off again. We returned to Penrith to visit and set up the next leg of our journey. We ended up making 3 trips to Scotland there are here, here and here. We also visited the Lakes and did some other side trips if you missed them. It was a very busy 3 weeks! More English adventures posted up soon~
See you at the airport- I haven't had a random day for months, I feel like I've been too busy to even catch my breathe lately. I worked, but took some time to edit posts, respond to kind emails, yell at companies that aren't so kind, took a walk, etc. You know Random stuff. Went through the hundreds of pictures taken at Saint Anne's and managed to end up with 50+ for a blog post. (Click here if you missed it.) And still had time to catch up on Ray Donavon. #WIN And started this new tag #Msonetravels maybe it will separate my travel pictures/post from the rest of the carp I put on line? So that was just a random day. Today will be anything BUT. I have a new adventure about to begin at the end of the month and more travel planned. I'm excited to see old friends and meet up with new ones face to face. August is my birthday month and usually sucks badly, but since July sucked I'm so hoping this will be a great month. Actually it's already been better and we are only a few days in. #AnotherWin Now I'm off for tea and cakes with a new friend. I intent on avoiding all evil sheep on the way to tea.
See you at the airport- |
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