This was the day that we had to say goodbye to four of our favorite pilgrims – Bettina, Rachel, David & Holly. We enjoyed an early morning walk around Rutland Waters, visiting with the local sheep, dogs and dog walkers. Breakfast was excellent according to Holly, who enjoyed a rather sizeable chocolate muffin with a ‘delicious fudge center’. We put our home-bound travelers into a taxi bound for the Oakham train station where they took a train, another cab and another train before making it to the airport and their flight.
Meanwhile, back on the coach, we took the majority of the day to drive the 225 miles or so north to our destination of Wooler, which is in Northumberland (a name that I find very entertaining to hear the locals pronounce). While we watched the countryside zip along by, we saw a LOT of the yellow fields that I am now certain inspired the Sting song ‘Fields of Gold’. I even got out and got into the middle of one of these fields (it is called rape and is used to make rapeseed oil) to check it out up close. The flowers put off a kind of damp and earthy smell and a ton of pollen, so I was spreading a bit of golden sunshine for a while after the field romp.
Lunchtime was a nice break in the day with the required pub lunch experience complete with the local soccer (ahem, football in this part of the world) on the telly. No lunch is complete without at least 1 scoop of Thorton’s ice cream, and then back onto the coach for a couple more hours.
We arrived in Wooler early enough to get a great view of the Cheviot Hills which are the natural boundary between England and Scotland and also to take a long run (I’ve got to work that ice cream habit off somehow!) I was directed to take a spin up a trail that is great for runners and hikers according to a local English couple. As the cute little man said to me, “It’s a bit of an uphill at first.” Try 1 ½ miles of sheer incline to the point that I thought I might need oxygen! When I came back down about 30 minutes later, the woman asked me, “How did you like it dearie?” Five bucks (or ten pounds) says that they were splitting their sides laughing after I left!
It is a bit quiet without Schnoogs, the kids and Bettina, so we are all adjusting to the new dynamic in our group. Tomorrow is the much anticipated trip to Lindesfarne and Bamburgh; you will have to check in them to find out why all the hype and excitement!
Meanwhile, back on the coach, we took the majority of the day to drive the 225 miles or so north to our destination of Wooler, which is in Northumberland (a name that I find very entertaining to hear the locals pronounce). While we watched the countryside zip along by, we saw a LOT of the yellow fields that I am now certain inspired the Sting song ‘Fields of Gold’. I even got out and got into the middle of one of these fields (it is called rape and is used to make rapeseed oil) to check it out up close. The flowers put off a kind of damp and earthy smell and a ton of pollen, so I was spreading a bit of golden sunshine for a while after the field romp.
Lunchtime was a nice break in the day with the required pub lunch experience complete with the local soccer (ahem, football in this part of the world) on the telly. No lunch is complete without at least 1 scoop of Thorton’s ice cream, and then back onto the coach for a couple more hours.
We arrived in Wooler early enough to get a great view of the Cheviot Hills which are the natural boundary between England and Scotland and also to take a long run (I’ve got to work that ice cream habit off somehow!) I was directed to take a spin up a trail that is great for runners and hikers according to a local English couple. As the cute little man said to me, “It’s a bit of an uphill at first.” Try 1 ½ miles of sheer incline to the point that I thought I might need oxygen! When I came back down about 30 minutes later, the woman asked me, “How did you like it dearie?” Five bucks (or ten pounds) says that they were splitting their sides laughing after I left!
It is a bit quiet without Schnoogs, the kids and Bettina, so we are all adjusting to the new dynamic in our group. Tomorrow is the much anticipated trip to Lindesfarne and Bamburgh; you will have to check in them to find out why all the hype and excitement!
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