The Magic of the Lake District
After reading an article on England’s Lake District in 1999, I put it on my bucket list. It took me more than a decade to visit, but so worth the wait!
This place has enchanted many creatives, especially writers, including John Cunliffe, Beatrix Potter, Arthur Ransome, John Ruskin, Alfred Wainwright, and William Wordsworth — to name a few.
“The gulfs of Borrodaile!—My soul delights
In these drear deserts. Now methinks a sense
Of something mightier than the common world
Runs trembling through the heart. A spirit born
Of mountain solitudes and sights sublime,
Of earth and sky, and the wild-wandering air,
Is present here.”
Scenes from Lake Windermere:
Windermere is the largest natural lake in the Lake District and in England, stretching 10.5 to 11.2 miles in length.
Maybe part of the magic is the mist that drifts across the valleys and into the hills? Moody, brooding, and adding mystery.
With the abundance of mist and moisture in the air, gardens offer a wealth of flowers and greenery.
The stacked stone buildings complement the landscape splendidly.
It was around this time that I started editing my photographs. Though I was still using my Nikon D700. At first, I used iPhoto. I’m a Mac Lover. Everything Apple. I would discover Lightroom in a few years.
One “had to” stop was at Beatrice Potter’s farmhouse, Hill Top. It was the inspiration for many of her books. Fittingly, I spotted a rabbit in the yard.
The best fish ‘n chips I’ve ever tasted was from a takeaway chippie in Windermere, The Little Chippie. I’m pleased to say it’s still there! Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside. Perfect!
I had rented a car because the train to the bus station and transfers seemed complicated. I may as well stop in Liverpool, which meant The Beatles! I booked a tour that hit all of the must see sights.
The Beatles put The Cavern on the map, playing here 274 times. The original club was demolished in 1973. But it was rebuilt using the same dimensions and some of the same bricks.
Yesterday
All my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday…
Where am I now? You can find me on Blue Sky.