Reasons for Reasons
I was ‘raised’ – to use a phrase from our American friends – in south Lakeland and it has always remained home. Even though I left to study when I was 18 and didn’t return untill September 2010. A lot of years.
During those interim years I have had a great life, travelled and met some wonderful people and also have a managed to bring up my son fairly successfully. So, it although it was sort of ‘on the plan’, my move back North was not without trepidation.
As part of my ‘self affirmation’ that I had made the right decision I started a Facebook album ‘Reasons To Move North’. This has had wonderful comments from my friends but I never had the courage to make it public. Then recently I went on a Travel Writing Course with Zoe ,and much to my delight and surprise received more affirmation from positive comments on my travel writing. Something else which has always remained strictly within closed leaves.
A mindful review of my first year here followed and I realised that I had had an amazing twelve months. Yes, I have travelled away, but I have also done more here in the North West than I would have previously thought possible. And I have had so many visitors! People like it here! I have become a guide for friends and acquaintances who then spread the word about how wonderful the Lake District is. This led to my providing itineraries for weekends or longer visits. Some I accompanied, others I simply provided a ‘bespoke’ itinerary, with or with accommodation booked.
So, now it’s time to go Global!
And now I have built my own blog I have used my technical, from a previous life in IT, to build one for the Howgill Harriers. If you would like one put together then please contact me for a quote.
Images of Sharp Edge
Great day on Sharp Edge. Great pictures by Shirley Knight to inspire me to go further! Click then double click the pics to see in full view. Enjoy. Words on the day here Camera Check First scramble I will stand Now where What a day! What a view Wow! Take a break Don’t look down Only two points of contact Reflect...
read moreThree Women on a Hill
Apparently, I was told, there is always someone on Sharp Edge, just like there is always someone on Striding Edge. For those of us not quite brave, or mad enough, to venture on to these narrow ledges, I have always thought individuals string along the edge resembled an orderly line of Playmobil. On my last trip up Blencathra last November, in the mist was no exception. There they were, these mad people. If you look very closely you will even see a dog. Well, what a difference a few months and bit of sunshine can make to...
read moreImpressions of Croatia
Austere and grey. Images of a former Yugoslavia I had, from a youthful Euro rail trip, followed by TV images of sniper fire during the conflict of the early 90s. Things have changes. Flights booked Ryanair, accommodation in small hotels and B & Bs. All a bit hit and miss, but mostly turned out well. Ryanair, when there is no thunder, fly to Zadar, from East Midlands. Due to a storm sharing our air space we flew to Pula, hence a seven hour ‘transfer’ by bus to Zadar. Until the search for flights began, I admit to never having heard...
read moreStone Arthur
This hill sits inconveniently off the main Fairfield Horseshoe, so is easy to miss off the ‘big hike’ around, conversely, if like me, you want a fairly short energetic walk one morning then… Park somewhere near Grasmere. It was early on Sunday morning so I managed to park on the side of the road, between the Swan and the Travellers Rest. By the time I got down at around 11.30 all the roadsides were packed. The route begins on a small road by the start of The Swan and soon reaches a gate, pointing one way to Stone Arthur and the other...
read moreKrka National Park
Water, water everywhere! Krka National Park is the second area of magnificent waterfalls created by the movement and depositing of, well, something. Check their website for more detail. After the dearth of life in the Kornati Islands, I was ecstatic to hear and see the birds and be surrounded by vegetation of rainforest proportion. Not such a great ‘hiking are as Plitvice, but well worth a vist. Books used
read moreKornati Islands
‘On the last day of the Creation god desired to crown his work and thus created Kornati Islands out of tears, stars and breath’. So said George Bernard Shaw of this string of, largely uninhabited Islands off the coast of Croatia. Unfortunately the Islands are now almost barren and lifeless due to the ineptitude of various generations. Once forested, few trees now remain. Following the plundering for wood, sheep were rampantly grazed until almost all remaining vegetation was decimated. So if you take a boat trip out to them, as I...
read moreA Tour of Three Towns
After the hike through Paklenica, retreat to the coast for a night in Vinjerac on the Rab peninsula. a tourist day, moving south through some areas still empty and destroyed from the not too distinct fighting, before reaching the coast at Murter Tiny streets with a climate to grow figs. And some houses in need of renovation. Slightly inland to: A mixture of wealth from harboured yachts and a little more attention required. Picturesque streets. and interesting...
read morePaklenica Park
Croatia is beautiful and varied. A walk through the Palklenica National Park, up through the Velik Paklenica Gorge changed from easy to challenging, flat to steep, wooded to rock face. Their was a myriad of wild flowers with bird calls as varied as eagles to cuckoos.
read morePlitvice Waterfalls
Plitvice National Park in Croatia has an eight K string of sixteen lakes link by waterfalls. I haven’t been to any other major waterfall in the world but I was ‘well’ impressed today. This natural phenomena has been created by the movement of calcium rich material pickup by the river and then deposited downstream. This has produced rims which restricts the water, creating the lakes for it to then fall over and repeat the process. Somehow vegetations survives the rapid flow of water and rather than being a destructive force...
read moreStreet Scenes from Zadar
After Ryan air and a 7 hour bus drive, cafe society – food – wine and sunshine – walks will follow. Visit the harbout Look at the tower. See the churches Go through the gates. Lunch by the columns Climb the tower, see the round house. sit by the harbour Visit the shops Hear the bells Look through the windows Smell the flowers Eat the food – Enjoy the...
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