Friday 28 April 2017

A Day Out.

Friend W and I went over to Kirby Lonsdale on the edge of the Lake District today to meet our friends for lunch in the Italian Restaurant there.   It is our first visit this year as we never venture over the high Pennines in Winter.

The weather was lovely as was the countryside.  The horse chestnut trees, their 'candles' just coming into flower, were at their most majestic.

Just to make the journey extra special, here are two  modes of transport we saw on our journey.
The first is a train going over the Ribblehead Viaduct - we pass it so many times on this journey but this is the first time we have actually seen a train on it, albeit  a rather boring example.   The next is this lovely 1915 car, driven along at a stately pace by a gentleman giving smart hand signals.   He looked to be really enjoying the drive.


These outings were usually the ones where the farmer went and had his lunch at the Auction Mart - but this will not happen again.

39 comments:

John Going Gently said...

No, it wont pat.....the grief hits you in waves
Hugs

Terra said...

What fun to see that old car, perfect for the village setting. I find too that when I have happy moments it brings me up short to realize my dear husband is not here to share them.

Rachel Phillips said...

Lovely photos Weave, and John said the rest. x

littlemancat said...

Ah - how it hits! But it's wonderful how you're out and about with such a good group of friends. You're an inspiration.
Mary

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Yes the conker candles are coming out here!

Heather said...

It's still good to see that train crossing the viaduct even if it isn't a steam train! I have little interest in cars as a rule, but vintage ones are rather special - a sight to see.
Glad you are still getting out and about and being well looked after by your friends.x

Yorkshire Pudding said...

I hope that gentleman in the vintage car didn't use a two fingered salute as one of his hand gestures.

Sue said...

I remember the viaduct but never, ever saw a train going across.

Sue in Suffolk said...

I have a long stitch tapestry of a steam train crossing the viaduct, stitched it an age ago but have never seen the real thing.
Lovely to see your photos, keep on keeping on.

donna baker said...

Sounds and looks like a good day Pat.

Anonymous said...

It has all been said in the comments above but I just wanted to add my admiration.
I'm sure that there are many times when you want to close the doors and retreat but you
don't give in to temptation.
Tess must help you as she needs to go out for walks and your friends are all there for you.
As long as you do express your grief sometimes some of the rawness will heal.
As someone said, "You are an inspiration ".

angryparsnip said...

Thank You for the lovely photos.
I so agree with what John said about grief, it comes and goes like waves.

cheers, parsnip and thehamish

Frances said...

Dear Pat, once again I have been treating myself to a catch up of blogs I love to visit, Thank you so much for continuing to post these pictures and words that give us very beautiful impressions of how this particular spring is arriving where you live.

I think I might have missed the post in which you first said you would be moving to the town. Knowing that now as I read about your days and travels around the farm surely give your writing even more beauty.

xo

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

It's good to have happy moments in every day.....You have lovely friends!

Librarian said...

Ribblehead Viaduct is high up on my list of places in Yorkshire I haven't seen yet but really want to see - who knows, maybe it'll work out this year.
I didn't know you call the chestnut blossoms candles, too! My hometown is famous for its many horse chestnut trees, some of them are still from the time the palace was first built in 1704, and when the pink and white "candles" are on the trees, it is quite beautiful.

The Wykeham Observer said...

I hope I'm misunderstanding. You said the farmer made these outings, but they won't happen again. But You can make the outings. I hope you don't rule that out. I'm hopelessly sentimental, please forgive. Phil/Minnesota

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks everyone. Yes, it was a good day yesterday and hopefully it will be a good day today as I collect my new car. I will report in later.

Rachel Phillips said...

Nice to see a goods train on the line. Makes it a real railway.

Tom Stephenson said...

Great viaduct and great car!

mrsnesbitt said...

Hi Pat ooooooooooooh thank you for these photos - I think it's 5 weeks time before we make the very journey as we go over to the Isle of Man via Heysham. We've just got the motorbike MOT'd so we will be in touch xxx Hugs x

Derek Faulkner said...

Great photos and scenery Pat and good luck with the Corsa. You still haven't said what your new home will be like.

Col said...

Thanks for the photos Pat!
We were in Kirkby Lonsdale earlier this month, had lunch at Avanti one day and once at the Sun Inn. We were actually staying in a cottage just outside Wray, but popped into KL twice to pick up some shopping, we like the home made haggis from Dale's butchers.
We were really lucky with the weather too, had an hour sitting at Ruskin's View with a flask of coffee, it was blissful!
It's difficult visiting places which bring back strong memories, but they're happy memories, so...........

thelma said...

Talking of trains Pat, did you see the four generations of trains going into York station last weekend, three belonged to Virgin, but the oldest was of course The Flying Scotsman. It was rather well staged ;)
https://www.yorkmix.com/life/video-16-pix-moment-four-trains-made-railway-history-near-york/

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I think chestnut trees have some of the most beautiful blossoms. I'm excited for your new car, Pat! I love that your villages have curvy, windy, streets. Our towns and villages are built on typical straight grid systems. No charm in that at all. Poignant memories... -Jenn

Gwil W said...

Lovely to see Ribblehead Viaduct and Whernside behind it. Today is the annual Three Peaks of Yorkshire Fell Race an international event attracting hundreds of runners. If you were there now you could watch them running under those arches and climbing Whernside before heading off in the direction of Chapel le Dale and ascending Ingleborough. It's a great thing to see. Determination and grit is required to complete the 23 mile mountain marathon over the two hills mentioned plus Pen-y-Ghent in the time allowed. It's always held on the last weekend in April. One of these days maybe I'll do it . . . I keep telling myself ;)

I think there's a famous painting of the river at Kirkby Lonsdale by Constable. I believe it's the area known locally as Ruskin View. Somebody will correct me if I'm wrong (probably Rachel ;)

Linda Metcalf said...

Heart tugging memories. Beautiful countryside...

Minigranny said...

Lovely Ribblehead viaduct - spent many a happy Sunday up there! So glad that you had a good day out!

Rachel Phillips said...

I only know of Turner going to the Dales to paint, and by train.

Gwil W said...

I never knew that about Turner. He is/was Tom Keating's favourite painter - but definitely not mine.

Beacee said...

Love and prayers x

The Weaver of Grass said...

Rather agree Gwil. I like something a bit bolder - but he was of his age of course.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Ruskin's View indeed Gwil - it is just a short walk from the town centre, through the
churchyard. Lovely view over what I believe is the Lune valley.
My favourite river in that area is the Rawthey, which flows through Sedbergh and close to the Brigflatts Meeting House. One of my favourite poems is Basil Bunting's Brigflatts
'Brag sweet tenor bull - Descant to Rawthey's madrigal-each pebble a part in the year's late Spring.

Elizabeth said...

Glad that you are getting out and about!
Must be so hard to do those things you did together.
Sending warmest wishes.

Unknown said...

Lovely photos Weave, fond memories of the farmer. Hugs, GG

Devon said...

What a pretty drive. I can imagine how difficult it must be to go to your familiar places for the first without the farmer. So glad you have such good friends to share the drive. I have never had a Bounty bar... they are not sold in the US. I googled them and they look delicious!

Maureen Reynolds said...

I think when you visit familiar places like these, I suspect The Farmer is somehow with you.The scent of the air brings the strong memory. I'm so glad you are going out to these places because you give me great joy to see my beloved Yorkshire again. As we always say about children growing up..It doesn't get easier, it just gets different. x0xx0

Unknown said...

Lovely pictures and a very pleasant outing. Horse chestnut trees in bloom are so beautiful; I haven't seen one in years.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The Weaver of Grass said...

Wykehan Observer - you misunderstand. Friend W and I have met our friends in Kirby Lonsdale for several years - we only meet over the summer as the journey involves going over the watershed of the Pennines, which can be bad in Winter.
Of course, we shall continue to go but the farmer will no longer be there to go to the Auction Mart for his Friday lunch - an event he really enjoyed because he could have a pudding like treacle sponge which I always banned at home on health grounds!