Hotel Crooklands Kendal

... back with us.

So with many a phone call, lots of emails and around a dozen documents to print out - the case is on it's way. We now just have to hope it gets there in one piece - what are the odds of it getting there before us, and even more important before the ship sails.

So just two cases and some hand luggage left to pack, better find those socks!

... What, in essence, this coin represents is the continuation of the journey; a reminder that there are still many more miles to cover.

The last night in Appleby was a quiet family affair, Food, Wine and a movie from my childhood ('The Last Starfighter' - good choice Joanna!) and we are now just killing time until 2pm when it will be time to set off for Geordieland and my date with density ... er, I mean destiny ... ... I think!

... by the time we were ready to leave, the wind had picked up & the rain was coming down sideways. When we crossed the border we were all leaning the bikes at 45 degrees just to go in a straight line and trying to brace for the gale force gusts!

So by the time we reached Haywick the weather had deteriorated & group decision was made for safety reasons to not continue to Glasgow but instead ride down to Martyn's sisters house in Warcop, Westmorland.
Appleby, England, United Kingdom charliebears

... chill me out. I got home about lunch time and Sarah and little munchkin (aka Sophia) turned up and spent a few hours with me which was lovely. I was chuffed that Sar came through to see me and when they left there were a few tears :o( I’ll miss her a lot, I feel like I’ve just got her back in my life and now Im off again and its gona at least 6 months till I see her again. Sarah I know you’ll be ...

Ingnoring most advice we did head off for our anniversary weekend to the Lake District. Cumbria had just experience record rainfall of 400+ mm of rain in 24 hours and amny parts of the area were severly flooded. We had a great run up on the M6 on Friday afternoon and settled into Elim House. In the moring we went down to see the lake which was now creeping ...

... a few bits I need to try on to see if they'll make the final cut to come on this adventure with me. But, apart from that I'm pretty much sorted. I'm thinking that I'm forgetting something but Im a tad anal so Im prob just worrying for worrying sake. Few bits to get from town then thats me! So, I'll update again when Im off and let you know how Im getting on.

Tow truck 2, turns up at 15:29 and we are off again for the next leg of the journey, Stirling Services to Lancaster Services. This journey takes around 4 hours and I have a nice chat with the driver, Jim all the way. We phone ahead and arrange the next tow truck to meet us at Lancaster at 19:15, guess what? Yes, it wasn't there and I am told it won't be there until 20:15 and it finally arrives at 20:30

... immediately insisted that I culled half my wardrobe in an attempt to hone my somewhat amateur backpacking skills! (Unfortunately, these efforts were almost totally negated when I headed upstairs and swapped all the summer clothes I had been lugging around Europe for some attire more appropriate to the "summery" English weather.) Nevertheless, manageable backpack or not, two days after Rosie's arrival we began our grand tour of the UK (complete ...

Lake District was the northernmost area we visited. That's probably why the Lake District is one of the best attractions of U.K. John told me the story of Beatrix Potter, the author of Peter Rabbit.
Actually, I don't remember which lake I visited, because John took me there. I still remember I took a boat to the opposite ...

John took me to Blackpool. He may have wanted to show me a UK beach resort. The street along the beach was full of decorations. I took a picture of his profile in the car. It was just a memory of Blackpool. We were on the way from Preston, where we met his old friend, and John talked about the word "love", because people there used "love" meaning "you" very often, when they talk to someone, like "Good morning, love!". That sounded awkward to him.