Tuesday, November 1, 2011

GETTING READY TO SAY GOODBYE TO GARSTANG AND HELLO LONDON!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 - My last Garstang post!

We are busy packing and Geoff is closing everything up for the winter and tomrrow off we go to London for two nights and then on to Bognar Regis until we fly to Orlando on Monday!   Looking forward to seeing my dear friend Sue Bailey and staying with her in Melbourne, FL when we aren't visiting other places!

Last week, on Tuesday, October 25th, it was sunny so Geoff drove me up to a part of the Lakes District I have not seen--leaves were changing and I saw more of my beloved stonewalls!  Some of the sights:

Windemere Lake:
On the road to Langdale:

Driving up a steep pass and obstacles in the way (sometimes!)  :) :
Then we get to the top and look back down on Longdale Valley:
The area around us at the top of the road:
Red Tarn ahead:
The road downward:
Then to gorgeous Tarn Hows:
Lake Windemere in the distance:
To Lake Coniston and around one side of the lake:
Then on the way back to Garstang we stopped at Newby Bridge:
The next day (Wednesday, October 26) we had a lovely afternoon so drove back to Kirby Lonsdale and saw pheasant after pheasant along the way:
I didn't catch the colors completely but the sky was full of color:
That's Pendle Hill sticking up in the distance and just beyond the stonewall:
Into downtown Kirby Lonsdale (last time it was very rainy):
A had good pizza at Avanti's there:
We wind up our little day trips around Garstang on sunny, cool Saturday, October 28, with a drive around a great hiking/jogging area and head up to Nicky Nook!

But first, a cup of coffee at Barton Grange with this view:

Now we head through the lanes and turn by this church spire:
Winding our way through:
With a bit of a slowdown ahead of us:
We park near Grizedale valley:
And we start down through the big trees:
Along the creekside:
We walk on and then Geoff points out Nicky Nook in the distance (the small hill ahead) and explains how he runs with his running club up and over it and back to Garstang!:
We turn back and enjoy the reverse scenery:
Geoff patiently waits for me at the gate while I take photos:
Then we pass by my new friends, the "Dalesbred sheep" who are used to all us humans (although I notice they keep an eye on US):
A drive through more lanes and one last view looking over Garstang:

The last several days have been filled with dinners with friends:  Tom and Irene, then Rob and Thelma, a sweet goodbye from the folks at Caldervale Country Club, a ride to Slyne Lodge and dinner with Tom and Barbara and then last night we finished with dinner at the Crofter's with Geoff's son, Graham, and some friends:

Geoff and Graham:
Sue, Leslie and Geoff:
Graham, Johnathan and Wendy:
After dinner we were joined by some of Geoff's mates who had not yet said goodbye for a final pint but I forgot to take pictures of them (sorry Pitchy, Paul, Steve, & Terry).

It was Halloween so here we are in our costumes:
                                                                               

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahhahahahahhah

TRICK or TREAT? ........................................................................................................I think it is:


T R I C K  ...but you decide!


Love from Geoff & Sue xo   (heading to Calder Cale Country Club)
B O O!