Hey.
I am in Scotland.
How cool is that?
And, it was 17 degrees today and beautiful sunshine all day.

Up at 6am...breakfast 7am....bus 8am
Much more leisurely...I didn't know what to do with myself!
That's 2 hours....
On the European tour, we had an hour and a half.
I had it down to a fine art.

Drove out of Leeds, through industrial and power station areas.
Then into the Yorkshire Dales.
Wow!
How beautiful is this?
Perfect weather.
Wonderful views both sides of the bus.
Dry stone walls...
(I kept looking for the one you sat on and broke, Dad.
Couldn't quite spot it! )
Sheep everywhere.
Old stone houses.
Villages in the distance.
Magnificent.
Can see why James Herriot worked here!
Tried to take lots of photos but it just doesn't do it justice, does it?

I just gazed and gazed and gazed.
Beautiful.

Onto an old steam train, the Haverthwaite Railway, for a ride to Lake Windemere where we boarded a ferry for the cruise around the lake.
It was Sunday, so people out in their yachts, speed boats, canoes, ....you name it...they were doing it.
( I think I thought yesterday was Sunday...I stand corrected.
But, easy mistake to make.)

Lots of private moorings on this Lake and magnificent houses so the views were stunning.
And total sunshine all the way.
Loved it.

Then onto a small village, Grasmere for a stop for lunch and a wander.
Darren took us first to the church to see the grave of William Wordsworth.
Old, old cemetery.
I didn't leave there for ages...beautiful setting, old headstones....just history.
Then, I couldn't find a sandwich shop so I had to sit down for lunch.
I still haven't improved on that score.

'So much to see so little time'

But it was a very nice lunch....beside a babbling brook...with ducks...opposite the churchyard.
Spectacular, actually.
And I enjoyed it.

Really strange thing here and in Europe....dogs come into the restaurants.
Really takes you by surprise.
We had a dachshund and a German Shepherd barking at each other today.
We were outside, but they had to walk the dogs through the restaurant to get to the outside area.
Also, dogs go into shops...dress shops, chocolate shops, cake shops.
You tend to do a double take.
Oh, they go on trains and, boats and buses too.
One lady had her cat in McDonalds in France.
( I was walking past...wasn't eating there...
Of course...same applies for the chocolate shops....all of them! )

Absolutely loved Grasmere.
Beautiful, beautiful little village.
Even more wonderful than I imagined.

Then, next stop was just inside SCOTLAND (!!!!) at Greta Green....where all the young English teenagers used to run away to because marriage was legal without parental consent in Scotland...boys, 14, girls, 12....( long time ago ) ....England the age was 21.
And just across the border, the local blacksmith would marry them....(to each other.)

Still a popular place for weddings.
There was one there today...bagpipes and all.

Onto Glasgow ....wonderful hotel.
Then out for a fantastic dinner at the casino.
Great night.

Xxx