The Journey: Manchester, UK [part 1]

In April and May we took a wonderful trip to visit family. I eagerly awaited our trip for a few reasons: this was the first time really meeting Simon's sister Bryn and her husband Tom, as well as my nephews (they came to our wedding two years ago, but our families only spent two hours together and my attention was directed elsewhere--Simon), and I wanted to show Simon some of my favorite places in Spain, and then we were visiting his parents who we hadn't seen in a year.

We flew out of Salt Lake on April 24th and arrived at 8 a.m. in Manchester the following morning. Tom and Bryn came with Toby to pick us up at the airport.

And wouldn't you know it...it was raining. Hence, our first trip was to acquire rain coats and so we took the train into Buxton with Bryn, Tom and the boys after we dropped stuff off at their house.

Day 1: Buxton

It was a bit cold, windy, and rainy as we wandered the streets. So we decided to go to the indoor gardens. However, only the atrium was open and the gallery itself was closed.

We went and got sweets at a shop and had a delightful time.

I took this picture of the countryside as the train rolled along.



Day 2: The Canal
We started our second morning at our B&B with a full English breakfast (minus the black pudding). Two sausages, two huge slabs of bacon (our equivalent of ham, only better!), two tomatoes, two hashbrowns, mushrooms, an egg, 6 slices of toast for the two of us and beans. And all of it, except the beans, was fried.

Our first English breakfast was a bit too much for me. I couldn't finish it.

Simon and Tom picked up the canal boat we had rented for the day. Simon took right to the helm.

Tattie (Tatti?) did not like the boat at all. She wanted to be off it and on dry...er..stable ground, particularly if anyone else was out of the boat.

There were many lovely boats all along the canal parked. Some people live in their boats full time. Space is at a premium in England.

Our trip began with a little rain but it cleared up for several hours and we even saw some blue skies.

Stuart and Toby really enjoyed themselves and loved the boat, and the bridges.

These were dandelions growing out of the wall. It was so funny to me.

We traveled about 9 miles in 3 hours and turned the boat around after we had a picnic lunch. On the return trip about halfway back it began to pour.

Stuart decided to keep Simon company and help him steer. Both boys were thoroughly soaked while the rest of us kept dry beneath the canopy.

When we were nearly back Toby wanted to help with one of the small swing bridges and so Bryn hopped off and I was to hand Toby to her on the canal bank. However, the rain had made the boat bottom slippery and as I was about to pass Toby, I lost my footing and fell hard. I gave my hip a nasty bruise and may have hit my head (I think I narrowly missed a sharp corner). Toby landed on top of me and I think he was more startled than hurt. He cried and Bryn held him. I was relieved that he didn't hold the fall against me and grateful that Bryn didn't either.

Day 3: Castleton

We spent the next day in Castleton. As there was not enough room in their car for all of us, Tom dropped us off and picked us up from the train and they drove and met us there.

The boys had their matching duck umbrellas, that even when it wasn't raining, they liked to carry around.

We hiked up to the castle ruins for which the city is named. I do not recall the history, but this castle was built in a highly defensible position.

Aside from the wall, the tower is the only real real remain of this small castle-complex.

Simon finally took the camera from me to take my picture of the view of the village from the castle hill.

Above: This window was in a room which looked as though there might have been a toilet.
Below: The inside of the tower

The backside of the tower had stones up in, while the front's stones were missing (perhaps greater weathering? The wind seemed to blow on this side which is why I had my hood pulled up to avoid freezing my ears.

Simon loved the fluffy moss that grew in stones everywhere! The flowers growing up walls were also incredible.

We'd hoped to go exploring these caves but they were closed due to high water. England received a month's worth of rain about the same time we arrived.

And yes, this cave really is called the Devils Arse. We only went as far as the crack.

Simon and I wandered through a church cemetery; most of the headstones were older than our country's founding (1776).

For these first few days we primarily had 40 degree weather. Stuart matter-of-factly told us when we asked him if it ever got warm, "It's always warm in England."

After visiting Castleton, we caught a 6:50 flight in Manchester.

On to Spain!