SWANNERY

On our last day in England, we drove to Heathrow Airport to stay overnight so we didn't have to dash like crazy people to get to the airport in time.
We drove along the south coast going from west to east and I was checking the map for interesting sights when I saw "The Swannery" ... it's been in the current location since the 1300s and the over 600 swans have a great place to call home. You can walk freely along the paths and walk really close to the nests for good photos ... I only got hissed at one time!


Here's one of the first nests we saw ... you can just see two cygnets sticking out from underneath mum ... Most of the swans were still waiting for eggs to hatch but we saw two who had little ones already.



Here we have two cobs confronting each other. It didn't get nasty .. just a lot of wings flapping and attempts to make themselves look much larger ... it was over in a matter of a couple of minutes but it was quite impressive while it lasted.


This is a good view of the main part of the swannery ... there are some 'training pens' for parents to take their young to get them used to the water, etc. You can see how close they all are to each other and they get along great apparently ... even put up with visitors walking amongst them.

OREGON

I went back to Oregon for a few days(the first time since my husband died in March '07) to see old homes .. visit friends .. and get back to the beauty that is Oregon. I stayed at the Riverside Inn, Grants Pass (55mi north of the CA border on I-5) .. we lived there for 10 years. They have these fantastic blue jet boats that take you on rides along the Rogue River, over rapids - trips that include lunch, dinner or just sightseeing. They're a 'must do' when you're in town.

This is a shot of the Rogue River just past Hell Gate canyon where they've filmed a few well-known westerns - and The River Wild. I have floated down the river a few times in an inflatable (Tahiti) one-person kayak .. so much fun!!



My friend took me and her daughter to a favorite camping spot of hers. It's not usually busy because it's out-of-the-way, there are no hookups or showers and it's quite secluded ... but it's beautiful. This stream is crystal clear and deep enough to swim in certain areas ..


Here's another photo of that beautiful area and the greenery that folds over the edges of the water, like Mother Nature tenderly caressing the stream.




I drove over to Brookings on the coast . just 10 miles north of the CA border .. we lived there for ten years too ... I'd still be there if it was a little bigger town - although I love the small-town feeling. Here's a pic of the Pacific from Crissey Field beach .. a new area they've created as a visitor center.

Devon ... one of the prettiest counties!!

This is my hotel - The Osborne - in Torquay ... the rental house where everyone else stayed was at the near-end of the main building. The central part is the hotel and the rest of the building is apartments and time-rentals .. it has a commanding view of the bay and was very comfortable.


This is the little village of Cockington, a few minutes away from where we stayed. The village forge is the building on the left .. it's now a gift shop but was built in the 11th century ... the employees of the Manor all lived in the houses at one time. It's a beautiful not-to-be-missed village ... all thatched roofs and in perfect shape. The thatch is usually replaced every 15 years.

Across the bay from Torquay, is the quaint fishing village of Brixham. We took the ferry across the bay, did our sightseeing, and returned by double-decker bus. (Took me back to my school days) Brixham is a typical, touristy fishing village which also houses a full-sized replica of Drake's ship The Golden Hind which you can tour.


This is Buckfast Abbey. The architecture is awesome, inside and out. Benedictine monks first colonized the site in 1018AD. The foundation was small and had a precarious existence especially in the years following the Norman Conquest. Buckfast remained for 300 years a crumbling ruin. Monastic life at Buckfast was revived in 1882 when Benedictine monks made it their home. The rebuilding of the monastery commenced in 1884 and work on the church was started in 1906 and went forward without a break until its completion in 1938.


Rollings hills and checkerboard lands are the name of the English countryside. Only a few minutes' drive outside of any city or town, and you're in the 'country' ..

More England Photos

After spending a few days in Blackpool and reconnecting with the place of my birth, we headed south and stayed overnight in the Cotswolds (just south of Shakespeare country). We passed through the town of Evesham .. and I took this photo so you'd have an idea of the beautiful sights we saw. Lots of tudor buildings.

We drove on and stopped in the town of Broadway, near our B&B. The buildings in this area are made of local stone which is a mix of limestone, sand and soil ... which gives it the slightly yellowing look ... and which is really quite attractive. We saw a lot of wisteria in our travels too. The aroma was breathtaking.

The town itself was created in the 1600s, hence the narrow alleyways and 'walkovers' connecting buildings one to the other. It all adds to the extreme charm of the town. There weren't too many tourists, fortunately, because we were there before the major summer season.







This shows part of the town itself. We parked and walked, and walked, and walked. So many shops, so much character!



Lastly but not least, I had to have a photo taken with English phonebooths ... they're a little part of 'home' that I have missed.

Blackpool ... Photos from April 2009

This is me and a beautiful big dray horse ... we were visiting friends and this little girl came by on top of this handsome fellow ... so friendly too (both of them).






The 'Pleasure Beach' is right on the sea front at Blackpool .. it attracts so many visitors. At one time this dipper was the highest in the world .. I think it's the second highest now ... as kids we spent a lot of time at the Pleasure Beach.




The beach has had donkey rides since before my mother was born! When I was little it cost sixpence a ride ... as we were driving away from the beach, we saw these donkeys heading there for a day's work.








There are lots of landaus in the summer up and down the promenade .. full of tourists. This fellow got a jump start because the season doesn't get going until the end of May or so.





Just about everywhere you drive in Blackpool, you can see the Tower! It's about as old as the tower in Paris and has a fantastic view from the top as well as a world-famous ballroom and circus and a slew of entertainment.

Mini LapTop

I've purchased a new mini-laptop .. ASUS EeePC900 .. and I'm taking it home with me so I can use my MagicJack to call the U.S. .. and to keep up on my emails. My HP laptop is big and heavy so this little netbook will do fine for my travels.
I have some new clothes, new luggage, new shoes ... and I'm ready to go!

England ... Land of my Birth

I'm so looking forward to my trip home ... I haven't been back since my dad died in 1981 ... I know it's changed so much but it's still 'home' ... I will enjoy talking to people who talk like I used to ... I sound more American now!!
We leave SFO on April 21st and arrive at Heathrow the next day ... we'll drive up to Blackpool and spend three days there, then we head to the Cotswolds and will stay overnight at a B&B in Broadway ... our final leg is on the 26th when we drive to Torquay where we stay for 10 days ... coming back to the U.S. on May 7th.
I can't wait to see the schoolyard where I learned to whistle (through my teeth) .. and the church where I took the collection on my first day there, under my sister's care, and started to walk home with the plate of money. (I was only about 5 .. and they told me to 'take' the collection.) After that my sister swore she'd never take me again!
Oh to see the thatched cottages of Cockington, the ruins of King Arthur's castle, Dartmoor, etc. etc.
Devon (the county where Torquay/Torbay is) has just about the best weather in England .. it's in the southwest and is protected from most of the northwesterly winds so the weather is quite mild and quite warm in the summer. It was called the English Riviera by the Victorian elite (because it reminded them of the French Riviera) who spent their holidays there when travel was difficult during the Napoleonic wars.
There wont be much more posting until I return from my trip home ...