Grange-Over-Sands - I'm back!

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Grange-Over-Sands - I'm back!

Got back last night and had a fantastic time! Really didn't want to come 
home and the week seemed to last for ever!

Very good weather, just a little rain one morning and evening and the tan is 
coming along nicely.

The evenings were really relaxed, either eating fish and chips on the 
seafront or eating our in different pubs / restaurants each evening. Being 
on my own was cool, I chatted to so many people, disturbing other diners to 
chat to them too! Well, I think they took pity on me dining alone ;-)

It really is such a friendly place. Had some great walks, just going off for 
the day without worrying about time and how long it took me to get anywhere.

The first day I did a nice walk through Eggerslack woods, up to the hospice 
on Grange Fell and back down, similar to this route...

http://www.leaney.org/lake_district_walk_map.php?walk_id=485&thumb=Y

Lots of memories of childhood holidays up on the fell, flying kites, 
climbing big boulders, running about on the limestone pavement.

The 2nd day it started off raining, so I got the train across the viaduct 
over Morecambe Bay to Lancaster and had lunch there. It brightened up a lot 
in the afternoon and I drove over to Cartmel, did some wandering around, 
taking photos of the Priory and had an excellent meal in the Cavendish Arms, 
top food and service!

The 3rd day I drove to Haverthwaite, to get the Steam train to Lakeside, 
from there a return trip up Lake Windermere to Ambleside, with lunch in 
Ambleside - where every other shop sells walking or climbing gear!

The 4th day I got the train over the viaduct again, to Arnside, the next 
village across the bay. Had a fantastic walk up to the top of Arnside Knott 
and could have taken in the views for ages. On the way up to the top, I was 
wandering over to a gate to see what was on the other side. When I got 
closer, in the shade of the trees, I saw what looked like some massive 
Highland Cattle with equally big horns! I quietly went back the way I came, 
didn't want to disturb their sleep, lol.

When I got the train back to Grange, I had a walk around Brown Robin nature 
reserve, previously private land and saw quite a few deer in the woods, 
after sitting still for a while.

The 5th day I had my longest walk, from Grange to Humphrey Head and back, 
about ten miles in all. I've never been to Humphrey Head, and it was a good 
walk, along a variety of paths, some coastal, some along tracks and roads. 
Paused for a moment at the top of a steep ladder stile, as a lot of cows had 
gathered at the bottom of the stile waiting to see what I would do! They 
were just curious, 3 of them followed me across the field for a while, but 
soon lost interest.

On the way back thru Allithwaite, dying for a cold pint, not one, but both 
pubs I passed were closed! Luckily, the post-office at Kents Bank had cold 
bottles of Stella in fridge *and* the owner had a bottle opener behind the 
counter, heaven! I crossed the level crossing and sat on the beach drinking 
the beer, before walking the remaining 2 miles back to Grange.

Grange now has a nice new pool, still not the same as the outdoor one years 
ago, right on the edge of the bay. But the new one has good views over 
Morecambe Bay, actually from the pool while you're swimming, which is nice.

I took the films in for processing today, all 10 of them, as soon as I sort 
through them I'll put them online and post a link.

Ally: sorry, never had time to carry on up to Ravenglass to see you play the 
sax, another time! Just seen your post about the Charter Fair, it'd have 
been funny if I'd approached the other sax player! Glad you had a good time.

Edith: sorry, forgot the tiles from Lancaster!

Andy

Date:Mon, 27 Jun 2005 19:33:39 +0100 Author: