Sheep climb faster than I do

June 26-27

More walks. Although it doesn't look it from this angle, this was a rather steep climb for us up Dufton Pike.

Alex scrambled up it first - stopping only to check out this lonely animal skull he found in a hole.

Here he is with our friend Terry at the top. I think there were some encouraging words floating down towards me at this point, "You can do it, Mom!"

Yes, I did make it. Slow and steady(ish). Another view that was well worth it. Looking at the Pennines here.

Kathleen's house is out there somewhere. You can just spot Alex in this one - he was as fast to go down as he was to go up!

Much of our time has been spent walking and hanging out with Neil's sister and family. For those who are faithfully checking up on us, I'm sorry to relate that finding easy wifi is challenging. There is little time for reflective narrative. Of course, that might just be for the best...

Bin your litter

June 25

Alex and Eleni's cousins arrived. Here is a common sight in our planning...

First we went to the lake and everyone, save Kathleen and me, went rowing.

It is always refreshing to find new ways to say things. Here is one of my favorite translations:

Then we went to Helton Fell looking at ancient stone sculptures and searching for the old Roman road.

Of course, there were plans for taking over this area. Alex scouts ahead of his warrior gang in search of the perfect ambush spot. He then tried a few out on us...

The bright red shirt didn't blend in so well when running among ferns. It works here though, can you find Alex here?

The view we walked far for...

A necessary break near the end. Two miles was a long way for this weary six-year-old.

The village show

June 23

Hanging out in town. Here is what we had for lunch:

Then we set off for the annual local fair in town. It's been running for almost two hundred years. My favorite tent is the one dedicated to food, flowers, pasta decorating, jams, scones, etc. Check out the prize winning group of onions below (you had to have three together tied somehow).

My second favorite tents: the chickens. Close third: the rabbit tent.

We wandered around the grounds for almost three hours. Watched terrior races, tractor displays, building wall races, horse jumps, and ate doughnuts. Bliss.

Slowing down

July 21-22

Just being. We're just content being. Well, that and we've taken a walk every day.

We're across the farm from Gran's house here.

"Should we push our luck?"

July 20, 2011

So, we are heading to Neil's Mum's home today. After nine days of travel, this is the final push for a while. But first, we had to get there.

We stopped at York University, where Neil went to school. Alex was interested, but Eleni was far more impressed with the wildlife.

Next, the city of York. I was looking forward to visiting York Minster which was built between 1220 and 1470. It was built on the foundations of Roman buildings, near where Constantine was proclaimed Emperor in 306.

But, visiting it properly was not to be. The mutiny was building despite the quiet moment below.

This looks in too good condition to be the authentic artwork, but perhaps it is at least based on the original. As you already know, I did not take the tour of the Cathedral. But, with Neil's help, I stole away and spent some time with this arch of stories from Genesis to Abraham and Issac that borders the western doorway.

Keep moving. We walked through the wonderfully medieval cobblestoned narrow paths of York. We ducked in the St. Michael St-Belfry Church for a few moments. Guy Fawkes was baptized there. Across the street, Neil checked out the prices of York houses at this real estate agent office next to the birthplace, execution, and quartering location of Guy Fawkes.

It's probably a cue when you tell the exciting story of Guy Fawkes to a ten and six-year-old and you are met with shrugs. "So what?" "Can't we just go see Gran's house? Why do we have to keep looking at Churches?" Good point, but...while we are here...

So, Neil and I saw a sign heading down a narrow street for the Holy Trinity Church and it looked so inviting. Neil asked, "Should we push our luck?" Ignoring all cues, we set down the path. Well worth the look. It's a 15th century church built on top of another dating back to the 12th century and mentioned in the Domesday book. Here is some original stained glass from the 15th century.

The kids were not amused. I won't go into the strategies of misbehavior and language of discontent, but it got ugly. After nine days of putting up with our schedule, Alex and Eleni finally joined forces and rebelled.

And still, the adults stubbornly pressed on. Neil tried to engage them in a teachable moment with this old gravestone.

Failure. We walked on through the city. Maybe walking on the medieval walls will do it? Maybe we could even pretend to defend the city (I'm not including the photo of Neil re-enacting that here to protect his dignity). I think you can see how well that worked anyway in their faces. Sense of humor breakdown.

So, we left York behind and headed towards the sight they wanted to see most of all: Gran's house. Eleni greets the cows here.

And, finally, all is well.

North

July 19

We headed North today. North really means North here.

Along the way, we stopped in Newark. This emblem commemorates a meeting of the Newarks of the world in 1995. There we are at the top left, Newark, New Jersey!

Alex and Eleni fell in love with this sandwich named Chip Cob. Basically, it's french fries on a buttered bun. Yes, that is what it is.

Further along the road heading North we stopped in Nottingham, where Neil was born. Eleni is in Sherwood's Forest here. Ferns enveloping her along the path...

Alex's photo of Neil and me in front of Robin Hood's Great Oak. I'm not big on having photos of myself on here, but we had a photo taken at this very spot thirteen years ago, just after we were married. I felt compelled to repeat. The legend claims that this is where the Merry men met and/or that Robin Hood hid from authorities in the trunk and/or that Robin Hood and Maid Marian were married close by. Regardless, it is an impressive sight; this tree is 800-1,000 years old!

Visiting another old friend in York. Alex and Eleni have been fortunate in finding playmates along the journey thus far, but perhpas Alex's greatest adventure yet involved this field and its thereabouts. Two torrential downfalls (timed exactly when he was out and about) meant that now both newly cleaned pairs of trousers were muddy and soaked again from trudging through fields. There is a theme here...

We lit candles.

July 18

We're staying with Neil's sister in Cambridge now. Thankfully, we've cleaned our clothes and Alex's cousin has lent him another pair of trousers.

There is a beautiful old church in Ashwell that we went to visit with Neil's Dad. There is some graffiti inside from the 14th century. Translated from Latin, this says "There was a plague 1000 three times 100, five times 10 a pitiable fierce violent (plague departed) a wretched populace survives to witness and in the end a mighty wind Maurus, thunders in the year of the world, 1361."

Here is a drawing of St. Paul's Cathedral before the great fire.

Find Alex and Neil looking at the 10th century stained glass.

I was taken by the artwork in these panes; I've felt these sentiments so often in this journey so far.

We lit candles in thanks for the generosity of our friends and family far and near.

We lit candles in hope of their well being.

We lit candles for the peace of strangers we don't know yet.

We lit candles in faith. Most of all, regardless of nomenclature or denomination, it takes faith in people, each other, and some force of spirit keeping us moving forward on our pilgrimage.

Time for doing laundry

July 16-17

So far most of our visit in England has been drifting from a meal with one old friend to a meal with another. It has been so good to reconnect. Sunday was no different, but we added the perfect twist for people traveling with very few cloths. Yes history; Yes, friends. Now, let's add some mud.

History. Here is the 12th century castle in Framlingham.

Two hidden object photos. Find the pigeon.

Find Eleni. You can just see her ambitiously climbing here.

Easy to spot, but you have to look fast. Here is Alex.

As you might imagine, Alex was all over the castle and considering its worth in defenses. This photo shows where the dungeon was once upon a time. There was only a trap door at the top for food to come through...no light...complete madness.

Friends. Our friend is also a glass bead maker and she gave us a demonstration.

History. 14th century church

Mud. Finally...that soggy sandwich caught up with us again. We took a walk between raindrops and were cornered in a "can't go over it, can't go over it, have to go through it" moment. We all got wet and muddy, but, as ever, Alex sported it best.