Bus, train, boat, rain

Woke up to cold and rainy weather.  We boarded our coach and headed back to England for a tour of an English mansion – narrated by actors portraying the head butler and housekeeper.  We enjoyed it but skipped the tour of the garden and farm due to the continuing rain.

The drawing room

Library

Seriously- you're looking for a label on this one?

The main kitchen (as opposed to the scullery).  Note: only Noah was able to lift that cast iron pot on the near right front part of the stove handily....He was offered the job of kitchen man, but declined in favor of seeking a job with indoor plumbing.

We then drove to the Lakes District and took a short ride on a train pulled by a steam engine from Haverthwaite Station to Lakeside Station.  There, we de-trained and boarded a passenger ferry.  We traveled up Lake Windermere from Lakeside to Bowness.  It continued rainy --- until we de-boated.  That’s when the sun came out.  Just in time for an ice cream cone, short stroll around the posh little town of Bowness and a 40 pence pee.  (Many public toilets charge an admission for upkeep.)  The Lakes District is and has been home to many authors and artists over the years, including Beatrix Potter.

We didn't get a photo of our train but here's Noah on the bridge

This is what most of the day looked like today

This was followed by a relatively short coach ride to our hotel for the night in Lancaster and dinner with our group.

Okay - so when it stops raining, it is absolutely breath-taking!  This photo shows the stone wall dividing the paddocks.  (In Wales and other parts of England, these dividers are hedges

  

An early day tomorrow to head up to Scotland --- perhaps a 3-hour drive.  We are looking forward to the city of Edinburgh and touring another castle!

The best surprise at the end of the day--- a WASHCLOTH!!!!!YA-HOO!