Impressions of our trip from Holland to the SRGC Discussion Weekend 2009

[Lvandelft]

Then we drove via Eskdale up the Hardknott Pass and down again to the Wrynose Pass,
from where we came to Windermere.

Hardknott Pass                                
River Duddon                     
Wrynose Pass down

The most beautiful place was for us Buttermere (last picture)

more later
 

[Roma]

Interesting to see those wild looking places in the Lake District, Luit.  Lovely to see the Herdwick sheep.  They are a rare breed and a large number were slaughtered during the last foot and mouth epidemic further reducing the genetic pool.

[David Nicholson]

Luit, I have rarely seen the Lake District photographed so beautifully.

[Maggi Young]

Luit, I have rarely seen the Lake District photographed so beautifully.

Every time.... (except once, when it was a white-out blizzard)... every time that I have been in the Lake Distrit it has been pouring with torrential rain.... so I have rarely seen the Lake District at all. Thanks  for the lovely photos, Luit!

[Lvandelft]

Interesting to see those wild looking places in the Lake District, Luit.  Lovely to see the Herdwick sheep.  They are a rare breed and a large number were slaughtered during the last foot and mouth epidemic further reducing the genetic pool.

That is interesting Roma. Now I can put a name to the picture, we never saw these sheep before.
Vroni made the pictures of the sheep because her brother in Austria is a hobby farmer with some sheep.
So she made pictures of several sheep on tour. Mostly there was no parking place on the narrow roads and I waited in the car farther up the road when
she made pictures.
When we drove from Edinburgh southwards we saw a sort of "yellow" sheep. Here is a picture:

[Lvandelft]

Thanks for the compliments David, but I admit that not all pictures were made by myself (see posting above) 

Luit, I have rarely seen the Lake District photographed so beautifully.

Every time.... (except once, when it was a white-out blizzard)... every time that I have been in the Lake Distrit it has been pouring with torrential rain.... so I have rarely seen the Lake District at all. Thanks  for the lovely photos, Luit!

Maggi, just tell me what you want to see in Britain and we will make the pictures for you when we visit the D.W. next time 

[Maggi Young]

That's very kind of you, Luit.... I'd like to see Cornnwall and the West Country... it's a bit out of your way though, isn't it?!!  

[Roma]

Luit, I think your 'yellow sheep' would be Swaledale, a north of England breed or maybe Scottish Blackfaces.  They look quite similar to me though not to a sheep expert.  Some sheep are dipped in a coloured dip to pretty them up for show or sale.  I think different breeds use a different colour, usually some shade of yellow or dark brown.  From pictures I see of champion sheep at shows or sales I think it is commoner now than it used to be.

[Lvandelft]

That's very kind of you, Luit.... I'd like to see Cornnwall and the West Country... it's a bit out of your way though, isn't it?!! 

Cornwall is already on our wish list for many years, Maggi. So who knows what happens....?

Some sheep are dipped in a coloured dip to pretty them up for show or sale.  

Roma, of course we asked around and we were told that these yellow sheep were probably dipped with some disinfection stuff.
Well, whatever it is, we were very surprised when we saw them on the field  and had to make some pictures, because we almost did not believe what our eyes were seeing 

[Richard Green]

Did anyone see the pink sheep whilst driving alng the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh?  Here is a picture and in case you do not believe me here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6521149.stm is the link to the BBC news story and it is NOT dated 1st April, even though it is close !

[Lvandelft]

Now that's a real stunner, Richard. 

[Lvandelft]

From the Lake District we we drove southwards to Cheshire, where visited a
former trainee at our nursery. We wanted to stay for one night there and then
go to Wales for some days.
After we left the village Heswall next morning we noticed that something was not
o.k with the car and decided to search for a garage, but we had to fill up the
cooling system first. Well, we didn't come far and were lucky to pass a very
small garage just in time.
While we waited till the garage owner we could visit next door a small railway
museum, where we made some pictures.

Autopech  Willaston - Hadlow Road   
Railway Station - Hadlow Road - Willaston 
Railway Station - Hadlow Road         
Railway Station - Hadlow Road 2       
Railway Station - Hadlow Road 3     

When we knew what was wrong with the car we called our friend if she had time to
collect us at the garage, because the broken part had to be delivered first.
We were lucky that we drive an Opel and the Vauxhall factory was not far away
and we could get the car back late afternoon.
So back to Heswall for another night....

Heswall Kerk

[Lvandelft]

Our friend had several hours time to spend with us before the children came from
school and we decided to visit nearby Ness Gardens.
This is a very nice garden to visit, so we were lucky with our misfortune.
I made a lot of pictures too and here are some following below:

BTW, my car was repaired for less than £ 100.- and I am sure that I would have paid
in Holland between £300 and £400. I love GB!

Ness Gardens               
Viburnum plicatum Mariesii 
Nerine 
Sorbus rosea 
Acer rubrum October Glory   

[Lvandelft]

Rock garden
Gentiana sino-ornata
Heather garden                                        
Fuchsia corallina

[Lvandelft]

Heather garden                                       
Fuchsia corallina

connection  broke down
will try more later