Arnies Cumbrian Adventure

[Murphy The Cat]

The weather was pretty muggy in Cumbria today which didn't help picture taking.

After a pub lunch at The Herdwick Inn at Penruddock, near Penrith on the A66 (lunch today was a carvery. The choice was Kendal Fell Lamb, Cumbrian Beef, Cumbrian Turkey or Pork from just over the county boundary in North Yorkshire - good to see a pub supporting local farmers. 2 x plate sizes, normal and Arnie sized. We all ate well) we headed towards Greystoke. Arnie is pictured here coming out of the drive to Greystoke .

You may (or may not) be interested to know that the character Tarzan was created by Edgar Rice Burroughs and was based on Baron Greystoke (John Clayton) who used to live in this parish - see you really do learn something every day.

We then stayed on the A66 (one of Cumbrias fastest & best roads - sadly a dangerous one as well) heading towards the old market town of Appleby. This is the County town (capital) of the county of Westmorland. We planned to stop here for a brew and some cake but Murphy The Kitten was fast asleep so we pressed on.

We headed towards the village of Orton via the B6260 and we encountered some traffic calming, Cumbrian style .
This picture was not "posed" in any way. It is common land and is used for grazing by anyone who wants to use it (they used to be called commoners).
It's a bit of a bugger if you're coming the other way over the brow of the hill though.
This entire area covering Penrith, Appleby & Orton was absolutely devestated by Foot and Mouth disease in 2001 - in fact the last case was discovered at Appleby, less than 5 miles from where I took this picture. It is a tribute to the remendous hard work by the farming community and individual supporters in the country that Cumbrian farming ever got back on track. The whole episode is an example of goverment incompetence at it's worst.

We arrived at Orton in mid-afternoon and the traffic was very, very heavy, as seen in the picture
and yes, the traffic does stop to let the ducks cross. The building behind with the blue awning belongs to Kennedys Fine Chocolates and it was here that Mrs Cat puchased some of their hand made choccies to enjoy later on (in fact I'm enjoying a Whisky truffle while I'm typing this).

We then headed home via my mates house (& a brew). While Mrs Cat looked after the kids, me and my mate went to "ahem" enjoy the finer parts of Arnies handling and performance.

Job done - went home.

Murphy The Cat

p.s. funny 300c related quote of the day.
"Bloody hell mate. All you need is a bitch to pimp from this thing and you'd be sorted. Oh look, here comes my wife she'll do at a pinch" from my mate whilst we were out.

[Northern Rider]

Dear Murphy The Cat,

My wife is originally from Lancashire. As a youth, she hiked and climbed throughout North Wales and up your way, in the Lake District.

I foolishly showed her your recent pics.

What a mistake!

She is irreversibly homesick for the landscape, the North Country humour, the pub food, scones with double cream . . . the list goes on.

I know what is coming next. It's going to be very expensive. I want you to know, Mr. Cat, that I am holding you fully responsible for my impending financial misfortune.

Already she has been to her favourite travel agency sites, checking out trans Atlantic air fares. She was even so bold as to request that I ask of you any knowledge of cottages to rent in your humble little corner of the planet. Mind you, her tastes are simple - she suggested we dine at some burger joint called Miller Howe.

To both of our relief, my good lady leaves for America on Tuesday to join our daughter in Florida. I remain behind to ensure that the snow is shovelled from our lane ways, steps, and roof. With any good fortune, she may have forgotten about this daft "back to her roots" expedition by the time she returns from the Sunshine State.

It is, sadly, unlikely she will forget - as she seems to recall every dumb thing I've ever done, chapter and verse, for the past 12,000 days, whilst I can hardly recall yesterday's momentous events.

Speaking of sunshine, since a sojourn to the Lake District seems inevitable for us, can you please advise me as to when you have your "dry season"?

Yours faithfully,

Northern Rider

[Murphy The Cat]

Hi Nr

Mrs Cat and I have just finished rolling about on the floor at your post.

But first as regards the "dry season". We feel that we do not have a dry season as such, more of a less wet than usual time ! (only joking May- June is a great time to come. The weather has picked up, it is not to busy with tourists, air fares from Canada are good and everything/everywhere is open).

I'd love to help seperate you from your money and with this in mind I enclose details of a Econolodge type establishment which may suit your purposes.A hotel for Northern Rider. Please do not choke to hard when you read the tariffs. As for the Miller Howe, apparently not as good as it used to be (alledgedly).

Mrs Cat & I would love to help you with your holiday planning/ideas - would you like us to do it via PM or on the forum (just in case you have any "ahem" special requests (nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Bob's your Uncle etc, etc).

Murphy The Cat

p.s. I know of a holiday cottage in my village which looks very nice indeed.

[Northern Rider]

Originally Posted by Murphy The Cat

Hi Nr

Mrs Cat and I have just finished rolling about on the floor at your post.

But first as regards the "dry season". We feel that we do not have a dry season as such, more of a less wet than usual time ! (only joking May- June is a great time to come. The weather has picked up, it is not to busy with tourists, air fares from Canada are good and everything/everywhere is open).

I'd love to help seperate you from your money and with this in mind I enclose details of a Econolodge type establishment which may suit your purposes.A hotel for Northern Rider. Please do not choke to hard when you read the tariffs. As for the Miller Howe, apparently not as good as it used to be (alledgedly).

Mrs Cat & I would love to help you with your holiday planning/ideas - would you like us to do it via PM or on the forum (just in case you have any "ahem" special requests (nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Bob's your Uncle etc, etc).

Murphy The Cat

p.s. I know of a holiday cottage in my village which looks very nice indeed.

Thank you, kind sir, for your prompt response. May / June works fine for us. I visited the electronic brochure for the Samling. Whilst a tad downmarket, its quaint habitations may very well do in a pinch.

We shall continue this dialogue via PM in a fortnight or two (Just an aside - rolling on the floor does tend to cover one in cat hair).

Kindest regards to you and Mrs. Cat

Sincerely,

NR and the Iron Lady (my wife drives a Magnum - which became Maggie - which beca . . . well, you know the rest of the story).

[Murphy The Cat]

Originally Posted by Northern Rider

Thank you, kind sir, for your prompt response. May / June works fine for us. I visited the electronic brochure for the Samling. Whilst a tad downmarket, its quaint habitations may very well do in a pinch.

We shall continue this dialogue via PM in a fortnight or two (Just an aside - rolling on the floor does tend to cover one in cat hair).

Kindest regards to you and Mrs. Cat

Sincerely,

NR and the Iron Lady (my wife drives a Magnum - which became Maggie - which beca . . . well, you know the rest of the story).

Dear Nr

may I point out a minor problem in your post ?

i am already a cat, covered in cat hair. Are you suggesting that I am covered in cat hair covered in cat hair ?

I think the world needs to know.

MTC

[Northern Rider]

Originally Posted by Murphy The Cat

Dear Nr

may I point out a minor problem in your post ?

i am already a cat, covered in cat hair. Are you suggesting that I am coverded in cat hair covered in cat hair ?

I think the world needs to know.

MTC

My dear MTC,

One of the major problems vis-a-vis 21st Century forums is that one often envisions the recipient of these typed messages in a manner quite different than the stark reality.

I foolishly imagined you and Mrs. Cat as the hairless variety -

It appears however, that my fantas - er - I mean my mental image was incorrect. I should have been concocting an image perhaps more like this -



You are right - the world indeed needs to know.

NR

[Meister]

Originally Posted by Murphy The Cat

The weather was pretty muggy in Cumbria today which didn't help picture taking...

...but your delightful prose came through crisp and clear nonetheless, MC.

A delightful read, as always, and made even more charming by your use of several excellent pics to depict the charming beauty of Cumbria - the hallowed ground of Wordsworth and Ruskin, and oft visited by the likes of Shelley, Coleridge and Yeates.

I, indeed, vowed to take it a bit easier, should I ever have the pleasure of visiting your lovely bit of Heaven, imagining myself cresting the hill at my normal touring speed and encountering the startled flock - it would make Foot and Mouth disease look like a proper tea party.

Please do continue to share your country excursions with us, MC - they provide welcome relief from the addictive power of improving upon perfection with our most excellent motor carriages.

[Murphy The Cat]

Originally Posted by Meister

...but your delightful prose came through crisp and clear nonetheless, MC.

A delightful read, as always, and made even more charming by your use of several excellent pics to depict the charming beauty of Cumbria - the hallowed ground of Wordsworth and Ruskin, and oft visited by the likes of Shelley, Coleridge and Yeates.

I, indeed, vowed to take it a bit easier, should I ever have the pleasure of visiting your lovely bit of Heaven, imagining myself cresting the hill at my normal touring speed and encountering the startled flock - it would make Foot and Mouth disease look like a proper tea party.

Please do continue to share your country excursions with us, MC - they provide welcome relief from the addictive power of improving upon perfection with our most excellent motor carriages.

Bloody hell Meister, you know more about the poets of the Lake district than I do !
On the trip that I described above we went past the place where Worsworth wrote about the daffodils but it is to early in the year to see any yet.

I smiled when you mentioned Ruskin. My favourite place in the Lake District (& possibly anywhere) is sitting outside Jumping Jennys tearooms at http://www.brantwood.org.uk/ (Jonn Ruskins home) while eating home made cakes and drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows in it. I cannot take credit for this picture but it will give you some idea about why I like the area.

The hill in the background is Coniston Old Man (or Old Man of Coniston) and the body of water you can see is Coniston Water where Donald Cambell tragically lost his life trying to get the world water speed record. The small jetty is where the stam yacht Gonola http://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/gondola.htm berthes.

Beautiful part of the world - not always the easiest roads in the world to drive a 300c on though !

MTC

[Meister]

Originally Posted by Murphy The Cat

Bloody hell Meister, you know more about the poets of the Lake district than I do !
On the trip that I described above we went past the place where Worsworth wrote about the daffodils but it is to early in the year to see any yet.

I smiled when you mentioned Ruskin. My favourite place in the Lake District (& possibly anywhere) is sitting outside Jumping Jennys tearooms at http://www.brantwood.org.uk/ (Jonn Ruskins home) while eating home made cakes and drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows in it. I cannot take credit for this picture but it will give you some idea about why I like the area.

The hill in the background is Coniston Old Man (or Old Man of Coniston) and the body of water you can see is Coniston Water where Donald Cambell tragically lost his life trying to get the world water speed record. The small jetty is where the stam yacht Gonola http://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/gondola.htm berthes.

Beautiful part of the world - not always the easiest roads in the world to drive a 300c on though !

MTC

One of the carry overs, I suppose, of having majored in English Literature some eons ago, Murphy. I've always particularly enjoyed your Lake District poets, artists and writers. John Ruskin is a hero of mine, and I must admit to becoming a bit emotional as I read your account just now of sitting in the shadow of Brantwood having home made cakes and drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows in it. Pure Heaven.

Donald Campbell! (Chills run down spine) There is another hero of mine. I've seen that tragic film clip countless times. I'd consider it a great honor to someday be able to place a wreath of flowers on the surface of Coniston Water in his memory.

Ah, breakfast beckons. Must close.

Warmest regards Murphy

Jim

[goddardzilla]

Originally Posted by Meister

Donald Campbell! (Chills run down spine) There is another hero of mine. I've seen that tragic film clip countless times. I'd consider it a great honor to someday be able to place a wreath of flowers on the surface of Coniston Water in his memory.

Jim

Jim

Last year I did pay my respects

Here's a small appetizer - not enough to take the fun of discovery away.

Holker Hall (in the neighbourhood) has an automotive museum, with an expansive Donald Campbell section - attached.

If you want to float that wreath at the head of Coniston Water you'll have to fight this fiesty fellow, with Donald not around - he knows he owns the lake - attached.



Zilla