Saturday, June 07, 2003

 

Day 44. Sunday 08 June 2003. The Place where I was Born

Today we leave for West Cumbria. After packing we have a hearty English breakfast once more and say goodbye to Olive Knowles our B & B host.

We then went down to Oxenholme to say farewell to Verd and Kath but we didn't stay too long. A thought crosses my mind briefly but I didn’t voice it to Pat, this visit will be almost probably be the last time we will see them in the flesh to talk to. Did this cross Pat's mind too? She was quiet after we left Verd and Kath.

We headed on the A591 via Windermere, Ambleside and then to Keswick. Here we had a job deciphering the road junctions. There is a break in the A591 and briefly we were on the A66 and then turn off to continue on the A591 again to Bothel junction. It was more by good luck than good management we navigated this area, signs were none existent. The A591 is now a narrower minor ‘A’ road for this section. However our journey along the whole of the A591 was a pleasant one. Before we reached Bothel, our turn off we stopped for a rest and a cooling drink in a lay-by and as I walked up and down there was just silence and the birds. Wild roses tangled the uncut hedgerow. Not many people come this way certainly not tourists.

On the road again we shortly arrived at Bothel, a small sparse village and we turn left on to the A595 to-wards Wigton and Carlisle. This a fast straight road with lots of traffic and suddenly there was the crossroad sign for Mealsgate, our destination. Pulling in to the side of the road, where was our pre-booked accommodation, the Kelsey Hotel? Certainly not at the crossroads with it clumps of houses dotted here and there. So we went up the side road for a way to other clumps of houses, saw some one and they pointed us back to the main road and up the small hill to (yes) another clump of houses. There was the 2-storied Kelsey Hotel in cheery bright pink. It was once a large private house known as the Pink House.

Our journey had not taken us long, the time was only noon. The proprietor showed us up to our room at the rear of the hotel and we dropped our bags. We looked at one another; no we weren't hungry with one of Olive Knowles breakfasts inside us. So off we went exploring, first around the immediate area of Mealsgate and then back for an early dinner at the Kelsey Hotel. There were only a few visiting couples in for Sunday night dinner and we were the only staying guests. Dinner was nice and cosy in the Bar and I felt at home with the sound of the strong drawling West Cumbrian brogue wafting around us. The brogue of my parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents as I remember it of those days so long ago. I noticed we got a few curious stares from those around, probably wondering who we were, obviously not local from the sound of us.

After dinner we went in the direction of Bromfield to sound out the area and not waste time searching for places tomorrow. My small boy remembrances of the area did not fail me and I mentally bookmarked where to go tomorrow.

We returned to the hotel and went to bed early tired out. We had done so much today.

I will write about Mealsgate and Bromfield and what I found after I finish Day 45.

posted by OldEric 10:22 pm