|
Day 20 - Wed, 12 Sep (continued…)
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7886/...fd64f28e_o.jpg
Trying something new like these Jelly Slugs candies. Harry Potter seems to be very popular here. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7913/...3d44c664_o.jpg Edinburg is an interesting city that combines the youthfulness of a college city with the old architecture of the 17th century. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7890/...043d390a_o.jpg An entire neighborhood in Edinburgh is named after Greyfriars Bobby; a dedicated Skye Terrier who spend 14 years guarding the grave of his owner, John Gray, until he died himself on 14 Jan 1872. A drinking fountain was placed in Bobby’s honor in 1873. The sculpture was William Brodie. It’s held up well, even with the century of rubbing Bobby’s nose. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7893/...f4b0d5bc_o.jpg The final resting place for both John Gray and Bobby is in Greyfriars Kirkland. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4842/...773c6517_o.jpg Well-wishers place sticks in front of the gravestone of Bobby. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7849/...086f0aff_o.jpg Stores are named in his honor as well. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7886/...dcb292de_o.jpg A row of University of Edinburgh buildings caught my eye. This particular building seemed to have something different about it. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7816/...fb203b42_o.jpg Something as simple as white chalk outlines around the original bricks made this building stand out. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4901/...0ab12bda_o.jpg More unique patterns among the streets of Edinburgh. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4917/...7a805667_o.jpg The University of Edinburgh’s Old College Building with its dome stands above fast food restaurants where the students can grab a bite between classes. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7814/...c03dc520_o.jpg Scots seem to have a lot of patriotism for their flag. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4912/...456aea98_o.jpg A mix of modern with a nod to the original 17th century buildings. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4813/...a1a6ed6d_o.jpg The Scotsmen Steps have connected North Bridge and Waverley Station ever since 1899. Each of the 104 steps received a major overhaul in 2011. Each step is now a different colored marble. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4854/...64a38577_o.jpg The major marble quarries are all represented from Italy to India, from Belgium to Brazil. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4892/...548b3818_o.jpg The Royal Unicorn and Scottish flag sit atop of the Mercat Cross in Parliament Square. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4841/...ca990aca_o.jpg The Aha Ha Ha joke and novelties store on Bow Street is hard to miss. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4803/...b2870ec6_o.jpg On the night of 2-3 April 1916 two German airships, the L14 and the L22, dropped 23 bombs on Leith and the City of Edinburgh. Seven residents of Edinburgh were killed during the bombings. Today, over 100 years later, our two German motorcycles are parked just a few hundred feet from this location. It’s important that we remember the past such that we are not doomed to repeat the mistakes but it’s more important to move on and create to a better and more peaceful world. There is definitely A LOT to see in Edinburgh. If we had more time, I think we would have enjoyed the castle and some of the overlooks around the city. Our camp site for the night wasn’t too far away at the Drummohr Holiday Park. |
Day 21 - Thu, 13 Sep:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4851/...8cd74e4f_o.jpg
300 km of riding today. We left Scotland to return to England and enjoyed Holy Island (B), Northumberlandia (C), Angel of the North (D), and North York Moors National Park (E). We woke up at 7:38 AM and got our camping equipment and bikes packed up by 8:00 AM. A record for us! We took the freeway in order to make good time to Holy Island. This small community is isolated from the rest of England twice a day when the tide raises. Access is via a causeway that can be driven at low tide. We just happened to luck out and were able to visit from 10:05 AM until 15:50 PM today! https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7914/...57cd46e5_o.jpg The entrance road into Holy Island. This causeway is the only way in and the only way out for motored vehicles. Plan your route because twice a day, during the high tides, the road will be covered with salty ocean water. Salt water is not good for our mules, even if they are adventure mules. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4914/...89c1f06d_o.jpg The island’s website lists the safe times to travel across the causeway for each day. Although the website said it wasn’t safe until 10:05 AM, these folks are already on their way at 09:50. I think we’ll wait a bit... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4894/...95e5a5aa_o.jpg ... and take pictures of this guy chilling just behind a concrete barrier. Aweeeeee! https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4888/...06b7ef9f_o.jpg Crossing the causeway was no problem; although there was a short section of about 6 inch deep salt water to cross. Just before entering the town, you must park in a large paid-parking area. I imagine this keeps traffic within the small community to a minimum and provides a bit of income to a town that seems to flourish because of visitors. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7826/...5f8d880b_o.jpg A small bird sits on the cross inscribed with the Latin abbreviation “Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm” or "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4823/...d63da174_o.jpg A nicely decorated window sill in the village of Holy Island. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7918/...a66341c0_o.jpg A nature display showing that there is more to the island than just the village and castle. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4834/...2666ebbc_o.jpg Bird stickers hopefully keeps folks (and birds) from bumping into the glass. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4897/...b981fb73_o.jpg The flooring in the visitor’s center challenges you to find the bird that matches the “foot” print. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4898/...61e89baf_o.jpg The extreme tide not only effects access to the island but access to your sailboat as well. These boats have specially designed twin keels to support the weight of the boat as it sits on the muddy bottom. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4876/...b2ca2800_o.jpg Boats, a small village, walking trails - my kind of place. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4905/...04737463_o.jpg Just up the road is the Lindisfarne Castle, a 16th-century castle built on a hill overlooking the North Sea. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7848/...5c3859a4_o.jpg Fall flowers in full bloom, a nice breeze, sunny skies – a perfect day! https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4825/...ccc66588_o.jpg A small garden provides a diversion from the hustle and bustle of tourists at the castle. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4808/...9c2008f6_o.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4914/...7d62c553_o.jpg A sculpture of a Snipe made from twisted branches. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7805/...c70e6bdd_o.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4845/...7db889ac_o.jpg Flying with the Snipe. |
Day 21 - Thu, 13 Sep (continued...)
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7910/...b58a17b9_o.jpg
The rocky beach is full of hundreds of cairns. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4836/...6bb600b0_o.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4817/...54d41dcf_o.jpg Many folks place the round rocks, from the beach, to form all kinds of shapes. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7842/...604ded2b_o.jpg Next to the castle are the Castle Point Lime Kilns that were used for the calcification of limestone to produce the form of lime called quicklime. These kilns have not been used since the 1880s but are surprisingly well preserved. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7825/...2b9ff919_o.jpg A recycled boat hull is cut on half to produce the roof and walls of this storage shed. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7816/...dc908124_o.jpg Lindisfarne Castle from the rocky beach. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7881/...9b669e63_o.jpg Seaweed with its pods is exposed at low tide. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7909/...b985a42e_o.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7866/...6b73a13f_o.jpg On our way back to the parking lot we walked through town... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4895/...38e3c71e_o.jpg ...and enjoying a lunch of some creme of celeriac soup at The Ship Inn. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7854/...8c4147ca_o.jpg Some artwork and trinkets above the fireplace at The Ship Inn. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7821/...760daaf9_o.jpg A scarf with the UK flag hangs from a coat-hook at The Ship Inn. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4821/...037fb8b2_o.jpg A lion head door knocker in the town of Holy Island. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4826/...5cfb033d_o.jpg Local venders were selling fresh fruit and vegetables along the road. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4833/...f416061e_o.jpg We left the island well before the tide started raising so that we wouldn’t be like this poor chap. |
Day 21 - Thu, 13 Sep (continued...)
After Holy Island, our next stop was Northumberlandia. Northumberlandia? Sounds like a ferry-tale kinda place!? What is it? It’s 1.5 million tons of earth from a neighboring mine formed into the shape of a reclining female figure.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4896/...e4fbb25e_o.jpg A small cafe and visitors center are at the entrance area. There is no cost to park or visit the park. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4882/...04bbdcf6_o.jpg The sculpture is is 34 meters (112 feet) high and 400 meters (1,300 feet) long. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4863/...f3a98d14_o.jpg From the parking area you walk through a small forest. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4890/...d2174e12_o.jpg The trail has some surprises like this tiny home for Smurfs. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4884/...39564f7c_o.jpg The Lady of the North! Her face and chest are visible from the viewing point. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7867/...f268a054_o.jpg Chantil standing on the... (get your mind out of the gutter!)...viewing hill, located next to the Lady of the North. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7801/...470a93bb_o.jpg On her forehead is this sculpture of a hand and pointing finger. What does it mean? What is it for?? https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7807/...87be6607_o.jpg Picking your nose, I guess?!? https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7881/...af661e27_o.jpg View of the Lady of the North looking down from her forehead. You can see her nose and eyes in the foreground. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7911/...bb5f0b05_o.jpg On her chest is a small plaque pointing to another sculpture – The Angel of the North. Hmm, we’ll have to look that one up. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4895/...72458dac_o.jpg A section of her hip is sculpted with a sitting area to enjoy the green grass and blue sky. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4818/...4daee098_o.jpg The visitors center has an overhead view of the lady. Drones are not allowed due to close proximity to a nearby airport. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7859/...f8feca77_o.jpg A mosaic of the Lady of the North. After exploring the hills and walkways of Northumberlandia we made our way a bit further south to this sculpture titled… https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4911/...5400105a_o.jpg Angel of the North; a contemporary piece, designed by Antony Gormley. Chantil is as the base of the statue for size comparison. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4834/...740e0a62_o.jpg The area is also an informal memorial with items hanging from nearby trees that were placed in memory of those who passed on. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4845/...701fb352_o.jpg The problem I had with this sculpture is the location. From the freeway, you only see the very top of it over the treeline... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4843/...7a94b36c_o.jpg ...I wished it has been placed on top of a mountain and visible from all compass directions. Even so, it was worth the short stop. We continued south. Found a Chinese takeout place. Ate it in the parking lot; something homeless people and motorcycle travelers seem to do. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4884/...94e3cd18_o.jpg For dessert, we shared this Snickers bar and learned a new British word. Faffer: A fussy, indecisive individual, prone to procrastination, dithering between tasks, and who is easily distracted and achieves very little. In-two-minds, he/she flops from one thing to another and starts all over again. We entered the North York Moors National Park where I was expecting a forested area but was surprised by the beauty of the wide-open plains. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4915/...ec08ae97_o.jpg Watch out for sheep! Initially, Chantil would call them out via the Bluetooth headset, but after a km of this, we realized it was futile - There were just too many sheep. At least sheep are not skittish like deer; they seem indifferent to passing vehicles. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7907/...0ee946e4_o.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4901/...18fa365a_o.jpg Enjoying the sunset and gorgeous views. North York Moors NP, you surprised me! https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4855/...d01f2bd6_o.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4804/...b99b02a5_o.jpg I even found a trail that was a bit fun for riding my off-road mule through. I wanted to take it down the hill a bit more, but it looked like it didn’t go anywhere that we could camp for the night. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4891/...7023047e_o.jpg A stone cross just off the road at North York Moors National Park. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4869/...b93629b9_o.jpg We rode until just after sunset and found a place to camp in a field next to the White Lion Inn. Cost £5. One of cheapest places we’ve camped the whole trip! It also came with some great views once we found an area for the tent that was clear of sheep crap. Dumb sheep seem to crap everywhere. Tomorrow we continue south through England. I’m starting to feel a bit saddened that we only have two days left of vacation… |
Day 22 - Fri, 14 Sep:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7876/...4589b301_o.jpg
261 km. Our trip through England continues south. From North York Moors National Park (A) to York (B), Needles Eye (C), Nottingham (D) and camping at Kelham Hall Camp Site (E). https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4865/...7dfe1c39_o.jpg We packed and left early enough to spend all morning in York. A little wet this morning, but not too bad. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7894/...ae6ede24_o.jpg Good morning random sheep chilling on the side of the road! We arrived in York early enough to see shop owners getting ready to open their businesses for the day. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7836/...38bb1321_o.jpg York Glass provides a fun way to see York and provides a free map for finding the 22 lucky cats York. Gotta’ catch ‘em all! They also sell a bit of luck in the form of a glass cat. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7921/...a846a4ee_o.jpg Here is the map. Two routes are offered; one for an easy walk, and another for a longer walk. We ended up doing both routes – after all, isn’t it unlucky not to find all the cats? https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7865/...f7f8dacd_o.jpg Here’s one climbing the side of the wall! Spider Cat!! https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7876/...18ed2b77_o.jpg A hand-drawn map shows the town of York, unfortunately without the cats, however there are two dogs. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4834/...109d2e22_o.jpg Another cat! This one is a bit ghostly! https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7866/...32b740ca_o.jpg A lady with a cool hat caught the attention of my camera. She was just sitting next to a storefront window taking notes or drawing. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4906/...614cb119_o.jpg Some of the bright artwork on the market window. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7869/...66ba210a_o.jpg Another cat! This one is on the hunt for a pigeon. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7889/...5e88808a_o.jpg The town has a great Victorian feel to it with artwork on the stone walls. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4878/...968e4a0e_o.jpg The York Cathedral is never too far away and provides bearings through the curvy streets. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4849/...a690f93a_o.jpg This is a bronze cat with his own ledge. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4805/...08fc2247_o.jpg Another colorful map of York, UK. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4903/...00874bb7_o.jpg NOT one of the cats. This one is NOT LUCKY. If you see this one stab it in the brain with the largest machete you can find. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7857/...6c27499c_o.jpg Clifford's Tower. Built originally in 1068, on the orders of William I, to dominate the former Viking city of York. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7860/...9ee94773_o.jpg Geese enjoy grazing on the green grass at Tower Gardens. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7827/...9cee4390_o.jpg Ferry boats pass each other on the River Ouse. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4899/...343a9a8c_o.jpg A cat peering over the edge of one of the stores entrances. |
Day 22 - Fri, 14 Sep (continued…)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4862/...781686d8_o.jpg
A bright and cheery street where shops of all flavors are selling their wares. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4891/...1c5c9830_o.jpg City of York Coat of Arms decorates a street corner. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7923/...3d445151_o.jpg The stained-glass window in the St. Martin le Grand. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7879/...d3b38676_o.jpg Close-up of the stained glass. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7926/...66224539_o.jpg A reminder of those who bravely took to the skies to protect York from Luftwaffe bombers during WWII. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4857/...5371293a_o.jpg Krispy Kreme donuts in England! A bit of Americana here in the UK! We asked the cashier if there was a place nearby that had freshly made HOT LIGHT Krispy Kremes. He didn’t know what we were talking about. Brother, you are missing out if you’ve never experienced a freshly glazed Krispy Kreme! https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4891/...4e4e031a_o.jpg I only ate two! Promise. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4910/...68d0059a_o.jpg These small bronze studs marks the wall trail - another interesting way to explore York. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4886/...e3d133f9_o.jpg The walls of York have stood since 71 AD when they were built by the Romans. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7847/...8b7d45f9_o.jpg The Stonegate Devil is a reference to the printer’s apprentice and assistant, who was responsible for carrying hot metal type. In printing folklore, a particular type of demon haunted every print-shop, performing mischief such as inverting type, misspelling words or removing lines of completed type. Over time, the source of these errors was transferred to the printer’s assistant, who retained the nickname ‘the printer’s devil.’ https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7902/...0a9d9253_o.jpg An interesting orange color of paint made the French based L'OCCITANE EN PROVENCE boutique stand out from the rest. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7812/...f4ea2b33_o.jpg The York Minster is so large that it’s difficult to take a picture of the entire thing. The best I could do was these smaller sections. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7870/...3f496cc5_o.jpg The church and cathedral were finished in 1472. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4879/...2db2ae00_o.jpg We didn’t go inside but I wish we had after finding out the Great East Window is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the country. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7906/...066e6cca_o.jpg Much of the medieval York still remains. After York we rode to an interesting site that we discovered on the Atlas Obscura website called the Needles Eye. A fun story behind this creation. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7854/...911d33b1_o.jpg What would you do to save face after making a £10 wager that you could drive horses and a wagon through the eye of a needle? https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4821/...b9f3be88_o.jpg If you were Marquis of Rockingham in 1730, you would have had Mason John Carr built this 46-foot-tall pyramid... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4875/...d20b79f9_o.jpg ...just so you could prove to your friends that you could indeed drive a team of horses and wagon through “the eye of a needle”. All this for a £10 bet! Our next location was not planned until last night. I remember watching Walt Disney’s Robin Hood as a kid but had no idea that a place called Nottingham and Sherwood Forest were real places! Off to see Major Oak and perhaps Robin Hood as well! Unfortunately, by the time we arrived the visitors center and access to the park was closed. I suppose if we wanted to live the spirit of Robin Hood, we would have defied the law and rode our motorcycles into the forest and camped by Major Oak. Going to jail or being fined in a foreign country is not my idea of a vacation, so we ended up camping nearby at the Kelham Hall Camp Site. Tomorrow is our last day in England… |
Day 23 - Sat, 15 Sep - Final Day:
Our final day of a spirited motorcycle adventure through England, Whales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, and Scotland comes to an ending today. Of course, we are saddened by this, but we are also extremely grateful for this opportunity. As my late father-in-law always said "Remember the good." It’s been a great adventure!!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7806/...9bd15364_o.jpg A final 310km push! A morning of Nottingham Forest (B), followed by a Land Rover convention, Ely Cathedral (C), and finally ending the trip at the Harwich Ferry Dock (D) to return to mainland Europe. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4868/...d779dcbe_o.jpg As close to camping in Nottingham Forest as we could get - camping in a small forest at Kelham Hall. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7862/...bf30c642_o.jpg The current Kelham Hall was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and completed in 1863. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7895/...a61b703e_o.jpg The Kelham Hall stands on 52 acres of land that includes Victorian gardens and statues. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4853/...ce462036_o.jpg Many consider Kelham Hall to be a masterpiece of high Victorian Gothic architecture, entirely asymmetrical, with a gloriously irregular skyline, and crowning 'grandiloquent' towers. *Wikipedia words - not mine. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4889/...a0102dda_o.jpg We walked around the entire residence and enjoyed seeing some of the less frequently visited sides of the hall. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4838/...b8a7b737_o.jpg The Union Jack, the national flag of the United Kingdom. We left Kelham Hall to Sherwood Forest to see Robin Hood - the animated, talking, red fox of my childhood memories. I wonder how tall he is? https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7857/...f1bbc6d8_o.jpg A clear, blue skies day, without having to wear rain gear! We parked (motorcycles were free) and hiked a short distance to see the elderly lady known as… https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4827/...a4a3d0e7_o.jpg …Major Oak! This legendary 800 to 1,000-year old Oak Tree looks a bit aged with braces to support her sagging limbs. Major Oak is rumored to be a hangout of Robin Hood and his Marry Men. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4872/...fe57ecb2_o.jpg Chantil stands next to a sign explaining the short history of Major Oak. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7913/...8c822c68_o.jpg Acorns from the Sherwood Forest!! I know, it weird that I’m fascinated with Sherwood Forest being a REAL PLACE. I just had no idea until a few days ago! https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7899/...9a048cf1_o.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7801/...c17d7106_o.jpg A cluster of unique mushrooms. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4860/...c3d97cb9_o.jpg Fun signs indicate items are hiding throughout the forest path... https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7909/...b76653ba_o.jpg ...like Robin Hood’s hat. Although Sherwood Forest and Major Oak are real, it’s seems that an animated, talking, red-colored fox, named Robin Hood is not. Big childhood let-down folks!! In fact, no real record of a “Robin Hood” even exist and it’s been debated since the 13th century. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4887/...444cced4_o.jpg The new visitors center was recently opened to the public just three weeks ago and features fun drawings of Sherwood Forest. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4880/...e6eff5e3_o.jpg Kids draw and display their own versions of Robin Hood. After learning about him, I feel he was more of poacher than a charismatic leader running around the forest in attractive green tights. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4837/...b117681a_o.jpg I still think the talking and animated red fox is as good of a guess of who Robin Hood really was. *Picture from Disney’s Robin Hood https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4808/...55a32857_o.jpg A fun Lego figure of the famed Robin Hood! Although, I still believe he was a talking fox. After we left Nottingham Forest, we made good time on the freeway but were distracted by signs pointing to a Land Rover convention. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4870/...c6903c0e_o.jpg These are some of my favorite vehicles, so we stopped to admire rows and rows of custom Discoverys and Defenders. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4877/...0c673167_o.jpg Fun vinyl stickers. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7821/...aff02394_o.jpg Riding through the grass field where thousands of custom Land Rovers are parked! We continued along on a beautiful and sunny-day. Actually it was beautiful, until we ran into a traffic mess on the A14. It turns out that southbound traffic on the A14 was completely shut down! Who shuts down an entire freeway on a weekend? It was a mass of metal and frustrated drivers. We had to find a way around and this delayed us for about 30-40 minutes. Such is life... |
Day 23 - Sat, 15 Sep - Final Day (continued…)
The small city of Ely’s crown jewel is the impressive Ely Cathedral. Its origins date back to AD 672 when St. Etheldreda built an abbey church. The present building dates back to 1083, and cathedral status was granted it in 1109.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4873/...12493f2f_o.jpg An impressive cathedral that stands 66 meters (216 ft) tall at its main entrance and west tower. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7804/...4f474d1f_o.jpg The delay on the A14 freeway turned out to be a blessing because just as we arrived, a new bride and groom were leaving which allowed us to capture this memory. We wish them the best! https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7830/...c985dcd9_o.jpg The cathedral is quite impressive considering the relatively small size of Ely with a population of just 20k. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7910/...68af03c5_o.jpg The octagonal tower forms the most distinctive and celebrated feature of the cathedral. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4830/...46a16960_o.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7818/...0949acf5_o.jpg The impressive Octagon as seem from inside looking towards the Choir. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4821/...9ecbcf59_o.jpg The Octagon was actually born out of an accident; in 1322 the central crossing tower collapsed. It was enlarged to form the octagon instead of being restored to its original size and square shape. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7916/...b9570cc9_o.jpg A modern sculpture of Jesus Christ hangs from the Nave. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4853/...e27cb181_o.jpg Some of the amazing detail and biblical stories told via the stained-glass windows. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4865/...5cbcfc1d_o.jpg A weeping cherub mourns the death of a prominent religious leader. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7822/...0eea6d02_o.jpg Looking towards the West Tower from beneath the Octagon. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7845/...87cac8a1_o.jpg A modern statue titled Christ and Saint Mary Magdalene by sculptor David Wynne, depicts the moment when Mary recognizes Jesus on the morning of the resurrection. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4853/...a1030194_o.jpg The detailed roof artwork of the nave section of the cathedral. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4889/...738752dc_o.jpg Meridiana by Heleine Blumenfeld. An exhibition titled “Tree of Life” by nationally acclaimed artist and contemporary sculptor Helaine Blumenfeld was on display throughout the cathedral. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7918/...735ab3f4_o.jpg Prayer candles flicker inside the vastness of the cathedral walls. After the Ely Cathedral we did a bit of walking around the shopping square nearby. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4898/...baef56e9_o.jpg A memorial to soldiers who fought for England’s freedom and way of life. The red poppies on the lapel of the soldiers marks the 100 years since the end of WWI. By now it was late afternoon, and many of the shops were closing for the evening. We continued along two-lane roads to Harwich where we would be catching our ferry to the Netherlands. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7846/...21300061_o.jpg We came across this roadside table selling pears (not apples?) where you select a bag of fruit and then leave the money in a jar. I love when the honesty system works! By the way, the pears were delicious! https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4877/...05fb6fc4_o.jpg This large and powerful Clydesdale came to the fence to see our funny looking mules. We made our way to the Harwich Ferry Dock where we received our boarding passed for us and the mules. Unfortunately, we had to wait in the parking lot for 1 hour, 20 minutes before boarding. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7843/...232b6593_o.jpg Time to board the MV Stena Hollandica for an overnight crossing of the English Channel to the Netherlands. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4897/...bced3093_o.jpg We had a private cabin with an outside view way up on the 10th floor for this 8-hour journey back to mainland Europe. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7836/...12ee9a26_o.jpg The many stairways and artwork showing different European destinations. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4918/...ae7befe9_o.jpg A nicely appointed ferry. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7913/...4e4a9ac6_o.jpg Here’s our room! We quickly unpacked and then made our way to the dining area for a final meal of our grand 23-day UK and Ireland adventure. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4909/...78472e61_o.jpg We enjoyed a great dinner with excellent food and service. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4892/...32390c7d_o.jpg The next morning, we awoke to this amazing sunrise as we entered Hoek van Holland. More of Europe awaits exploring. I can’t wait until the next motorcycle adventure in 2019.... |
wonderful photos of a great adventure :scooter:
Quote:
|
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 13:24. |