Traveling North
5 Jan 2014
South of Peterborough, the first stop on this line to the North from London: lots of water seemingly out of the banks of a river. I notice a canal boat on the river, very picturesque: black and red and green with decorations. It reminds me that you can go on cruises on the canal system of England. Looking on a map, you can do this primarily in the midlands and north country, not the southwest where we will be, but could be a nice long weekend trip; closest to us would be one out of Bath.
The countryside: long sloping hills, green green fields divided by hedges or rows of short trees. In some places the fields look plowed or newly planted; reminds me of spring trips to Illinois with water standing in fields’ low places or between the rows. I wonder what is planted here, and is the water a normal part of spring? Is this spring?
Small town seen amidst the fields, dominated by the church; everything grey stone work.
Just north of Doncaster, amidst the rolling fields, suddenly eight nuclear reactor towers spewing steam high into the sky. Always thought it was so silly to use nuclear power to boil water! Especially given the Japanese reactor problems; well, really lots of problems through time with these reactors. We are so hungry for the electricity, that we forget the cost: generations of vigilence for spent nuclear fuel and the potential contamination with its health risks.
The train station at York, complete with white brick-a-brack on the roof edges of platform shelters. Really seems like another world.
North Allerton – we are opposite the North York Moors National Park. Don’t know if I can see it; would I know a moor if I saw one? I think I do: a high area, almost mountainous, blue in the distance rising over the fields.
More sheep up here, some with red wool on their flanks (later I find out these are ownership marks) . More water standing in fields. Seagulls must be the national bird – they are everywhere from London to the north. They love the flooding of course. And there are some birch-like trees too.
18 min to Durham; time to put away the toys and get ready to hop off the train with rolling briefcase, portable CPAP machine and a 45# suitcase! I travel heavy.
Along the way to Durham the terrain changes dramatically to tree covered hills, reminding me of upNorth Michigan. But I don’t suppose they call this ‘upNorth’ (I’ve learned that they call it the North East). Then suddenly we’re gliding into Durham with rows and rows of terraced houses stepping down the hillsides. On the far side the castle and cathedral rise over the valley. The castle, built in 1066, will be my home for the next week. Could it possibly be that old?
The Cathedral at Durham
I am ensconced on the 7th floor of the ‘Keep’. The view is expansive looking back across the valley towards the train station and the countryside. But, I can immediately see why it is called a ‘Keep’. Once you go up those seven flights of stairs, you want to be sure that you’re going to make the minimum number of trips each day! I feel a little like a damsel put away in the tower up here (I read all about that in those King Arthur stories when I was a kid). And no wifi either. Help! help! Where is my knight in shining armor? How will I let him know where I am?
The Castle at Durham; I am living on the top floor of the building in the center of picture.
Found your blog! Loving it…thanks! What an adventure…what a hike to your place!