Sunday, May 7, 2023

Going Home Again

Do you have a place that, when you think of it, just makes you warm all over?  Aromas might involuntarily come to you, as you look at photos from this special locale.  Recalling the place might bring on a little shiver of anticipation.  One memory cascades into another, just begging for new memories to be created, all while being in the moment.  The above sentences are my feeble attempt to capture the emotions racing through me as I consider our upcoming trip to the UK - the childhood home of my husband and my adopted home.  

As usual, I am way behind on blogging about our LAST trip - October 2022, but better late than never.  This blog shows just one day, and it shouldn't be surprising that it features a walk in the countryside, one of our favorite things to do anywhere, but certainly in the UK!

The Tees Railway Path is a 10 km route that provides an excellent way to discover Teesdale.  The Tees Valley Railway was the remnant of a plan for a line from Barnard Castle to Aston.  It was opened in 1868 by an independent company and was taken over by the North East Railway in 1882.  The line closed in 1964 and is now a fabulous way to explore Teesdale on foot.


And not too far from the church?  Stocks!!!



Sheep are ubiquitous on a countryside stroll in the UK, but I was especially tickled by one white sheep in the field - perhaps the "white sheep" of the family?


Part of the trail borders on Balder Banks Woods, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1991.  The steep and barely accessible slopes within the woods have allowed the vegetation and wildlife to flourish - they have been virtually undisturbed for several decades.  The designation ensures the protection of the flora and fauna.


 

 

For me, I cannot resist pausing in admiration of ancient trees - I love imagining all that these trees might have witnessed below their branches.

The trail descends and we reach the River Balder.  Just to the left of the picture below are the ruins of the Balder Mill, in operation from the 1700s to the early 1900s.  At that time, problems of water supply resulting from the construction of the Hury Reservoir brought about its closure.  

Would you like a couple minutes of tranquility?  Check out the video of the small waterfall, nestled among the moss and ferns.  Some golden leaves are caught upon the rocks, and yet most of the trees stand fully clothed in glossy green.


I love bridges - many have a symmetry that appeals to me.  Maybe it's a deeper meaning that grabs my imagination - "crossing over", or a bridge as something that is intended to reconcile or form a connection between two things or two groups.

The moist environment is an ideal location for lichen and fungi - so beautiful in their own way.



And it was about to get more moist!  It began to rain, softly at first and then with intention.  But I couldn't resist this friendly sheep, which walked right up to me as I passed through its field.  I shared this photo with my Dear Neighbor Friend, who knows a thing or two about sheep and goats.  She said this must have been a hand-reared sheep to approach me so readily.  I think she's right - for the 30+ years I have been walking the footpaths of England, this had never happened before!  UK, here I come!

***

Linking to Leeanna's Not Afraid of Color for I Like Thursday.  The prompt for May 11 is:  do you have a favorite musical style?  What kind of music calms you, makes you want to dance, or stimulates you creatively?  Generally, I am into country music (Sugarland is a favorite), modern Christian music (I love Lauren Daigle and Anne Wilson), and old school folk music such as Gordon Lightfoot (so sad he passed recently).  The folk and Christian music is my solace; country is my muse for creativity (also good for cleaning the house!)  If I want to dance, I would rather turn to a "party" play list expertly compiled by the Spousal Unit - we love to dance together!

Linking to Saturday's Critters

Linking to Mosaic Monday

28 comments:

  1. How lovely that you can return to the UK once again. I've only visited it once, but would love to go again and again. So much history, so many wonderful sights. Thank you for sharing them with us.

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  2. ...I hope that you will have a fun and safe trip.

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  3. Wonderful photos. You obviously had a grand time. I, too, love ancient trees. They speak of their strength and dignity! Thank you! Cathy

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  4. Even though it is not home for me, I take joy in returning to Great Britain for discovering more of it. So many old things to enjoy there. Thanks for taking us back to our trip in October.

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  5. What a beautiful place for walking! Safe travel and wonderful time in UK!

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  6. Oh Angie, I so enjoyed this post, I found it so relaxing.
    Enjoy your upcoming trip to the UK.

    Safe travels and enjoyable travels are wished for you.

    All the best Jan

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  7. Such a beautiful place, we love seeing all of those lovely places!

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  8. So beautiful!! I do love the ancient trees, woodlands and ruin in UK. Have a great trip!

    -Soma

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  9. Dear Angie - I like a walk in countryside. When it comes to overseas, especially countryside in Britain, where nature and historical things are so attractive to me. It’s a shame that I’ve never been there in person. I also admire massive aged tree which looks almost divine. It would have witnessed fleeting prosperity and decline of mankind.
    Yoko

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  10. Don't worry I am way behind on blogging to. For me going out to the wheatbelt feels like going home, even though I have never lived there. However both my mother and father came from the wheatbelt, and my sister married a farmer in the wheatbelt, so the wheatbelt has always been associated with family, and feels like coming home. Ps I love bridges too! Enjoy your week and safe travels.

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  11. What a great place to explore. Have a wonderful and safe trip.

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  12. Hello Angie :=)
    Thank you for your visit. The UK has many beauty spots, and I enjoyed your photos immensely. They are places I would enjoy visiting myself just for the tranquillity and beauty of nature. Enjoy your trip and return with more lovely photos.
    All the best.

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  13. well, my long long comment just bloop! went away. No reason, just tormenting me... anyway, the abbreviated comment... I loved your travel photos, I'm the white sheep of my family, your musical styles are so like others in the group, I think of the prompts like a worldwide party chat! I don't love country but like sugarland sound too
    LeeAnna

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  14. Yes indeed, Angie, rememberings makes all senses vibrate. Our feelings are dominated by many thoughts on the past.

    Thank you so much for this jouney, I enjoyed reading. Thank you too, being part of

    MosaicMonday

    Hugs by Heidrun

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  15. Looks like you're visiting a beautiful place! Love the waterfall and the sheep, too. Have a wonderful time!

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  16. Oh I am so jealous! :D What beautiful scenery, and thank you for sharing - feel free to share more. It all looks so peaceful.
    I have been an anglophile most of my life. If I could I would start in London, over to Wales, then make my way up through England to Scotland (DNA roots - yay!).
    You and I have very similar tastes in music. I haven't listened to Christian music in a long time - I need to again.
    Happy Mother's Day!

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  17. great place to visit...
    thank you for sharing beautiful photos and interesting video..... love it.

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  18. I'm not sure I have a place that comes to mind when I want peace, I like so many places. Wonderful pictures of your walk. I'll be going to the UK this August with a friend on tour, but doubt we'll be hiking. Lots of sight seeing, am looking forward to the history of it all. Enjoy.

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  19. if this place was my home I would never leave it! :)

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  20. Hello,
    Beautiful photos from your travels. The sheep are so cute. Love the waterfall, the church and pretty scenery. Sorry, I am late commenting! Thanks so much for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great day and the rest of the week! PS, thank you for leaving me a comment

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  21. Safe travels! I've never been to the UK, but my mom's side of the family hails from there. I love the sun, so I'm glad they jumped the pond.

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  22. Dear Angie, just when I see the first photo of you with the sheep in the lush green meadow, I understand with all my heart why you love this place. I feel the same - places with sheep are simply the best in the world 😊 The flock of sheep with the one white sheep in the family is also very funny πŸ˜‰ The rainy walk with you was nice. Funnily enough, I'm also taking you to a humid, green area with lots of bridges in my blog at the moment - but it's further away from Europe and closer to the USA, because I'm talking about Monteverde in Costa Rica...
    Enjoy your time in good old England!
    All the best 🌱🌿🌱, Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2023/05/costa-rica-11-kapitel-monteverde.html

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  23. I really enjoy following your walks in the country -- so special. I occasionally enjoy watching British canal boat videos on you-tube (Got interested in them because we were once fortunate to take a day cruise on a private narrow boat and would have loved to do more of them). The videos are very relaxing way to end a stressful day both because of the water and the glimpses of the beautiful countryside.

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  24. Beautiful photos Angie! It is so nice that England feels like home to you, Angie, and I'm sure your husband also cherishes being home again for awhile. My husband loves going back to his small town in Italy, and so do I, although we don't get back there too often. There is only one cousin left in his town as most moved north over the years, and almost his aunts and uncles have passed away. We were so happy we saw his uncles and one aunt in Genoa a few years ago as they have passed away since. Enjoy your travels!

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  25. Trying again. My comment seems to have disappeared. My apologies if it comes through twice. So much eye candy with your gorgeous photos!

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  26. Wonderful for you to be going back again. So many lovely photos.

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