April 7, 2012, Saturday -- Spent most of the day hanging around in Morcambe with Auntie Dee.  Shane got stuck out on a jetty with Raynna and Kerrinh.  We were only out there for 10 minutes; the tide came in so fast.  Luckily, a nearby boatman rescued the stupid Americans.  We were quite the spectacles, drew a crowd including the coast guard.  The coast guard said they were very close to calling out their hovercraft to get us.  A bit extreme, really we could have just waited until the tide went back out--about an hour.  Yet another humiliating event to mark a lesson learned.

The god forsaken jetty!

April 6, 2012, Friday -- We made a quick visit in Lancaster today to see Lancaster Castle.  They do not allow screaming and otherwise unruly kids, so we forewent the tour; thank you very much Cedar Kai.  Ended up being a lunchon which was much needed.  We are now at our Aunti Dee's for an overnight visit.  She made an increadible dinner and spoiled the kids with strawberry shortcake.  Aunty Dee has a great pad in Morecombe. 

All we really saw of Lanscaster Castle.  That's okay Cedar, we didn't need a guided tour of a castle all the way across the Atlantic, we have enough of these in the States.  Yeh, don't worry you little @!^%, Mom and I will get to do this when you are off to college, when Dad is in a wheel chair.  In fact, it will be even more fun bombing down the Castle hall on two wheels.  Thanks bud!

April 5, 2012, Thursday -- Shane woke up at early finally (6:30) and got a run up to the fell, had a sit with beautiful sunrise.  Got back before anyone knew I was gone.  The kids and Shane, walked around town, the promenade playground, duck pond for picnic and took the train to Arnside, while Nicole had quality time with Gran.  Shane enjoyed a Guinness on tap at Arside -- he absolutely loves public transportation!

Footpath leading away from town toward fell.  The path eventually leads through a farm, something you would see in a fairytale story.  It feels like I'm intruding on the privacy of the land owners, but it's a public right-of-way.  Cultural mentality of land ownership here is a bit different than the private property rights in the States.

 Wind blown dwarf trees at the top of the fell; calm winds are a rarity here.

Above - View northward, mountains in the lake district.  The Photo does no justice.  Stone walls seem to crisscross through the landscape endlessly.  Right - Shane's sitting spot; not a soul in site on the early morning run.

Proud Cedar Kai at the height he has reached on this perfect climbing tree.  Raynna falls from the same tree after relying on a weak branch.  She is saved on a perfect sloping branch that she catches on her rump.  She is in tears and shaken from the event; I'm initially scared shitless that she could have easily had a good trip to the ER.  Whether you believe in divinity or not, there are blessings in life, there are blessings in life.

Afternoon fish and chips in Arnside.  Note: Dad's sacred Guinness in foreground.

We haven't had access to a computer for a couple of days.  The local library has very limited hours.  April 4, 2012, Wednesday -- We took the kids up to Grizedale  forest.  Grizedale is a multi-use forest, much more intense use than the equivalent but much larger scale National Forest in the US.  The trail systems accommodate hiking, mountain biking, and motor cross.  The outdoor contingency in the UK is huge, but with less area to accommodate it.  So use of public lands seems much more intense.  Along the trails at Grizedale are numerous sculptures made of various materials mainly collected from the forest.  The are some random out of place metal sculptures but they usually have some related theme with the forest.  The kids loved the playground at the park and Kerrinh was intrigued by the zip line course that they have for those to challenge the heights.  Nicole and Shane dream about being able to really explore the trails, but for now, we are confined to the 1 mile child alarm.

Lake Windermere east of Grizedale Forest, lake district.

G

April 3, 2012, Tuesday -- Another day with late morning; we haven't quite adjusted to the time change.  Being away from work and home, my body just wants to sleep all the time.  Today, we took the kids up to Lakeside to the aquarium and a quick run on the Lakeside and Haverthwait Railway, an old steam engine train that resembles Thomas the tank engine of course.  After returning to Gran's house, we took an after dinner walk down on the promenade (a walkway along Morecambe Bay) and then the duck pond.  The extent of landscaping and gardening in the town of Grange Over Sands is non short than incredible; seems like every square inch of this place is beautiful.  Kerrinh's favorite part of the trip was watching the otters play at the aquarium.  Raynna enjoyed the butterfly project she did at the library (folding paper in half over globs of paint and then unfolding the paper to reveal the magic of asymmetry) and viewing the ducks and flowers at the duck pond.  Cedar loved the train ride of course.  Wish I had more photos of the late day, but the camera battery crashed.

 Cedar and Raynna are obsessed with the upside down scarecrow along one of the town walking paths.

  Kerrinh and Raynna had fun swinging in the baby swings that they were much too big to use. 

Cedar and I surfed on the top of the play train. 

April 2, 2012 - Monday - we had a very late lazy morning, trying to get over jet lag.  Went to library to use their computers, since we are not having much luck with Nicole's laptop.  Stopped at bank to get some pounds and then the local butcher for a couple of meat pies and pasties--yummy.  Nicole and I took the kids for a hike up Hampsfeild Fell just north of town.  Ordinances prevent people from developing the highlands and make for absolutely beautiful scenery.  The public walking paths are amazing--wish we had them in America.  The cars are amazing--wish we had them in America.

April 1, 2012 - We made it!  Arrived in Manchester around 8:30 am.  All flight on time and relatively uneventful, as we want them to be.  Kids very excited about flying, especially in the big plane, each passenger seat with their very own monitor for viewing TV and select movies.  After landing in Manchester, we managed to rent a wagon and were off to Grange Over Sands, where Nicole's Gran lives.  After a visit with Gran, we headed out to Humfrey Head, an interesting rock formation that jets out into Morecambe Bay.  The kids had a blast playing on the rocks and in the muddy tidal channels.