Salisbury

The youth hostel here is a big old white house with a huge and interesting juniper tree in front. There were fireworks this evening, some sort of festival on the Cathedral yard. I was in my sox and didn’t go, but it was fun to see the students streaming out of the house and down the lane to see the fireworks. [2003]

The Yorkshire Dales

Malham is a pretty little village in the Dales where we stay only one night before our first long trek over the Pennine Way in Yorkshire. My own literary association to this area is the James Herriot veterinarian series beginning with "All Creatures Great and Small."

Malham Cove is just a mile up the path, a nice walk after supper. To see photos of the top of this large limestone formation, see the blog from 2007.

Janet's Foss was a pretty stopover for people who took the slightly longer route:

Ruskin Museum and Grave, Conniston

Rush write assignment--"defend something" (2007):

Talking with Mike H., I remembered again (with delight) that in Britain, socialism is not a dirty word--in fact, it's a patriotic attitude. Ruskin's ideals of the duty we have to take care of each other and improve the world we leave behind are too often lost or ignored by American First Worlders in the 21st Century. We have more advantages than nearly anyone else who has ever lived on earth, and with those advantages come responsibilities. We're too eager to embrace the Gospel of Wealth, trickle-down economies, or the generally mistaken idea that a rising tide lifts all boats, and forget that improving the lot of our fellow creatures requires smart thoughtful work and resources--including money. We as professed Christians betray our Christian heritage when we look out only for ourselves.

Rydal Mount

We walk from Dove Cottage, Wordsworth's first house, to Rydal Mount, where he lived after he became wealthy and respectable.

Grasmere

Dove Cottage:

Grasmere gingerbread:

Class in the churchyard where Wordsworth is buried:

Keswick

Youth hostel:

chocolate (the first best sign of civilization):

Keswick Green: