Carlisle-Winter Wonderland

This has been a wonderful day! This morning I decided to go to Carlisle on the train by myself. (After all, I am a big girl now) It was a beautiful morning. The sky was blue and the air was crisp. There were still icy puddles, so it must have been freezing. As I sat on the platform waiting for the train, the sun was against my back and it felt warm and cozy.

I boarded the train at 11:25. It is a two hour trip to Carlisle. I have never seen such spectacular scenery. This is considered to be England�s most scenic rail line. We kept climbing higher and higher into the moors. There were remnants of snow in the shady spots, such as next to the stone fences. Sheep were dotted all over the meadows, little becks ran down off the moors, sometimes falling is cascades down toward the river. As we approached the town of Dent, we began to see trekkers out on the moors. Near Blea Moor there were dozens of people out walking. The undulating hills seemed to go on forever. The higher peaks were covered with snow. We went through several tunnels.

Carlisle has been called the Key to England. In the numerous wars and skirmishes with the Scots, Carlisle has been the defensive line for the English. It is just below the border. For that reason it was once a walled city with a castle where troops were garrisoned. I got to tour the castle.

But the special part of the day was the absolute Holiday Spirit that prevailed everywhere. The streets were full of shoppers; everyone seemed happy; there seemed to be no rushing or worrying; there was a merry-go-round in the town center; colored lights were strung across the street; store windows were decorated; carols were playing, and then the perfect moment came while I was having lunch in an upstairs tearoom with a big picture window. You guessed it...it started to snow. I mean really snowing!It snowed all afternoon. The ground was covered, the bushes were weighted down and I even got a picture of white roses blooming through the snow. No one was trying to get out of the snow. It just added to the atmosphere. When it got dark about 4:00, the snow reflected the colored lights and it was a real Winter Wonderland. I felt happy.

I caught the 4:23 train back to Skipton. All along the way we picked up trekkers who had been out on the moors all day. They looked tired, cold and happy. I must try that.

So ends another day in England. The kettle is ready for me to make tea; I brought a mince pie from Carlisle and it is time for the soaps to come on.

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