We woke up early on Saturday morning to the most gorgeous bright spring sunshine and the whole day stretching deliciously ahead with no plans. We ponder what should we do with this gift of a day and suddenly a little spark of spontaneity ignites. A Picnic Breakfast perhaps? Yes?
Yes!
The idea is met with enthusiasm and we spring into action. As this is a Spontaneous Decision and has not been pre planned, I do not really have much in the way of picnic-breakfast fodder to hand. So I make the best of what I can find. I hard boil four eggs. Make up a stack of strawberry jam sandwiches. Some yoghurt drinks and apples. That'll do, it'll taste divine of course because we will be eating it al fresco and will have a View.
We get dressed and exit the house quite rapidly :: in fact I wear the most ridiculous clothes because I pull them on with speed and without a thought. I wear pale linen trousers with a blue flowery summer vest-dress over the top and a bright magenta long sleeved top on top of the dress. Crocs-and-socks. I brush my teeth but forget my hair, so I go out with serious bed-head (I only realise all this when I go to the toilet mid morning and accidentally catch a frightful sight of myself in a full length mirror).
We are miraculously out the house with a picnic and seating facilities packed by eight thirty AM, journeying the quarter of an hour up the road to Bolton Abbey. There is this little sandy river beach that makes the perfect picnic spot, and although it is often busy with kids and dogs, at this early hour we have it to ourselves. We set up Breakfast Camp with our brand new chairs, bought especially last week with just such an occasion in mind. An occasion where one can park the car in close proximity to the designated picnic spot, meaning that chairs can conveniently replace blankets.
Breakfast is delicious. I would like to tell you that we do this sort of Spontaneous Breakfast Thing all the time, but the truth is we don't. Can you remember this post way back in April of last year? That was the first and last time we did such a thing. But OH!! We MUST do it More Often! Yes, mental note made, lets do it again very very soon, because it was quite the most wonderful start to the weekend.
After breakfast, we go walking through the magnificent woods at Bolton Abbey. It's still only 9.30am and still very few people about. The woodland is absolutely breathtaking, the colours awesome. I recall walking here at a very similar time last year. And I recall being bowled over by the very particular Greeness of this time of year :: it has not diminished one year on, I am bowled over all over again.
The wild garlic carpets the woodland floor, and the smell is incredibly nostalgic for me (as a child, my brother and I used to play in a wood carpeted with wild garlic)
But aside from the abundant greeny-greeness, it's really the bluey-blueness that grabs my attention and makes me hop and squeal and flutter.....
Oh yes, it's bluebell time! Woohoooo!!!!!!
Oooo we point, we exclaim, we oooohhh and aaaahhh, it's all so beautiful!
So instead of walking the flat path along the riverside, we take the high path that climbs up and away from the river, because thats where all the bluebells grow. We wind up and up through the tall trees and the banks of blue and green....
....higher and higher until we can look out across the treetops to the distant moorland of Barden Fell.
After a rest on a rustic wooden bench, we continue onwards....
....onwards through the greeny-green and the bluey-blue....
....through sun dappled shade....
....following the path....
....sometimes strolling, sometimes running.
Eventually the path meanders downhill and we arrive back at the riverside. The Little People, who have been running for much of the way, request a rest stop. So we come off the path and down onto these mossy rocks to sit a while beside the water in the sunshine. It's glorious.
But I am suddenly finding that boiled eggs and jam sandwiches seem so long ago, and that I am overwhelmingly craving cappuccino and cake. I cannot stop thinking of coffee and cake. I want it. Right now. No more bluebells, trees, rocks, rivers. Take me to the cafe for refreshment!
Ahhhhh yes, that's where I want to be at 11am, sat in the sun, sipping frothy coffee and nibbling something sweet and delicious. This is the Cavendish Pavillion cafe at Bolton Abbey, and a mighty fine cafe it is too. Coffee :: delicious. Cake :: equally so. Actually, I don't end up with cake, but instead opt for a Pecan and Maple slice, with dark chocolate topping.Mmmmmm-mmmmm.
11.30am and there are now many, many, many people at Bolton Abbey. The cafe terrace is now packed. And our car, which was the very first and only car in the car park at 8.45am is now sandwiched between a hundred others.
So we decide to head home away from the crowds. Shall we drive the scenic route back?
Yes lets drive along this wonderful little road which looks like it goes to nowhere.
You can see that at this point I have to leap out of the car and open the gate so that we can drive on through. What a road!! It never fails to please me, this little road. Makes me feel all happy and carefree and glad to be out and about in such a gorgeous little corner of the world, on such a gorgeous Saturday morning.
Now I really must try and remember my Mental Note to Do This More Often.
xxxxxxx
Sounds heavenly Lucy! Wish I had your 'get up and go' first thing! Looks like you did the right thing too, judging by those grey clouds in the last 2 photos!
Ange
x
Posted by: Ane | May 11, 2009 at 12:40 PM
What a delightful and uplifting post for a Monday morning. Thank you. I have been "down under" for a few weeks far away from our green and pleasant land.
Posted by: Pantha | May 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
What a wonderful day out! I love it at Bolton Abbey. We have a big family party there every summer (family birthday's). The walk is lovely.
I love seeing Bluebell's as they remind me (and others lol) that it is nearly my birthday!!
Posted by: Liz | May 11, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Aaaah Lovely Lucy, you have pipped me to the post with the bluebells! I am waiting for someone to take a pic of me in my new bluebell dress before I put my bluebell wood post up!
Posted by: The Antidote | May 11, 2009 at 12:48 PM
What a wonderful way to spend the day!!
Posted by: Tam | May 11, 2009 at 01:04 PM
My oh my! I'm reeling! Not just from the lovely pictures - but that you managed to get out, with a picnic, so early! Lovely to see English bluebells. So delicate and special! t.x
Posted by: kitschen pink | May 11, 2009 at 01:17 PM
What a wonderful start to the day and how fabulous to live somewhere so beautiful
Posted by: Gina | May 11, 2009 at 01:18 PM
What a wonderful wonderful day you had! Your family is lucky to have you at the helm!!!
Posted by: Vera | May 11, 2009 at 01:22 PM
Looks wonderful. I did have to laugh when you described your outfit. I think we've all done that!
Hen x
Posted by: Hen | May 11, 2009 at 01:25 PM
Your Saturday sounds divine and I am so envious! I think I may just have to plan a weekend breakfast picnic, too.
Posted by: Dawn | May 11, 2009 at 01:53 PM
Wow Lucy,
what lovely pictures and such a beautiful walk.
Thank you for sharing your adventurous weekend!
take care,
Nina x
Posted by: Nina - Tabiboo | May 11, 2009 at 01:59 PM
Great Saturday you had, huh!? The more I see of your place, the more I think you live in a kind of Heaven. I want to be able to abandon life in big cities and live in coutryside one day.
The pictures are amazing. Best wishes for a new week! Have a nice day.
Posted by: Kenia Cris | May 11, 2009 at 02:03 PM
I just absolutely love your pics.
Where we are it's so hot and terribly dry right now, that this really is a welcome feast for the eyes.
Oh! How I want to run away to the hills for a while...
- Sona
Posted by: Sona Jacob | May 11, 2009 at 02:05 PM
Goodness, I want to come visit your corner of the world. It's so very different from our world. I'd just love to hop a train and take a tour with you! If i'm ever on that side of the pond, I'm SO looking you up!
Posted by: elizabeth of course | May 11, 2009 at 02:30 PM
oh for the delicious feeling that spontaneity brings us! I could practically taste your thrown together breakfast picnic (which are often the nicest kind!) and I loved the bluebells - Im glad you all had a smashing start to your weekend!
Love Julia xxx
Posted by: julia | May 11, 2009 at 02:37 PM
Ahhh and Ohhh I just love the bluebells.. wish I was there to see that.. gosh its beautiful!!!!
Posted by: Stina | May 11, 2009 at 02:50 PM
What a wonderful morning!! What a divine breakfast!! I would have done the whole thing just for the beautiful winding road that led me to a gate set in a stone wall with sheep peering through from the other side. Ooooh, you drive me to madness sitting here in my American subdivision!!
Posted by: Shelley in SC | May 11, 2009 at 02:53 PM
Beautiful thoughts! Beautiful photos! and beautiful chairs!!! lol
Posted by: alisonb2 | May 11, 2009 at 02:55 PM
Somerset is beautiful but nothing quite hits the spot like Strid Woods at bluebell time - I feel so homesick I could burst and I've lived away over 17years. Thank you for sharing your delicious photos
Posted by: Anne Bebbington | May 11, 2009 at 03:13 PM
Truly wonderful pictures, and it sounds like a delicious day of decadent relaxation. I envy you!
Glad you had such a lovely day.
Posted by: brianna marchaj | May 11, 2009 at 03:46 PM
I just found your blog and how lovely! Just what I needed, I'm back in the city after a stint in the somerset countryside (see blog) and I'm missing greenery!
I'm going to take my little pink bbq to the woods tomorrow and have sausage sandwiches for lunch and build a log teepee. Sod the housework and chores!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: cheryl | May 11, 2009 at 03:50 PM
What a wonderful idea! now if only I could rouse my teenage daughter at a decent hour on the weekend, I would be happy, maybe I will have to settle for lunch :)
Posted by: louise | May 11, 2009 at 05:10 PM
your little people have got the most lovely parents, taking them on super outings like this. the bluebells are so pretty. enjoyed this post thanks.
Posted by: Judith | May 11, 2009 at 05:39 PM
oh yes, you must do this more often! I am usually eating my breakfast at my desk while catching up with your doings, and this was a lovely breakfast indeed!
Posted by: Eleanor | May 11, 2009 at 06:34 PM
Hi Lucy Just to say how much i love our blog and the way in which you see your world. especially your tutorials -they have inspired me to learn to crochet. So i have posted two projects on my blog inspired by ideas form your blog: if you have time take alook!
Posted by: Leeanne | May 11, 2009 at 08:09 PM