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
Ohhhh....thank you so much for taking pics of your beautiful homeland and posting for us to see! How very thoughtful of you and wonderful for us to have a look-see into your world. You have given me some great ideas to try out. I can't wait! Thank you again, Miss Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds!!! :o)
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy Prickett | March 22, 2010 at 04:50 PM
Welcome home Luce! I have enjoyed your photos and really looking forward to tomorrow's. Not been there. We have the same skies you have, but we have that crispness in the air that you get in Autumn. The one that reminds you that winter is truely here - scary!!
Posted by: Sarah | June 02, 2009 at 03:48 AM
I just wanted to say thank you so much for this post - it's years since I went there, and had never thought of taking my children there because I didn't remember it being a disabled accessible place at all. But that path, all smooth and wide and welcoming! It lured me onto the website for more information, and it looks like we'll definitely be able to plan a visit.
Posted by: The Coffee Lady | May 14, 2009 at 07:49 PM
wow. that's a super start to the weekend, whatver you are wearing. i love it when the experience is the thing, not how we look or prepare for it. kudos to you for doing it! and what a site!! gorgeous!jkj
Posted by: jane | May 13, 2009 at 05:08 AM
A picnic breakfast is a wonderful idea! I must do this. Your posts are very inspiring to get out and explore, with your beautiful photos.
P.S. I love that little road too!
Posted by: Fiona | May 12, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Sounds like a brilliant day, lovely photo's!! S
Posted by: Sarah | May 12, 2009 at 09:59 AM
Lucy what a lovely morning you had. Its so nice to get up early and do these things when no-one else is about although we don't manage it very often either. The gated road brought back happy memories of my Father and myself going to climb Helvellyn in the Lakes where the little road had several gates before we could park. Karenx
Posted by: Karen | May 12, 2009 at 09:36 AM
Beautiful post Lucy :o)
Isn't it wonderful when the bluebells are out!
Before being agoraphobic, I used to do just as you did, grab a spontanious breakfast, lunch or supper and head off to a magical woodland or beach.
Hope you have a lovely day
x
Sumea
Posted by: Sumea | May 12, 2009 at 09:16 AM
What a splendid day indeed. You live in such a wonderful area. I'm so jealous. Those bluebells are just magnificant.
Libby
Posted by: libbyw | May 12, 2009 at 04:35 AM
beautiful place..Glad you all had a nice time..
hugs,
Posted by: lulu | May 12, 2009 at 04:02 AM
Ah! to be in England now that spring is there!
Posted by: Sharon McQuistion | May 11, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Oh Lucy, you live in the most wonderful part of the world! I love to visit you every day. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Posted by: Val from Down Under | May 11, 2009 at 11:48 PM
Oh I just love your posts!!!! You take us along with you on your jaunts with your wonderful words and beautiful photography.A lovely start to my day.Thanks Lucy.xxx
Posted by: Clare | May 11, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Can I come too! That looked lovely. Florida is now rain free and feels like the Dog Days of August, over 90F degrees for the last 10 days! I wish I was in cool green England! Thanks for brightening up the dreary police station once again. BeBe in FL
Posted by: BeBe | May 11, 2009 at 10:35 PM
It's good for the soul to be spontaneous sometimes. I forget all too often.
Posted by: Ali | May 11, 2009 at 09:29 PM
Oooohhhhh....we used to live near Bolton Abbey and just LOVE it! We try and return once a year for a restorative holiday (staying near Barden Tower). You made my heart sing with this photographic journey-thank you!
Fiona (now in Devon!)
Posted by: Fiona | May 11, 2009 at 09:18 PM
The pictures are wonderful. I know Bolton Abbey from my time in Yorkshire. I miss England a lot and you bring the pictures back to me.
Love from Angela
Posted by: angela | May 11, 2009 at 09:07 PM
Lucy...passare dal tuo blog è un pò come sognare..............
Posted by: Simo | May 11, 2009 at 08:18 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
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
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
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
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
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
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