Due to the Schengen Visa and travel limitations for US citizens, part of our 9 month travel must be outside of the EU area, so we are spending 90 days in the UK. This month we are spending it in the Ribble Valley of Lancashire in a village called Waddington. This is a quant picturesque village with no grocery stores, no high street, just three pubs, a cafe and a post office that sells ice cream, toilet paper, candy and bread (all of life's basic necessities) . The closet market town is Clitheroe, a 4 minute $2.00 bus ride or a 2mi walk. It's a sweet village with a market dating back to the 1800's where you can pick up local meats, produce, cheese and home goods. There are a couple of grocery stores, tea shops, boutique stores, pubs and of course the Starbucks of the UK, Costa Coffee.
The view of Clitheroe
The Clitheroe castle
Pendle Hill Witches - 51miles of walks to learn about the witches of the 1800
Clitheroe City Center
Life here in the Ribble Valley has been quite and slower than some of our other locations but everything works out as it is meant to be. Since we have no car (I am to chicken to drive here) one has to be mindful of ensuring you have everything you need or its a 4mi round trip walk into town. Normally a 4 plus mile walk would be easy, well try it with limited sidewalks, on winding stone walled streets and cars driving on the opposite side of the rode at speeds well above the posted limits oh and a two year old who refuses to hold your hand and you have a heart rate well above normal. When we are not walking into town, we take the Foot Paths and walk the fells of Pendle Hill. Foot Paths are basically identified areas where you can cut across someones property and possibly even safe your life from the road dangers.
Some of the sites on the walk
My friend Tequila
My other friend Claredale
Lovely old stone houses
Among some of the other highlights of the Ribble Valley are the pubs/bed and breakfasts. The focus here is on food and ale...I have tried to order a martini a few times and ended up with a beer, what bar doesn't have olives? I do have to say I have developed a fondness for the cask ales, ,sure they are not very cold but something about having to pull the ale has me hooked. As for food I would have to say most of it is pretty one demential, not a lot of spice, basically meat and potato but if you like comfort food then Shepard's Pie, a cheese, onion and potato tart or a Sunday roast are not to be missed. Now where the British have missed their opportunity is with their desserts...why have they hidden dishes like Spotted Dick and Sticky Toffee Pudding from us? Okay maybe the name evokes a juvenile giggle but Spotted Dick is this warm dense raisin cake topped with warm sweet cream and dont even get me started on Sticky Toffee Pudding, gooey yummy sticky cake made with dates, who knew.
The cheese in this area has been amazing but then again all cheese is amazing. The Lancashire area produces some tasty cheeses with one of my favorites being a salty crumbly cheese similar to a dry feta or Cotija that bakes up wonderfully in a tart and adds a nice kick to omelets and quiche. The cranberry cheddar cheese will always be welcomed in my home as well.
Creamy cauliflower soup
Sunday Roast - don't tell Tequila or Claredale
Lancashire crumbly cheese
Spotted Dick
Been spending my down time thinking about what it is I want to do when I return to the states. Selling the majority of our personal items, not replacing my car and having the opportunity to make the rest of my life what I want it to be is exciting and a little scary. Not many people take the opportunity to sort of reinvent themselves. I am working with a life coach trying to get clear on what it is I want from my life. Right now I am looking at careers in kidney dialysis and becoming a dialysis technician and I have toyed with the idea of working in the funeral business. I would love to help in the change around the attitude of death. Instead of a somber memorial I would love to offer a celebration of the persons life. Heck raise a glass and toast, have live music, it is all about celebrating the life of the person who has left us. So who knows where I will land next, I do know that it will be what I want it to be.
The village of Skipton
Walking behind the Skipton Castle
She loves flowers
Tin foil fun
