We have just returned home from North Yorkshire feeling refreshed and invigorated having neither seen nor heard any worldwide news during the entire time that we were away.
We clambered over the moors,
viewed the romantic remains of Rievaulx Abbey,visted several attractive small towns, hamlets, and quaint old fishing villages.
Learnt more about Captain James Cook as we walked in his footsteps when he was both man and boy. There was once a time when pioneers and navigators, who bravely sailed off into unchartered and dangerous waters to the other side of the world, were revered, but not so today. My understanding is that Cook is now considered to be persona non grata in several of the places that he visited during his three long, dangerous voyages between 1768 and 1779. On our last evening we noticed just how magical the leaves in the hotel's long driveway looked silhouetted against the golden corn swaying in the field beyond.
When we left home our sunflowers were still reaching up forever into the sky. We were very late in getting around to planting their seeds and wondered whether they would ever flower. But on our return home we were finally rewarded with flowers. They have grown so tall that it is only possible to capture their faces courtesy an upstairs window.Currently we are enjoying some lovely balmy "Indian Summer" days.
We clambered over the moors,
visted several attractive small towns, hamlets, and quaint old fishing villages.
Such wonderfully cheerful photographs, Rosemary. I'm presuming, and hoping, that further reports from the North Yorks Moors will soon appear.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how posts will go as yet John until I have sorted both myself and the photos.
DeleteLove the abbey photo :)
ReplyDeleteThe abbey must have been magnificent to see when it was first built in its remote valley in the early 1130s.
DeleteMaybe you did not hear the news, but I expect you kept up with The Archers? Nice photos.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the photos - The Archers!!!
DeleteHello Rosemary, What a nice getaway. History, water, fields, old stone buildings...everything I love. When I read about characters from history I have to decide on their legacy and their motives, but I also try to consider them as belonging to their times. If we only consider every negative consequence and remove all context, we will become bitter indeed, as seems to be the case these days. For example, Captain Cook was part of the Age of Exploration. If Cook hadn't made those voyages, someone else, probably much worse, would have, and the eventualities would have been about the same. Speaking of water voyages, that water in the photo doesn't look deep enough for those boats to travel on--or is that just an illusion?
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello Jim - I will write a little bit more about James Cook because he was not someone who was born into great affluence - his origins were extremely humble.
DeleteThe boats do appear to look high and dry but that is because the tide is out. In a few hours time they should be bobbing about on high water.
I'm glad you had a lovely time. The weather has been glorious lately.
ReplyDeleteTo get away was really lovely especially with the added bonus of blue skies and sunshine.
DeleteWhat a great educational outing, and the reward upon coming home, huge sunflowers! Yes, mixed feelings about those who explored and exploited...but I'm glad someone found links around the globe.
ReplyDeleteI suppose there have always been adventurers - today it is those who go zooming off into outer space.
DeleteLooks like a lovely getaway! It's good to take a "media fast" every once in awhile and get the weight of the world off your shoulders.
ReplyDeleteIt was really refreshing to be totally without news - the daily news over the past year has been very disconcerting.
DeleteDear Rosemary, the sunflowers are so lovely - warming the heart.
ReplyDelete(As not listening to news will do that too).
The leaves against the golden corn remind me of an ancient Chinese book cover - golden ground, leaves on that.
And I think that Captain Cook was a brave man, and do not care what they tell us now that we should think - I think on my own.
Dear Britta - I must look on the internet and see if I can find the book that you refer to. I agree with you wholeheartedly about Captain Cook - you cannot re-write history.
DeleteSei Shonagon Kopfkissenbuch - Manesse Verlag, (there are two versions - I speak of the luxury book - though I now see the petals are red on gold)
DeleteThank you💚
DeleteA lovely part of the world and high on my wish list. Your photos are stunning. B x
ReplyDeleteWe are very fortunate that in this small country of ours there is so much variety to be found from north to south and east to west.
DeleteThat looks a fantastic trip. There's such a wide variety of easily accessible landscapes in the UK that is hard to beat elsewhere in the world. By that I mean it's within the rambling capability of all whereas many other, higher, parts of the world might be more spectacular to look at but I've often thought, gazing at the photographs closely, "how the hell to you climb it?" whereas you rarely have that problem here where everything you see is a few hours to reach and not that hard to attain. We really are blessed in this country. Maybe the pandemic will make people appreciate that fully year round.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you wholeheartedly Bob - there is so much diverse scenery, architecture, and history to be found on all of our doorsteps that is readily accessible too.
DeleteBeautiful views!
ReplyDeleteThanks William.
DeleteSounds like a perfect holiday. Thank you for sharing it. Love your sunflowers.
ReplyDeleteGetting away was great - we like the colour of our sunflowers, which seem very appropriate for autumm.
DeleteContemplando los restos de la AbadÃa, pienso como serÃa en su época de esplendor. Es una lástima que edifcios asà no se conserven bien, ya que lo que se ve su gran belleza en lo que se tiene en pie.
ReplyDeleteEsos pueblecitos pequeños, son muy propiados para descansar.
Feliz domingo.
Estoy de acuerdo en que esta hermosa AbadÃa es un triste reflejo de lo que debió ser cuando se construyó en 1130. Ahora se encuentra dentro de su propio valle pequeño y tranquilo donde todavÃa es cuidado y apreciado por quienes la visitan.
DeleteGracias por tu visita
Having visited Yorkshire I can attest to its beauty. Captain Cook is indeed a tarnished character. When I last visited Australia, where Cook is celebrated with statues etc there was great controversy over him. He was either revered or despised, and there seemed to be little middle ground. It was a subject best avoided in a pub!
ReplyDeleteWe cannot rewrite history. I wonder what future generations will think about many of the highly questionable actions that people do today.
DeleteDearest Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteSounds like you indeed had a very relaxed and educative (as usual) trip together.
Thanks for always sharing that with your readers.
As for Captain James Cook, we can be proud of his achievements and bravery!
Both of us have had the pleasure of enjoying a true Captain Cook Luncheon Cruise: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2018/04/sydney-centre-point-tower-captain-cook.html
Enjoy your Indian Summer!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - I had a look at your Captain Cook Lucheon Cruise - it looks as if it was a great day out for you all.
DeleteDuring recent years many historical figures have been subjected to our modern day perspectives without giving any consideration as to just how different life was centuries ago. I suspect that future generations will also scrutinise us and also find much that they deplore.
The weather has been really lovely - I don't want it to end.
💞
DeleteWhat a beautiful holiday destination you chose. Not listening to news is the best part of being away - we did the same in the Rockies. So very restful.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid that Captain Cook is not very well respected in some quarters here. A few rabble rousers pulled down his statue that sat on Victoria's Inner Harbour. They have yet to be brought to justice, although charges are pending. History is what it is. I dislike the way historical figures are made out to be all good or all bad with no middle ground. We are all a product of our time and culture and our actions reflect that. I do wonder what future generations will say about this current time.
Future generations will probably be just as confused about this period as I think many of us are too.
DeleteWe all know that climate change is our top priority today, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty are people really prepared to change?
Hello, Rosemary. No wonder you got refreshed and invigorated – the photos show it. I like all the photos of various different places. The structural frame of Rievaulx Abbey looks one with nature. The blurred golden corn fields reminded me of the recent harvest moon. Good for you apart from the daily news. Most of them make us sad and helpless. One of good news to me is that infection number has reduced to one tenth of that of one month ago.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Dear Yoko - I am really pleased to learn that your infection rate has reduced so much - that is indeed very good news. As you also mention most of the news we currently hear just makes us feel so sad and helpless, and I am finding that it is much better to do other things rather than listen to or watch the news.
DeleteDear Rosemary, Your photographs are beautiful and heartfelt. The open fields and the romantic Abbey are my favorites.
ReplyDeleteDear Gina - the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey are really striking. They sit in a lovely small hamlet in an isolated valley surrounded by pretty riverside and woodland walks.
DeleteAmazing post..wonderful photographs
ReplyDeleteThank you - I appreciate your kind comment.
DeleteBreathtaking pictures
ReplyDeleteI am really pleased that you enjoyed seeing them Shilpa - thank you very much.
Delete