May 16, 2008
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Sherwood Forest: The Trip Begins
Remember a few months ago I mentioned that I had found a friend here in England? This friend, Lisa, and I were talking a month or so ago about how we’d both like to go to the Lake District and hike around. “Why don’t we actually go some weekend?” one of us said. With hopeful anticipation, we checked calendars and asked generous husbands if it would work out for us to go away for the weekend–Moms Only. It did!
We picked up a rental car on Friday morning (a Vauxhall something or other). Lisa was the designated driver, and not because I planned on sipping dandelion wine the whole time. I’ve not driven in England yet, and I thought a road trip in a standard transmission rental car was not the best way to begin.
Lisa is a great traveling companion. We both have the same love of talking and love of non-detailed planning. We were cruising down the highway, chatting merrily, when we both stopped mid-sentence and looked at each other with big eyes. “Oh! Did you see that? A sign for Sherwood Forest! Let’s go!”
We allowed ourselves a half an hour for a hike there (as we did want to make sure we got to Bronte country and our bed and breakfast in the Lake District at a reasonable time). As you can imagine, the Visitor’s Center was rather Robin Hood-y. This is a recreation of Robin Hood and Little John battling on the bridge.
I think I prefer Errol Flynn. Or Kevin Costner. Or Jonas Armstrong. Uh-huh.
We didn’t get much off the path in Sherwood Forest, and this is what most of what we saw looked like. There were a lot of beech trees with plenty of room for a band of Merry Men to move around. In some places, ferns were just starting to unfurl, so in the middle of summer, thigh-high ferns would carpet the floor providing much cover for a bandit.
Interspersed with the slender, graceful trees were enormous oaks. In fact, we were tantalized at the start of the trail by a sign for “The Major Oak Tree.” We just had to see what it could be.
Not surprisingly, the Major Oak Tree is a big, old oak tree–800 years old to be precise. To keep it standing, they have built metal braces to support the enormous limbs.
Look! It’s Robin Hood!
Teacherperson scales a tree–sort of.
Our next stop…the Bronte Parsonage and Church.
Comments (20)
Love it. Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful!
TOOOOOOO Much fun!!!!! I love it, love it, love it!!! Can’t wait for more pics. I want a moms weekend away.
That is an impressive tree.
I wonder how the minor oak tree feels about all the attention the major oak tree gets.
I love the Major Oak Tree. I wonder what a General Oak Tree would look like?
It looks like fun! The oak trees are amazing.
My first time driving in England was from London to Teesside. Yeow. In the snow!
I like the Major Oak. I wish they didn’t have to have all those supports, but it’s still awesome!
That is sooo romantic! And you went to All of those other wonderful places as well! Sigh- wonderful!
btw- do not feel sad. The left overs were from a big Italian dinner that we ordered in the night before. Pasta is my favorite (well, along with several other things) and although we only ordered dinner for 5 plus a pasta salad, the portions were so huge that we had leftovers Sunday night and then again for lunch on Tuesday!
Only 5 more meals in England?! Wow! That has just flown by!
Hmmm… It is just after 9, but let’s see. My mom and I always talk on the phone first thing on our weekday mornings. That always makes me happy. The day has been going very well. We’ve done Science and we are now listening to “A Secret Garden” book on tape while the kids work on History/Art projects.
The only thing that I wish hadn’t happened is we are about out of milk, so the kids, who wanted cereal for breakfast, could not have it. I made toast with butter and honey and sausages (soy) and cut up peaches and berries, so they were ok.
How wonderful! A special friend, free spirits, new places of legend to explore! Does it get any better?
I love pic # 6….but the metal braces on the oak tree are just weird!
I love your leafy background!
And your trip away sounds wonderful! Where did you get the big hats?
Looks like fun!! A whole weekend away for the moms? That sounds like fun even if you didn’t get to go someplace so cool! Glad that you enjoyed it.
How Fun! And that is just how I imagined Sherwood Forest to look like. Errol Flynn? Oh yeah!
Pretty new background.
I could go for a ladies only get away! And I’d love England if just to be able to wear hats!
what great photos
Country Roads, take me home, to the place where I belong, PENNSYLVANIA!!! (ALABAMA, COSTA RICA, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT to include here)
What fun!
Give the driving a try before you leave. Trust me, you’ll be great. I drove on the left during the summer I lived in Jamaica as a missionary (I was 21) and the 2 times I lived in Okinawa. You’re so hyper aware that you’re on the “other side” of the road that you’re extra careful at driving. What’s funny is when you get home because you think “right” will be old hat. After I got home from Jamaica, I actually drove on the left all through my parents’ neighborhood before I realized I was on the wrong side!
I think I would need braces if I was 800 years old too!
Sounds like a fun time!
Sherwood Forest ??? Robin Hood ??? Aaaaaahhhh Can I visit you ??? lol And let’s go back to that magical forest and beautiful story…. Wow… I would like to see all that (I mean in reality). Thanks a lot for sahring all those pics. Btw, like your new profile pic and your new background. Have a historical and medieval day !!! LOL
D
The last photo of you is cute!
Oh, this is where your profile picture came from! I want you to know that I am exercising my Christian imperative to be happy for you and not jealous!