August 17, 2023 - Bolton, Appleby-in-Westmorland, England

 Yesterday was the first time we have ridden some distance without rain.  The ride from Conwy to Bolton, crossing from Wales to England, was a pleasant and uneventful ride.  Weather was mid 70s, sunny and light wind.  As we left Wales, passed between Liverpool and Manchester, and entered the Lake District, traffic thinned and the landscape became more rolling with open views.  The roads also became narrower.

We will be here in a nice Airbnb for 7 nights, giving us time to explore some of the local stores, towns and historic features.  It will also give us time to rest up.  It makes sense that we get tired - everything takes longer, requires more concentration, and we've been gone 3 1/2 months now.  But, I still get frustrated and feel like I should be able to go continuously and not feel it - stubborn.  Luckily, Sooz is here to remind me that I'm not as young as I used to be, and we have done A LOT since we left Gainesville May 28, 2023, so it shouldn't be a surprise that I get tired.

During our ride yesterday, we stopped at Harwoods Patisserie in Wigan.  One of the owners of the bakery has been on a popular baking competition TV show here in the UK.  We have been watching it so it was fun to check out the shop.  We also bought several of their items, which are more like pieces of art than typical baked items, and they taste really good.

Sooz took this during our ride from Conwy to Bolton

Sooz took this during our ride from Conwy to Bolton

A flier we saw yesterday here in Bolton when we were grocery shopping

From this unassuming bakery, Harwoods Patisserie, came all of the goodies below

They protect their red squirrels here in the Lake District

Cows and sheep wandering around and on the roads

We saw this in a WWII War Museum near Conwy.  It reminded people to not throw out garbage that might feed pigs as a way to conserve for the war

In the window of a Conwy shop that sold Barbour gear

Conwy waterfront during low tide

Crab butties?  Quay?

Part of the Conwy Castle wall about 2 blocks from where we stayed

A fine cap collection for Marty

Walking the Conwy Castle Wall

Walking up to the wall