Lunch by the side of the River Eden ...

Approaching Carlisle, we walked for a while along the north bank of the River Eden - 

We paused for lunch in the water meadows - the warm wind stirred the reeds and fragrant grass - seagulls were flying above the river - 

Penny scanned the shallow waters with her clever binoculars - 

Trees cast their delicate shadows upon the river bank - 

Before us was the northern city, and the last stage of our journey - 

Earlier this morning, we'd walked across silent fields of damp grass - we'd skirted seemingly deserted farms - an ancient barn had stone roof tiles thick with moss - 

We'd been aware of the gaze of patient beasts - 

I'd thought of John Gray's book, The Silence of Animals - 

We'd seen a house, with a splendid portico, half hidden by a dark wood - the house had walls of red glowing stone - 

Julia and Alyson spoke of their childhood, how they'd read Bunty and Look and Learn -  they'd danced their own dance of the seven veils in a 1960's hallway - 

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July 13 2014

Bank of the River Eden

Near Crosby on Eden