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Saturday, 31 October 2015

Autumnal Tonic

What with the long, hazy days of summer now only a dim and
distant memory, and with the stresses and strains of the working week beginning
to take their toll, I decided that a long overdue pick-me-up was very much needed.

I can’t think of a better way to escape the madness of the
modern world, and put into perspective any worries or anxieties, than to take a
little time to appreciate the infinite beauty our countryside has to offer –
especially at this time of year. So, with
our beloved old motorhome Billy packed up and ready to go my hubby Neil,
adorable pooch Alife and I headed off, excited at the prospect of soaking up
the natural splendours of the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria.

After setting up camp in the charming little village of
Dent, and of course having refreshed ourselves with a good old brew (for me, just the sound of the whistling
camping kettle is enough to kick-start a relaxed state of mind), it was time to
get out there and blow off the cobwebs.
Time seemed to stand still as we walked, and with the beautiful autumn
sunshine warming our faces, we became totally engrossed in the gorgeousness
around us. Stunningly warm and rich
coloured leaves danced in the breeze, and a near perfect silence was broken
only by the tranquil sounds from a nearby stream. We found ourselves completely surrounded by
natural beauty, whichever direction we cast our gaze it was met with breath-taking
scenes, so magnificent they looked almost unreal. Even Alfie seemed to have an extra spring in
his step, and a greater-than-before enthusiasm in his tail wag!

Other than exploring our breath-taking surroundings and
enjoying the refreshing autumn breeze in our hair, we did very little during
our two day stay. We read, drank lots of
tea, I did a bit of ‘grown-up’ colouring (a wonderful creative outlet and way
to relax), we also had a little wander around the tiny but charming village
Heritage Centre. Unsurprisingly, we
spent our evenings sampling the local ales and pub grub, with Alfie loving the
cosy heat of a roaring open fire.

It took just forty eight hours, immersed in the natural
beauty of the season, to unwind and regain a sense of perspective on life. Indeed, our little trip to the Yorkshire
Dales proved to be just what the doctor ordered... a very relaxing and refreshing Autumnal tonic!

During one of our delightful walks up Dent's fascinating Flintergill, we discovered this poem inscribed
on the viewpoint above Dentdale... pretty much sums up the virtues of taking time to appreciate our wonderful countryside!