The Glines invade Lancaster

We woke to a beautiful day, sun shining, lake side sparkling and geared up for another day of tourism.  Lancaster is only a 20 minute drive from Carnforth on the main highway.  After a mostly safe journey (Steve came within inches of a wild coach/bus!) we parked in the city and walked some charming cobbled streets to the town center. 

We took the tour of the Lancaster city museum -a most impressive and comprehensive review of the history since Roman times.  Leaving the museum Brent realized the weather was going to be unseasonably warm and required shorts to survive touring the town that day.  Fortunately in the town square was the British version of TJ Maxx (TK Maxx here) and 15 minutes later walked out comfortably attired. A short walk up a steep hill and we found Lancaster Castle.  There was a waiting list to go on the guided tour, so while waiting we got photos of the city from the Priory and got to hear the church bells ringing at noon.

 Our tour guide for the Castle had an amazing facility for dates and places, names and circumstances.  I haven't known anyone who could pull facts out of a hat like that since my 10th grade history teacher.  The Castle is a working court and prison - and we saw barristors and solicitors (lawyers) in full wig and black gowns in the hallway (yes, they really do wear that get up when in court!) 

The Castle has a long history -http://www.lancastercastle.com/home.php , and we heard about everything from as far back as the times Robert The Bruce stormed the castle, the Pendle Witches, and Heraldry in the Shire Hall.  I really enjoyed the tour and wished I could be here in the fall for the night time tours with the ghost stories!  Chills and thrills.  Perhaps some other visit.

After storming the Castle we left Lancaster and drove down to Clithroe to see a Norman Keep ruin.

The ruin was lovely to walk around but there was very odd music coming from speakers placed in the tower.  Turns out it was a modern composition created as a rememberance of the Pendle Witches and their trials and tribulations.  Eerie whispery stuff with wailing and cries.  My taste in music tends more to something with a beat you can sing along with - not something that would scare the willies out of me if it were after dare in this ruin!  We enjoyed tea sitting outside on the patio in the late sunshine, then made our way back to the car.  We had convienently parked at a grocery store parking lot - so went in for supplies.  Food here is much higher priced than in the states, but we have found some bargins.  We got dinner for 2: main dish (salmon steaks for us, chicken with sauce for Steve and Barb) side dish, dessert, and a bottle of wine all for 10 pounds (approx. $15 American)  Hard to beat that deal anywhere.
Half hour drive "home" and we settled in for the evening with a summer dinner on the deck, and a nature documentary on the BBC for after.
Another fantastic day in the UK.