Winter is here and the robins are back.
I love watching them at bathtime through the kitchen window.
The wrens usually come along to join in the fun.
The boys are entering their eclipse phase, resting in anticipation of the coming spring.
Our circuitous route of Britain led us from Edinburgh across the border, back to England via the Yorkshire Dales, famous for the drystone walls crossing the stunning landscape.
We drove across Wensleydale,
a lush sweeping valley that runs from west to east.
Each dale has its own character, with rivers flowing along the valley bottom,
hardy sheep grazing in the pastures,
and stone farm buildings dotting the countryside.
We stopped at the Wensleydale Heifer in West Witton and indulged in a half pint of their best.
We would have been very tempted to stay, had we not been expected in Harrogate.
After a morning exploring the beautiful Margaret River region coastline, we had worked up an appetite. In the heart of the Wilyabrup Valley, Rústico at Hay Shed Hill vineyard was the perfect destination.
The setting was serene
surrounded by vines
and the 6 course degustation menu was irresistible.
If you’re not into food porn, look away now. We started with Esperance Scallops: West Australian scallops in the shell, chorizo, pear purée, candied jamón.
Fried Goats Cheese with orange blossom honey followed.
Salmon Bresaola: dill aioli, pickled ginger & cucumber was a fabulous third course.
After the Free Range Linley Valley Pork Belly with apple purée & sticky Pedro Ximinez,
I wandered around the garden, admiring the rustic artworks
while the boys discussed the fine art of cigar box guitar making.
I returned in time for the Margaret River Black Angus Petit Mignons: beef fillet wrapped in bacon, sweet potato, asparagus, green peppercorn jus.
We decided to forego the dessert tasting plate in favour of the European cheese board with muscatels, honeycomb & house breads.
Obviously, there was wine involved in this fantastic experience, I just can’t remember which one. Thank you, Dave, for a wonderful afternoon.
On a hot, sunny day we reluctantly said arrivederci to Il Castagno and set off toward Rome for our final night in Italy. I had looked at the map and chosen a place to stop for lunch on the way, Bolsena. The town was beautiful, the old buildings merged perfectly with the new.
We parked the car and walked the plane tree-lined avenue toward the lake.
Some of the homes were absolutely stunning.
As we neared the lake,
we knew exactly where we were having lunch. Trattoria del Moro, perched right over the water, had spectacular views of Lake Bolsena.
The largest volcanic lake in Europe has, fortunately, been dormant since 104BC.
We dined al fresco, the fish was excellent and with the vino and the sunshine, we could have lingered for hours.
Instead, we slowly made our way back to the car,
trying not to think about the imminent end to our wonderful trip. I think Michael would fit in well in Italy.
We will be returning to Italy next year and will make sure a trip to Bolsena and lunch by the lake is on the agenda.
After a bitterly cold, overcast weekend recently, we were greeted on Monday by a perfect autumn day. I don’t work on Mondays and so, we decided to drive along the old coast road to Ulverstone for lunch. With the top down, Cooper took us on a magnificent journey, reminding us of the natural beauty we have so close to home. We turned off the highway at Sulphur Creek, apparently named because of the perceived smell of sulphur in the area when first explored by Europeans.
Sulphur is associated with volcanic activity, which has determined the landscape of northwest Tasmania. There is no longer evidence of the offending aroma, just a stunning, sandy beach.
There used to be a fabulous restaurant at Preservation Bay, hopefully one day there will be another to make the most of this wonderful vista.
Soon, we were in the gorgeous town of Penguin.
As we travelled the narrow, winding road, I was boggled by the reflections of the sun on the glassy water.
There is a house along this road that fills me with more than a little envy.
The Three Sisters are a group of three small islands (the third is almost hidden behind the headland at the right of the pic)
and, along with Goat Island, they form the 37 hectare Three Sisters – Goat Island Nature Reserve.
Goat Island is a granite island and houses a breeding colony of little penguins.
It can be walked to at low tide, a lovely spot for a picnic.
As we reached Ulverstone,
we spied Pedro’s across the river.
The restaurant has a lovely, relaxed ambience
and we were shown to a table on the enclosed balcony, warmed by the autumn sun.
The Derwent Estate Pinot Gris came highly recommended. A delicious shade of pink, I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
The salt & pepper calamari and crumbed scallops were exquisite, the real flavor of fresh seafood.
Outside, the gulls were enjoying a bathe in the shallows of the river’s edge, soon the tide would be high and their chance would be missed.
The Leven River glistened
as we left Pedro’s
and retraced our journey.
Table Cape emerged in the distance
before disappearing behind the next headland.
We were surprised to see the masts of a tall ship in the bay, not a common sight in these waters. I read the next day, poor weather conditions had forced the UK ship, Tenacious, to stop in Burnie for a couple of days on its way from Melbourne to New Zealand. Tenacious is the world’s largest operative wooden hulled tall ship and offers opportunities for people with a disability to experience a sailing voyage.
What a marvelous way to end our day.
