After breakfast we take leave of Russell and Hilary, who have been such kind and generous hosts. Our holiday has gotten off to such an incredible start and we can only make them promise that they'll brave the long journey(!) and visit us soon so we can return the kindness... next year right? Right?!
Our (now) roadworthy hire car gets us to nearby Sale by mid-morning to catch up with some more dear friends. Together we drive to Altrincham and brave the crowds at the popular Market House to grab some lunch.
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| Lunch with Vaughn, Jeannie and Dave |
The day starts out sunny and warm but it becomes overcast and increasingly humid. After saying our goodbyes we hit the motorway for the one hour drive to the Ribble Valley. By the time we reach Padiham on the outer fringes of Burnley, there's a steady drizzle. The stone buildings in town look particularly grey and bleak and our new home for the next 3 days doesn't look particularly inviting. Once inside though, The Lawrence Hotel is comfortable and we're made to feel very welcome.
Our room is at the top of a narrow stair (which makes lugging heavy suitcases quite fun) and although refurbished, still retains a few quirky heritage features. The boutique hotel is in a historical building used previously as a doctor's surgery. Fortunately no hospital trolleys but there is a large claw foot bath in the room ... which takes up a lot of space.
We rest for a while before venturing out in the late afternoon. Having eaten plenty in the last few days we fancy some light snacks for dinner, so we wander down the hill to Tesco and bring some food back to our room. Padiham itself is nothing to write home about - its old buildings give it some character, and the many pubs give it some life - but it is not particularly aesthetic. Hopefully it is the gateway to the Ribble Valley that it promises to be. In any case, that is something to worry about in the morning.
For now, it's just the hope that jet lag has finally been banished and there's some uninterrupted sleep to be had...
*******
Our room is at the top of a narrow stair (which makes lugging heavy suitcases quite fun) and although refurbished, still retains a few quirky heritage features. The boutique hotel is in a historical building used previously as a doctor's surgery. Fortunately no hospital trolleys but there is a large claw foot bath in the room ... which takes up a lot of space.
We rest for a while before venturing out in the late afternoon. Having eaten plenty in the last few days we fancy some light snacks for dinner, so we wander down the hill to Tesco and bring some food back to our room. Padiham itself is nothing to write home about - its old buildings give it some character, and the many pubs give it some life - but it is not particularly aesthetic. Hopefully it is the gateway to the Ribble Valley that it promises to be. In any case, that is something to worry about in the morning.
For now, it's just the hope that jet lag has finally been banished and there's some uninterrupted sleep to be had...
*******
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