UK 2024 - March 10th

 We haven't been a big vacation for several years. This year we're doing both the UK (Tracy, Rhys, Hannah and I) and Spain (Owyn).

I came out for work a week before everyone else, then we're spending the week after here in the UK. Meanwhile, Owyn is on a school trip to Spain with his Spanish class.

On Sunday the 10th, my co-workers and I visited Fountains Abbey. This is one of Tracy and my favorites from when we lived here twenty two years ago.

The first view of the ruins is always enough to make us stop and stare.

It was a cloudy, cold and rainy day, so spring in England.

They have a fascinating model of what the Abbey looked like when it was alive.

Many of the buildings are built over the river, including the toilets.

The bridge to the Mill, which lived on in active use until 100 years ago.

The basement of the lodging for the lay brothers.

The up-stream side of one of the buildings over the river.

The river running past some of the ruins.

The inside of  a room. Just part of the floor shows that it was once inside.

The courtyard with the minster on the other side.

The down stream side of one of the buildings over the river.

More former indoor rooms, now outdoors.

Looking down the minster. This was the inside of the church.

You can see the layers in the local sandstone used for some of the inner walls.

Looking up  the bell tower.

The Victorians, not being able to leave well enough alone, built a sculpted water park downstream of the ruins.

Lots of straight lines and tame wilderness.

Also, a green temple on a hill, because of course there is.

While we were walking out we saw these Roe deer hanging out under a tree.

Fountain's Abbey is well worth the trip if you are ever in the Harrogate area.

After this we all went to work until our families arrived on Thursday.