Karen and I spent the first night at the home of my sister Kath and her husband John.  Norbie and Maria, our friends from Miami, stayed at the  Carnforth Station Hotel and we started the day having a big breakfast together at home.  Endless cups of tea flowed as we all fought the jet lag of living five hours ahead of our usual time zone. 

Soon we were all bundling into the rental car for a short drive to Jenny Brown’s Point, a local beauty spot.  We hiked along the tiny roads passing cute cottages and a working farm.  We reached the rocky  trail  which lead to the giant stone bench overlooking Morecambe bay. This seven mile estuary is flooded by tides twice daily. The receding tide reveals miles of wet sands  and its a haven for birds. We could see Grange over Sands across the bay and the rolling hills of the south Lakes District. I had seen these views many times before but they always fill me with joy, especially in the company of family and friends making more memories. 

Our next stop was the Old School Brewery, which was once a school, at the foot of Wharton Crag. This very old building had recently been converted to a brew pub serving fine beers and delicious meals. They offered a range of beers with school themed names. After sampling Blackboard and Headmaster we homed in on a beer called Detention.  We had and tasty lunch followed by two long detentions in school that afternoon.  

Back at my sister’s house we relaxed and made plans for the next part of our adventure. I gave Norbie a lesson in fly fishing in the garden. He caught two bushes and a tree. 

We were still jet-lagged but managed to stay up late watching TV and sipping single malt whisky. 

We all slept soundly that night.