April 22nd: Harrogate and Knaresborough

The LDS chapel in Harrogate where the McKeens attended for 6 years.

 The playground at Valley Gardens, Harrogate. The McKeen family visited this park often during the 6 years that they lived in Harrogate. The McKeen children no doubt have fond memories of this place.

 Me being silly

The paddling pool in the playground at Valley Gardens

Beautiful pond in Valley Gardens.

Valley Gardens

The entrance at the end of park.

 More of the entrance...

Just for you, Auntie Debbie, from your visit 5 years ago (picture me wearing a skirt). For over 175 years, visitors could drink natural sulphur water from this tap.

I tried, but nothing came out.... the reason?...

.  

 Darn EU bureaucrats!!

 There is actually a museum for the Royal Bath house, something that Angie never knew existed

 There are a lot of random pictures of the town. There are two reasons for these pictures. 

1. Because I (Austin) loved this town and thought it was beautiful 

2. For the McKeens to see if they remember the town of Harrogate.

 This is the home that the McKeens lived in for 6 ish years.

 Their home was on 47 Beckwith Road

 The little alley where the kids walked to school. 

If you look on the ground you can see the perfectly good "used" pieces of chewing gum.

There is one missing, Angie had to take one for old time sake; see if they were really as good as she remembers. Just kidding. 

 The way to the entrance of Rosset Acre

 We took a lovely tour of the school that Angie and Kristen McKeen attended.

 The play area of Rosset Acre

 A classroom in Rosset Acre where Angie had recorder lessons (in the corner by the black bulletin)

 The gym of Rosset Acre, which seemed to huge to Angie when she was 5-7 years old.... now it feels so small.

 It doesn't look like it know, but this used to be the old toilet room where Angie remembers crying after getting made fun of for brushing her teeth after lunch (apparently not very "cool" for a 2nd grader to do).

 A view from Little Almscliffe of Father McKeen's old job site, Menwith Hill Base (the white golf ball looking structures in the distance.)

 Little Almscliffe where the kids would play hide & go seek. 

 This is my best Robin Hood stance at the wall next to Little Almscliffe

 I had a rock in my hand ready to defend my home land.(that would be the trees in the back)

The great chasm of Little Almscliffe

 Another random picture of Harrogate

The former Royal Baths in Harrogate... now a Chinese restaurant apparently.

 Random photo of Harrogate

 Random photo of Harrogate

 Random photo of Harrogate

 Random photo of Harrogate

  In America we have deer crossing signs. Not in England. 

Watch out for them blind folk, cause they're not watching out for you.

 Random photo of Knaresborough

 The River Nidd looking up to the Knaresborough Castle (you can see the ruins of the castle keep on the hill).

Instead of "Where's Waldo?", let's play "Where's Angie?"... can you spot her?

This is the second bridge to be built here. The original bridge fell five minutes before it was scheduled to have its grand opening. That was in 1848. This bridge is only used for trains.  

 Tea & crumpet time, or even better: goats cheese & water cracker time. So yummy.

 Dinner on Monday night at the Hooson's: Authentic fish & chips

This is the first of many pictures of the official Steve Hooson tour of Knaresborough. He has done a lot of research in the 25+ years that he's lived here. We were very impressed with everything that he shared with us.

 This is on the wall behind me of the picture above. 

More of the Tour of Knaresborough

 Knaresborough Castle

More of the Tour of Knarseborough 

 A view of the earlier bridge from the Castle

 Knaresborough train station (just for you Father McKeen).

Europe: the first 4 days

First stop after the airport: Hampton Court. We parked the car and walked around the streets as we made our way to Hampton Court Palace. After a few streets, I saw a red post box, and I just had to hug it. I'm HOME!!!

The promenade up to Hampton Court Palace, the most fascinating and diverse castle in England.The audio tour was excellent. I highly recommend this castle to anyone who visit the London area. 

 Austin in the Base Court of Hampton Court Palace

 Walking to the Underground Station on our way in to London (p.s. We have it on good authority that Colin Firth lives on this street.... #20 to be exact. Lovely house).

  A British phone booth. Many of them are no longer in service, but the city officials haven't removed them yet... and honestly, how could they? They're so...British!!

 Riding a double-decker bus around London. The Underground is great, but it's fun to travel above the ground to see a lay-out of the land.

 Regent Street leading to Picadilly Circus

 The O2 in Eastern London

 Riding the Emirates Airline cable car across the Thames River

 The Tower Bridge

 The Tower Bridge again

 This sign made us laugh. Dunno why, we just had a good giggle over it. Maybe cuz we are terrified of driving in Britain.

A view of the Tower Bridge from the South Bank of the Thames River

Raclette: a Swiss dish comprised of melted cheese (we're not talking Kraft Singles here, people), potatoes, and pickles. Is it delicious? Oh yes. That big yellow thing you see there is a wheel of cheese (this particular flavor is Ogleshield). The top layer is melted under a grill and then poured onto a plate of potatoes and pickles.

Enjoying the Raclette in Borough Market

A view of Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster from the South Bank

Are we the luckiest people alive? Yes we are! It seems like every few minutes, one of us will stop the other and say, "Hey, we're in England!!"

 Westminster Palace and Big Ben

 Big Ben and the London Eye

 Westminster Abbey, the traditional site of coronations and royal weddings for centuries

I love the Tube

 The Church just barely launched its "I'm A Mormon" campaign in London, and we saw billboards in the Underground and on the buses EVERY WHERE! It was so exciting to see.

 More awesome iconic London Underground plaques

 Kings Cross train station

Platform 9 3/4... had to do it!

 St. Pancras Station, the most exquisitely beautiful train station in the world.

We are dead tired. Five hours of sleep over the course of 48 hours will do that to you.

 Our rental car. It has a manual transmission.... you'd think that shifting with your left hand would come naturally to a "leftie" like myself, but it doesn't. In case you were wondering, it takes a LOT of concentration to navigate tiny British roads, operate a manual transmission, follow the instructions of our GPS, stay on the correct side of the road, and not die... all at the same time!!

 The visitor's center at Hyde Park Chapel. My sister served her mission in London, so it was fun to imagine her here. The chapel itself was recently remodeled and now serves as a full-time visitors center complete with a mini theater, interactive learning monitors, statues, artwork, etc. 

 A beautiful little street in Littlethorpe, where Austin's cousin and his family live.

Austin's cousin's wife, Angela, and their daughter Genevieve.

 Genevieve and Victoria.... the sweetest Ameri/Brit girls I've ever met.

 My little sister, Kimberly, helped me find a map of Police Boxes in England (there are only half a dozen or so left). It just so happened that there was one just ten minutes away from one of the towns we visited (Wetherby, Yorkshire). We had to stop by to take a photo. I am a recently converted fan of Dr. Who (thanks, Kim), so I was tickled to find a fake TARDIS. 

(Note: this Police Box is in fact a replica. It's located out front of a police academy).

Stay tuned for more!