Surch for footsteps of Ransome | Map of Lake District | Nancy Blackett | Last update 11 Aug 2024 - SSL
I visited the original setting of "Swallows and Amazons" and walked alone through the mountains, rivers and lakes of England in search of the footsteps of author Arthur Ransome.
The setting of the original is Coniston Water in the Lake District in the northwest of England. On this lake is the beloved Wildcat island 'Peel Island' that appears in the story. I dreamed of sailing across the lake and landing on Peel Island, and also staying at the farmhouse Hollyhow, which is written about in the book. I also wanted to take a boat trip on the River Beur in Horning, a village in the Norfolk Broads, the setting for Coot Club. I also wanted to walk across the Red Sea to Swallow Island in Walton-On-The-Naze, 'Secret Sea' , so I set off on a walking trip to visit the places I love in England, the setting for Ransome's works.
I only had one alpine backpack to take with me. It's the same one I always use in the mountains when climbing streams. I'd be carrying it all the time, so I had to carry as little as possible. To walk a lot and see a lot, I needed a light load. However, on the way back from the trip, I bought as many original books by Ransome as I could fit in my backpack, so it became very heavy.
When I go on a trip alone, I can sit down and draw a sketch for a postcard in my favorite place. I can also wait for half a day to look at the sea until the tide goes out so that I can walk across the tidal flats to Horsey Island like Titi and her friends.
If I sit alone in the restaurant of a Youth Hostel or on a train, I'm sure many local people will talk to me. I can't say that I'm not good at English. It seems that it's natural for everyone here to enjoy conversation. I felt that the warmth of this place is also in the fact that I can casually exchange words with people I meet in the mountains or at a youth hostel, saying Hello! or Hi! It was unthinkable not to talk to them when we sat across from each other at a youth hostel table.
I had always wanted to stay with an English family who runs a B& B, but I was worried that I wouldn't be able to stay there because I'm not good at English. Naturally, people started talking to me a lot, so I guess I just had to be brave to get by.
Arthur Ransome painted the nature of England in the 1930s. Even now, about 90 years later, I felt that the mountains, rivers, and lakes are still as natural as they were when Ransome painted them. This is probably due to efforts by people to preserve what is truly important, such as the National Trust, and other nature conservation efforts.
I walked around a lot in nature like this. There was a time when I was completely enveloped in the deep fog that covered Lake Windermere in the morning, just like Captain John of the Swallow. I also had the opportunity to board a real houseboat used by Captain Flint at the Steamboat Museum. There was a table with tea and unfinished letters lined up on it, and I was allowed to sit in the cabin in front of it. Also, when I discovered the stone "doghouse" itself in the woods after searching around using the map, I really felt like I was part of the story that was happening there.
When the journey, I will have a sketch of postcard-size paper.
If I look through the viewfinder of a camera,it is only the scenery seen for a moment.
If I am going to draw by sketch, I will gaze a lot.
When I start drawing, the fact that you do not become aware is found to that.
I sat down and drew in the shade of a tree. While that time, I having been then blown on the wind, drinking cola on the roof. I takes time to draw, is a very important time.
I remember to the calm feeling and refreshing wind at that time.
I started drawing as the letter to please my daughter waiting at home waiting for.
but now it has become pleasantly myself traveling.
<--->English
Wildcat Island
