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90 Days Driving on the Left Side of the Road
When Steve Sieberson and his wife unexpectedly found themselves in Britain with an entire summer on their hands, they readily agreed to avoid the usual tourist attractions, opting instead for a road trip to the UK’s far-flung national parks. As they set out, however, he envisioned bracing days of energetic hillwalking, while she assumed they would relax in tearooms and cozy pubs.
Seldom planning more than a few days in advance, the two traversed the country in a rented Vauxhall, subjecting themselves to single-track lanes, diabolical signage, and whimsical advice from locals. They discovered a town called Mirthless, a place where cats’ eyes are removed, and a vibrating cottage, while at mealtimes they dove fearlessly into black pudding, Eton mess, and barely recognizable enchiladas. Meanwhile, after their initial attempts at hiking together nearly ended in disaster, Sieberson received dispensation to scramble alone to the highest point in each national park—as long as he was quick about it and left plenty of time for more sedentary pursuits. Low Mountains or High Tea dishes up the charms and eccentricities of rural Great Britain as seen through the eyes of two Americans who never really knew what was coming next. Praise for Low Mountains or High TeaSteve Sieberson’s delightful follow-up to his first book follows the author and his wife, ‘the Italian Woman,’ as they set off on a grand tour of Britain’s national parks. Fans of A Year in Provence and Under the Tuscan Sun will love Low Mountains or High Tea. With a sharp eye for details of culture, climate, and landscape—along with a dash of good humor—Steve Sieberson has written a book every armchair traveler will fall for. "Like The Naked Mountaineer, Low Mountains or High Tea is wonderful. So well written. Contrary to the cover, there is more than a “dash” of humor in the book. The stories are cleverly presented and hilarious on many occasions. Great word choice and wry observation throughout. And the Italian Woman comes across as a true personality, as do you. I could go on, but I will spare you. LOVED IT! Congratulations on another fine accomplishment." --E.P.
"I have just finished your book and laud it to high heavens. I can't believe how you capture so much colorful hiking and driving detail in the UK! Even more impressive is your constant humor, resilience, word choices and local lore. Your book is a triumph of the travel genre that has lifted my spirit." --R.R. "Your book on Britain’s national parks is going to be a reference for me, as I plan to head there in the next two to three years for a good long trip." --M.M. "You express the hope that it might “assist anyone who might be interested in replicating any portion of our journeys.” Well… I am only slightly exaggerating when I say that, in fact, it appears that you wrote “Low Mountains” solely to aid me and my wife, because a few weeks ago we made a rather sudden (and probably rash) decision to tack on a three week dash around the UK national parks. My copy is dog-eared, underscored, starred and notated to the hilt. And in the bargain my wife and I giggled, guffawed and laughed out loud repeatedly throughout. Cockermouth and Wyre Piddle indeed! Bless you. Whether or not you meant to — you wrote “Low Mountain” just to aid and delight US. Great thanks!!! We will be thinking of you atop numerous peaks and every time we eat a ginger crème cookie… and avoid the black pudding." --S.R. Table of Contents
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