- The little town is known in guide-books by another name, but the crew of the Swallow had long ago given it the name of Rio Grande — (SA3)
Rio is a town on the shore of The Lake which serves as the principal link with the rest of England, having a railway station (on a hill a short bus ride up from the village) and shops. On Rio Bay there is a steamer pier (one of several piers) and the boatbuilders.
- the little town a mile higher up the lake than Holly Howe (SA3).
Etymology[]
Rio is named for the destination Rio Grande mentioned in the sea song 'Away to Rio' (SA3). The canonical pronunciation of Rio might be "rye-oh" rather than "ree-oh".
Nancy says ... we'll agree to Rio. It's a good name (SA10). Like Kanchenjunga the native name for Rio is never mentioned.
Native prototypes[]
Rio is obviously based on the small towns of Bowness-on-Windermere and Windermere, which share the same geographical layout with, for example, the railway station in Windermere, a short bus ride uphill from the steamer pier in Bowness. The name Bowness is mentioned in Winter Holiday by the smith: Did you hear Bill Bowness got right down to Low End on the ice and a wetting in the river and all, for trying to go too far (WD13).
Bowness-on-Windermere photograph and location map