The Meandering Lakelander Returns

Right folks here we go, hope I get things right cos I'll be watching one of the best British films ever made in half an hour....Get Carter. For some reason I woke up somewhere around 3am and it was raining, managed to get back to sleep reasonably quickly and woke again at a more sensible 7am, which is a good hour later than I normally wake up! ! ! !. What a surprise it was still raining and quite heavily now so I thought another half hour snooze might be a nice idea. Woke up again....just before 9am.....can't remember when I was able to stay in bed as late as that......must have needed it is all I can say. Got up and had a quick wash and shave followed by a bowl of cereal and a mug of coffee. Had to go into the village for a couple of things and by the time I had splashed through a few puddles my feet were a bit damp so I made my decision to get a walk in somewhere regardless of the weather. The sun came out for a while so a trek up onto Loughrigg Fell to Lily Tarn was the initial aim and then to see what happens after that. On my way through the village I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was a heron standing very still, as they do, under a bridge that leads into Ambleside's main car park, so quite a busy and noisy place. Managed to grab a few frames and having had a quick look may have something worth uploading. By now it had started raining again so the waterproof jacket made it's first of many appearances. As I commenced the relatively short climb, compared with those of Sunday, I passed quite a few folk with the same idea as me but they were all sheltering under trees and by walls, which beat me as they were already wet anyway! The sun came out again for a while as I got towards the top of Todd Crag. Normally there are stunning views from up here but because of the weather it seemed decidedly average today. Spent an hour or so wandering around pointing the camera and pressing the button. It was very wet underfoot and tramping through wet waist high bracken was quite entertaining, especially as I was never too sue sure what I was gonna be stepping in……sheep roam freely upon these fells! ! ! ! !  As least with it being cool and wet I was fairly sure there would be no snakes at large! ! ! ! After an hour or so, and several rain showers later I finally stumbled across Lily Tarn and then somehow having misread my map I ended up back at Todd Crag, but as I had all day this was not a problem. Found somewhere to have my packup and started to think what I was gonna do next. Not too far to the main path across Loughrigg Fell so that was my next little trek, through the showers and sunny spells again, but what the hell, this is the Lake District. Got to the main track a bit quicker than I expected so as it was too early to go back to my cottage I headed out towards Loughrigg Tarn. The sun showed its face again for a time and with any luck I might have a decent shot or two of the Langdale Pikes. Do I go back the way I came or do I take the slightly longer route. Time was on my side as I only had myself to please so the longer route won hands down. After all my feet had been wet for 5 or 6 hours so a couple of hours more wet wouldn’t do them any harm. Half an hour or so later I was dropping down through some woods towards Loughrigg Terrace which descends down along side Grasmere and eventually leads to the path to Rydal Water. A bit more sunshine than rain now so the jacket was cosigned to the rucksack once again and stayed until I got back into Ambleside. I had already decided on Fish and Chips for my tea but a couple of well earned beers in the Golden Rule was in order first, getting a bit regular this but I am on holiday and it is the best pub in the village. An hour or so later I was back in the cottage, fish and chips duly devoured, a load of washing put in the washer followed by a nice hot shower. Stuff the boots with newspapers to try to dry them a bit although I do have a second pair available. But then again, if the day is wet, the boots are gonna get wet again so may as well use the same ones. No point in getting the dry ones wet for no reason. Then it was laptop on and transfer today’s photos and reformat the cards and finally get round to this. Weather forecast for Wednesday is not brilliant so have to see what meets me when I open the curtains in the morning. But I will be doing something somewhere along the line. Well the film has got about 40 minutes to go so am gonna sit back watch the end of it and then go to bed.

POE and the Golden Rule! Now that sounds about right to me Dave because you have the best of everything, don't you?

Despite the wet feet it sounds like you are enjoying being there. Not a place that we have visited, must put it on the bucket list.

Keep up the daily reports mate, interesting!

Nothing seems to put you off your meandering travels Dave.  Good on ya!!

I hope you had a good boat trip and hike today! 

Well the day turned out cool and wet again but I stuck to the plan. Had an enjoyable drive up 'The Struggle' a superb twisty road that leads up to the Kirkstone Inn at the topof Kirkstone Pass. Stopped for a few minute to try to get some decent photos but not holding my breath on that score. This was followed another amazing drive down the Kirkstone Pass towards Patterdale and finally Glenridding. Vince knows what I mean as he went down the same road a few days ago.... Parked the car and got my ticket. One way to Howtown. Half an hour later, 1120, the boat set sail and a further 35 minutes later I was getting off at Howtown, along with what seemed like half the rest of the assengers on the boat. The first half mile or so was like a procession, groups, couples, individuals and dogs, most heading in the same direction as me, back to Glenridding, although some had turned off and gone north to Pooley Bridge. The track was quite easy for an hour or so but then started to climb and descend but i have been getting quite used to that over the last few days!!! By now I had passed just about everyone  and was making good time. For all the weather was cool, breezy and wet it was quite warm walking and before long i could feel my shirt was very damp, but considering i had a fleece and a waterproof jacket on that was not really surprising. Not the sort of day for taking photos so the camera stayed secure and dry in the rucksack. About halfway round I passed two mountain bikers who were having extreme difficulties manhandling their bikes over the racky paths.....made more for walkers than bikers. Got back to the car around 2.30 and decided to come back to the cottage to change into a dry shirt as having taken the waterproof off i was feeling quite uncomfortable. The run back was the same as that going out but UP the Kirkstone Pass and i could not beleive my luck.....not one vehicle got in my ways and had a most exhillerating drive up the pass followed by a similarly fun drive DOWN the Struggle. Back in the cottage put a load of washing in the washer and about 3.30 took a walk into the village for a while before ending up most surprisingly in the Golden Rule again. There are 7 pubs in Ambleside but this is by far the best. Noo loud music, no television and no gambing machines, only customers who enjoy good beer and varied conversation without having to shout. Got chatting to a couple for a while and then around 6pm set off back to my home from home via the fish and chip shop. The washing was taken out of the washer and put in the dryer and left to run for an hour. Watched th Tout of Britain on the TV and then had a quick show. Got the laptop up and running, replied to a few e-mails, checked a couple of tother web sites then started putting this rubish together.Tomorrow's forecast looks favourable but so did todays, and i had the waterproof on most of the day. Got two potential plans one more susceptible to the weather than the other. Drive upto Grasmere and take the walk upto Easedale Tarn which will be strenuous and probably quite wet underfoot or take a boat trip from Ambleside down to Lakeside at the bottom end of Windermere and hoponto the steam train that goes through to Haverthwaite.

so will see what the weather is like not to mention how I feel, or more to the point how my legs feel!!!!! And I wouldn't be surprised if, at somwhere around 5-5.30pm I am in the Golden Rule again, for the last time this week

That's enough inane rambling for today. Just hope tomorrow gives me somthing worth scribbling for the last report of the week

 Excuse barging in here but a drink in the I-Spy pub ( King's Arms ) is a good way to meet a fellow POE member, as Dave said we covered quite a bit of ground in an hour and a half and maybe put the world to rights. The Meanderer really does know his way around in this neck of the woods and it was great to hear of a lot of The Lake District that I knew I would never get to see. My family and myself were amazed at the scenery and that was pretty much at ground level and never too far from the road. I can only imagine ( apart from any pics to to uploaded ) on what Dave sees on his rambles .

         I hope I have captured a few worthy shots and will upload my favourite ones in due course although I will have my work cut out against the work of Dave here. For our part a lot of our visits were based on Beatrix Potter areas, but for that Lake District wow factor Kirkstone Pass takes some beating, the road, the views, the WIND all made for a spectacular vista and it changed constantly with the sun , clouds and haze making for a different picture every five minutes.

         An afternoon cruise on Windermere is also a great way to see the beauty of the area without any effort, wonderful trip around the northern area of Windermere ( and I did not call it a lake because it is not ). A little way south and Cartmel has a superb Priory and beautiful village worthy of a visit.

    And so my first visit to the Lakes has come to an end but the journey home took in two nights stays , one in Wrexham and one at Ross on Wye to visit some special places to us that we have not managed to get to in the past ( pics on POE in due course here as well).

     Well Dave , thank you for your company and our yarn, needless to say a few familiar names were mentioned and I look forward to your pics as and when they are posted ( ought to check, not looked at the last weeks pics at all yet) .  All the best to the Meanderer and safe drive home.