Tarn Hows with Mom

Thursday, 26th April

Mom arrived for visit on Monday but I've had a bad tum and have not been able to take her out anywhere. Marucs drove us to Tarn Hows, where we had a lovely ice cream and walk around the Tarns. We had only just begun when we bumped into an old friend - Kristienne and her guide dog, Brambles - who were out for a walk with a friend.

After our walk we took Mom to the Drunken Duck Inn for a drink and decided that, as it was so nice and the food looked so good, we would celebrate our Wedding Anniversary here next week.

Birks and Arniside

Saint Sunday in heat haze from Birks Summit

Ullswater (also in haze) from the summit of Arniside Crag

Sunday, 15th April

In which a brave attempt was made upon Saint Sunday but was curtailed due to hubby's tummy - which was upset - as was I at not being able to reach summit after long climb. I got as far as seeing it in the middle distance but Marcus's tummy really was too bad to go any further so he went back to Patterdale and I summited Birks and then came down via Arniside Crag. My tummy started to go wobbly on the way down also (sigh - we must have a bug)!

Ricky

Wdnesday, 11th April

My son has come home for a few days; here's some pictures of us by the lake.

Birkhouse Moor

Castycam from Hole-in-the-Wall

Is this the Easter Bunny atop the cairn?

Birkhouse Moor Summit Cairn

Ullswater from halfway down Birkhouse Moor

Saturday, 7th April

Didn't realize that I was out of petrol until it was too late and so had to drive to Penrith before slipping down to Ullswater. Holiday traffic ridiculous; two drivers beeped at me!

Could not find a parking place at Glenridding so drove to Patterdale. Eventually managed to find a place but then found myself on the wrong path for the first hour! Got onto the right one only to have some apparently concerned person tell me that I was going up a bit late (it was 2p.m. )! He wanted to know where I was planning to go. It's amazing isn't it; you go out for some peace and quiet . . . and people wonder why some fellwalkers prefer their own company - if only!

Finished climb to, 'hole-in-the-wall' and continued on to Birkhouse Moor, sending Ricky a text on the way. (Strange, but I often find myself texting my son whilst walking across some bleak fell-top or another). Came down the way I attempted the climb a few weeks' ago and then walked from Lanty's Tarn across Glenamara Park back to Patterdale.

I did enjoy this walk - eventually.

Red Screes

the Summit cairn on Red Screes

Walking down to Middle Dodd

Sunday, 2nd April

Climbed Red Screes with Marcus, which was a little longer than the walk last week. I also walked across to Middle Dodd. Met lots of people at the top (and a really lovely dog named Megan). Good views, nice tarn and a long, straight drop over rugged cliffs. Good view of Cauldale Moor and Kirkstone Pass - and of course I now recognise the peaks of Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick away to the east there.

Spring Gardening

Sunday, 25th March

Finally got out into garden to plant, rake and sow. Building on last year and getting ideas for the next. As always I enjoyed it once I got going.

Watendlath

Tea Shop

Saturday, 24th March

Such a lovely day. Walked to Watendlath and read books by the tarn.

Decided that as I can no longer eat cakes and bisucuits (wheat allergy) I should start eating chocolate again. However I have a rule that I only eat whilst on walks (that way I can burn off excess calories you see). Watendlath tea shop sells the really big slabs of Dairy Milk for only 85p! :)

On Writing

Friday, 23rd March

Just wanted to say that I have now finished re-writing chapter one of my novel. Yes, chapter one I know, but have been struggling with it for weeks and Marcus suggested a way forward - something to try - when we out walking on Wednesday and - it worked! So, am going to try completely re-writing chapter two now.

The hope is that once the pattern, format and the characters have formulated, the going will be easier - here's hoping.

Seathwaite Fell

Very snowy the higher we walked. (but not cold).

Sprinkling Tarn

Great Gable from Seathwaite Fell

Seathwaite Tarn

Wednesday, 21st March

Seems such a long time since I walked this feel; last summer in blazing heat I recall. And aftwerwards I climbed up onto Great End but had to visit Esk Hause before I went back. They were making or repairing the footpath. But although I walked the full length of the fell, I failed to summit the actual highest point so I thought I would return and ensure that I did.

We came up the easy way - from Styhead - as I didn't want to get stuck on Grains Gill. Many years ago I completed this circular walk with a friend in conditions similar to today and we found that in places the path was completely iced over. With no-where else to go, we had to make an unpleasant scramble across ice-covered rocks. Grains Gill is no place for a pleasant amble in snow. We met a guy near the tarn who had come up that way and tolk us he had nearly gone back so we were pleased to return the way we had come.

I like Seathwaite Fell. It is a pretty place, full of secretive rocky places filled with unexpected tarns. The one I have named, Seathwaite Tarn was little more than a puddle last year.