Calvert Trust Training Day

A very nervous-looking me at the beginning of the ride.

Wednesday, 23rd May

Today we learnt how to drive a horse-drawn trap. Great fun. Makes the ordinary tacking-up of the horses appear so much more simpler now!

Pan's Place

Little Langdale Tarn

Slater Bridge

A crowd gathered just as we left

Inside Cathedral Cave

Hodge close Quarry

Pool at Holme Fell

Colwith Force

Tuesday, 22nd May

Took Francis to my all-time favourite place today. Started at Elterwater, where I had difficulty finding a parking place (early rising for walks from now till September). Sat by the old Slater Bridge for lunch; just in time as it happened as just as we were leaving it was inundated by a very large group of people. On to Cathedral Cave and then up to Hodge Close and Holme Fell.

There are two trees down at the shrine I once made to Pan which have almost completely obliterated it. The only piece I could find was some ribbons tied around a Birch.

Walked down to Colwith Force on the way back. Must have been early spring or autumn last time I went because I remember being able to see the top of the fall and now it is blocked by trees covered in bright green leaves.

Wonderful day followed by a trip to Lynne's where I got very drunk. We all ended up trying on some wigs she has (no photos available).

Francis

Monday, 21st May

Early morning shopping followed by Francis's arrival for lunch. Chilled out in the garden all afternoon and then went to Bowder Stone and Scafell Hotel for a drink in the evening. Sat outside watching the river. Lovely warm day.

Muncaster

Beach at Ravenglass
Roman Bathhouse

Pond along the path

Muncaster Tarn

A very happy Brina by the Tarn

View from the summit of Muncaster Fell

Sturday, 19th May

Finished the bathroom and it looks lovely. Well, our bathroom will never look lovely because of the terrible old bath we have in there but it now looks much brighter and cheerful (mainly because the terrible bath has now faded into the background owing to my wonderful choice of colour for the walls) :)

It was raining buckets when we started out for Eskdale this morning but we thought, what the hell, if it continues, we'll go shopping for a lightshade for the bathroom in Workington! Anyhow it stopped just outside of Cockermouth so we continued on to Ravenglass.

I have missed seeing the sea and really enjoyed walking on the beach even though it was ever so blowly. There was a book fair, which we went to before walking off to see the ruins of the Roman Bathhouse. I have never been here before and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it. Everything is so bright green and the hederows full of flowers. Red Campion is in bloom down here but not yet out in Keswick and I spotted some purple vetch also.

It was just an easy-going, lovely afternoon out really. Saw a couple of pools that I haven't seen before and then, passing the entrance to Muncaster Castle, we popped in for an ice-cream. We have climbed Muncaster Fell before but somehow missed the summit so today we went straight for it. By the time we reached it, it was sunny but still very windy.

Bought some chips back home in Keswick and then both had a bath in the new bathroom!

Whinlatter - again

Thursday, 17th May

Am having a break from writing this week and am decorating the bathroom. In between coats of paint, we went for a short walk around Whinlatter; starting at the Centre and heading up to the viewpoint, then down through the woods, following a beck to the ruined aqueduct and pool. There are llamas in the field nearby - or are they alpaccas? I must look it up. Had a drink in the cafe and then it was back home: more painting for me and an essay to finish for Marcus.

Lancaster

Monday, 14th May

Have had a very pleasant and positive day. Everyone liked the second half of the story I submitted to the Writers' Group. It has been edited - a lot. I was still working on it during the end of the MA. Still, I am pleased that there are no gaping plot holes or chunks that still require some re-writing. I shall take it out in a few weeks' time and enjoy it in its finished state.

Met up with Francis for lunch, met Pops, bought a cardi and drove home in a very good mood indeed.

Along the Track

Friday, 11th May

Talia invited me for a short walk but because I had a bad head I couldn't walk up a hill. We were supposed to be going for a very short walk but ended up walking nearly to Threlkeld, which took two hours in total. Nice though. Didn't think I would be able to go for a walk this week what with bad weather and bad head. (First headache in weeks and only two days instead of three) :)

Whinlatter

Sunday, 6th May

Finally a nice, hot sunny day. Drove off to Whinlatter to walk up to Lord's Seat. A short unplanned walk, which I enjoyed very much. Had a drink of Earl Grey at the cafe on the way back.

Castycam

Catstycam from Glenridding ValleyRed Tarn (Striding Edge behind)

Ullswater from summit

Swirrel Edge

Monday, 30th April

Yes - did it at last - Yay for Brina! Was going to go up via the North West Ridge, but chickened out at the last minute. The East shoulder wasn't the easiest way though so I did make myself a bit of a challenge. Met another 'concerned man' at the top, who was worried that I was going to attempt Swirrel and Striding Edge on my own. At least this one did seem genuinely concerned, and I had a nice chat with him. Then Marcus rang (It was the only place I could get a signal all day).

They met me again when I came down and stopped in the car park to say goodbye. Seemed very nice people.

Weather was goregeous although the heat made for slow walking (for me). Am very achey now!

Latrigg with Mom and Cocoa!

Mom on top of Latrigg

(Doesn't she look pleased with herself?)

Guess who?

Monday, 28th April

And what a nightmare this turned out to be - (not really) but fond memories will remain of my voice breaking the pleasant silence for a number of ramblers trying to enjoy the day, by periodically yelling: "COCOA!" at the top of my voice.

Problem is the dog (next door's - not mine) is hard of hearing - bless her and once she gets her nose to a trail she might as well be stone deaf. Oh and she also has this love of chasing sheep . . . in the Lake District, yes, in spring.

So I'm walking up this fell with a seventy-year-old behind me who can't keep up and a dog in front who can't hear me and keeps disappearing in front!

Anyhow, we all made it in one piece; Mom making it all the way to the top (both of us thought she might not make the last few feet) and Cocoa being rescued by several different groups of people along the railway footpath who spotted her running off in the wrong direction after we had lost her.

Mom said it was as worse as taking Ricky out when he was little!

NB: Just for the record, Cocoa is an adorable dog - a sweet, nervous timid creature who needs lots of luv. She was a rescue dog and still jumps when logs on the fire spit and bangs down the door of her run and runs off into the woods when she hears fireworks. She has a lovely owner, named Chris, who looks after her much better than I ever could.