Wednesday, 5th June 2024
Brilliant sunshine, when we woke up, followed, within ten minutes by hail stones! I must check the date, is June isn't it, not November?
The forecast says sunshine and showers, the showers are said to be expected at 11:00.
We set off at 10:00, to walk along the lakeshore to Keswick.
It is dull and windy, with occasional bursts of quite warm sunshine.
Despite the forecast, no rain appears.
We encounter a surprising number of walkers, considering the dismal weather, but, for some
reason, they all appear to be going in the opposite direction to us.
As you can see, Kathleen is dressed for winter!
It is a pleasant walk, despite the weather. We have walked this route many times, and, Kathleen is able to recall various landmarks and points of interest, as we go. This is re-assuing for her, given the circumstances.
We reach Portinscale, by 11:30, without being soaked, a toilet stop and coffee are required.
The original plan was lunch in Keswick, but, we cannot resist what look like very appertising Cumberland Sausage sandwiches, at least they are encased in "healthy" seeded wholemeal buns!
On to Keswick, for a little more nostalgia, Bryson's Cake Shop, and, various pubs we have visited in the past. The sun even makes a brief appearance.
Then, past Lakeside House and Hope Park, and to the lakeside where the launches arrive and depart.
An expensive decision at this point, I decide, in the interests of more nostalgia, that we will return, as near as possible to Manesty (which turns out to be High Brindlehowe) on the launch.
There is a launch due to depart in about 10 minutes, so, I go to the ticket office and purchase two tickets. £27.50! The Lake is only 4 miles long for goodness sake, how can they possibly justify £13.75 each (and, they are "concession" prices!).
To make matter s worse, it begins to rain heavily as we wait for the launch to arrive, and, there is no shelter.
There are a surprising number of passengers, both getting off, and getting on again, given the rip-off fares.
Soon we are in the warm and dry cabin, and, on our way, first to Lodore, then to Brindlehowe.
After the launch, another short walk along the lakeside, when, yes, it begins to rain again.
We arrive back "home" not too wet, having walked a total of 6.8 miles today.
The verdict is a very enjoyable day, despite the weather and, the expensive ride in the launch.
Thursday, 6th June 2024
Lots of overnight rain, but, this morning, we have sun and a little bit of cloud, not hot, only 12c.
Kathleen has some excitement this morning, which I miss because I am busy doing chores). There is a squirrel feeder near our pitch, about two metres away. This morning, it is visited by a red squirrel which calmly sits and demolished the entire contents of hazel nuts, as kathleen watches.
Today's activity is to walk to Keswick, this time, along the minor road along the Cat Bells side of Derwent Water.
This turns out to be more strenuous than the
lakeside route, much more up and down, and, surprisingly, little or nothing shorter, in terms of distance.
The road is quiet enough, very little traffic.
We do learn that there is a bus travels this way (77A), because it passes us as we walk, so, that will be useful for later.
A coffee (and toilet) stop (but, no snacks) at Portinscale, then on to Keswick.
A little shopping in Booths Supermarket. We
cannot get any hazel nuts, but, settle for bird food, to see if we can attract the squirrel back, or, at least, some bird activity.
Check bus times, for our return journey.
Lunch in the Dog and Gun.
We meet up with a very talkative retired librarian. She is visiting from Doncaster, alone, and, attending a "Literary Festival" (very appropriate for a retired Librarian, I thought). Quite a pleasant an interesting lady, rather lonely I suspect, and, boy can she talk!
Coffee and cake at Bryson's.
We take the 77A bus, from the bus station. The driver kindly drops us right at the entrance to the campsite. For future reference, this may be an interesting bus ride for a future visit, it goes to Buttermere, via Honister Pass.
We arrive back, without having even felt a drop of rain, the first day we have not had a soaking!
We put some of our birdseed on the squirrel feeder, and, some on a nearby bird table. So far, no squirrels, but, we do have a few blue tits, and, much to Kathleen's annoyance, a very persistent wood pigeon.
With your cooking skills Ken, that pigeon could find itself in a pie perhaps?
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