the last hurrah

How could we finish our holiday romance❤️ with the Lake District now that we were home? 

By having a brief fling with our village agricultural show - that's how!

We knew it was going to be warm, so we took iced water for Moss, hats and umbrellas (for shade) for us and walked up to the recreation grounds now transformed to house pens of sheep and cattle, vintage vehicles and tractors, marquees full of arts and crafts, vegetable and flowers, horses and stunt motorcycles.

We sampled locally made ice cream (which was glorious) and drank very welcome chilly drinks, moved from shade to shade to make sure that we and Moss did not melt. A number of the stalls had bowls of water for visiting dogs and Moss of course graciously gave a token lick (as she was happily kept well watered with her own bowl and iced water).

Due to the heat a number of the animal entries wisely did not come, which I totally agree with as did most people although there were a small minority complaining that they came to see the 'pets' and 'funny chickens' and there was nothing to see!!

We did the show in two halves, we came back home for lunch and to leave Moss in the cooler house for an afternoon nap and then went back up for the rest of the show and the grand parade of vintage vehicles.

It was definitely a good way to end our holiday week and set us up for the working week. Now to plan for our next adventure!! 

Time to go

 

Our last day meant that we packed up (reluctantly) as we had to vacate the site by midday. We left Youngest and his lovely girl folding away their tent as Himself and I took Moss for one last little walk from the campsite. That is our set up in the middle - van and green tent - it had been an interesting few days watching other camping setups, people dynamics and camping etiquette (or the lack of it...)

We decided to get a picnic from Kewsick and go up to Nobel Knott Woodlands, eat our lunch then go for a walk - which we did and it was a wonderful way to end our jollies.

It was delightful to sit amongst the trees, eating and chatting. We agreed that we'd rather enjoyed our jolly and it should be repeated. Then, once replete, we followed the trail to the far side of the woodlands to enjoy the view.

Leaving the welcome shade of the woods was like walking into a bracken scented oven - but it was worth it. We did not linger long though and soon returned to the path taking us back into the trees and joy of joys for Moss we found a small and rather chilly burbling stream. We stopped for a while.

Along the route were tree related quotes engraved into slate. There was one from an odd source but on the whole - they were rather inspirational.

Eventually after we'd procrastinated long enough, we knew it was time to return home. We had had a lovely break - it did us all a world of good and like all holidays - it flew by with a blink on an eye. Thank you for coming along with me on my wafflings, it was lovely reliving our adventures!

Laughing shoe

It was now Wednesday and Himself decided that we would walk the opposite way up the valley away from Derwent Water and follow Derwent River towards the village of Rosthwaite - which means ‘ the clearing in the rose thorns’.

The river runs alongside the farm campsite so is very popular with the campers and with the day turning out to be rather warm again, there were lots of people swimming or sitting alongside the water’s edge. The river itself was crystal clear and so so inviting - Moss heard that invitation and threw herself in immediately!

She was most put out when we had to call her away when the pathway lead us up the flank of the hill above the river.

It was a really interesting path with evidence of old slate and copper mining and a natural HUGE archway. We were staggered at how cool the air was emanating from the arch - which at first was most welcome but very quickly it was too cold to linger and we returned to the muggy humid air.

As we reached the end of the wooded section of our route, we could hear and see a farmer rounding up some of his sheep high up above us. It seemed a rather hot and sweaty job to be doing right in the middle of the day - when we realised we were hungry so returned back down to the river where we found welcome shade beneath a huge tree right on the river’s edge. This time it was not just Moss wild swimming in the water as we were alongside a ‘twistle’ - where two rivers meet and had created a deep clear pool. This time Moss was joined by Youngest.

It was some time before we could tear ourselves away and continue to Rosthwaite. As we walked along, the hot and sweaty farmer who’d with his two equally hot looking dogs, had now rounded up a sizeable herd of sheep, was now alongside us - so we stopped to watch as the Herdwick sheep splashed through a boggy stream followed by the dogs. There was lots of bleating and baa-ing as the ewes and their lambs made their way up the farm track and into the fields - it just added to the delight of our walk.

When we reached Rosthwaite we discovered a village shop selling locally made ice cream and it seemed churlish not to stop and imbibe such cool and tasty treats - we sat in the village green surrounded by sparrows chirruping and foraging around us.

I nipped to the loo and was rather amused by the sign - and yes the door was very low and no I I didn't bang my head there!

Along the way Youngest’s lovely girl’s walking shoe had suddenly expired so Himself took us back via a shortened route back to the campsite once we'd sorted out a shoe swap (I'd a spare set of converse in my haversack). We all agreed that the shoe looked to be laughing out loud!

The air as the evening progressed was delightfully cool but a bit too fresh for a rather tired and still slightly damp dog, so her mattress was brought out and her duvet wrapped around her. She slept soundly as we chatted and ate and watched the night sky - yes, it was another excellent day.

Tomorrow was our last day - and we were going to make the most of it!

Reflections

Continued from yesterday ...

Our plan for Tuesday was to wander down through the fields towards Derwent Water, follow the lake side path until Hawse End, then return back on a higher flanks of the surrounding hills back to the campsite.

So after breakfast - a picnic lunch, flasks and bottles of icy-cool water were sorted and we set off - once again Moss was at the front trying to set the pace and once again she was called to heel - her legs go so very much faster than mine!

After a few fields we came to the water’s edge and followed the path until we found a spot for lunch. Youngest had checked out on his cellphone and found a perfect little ‘beach’ where we could stop and eat and play in the water. It was lovely - absolutely bliss.

The day had really warmed up by then so it was a pleasure to take off walking boots and walk out into the cool water. Moss of course was delighted and spent most of our break either swimming out into the water or standing staring at us - willing us to hurl a stick out for her to swim after.

Alongside ‘our’ little beach was a knot, so Moss and I went up it after I’d eaten to see if the view from there would be good and not only was it superb - there was a bench just in the right place! So we decamped and moved up the knot for a short while before setting off.

It was incredibly warm and humid so our return route was altered so that we did not walk along the hill flanks exposed to direct sunlight but on a lower route which took us through woodland - such a relief!

Back at the van, after we’d eaten and showered (both very necessary!) we once again sat in the wonderfully cool evening air, watched for the moon and chatted, again surrounded by murmuring voices, candles, fires and fairy lights. It had been a lovely - if a little warm - day. 

More to follow….

Summer nights (and days!)🌞🌚

Sitting in a stinking hot van, in the sun, on a very warm day as Himself drove to Manchester today, was an not ideal way to spend a Friday morning, however, it did give me time to ‘pre-write’ today’s post in my head.

Whilst I watched the wind turbines languidly turn in the syrup thick warm air, I thought back on the lovely week we had just enjoyed in the lakes. Youngest and his lovely girl joined us camping in Borrowdale not far from Derwent Water on a farm site tucked between towering tree covered cliff faces. They were in our three person tent and we were in Zeb.

Our original plan had been for a few nights away but when I rang to book I impetuously decided to add another day which meant we had to pack and go almost immediately ! (which turned out to be an excellent spur of the moment decision). We hurriedly sorted out all what we wanted to take with us and headed off. Moss was so excited!

The farm we were to stay on had the narrowest road leading up the entrance and we were very grateful that there’d been no oncoming traffic, squeezing through the stone gateway was a little breath-taking although we knew we should fit through as there were other campervans already parked up.

We found ‘our’ spot and set up fairly quickly with the kettle being the first thing to be unpacked - we know our priorities! (actually Moss was fed and watered first THEN we put the kettle on….. Like I said - we know our priorities)

After we’d eaten we decided to go for a late afternoon-evening exploratory walk and Moss thought that this was an excellent idea and tried to lead us at full speed up the hills. I had to rein her in and keep her at an easier pace - not all of us have ‘four paw’ drive and two of us have ‘stupid’ knees!!

Our path led us up out of the valley although we did not go all the way to the ridge, choosing to stick to the lower level just above the woods. It was lovely to be out and breathing fresh (but still rather sultry) air whilst taking in the fragrance of sun warmed bracken and moss. We found a stream which had come straight off the hills and was breath-takingly and surprisingly cold! Moss threw herself in and splashed and wallowed with such a happy grin on her face. 

It was not long after we spied Derwent Water in the distance and stopped to take photos - a certain dog wriggled impatiently whilst we all caught our breath and admired the view. It felt humid and languid as we’d not thrown ourselves into the icy waters (more fool us said Moss) and were quite warm.

Our return to the campsite was timed with the moon just coming over the horizon towards Rosthwaite - a neighbouring village - so once we returned to the van and the tent, the kettle went back on and cameras were set up to capture what we could of the now pleasantly cool evening.

The groups of children which had happily played in the surrounding trees, had drifted back to their families and the site became a lot quieter with adults chatting quietly around fires, alongside candles or fairy lights which adorned their campervans. Himself and I tend to use the less frequented camping sites so this to us was very different to our usual set up. Youngest and his lovely girl, Himself and I chatted late into the night watching the moon and stars. It was, we all agreed, a very good start to our jollies!

More to follow ….

Pond Dipping

This time of the year gardening sort of completely takes over - you push push push leading up to this point with sowing seeds, weeding, potting up and pricking out gradually getting more and more frantic.

Then suddenly the garden explodes and the roses are in full bloom and filling the air with their sultry perfume, the foxgloves are racing each other as they reach for the sky with bumblebees busily foraging their every bloom. The daisies with their ever cheerful faces follow the sun, fill the borders and sprawl across the path.

For a few short but very delicious weeks the garden is ripe and voluptuous with indulgent flowers and intoxicating scents and I am happy. (well almost - there is that oxymoron of ... do I humour the daisies which are lying across the path looking gorgeous and enticing or do I constrict their happy laissez-faire attitude and corset them up with supports??) 

Definitely the former!

And the title? Pond Dipping? Well whilst working in a private garden today I accidently stepped off the edge of a natural pond and lost my left leg in the water.... I dripped and shed duck weed for another 40 minutes before I finished.  There was still water in my boot once I'd got home! There was only Moss to laugh at me and she was too busy sunbathing to even notice. Such a supportive sidekick......

However, I don't think I would have it any other way. Life is for living, for the here and now, for the flowers and their fragrance.

Hope your Thursday was a lovely as mine - but you don't have to pond dip (unless you REALLY REALLY want too!)