I expect you have heard the expression 'I have two left feet' from people who can't dance, but have you heard the expression 'I have two right feet' from people who didn't check their boot bag properly before they set off! Yes that was me. As I was travelling into Bradford I opened my boot bag and thought 'oh dear I've brought one each of two different pairs of boots'. Not a problem I thought they are the same make and look similar so no-one will notice. It wasn't until I arrived in Bradford that I had a sudden thought ' would I have a left and a right boot'. Stuart checked my boots and confirmed to my horror that I'd actually brought two right feet with me.
Hmm, now what to do? I was thinking I wouldn't be able to do any of the walks but I tried the larger of the two boots on my left foot and it felt OK so I gave it a try. More than 20 miles later I can confirm that it is perfectly possible to walk with your boots on the wrong feet.....try it sometime!
Anyway enough of that, back to the holiday details. I was staying in the YHA which as usual was situated down a long dark lane that the coach can't get down. It is an old mill on a bend in the river. A really beautiful spot on a nice day! It is also a self catering hostel so we had to take our own food with us and carry everything down the lane. Fortunately one or two people had torches with them so we all arrived safely and had a quick lesson from the warden in how to gain entrance to the building.
The ladies were occupying the men's dorm as it had 12 beds in it, so the men were all in the ladies' dorm. I don't suppose there was any difference really. It wasn't long before everyone was settled in drinking wine or cups of tea and eating cheese and biscuits and nibbles.
Saturday
As usual some are early risers and some later so there was plenty of room for everyone in the kitchen making porridge and drinks. The coach picked us up further down the lane so we had a pleasant walk through the park. The rest of the party were staying in various B&Bs in the town, some of which looked rather posh.
The forecast was still for heavy rain and the cloud base was low so no-one was heading for the hills today.
There were several variations of walks in Eskdale and I opted for Ray and Jackie's walk from Dalegarth to Ravenglass. Thanks to Ray taking the opportunity for a cup of coffee at the start I managed to see 'Ratty' the narrow gauge steam engine on the turntable at the station.
The weather was a bit damp now and then but we didn't have any serious rain until the end when we were waiting for the coach. This is the route we should have taken to cross the river! Fortunately Ray found an alternative route.
We managed to find enough shelter in a small wood to have our lunch.
The tide was out as we reached Ravenglass so the final part of the walk was along the shore with distant views of the sea and a glimmer of sunshine in the far distance. Well perhaps not sunshine but it did look brighter.
Unfortunately the weather deteriorated after that and we had a wet walk down the lane back to the hostel. However it didn't dampen our spirits and we had a friendly evening with everyone cooking and eating together and plenty of plum pie and custard, cheese and biscuits and wine and plum vodka and blackberry gin. Djamel tested our music knowledge with a wide range of music on his ipod and I did my knitting! Every so often someone would disappear to use the shower as there was only one each for males and females. On the face of it this wasn't very good but we all took a turn when it was free and it didn't seem to be a problem.
Sunday
Where are we going today?
The forecast wasn't any better today and it had rained heavily overnight and also the wind had got up so once again nobody took to the hills and the ascent of Skiddaw was off. However it was fine to begin with and wasn't cold so that was a plus point. There was a little confusion on the coach as people decided which walk to do. I decided to do Jackie and Ray's walk around the back of Skiddaw which was described as a wild walk. I don't think Jackie had realised just how wild it would turn out to be as gusts of wind blew us along, fortunately blowing on our backs and not in our faces.
Not long after we had set off the rain started so Ray gave us a demonstration of his plastic bag technique for putting on waterproof trousers.
Hmm, I think he needs a bit more practice and its not very easy in the wind!
We made our way along a wide track and marvelled at all the water pouring down the sides of the mountains. The views would have been splendid on a clear day but once again the cloud base was low so we couldn't see the tops of the peaks. We stopped for a lunch break in the shelter of the wall of the Skiddaw House Hostel, the back of beyond!
On the way down to Keswick we had an exciting stream crossing and a couple of people slipped on the wet grassy areas but other than that all went well and it wasn't long before we arrived in Keswick and had plenty of time for refreshments and shopping before setting off for home.
A favourite haunt of Melvyn Bragg of South Bank show fame.
Meanwhile the C party, lead by Mike Smith, had done an interesting woodland walk skirting the lower slopes of Skiddaw to the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, the inspiration for Tennyson's 'Lady of the Lake' and a haven for wintering wild fowl. Bassenthwaite Lake is the only lake in the Lake District as I'm sure you all know, the others all being meres, waters, tarns or reservoirs.
Osprey Country
Thanks to Jean Moxon and Sheila Hogg for their photos. It didn't seem to be raining where they were!
In spite of the poor weather everyone seemed to have a good time and we are all looking forward to the next weekend away in Whitby next March.That is booking up very fast, so if you haven't booked yet do it now!
