Love, Love, LOVING the Lakes

What a week! After enduring the rain of Yorkshire, it seems that was my only rain to be had as everyday in the Lakes I have had beautiful, sunny days. I have walked and walked in the south near Ambleside and Bowness, around Grasmere and the Langdales and then onto my favourite area near Keswick. Lots of new peaks hiked including Helm Crag, Skiddaw, Blencathra, great horseshoe walks including Newlands and Fairfield and a glorious evening on top of Wansfell Pike. 

Again I’ve been met with great conversation up on the fells with folk who have incredible stories - one guy recovering from a heart attack climbing Fairfield, a couple recovering from operations getting back to walking, a bus driver from South Africa going through the heartache of losing his children and a chap from Norfolk who escapes to the lakes every week on his days off travelling by train! Honestly, the strength in people is amazing. I also met two ladies in Buttermere who drove me to see the bluebells at Rannerdale Knott and invited me to stay with them when I’m back this way. 

By far my best encounter though was re-meeting Sarah, who I had previously met at a pub in Bowland Bridge last September. We bonded over spaniel chat! It turns out we had booked a navigation course in Bowness on the same day eight months later - what are the chances?! It was amazing and so lovely to sit afterwards in the sun at the pub after our long day of concentrating on maps and compasses! 

So, thank you to the lakes, I’m not ready to leave but Scotland is calling…