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…

Yorkshire 3 Peaks

Despite the weather forecast being wet, my stubborn side wanted to give the three peaks of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent a go. The challenge is to walk the route in 12 hours or less. 

So I started out from near the Ribblehead Viaduct, first climbing Whernside, which was a steep-ish climb up to the ridge. The rain and wind came at me and by the time I reached the trig point I thought maybe one peak would do for today. 

The rain persisted on my descent but stopped momentarily so I could see Ingleborough. After munching through an apple and cereal bar, it didn’t seem too far. How wrong I was! The climb up the near vertical zig zag path up to the trig point with the rain returning was a great challenge.

The descent down to reach Horton in Ribblesdale seemed to take me ages even though it was relatively easy going, if a little muddy and slippery in places. If there was ever a place to lift your spirits on a 24 mile walk climbing three peaks, the Church of St Oswald is it! With the rain still coming down and a sign outside the church saying ‘make yourself a cuppa, church open,’ in I went. Not only was there a kettle to make tea or coffee but also CAKE! After a mug of coffee (which I hugged to warm my hands,) a slice of Dutch apple cake and a chocolate shortbread wrapped up to take back to the van, I popped a donation in the box and felt another peak was more than do-able.

A beautiful stretch of the walk was alongside the beck leaving the village. The sun briefly appeared too for my ascent to the trig point on Pen-y-Ghent. There is a short scramble near the top which was fun, although longer legs would have been an advantage!

So, all three peaks managed! However, after the third, it’s still over seven miles of walking back to the start point and for each mile, yes, you guessed, the rain returned to keep me company, deciding to get even heavier about a mile from the van. Great! I smiled when I saw Roo parked up just beyond the viaduct, 8 and a half hours after I’d left her.

For anyone thinking of walking it, just do it. I did no planning, just read a couple of blog posts and downloaded a pdf map, which I didn’t really need as it’s so well signed. 

My evening is being spent at a campsite, enjoying a hot shower, veggie chilli and that chocolate shortbread I mentioned earlier with a cuppa. Heaven. Oh, and I’ve been joined by sunshine and a blue sky. Typical! 

I hope you’ve all enjoyed whatever adventures you’ve had today too.

Heading Home

 A return to Norfolk for auntie duties and some time to enjoy things I do miss once on the road - catching up with family and friends over cake or meals, celebrating birthdays, running with my lovely running group, walks with four legged friends and home cooked meals involving an oven, (now a luxury to me!)

Norfolk shall always be home but returning made me reflect on what ‘home’ actually means. To me it is a place that will always seem familiar, particularly if locations are linked to childhood memories (the woods, the beaches, the footpaths,) but not necessarily a house. One definition says it’s the ‘place you live permanently’ but at the moment I would like to permanently stay being nomadic in my van! 

As I leave the East coast sunshine behind and head north to continue adventures in Scotland, my home on wheels has everything I need: food, warmth, books, coffee and gas for the stove. Let’s hope the sun follows me too!