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The sun has been shining, we've had some recent rain and
the bluebells in my garden have been in bloom for a week
or so. Conditions should therefore be right to enjoy
the display in the Rannerdale Valley once again this year.
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I had the opportunity to "Walk the Morecambe Bay Sands"
on May 7th this year, something I've wanted to do for such
a long time. Friends of the Lake District announced
that they were organising a Walk so I signed up to take
part and also raise money for a good cause.
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There's a tradition in many parts of the UK to have Scarecrow
Festivals where a village gets together to decorate their
homes and gardens with scarecrows and make-believe models.
Dean Village led the way and organised a weekend of events
covering the four neighbouring hamlets.
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Far, Far away in land across the sea, the north Atlantic
tectonic plates moved and the Cumbrian silt stone crashed
into the volcanics of Borrowdale and the Northern Fells
were born. Millennia later an aeroplane left Canada
and crossed that same sea and brought people to Cumbria
who wanted to climb those fells.
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There are several social groups in the valley, some based
on walking, some based on exploring local history, or of
many other interests. Today two of those interests combined
to provide the opportunity to walk into the 'history' of
the Newlands Valley.
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Another walk with The Mockerkin Mob. This time the
suggestion is to travel to the northern extreme of the county,
in fact the northern extreme of England for a walk through
history. We're promised battles, bird life and Roman remains
on this very different walk.
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Beautiful sunshine finds us on a relatively flat walk up
the Langstrath Valley, but don't underestimate the walk
as the going underfoot is often rocky and the path covered
by river washed stones from millennia past. Some other
brave folk also took a dip in the river !
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Once again my walking companion today is my ex-colleague
Jane from George Fishers who has driven the short distance
from Cockermouth so that we could walk to High Nook Tarn
at Loweswater in the lovely sunshine on offer today.
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Loes suggested a walk out west to explore Longlands Lake
near Cleator Moor. After enjoying the lake we just kept
on walking and ended up exploring the old railway tracks
that encircle Cleator Moor.
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After a wet few days the forecast is for high pressure,
bringing cooler weather but beautiful sunshine to start
the week. These photos are a collection of events
and places that filled my time while I try to get a little
fitter for the impending arrival of the younger generation
over Easter.
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There's no such thing as bad weather, it's just being out
on the wrong day ! The changeable conditions however,
bring their own joys and we need the rain to keep the lakes
topped up. Today the bad weather arrived early, but also
left early which was the bonus.
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Chance to walk with fell walking friends again, members
of the local Mockerkin Mob. A fortnight ago the weather
was fine, the planned route more gentle and there were nineteen
walkers that day. Today the weather forecast was poor, the
route much steeper and the numbers of walkers lower, but
it was still a great day out.
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An invitation to join a different walking group today .
. . the Cockermouth Striders. The walk is more historic
than extensive, more gentle undulations rather than steep
ascents, but it reaches back over time to the Neolithic
the Romans, the Middle Ages, and even has a nice cup of
tea at the modern cafe, in a place visited by Winston Churchill
and ourselves!
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A day over on the west coast with Loes finds us south of
Seascale, in order to explore the Drigg seashore. After
failing to find a local pub for lunch we drove a short distance
inland to Santon Bridge before returning to the coast and
spending an hour exploring the dunes.
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Loes suggested a walk along the fell wall below Whiteside
as somewhere to walk without much altitude to climb. I
prefer not to do out and back walks, so between us we we
devised a route that took us along old valley tracks to
join the wall for the return half.
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Loes and I make an early start for this extended local
walk. Loes is unsure of rocky ground but also unaware
of what lies ahead so it is up to me to judge the route. The
valley offers a gentle but surprisingly tricky climb due
to the erosion after years of flood events, but fortunately
the return is easier.
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With the fine weather showing its face there is the incentive
to make a first cut of the lawn and tidy up all the winter
left-overs. The pond has been cleared of a large quantity
of small-leafed pond weed, the paddock of surplus grass
and the garden raised beds dug.
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An outing with my local fellwalking group the Mockerkin
Mob. Ann and I used to bump into them occasionally when
we were out walking, but today I formally joined with the
group for the first time. Their walk this week is more local
than some so I know the fells well, but even so I walked
some paths today I've never walked before !
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Just a dog walk today, but my local dog walks aren't normally
this long. I set off thinking it was cold and damp
and came home some time later thinking that it wasn't such
a bad day after all. My route was decided as I went
along.
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The forecast before we left home was for a misty start,
a windy middle and a rainy end to the day. What would
be the best time for a walk ? There's no such thing
as bad weather .... so we kit up accordingly and head out
for a walk before lunch.
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Storm Eunice blew through well to the south of Cumbria
and the snow that followed also fell a fair way away from
Loweswater. The forecast for today however was for
a brighter afternoon so Loes and I decided to leave little
to chance and head to the coast to enjoy a low level walk
with loads of interest.
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What started out as a dog walk in a dry spell between Storms
Dudley and Eunice was extended as the weather really wasn't
that bad. The winds up top were strong as expected
but the temperature was mild and even the sun came out,
as did my foot from my boot.
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It wasn't actually a named storm, more of forecasted high
winds and blustery, winter showers. After a domestic morning
full of gardening and some wildlife views, I headed over
to St Bees for an afternoon walk with Loes and to enjoy
the wild seaside !
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To climb or not to climb ... that was the question.
Stephen wanted to re-start his hobby on his first
holiday in the Lakes for many years, so I offered to climb
Mellbreak with him. However the weather had other
ideas, so we opted for a low level circuit of the fell.
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We drive round to the western side of the fells to enjoy
an afternoon walk up Blake Fell. An early lunch should
give us sufficient hours of sunshine as the sunset is noticeably
later now. Loes and I park at Felldyke and head up towards
Cogra Moss.
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Chance to catch up with my fellwalking club friend Ian
Smith as he is up in the Lakes at present. Loes and I head
over to Eskdale and meet him on the road beneath Irton Fell.
Another linear walk to save the road walk and because we
had two cars anyway.
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A linear walk today with Loes and a friend I've known for
years, Diana. She moved over from Sheffield after holidaying
in the Lakes for many years. Today she joined myself
and Loes on a walk to visit St Bega's Church on the shores
of Bassenthwaite Lake.
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The Ratti Railway was closed for winter maintenance but
that doesn't stop us enjoying an extended circular walk
around the village of Boot in Eskdale. Loes and I
pick a low level walk on the map but who knows if we'll
stick to it in this area she knows so well.
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Another fine walk with my ex-colleague and friend Julie
as we venture up the Borrowdale Valley to circumnavigate
Castle Crag. Julie is progressively extending her walking
after recent surgery so we pass on a summit climb in favour
of a more reasonable route today.
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What set out as a dog walk down to Crummock Water became
extended due to the beautiful winter weather. On reaching
Low Ling Crag I could either backtrack to home or become
more adventurous and head up onto High Ling and who knows
where after that !
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A big thanks all who bought a copy from us, to Lee and
Arwen of Lorton Village Shop and to the Kirkstile, the local
hotels and the guest houses who also kindly stocked the
calendars on the run up to Christmas this year.
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