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Our friend Margaret is here to stay for a few days relaxation, hopefully a mini-holiday break for her. On her arrival we enjoy a local walk in the sunshine, on day two she requested a specific walk, Then on day three we all visited Keswick so that Ann could take Dylan on a PAT therapy visit to a nursing home. While she was there Margaret and I took time out in the 'big city' for some retail therapy. The sun shines brightly enough for sun hats . . . but the photo also hints at the breeze which suggested an extra layer may be needed. Q: Why don't we all just grow hairy coats like the dogs, so as not to bother with so many human clothing decisions ? Tree-climbing retrievers . . . a whole three feet off the ground. This old trunk on the beach at Sandy Yat bay has been slowly decaying and gets closer to the ground each year. Relaxing in the sunshine at the other end of Sandy Yat. For those trying to understand the Cumbrian dialect . . . Pebbly Yat would be a better description. [ Yat is gate . . . in this case the one that can be found half way across the beach, in the fence that splits the beach in two.] Ann and Margaret relax on some oversized 'pebbles' . . . and gaze out at something. A Paddle Boarder quietly slips, slides, paddles, canoes, or generally punts his way across the lake. Looking to the east there's a big black cloud over Grasmoor, presumably heading for Keswick. Above us it is overcast with lighter cloud, but a gap in the sky allows a bright shaft of sunlight to land on the lake shore ahead of us. The Crummock Water pump house . . . enjoying another brief period of bright sunlight as the afternoon gradually clouds over. - - - o o o - - - Next day . . . there was a specific request to walk two of our local fells. Consequently we set off up the lane from Thackthwaite (see map) and stopped for a photo just above the top garden of Thackthwaite House. The lovely view back towards Great Gable and the Central Fells as we leave the farm fields behind. " I'm not allowed to speak to them . . . only they wanted to speak to me ! " We branch off the Low Fell path in favour of a direct ascent of Fellbarrow. The dogs are ahead and climb the ladder stile towards Hatteringill Head. " It's the wrong way boys . . . you should stay this side of the wire." Now you ARE the wrong side. . . . but so are Dylan and myself. Perhaps it's the girls who are on the wrong side ? Which ever is the right side . . . this side has more cotton grass. A whole hillside of flowering cotton growing in what must be quite damp conditions despite the slope. Away to the north is the Solway Estuary with Scotland on the opposite side.
Competition for "Top Dog" . . . while Ann and Margaret use the conveniently placed stile to cross to the trig point and the true summit of Fellbarrow. After helping Dougal down (I put him up there in the first place) it was someone else's turn to climb up onto the trig . . . what, no offers ?
When working in George Fishers there was a freebie bookmark that showed a girl walking towards a distant summit. This is the second time I have tried to duplicate the photo . . . nearly a copy . . . but I'll have to take the photo closer to the summit next time. Between Smithy Fell and Sourfoot Fell is another damp patch and a smaller but equally good patch of cotton grass. Rejoining the Low Fell path we get our first view south east towards Crummock. Wrapping up warmly against the strong north easterly wind at the summit cairn. Heading down to the cairn at the southern viewpoint. I'm sure Ann was here earlier . . . I was following her ! - - - o o o - - - The sheep tracks and slight footpaths on the steep descent down the end have been little used this year and consequently are fading away as the vegetation engulfs them. However the rocks are still valid landmarks along the route.
Looking back at another successful walk almost completed. This is Foulsyke House . . . and behind it the summit of Low Fell which is about the fourth bump along. Sisters of the valley . . . Whiteside and Grasmoor. Nearing the end and nearing the kettle this Tuesday afternoon. - - - o o o - - - On Wednesday all three of us visited Keswick, where Ann took Dylan on a PAT therapy visit to Millfield nursing home. Retail therapy for us in town was followed by a nice lunch at the dog-friendly Theatre by the Lake Tearooms. The Boat Landings and Derwent Isle . . . from the garden of the tea rooms. After Storm Desmond and a four year gap, work has finally been started on the renovation of the privately owned Boathouse, which was badly damaged by the strong winds and very high water.
Nice to see the purple door . . . a throw back to the anti-establishment purple colour of the old wooden house. On Margaret's last evening the sun shone brightly to offer her a special Loweswater sunset. The colour on Rannerdale Knotts deepened as the sun dropped. After the official sunset . . . the skies still retained a colourful hue to the west for quite some time. - - - o o o - - -
On the subsequent evening, sadly after she had left for home, there was less cloud and the moon was out. The weather obliged with another Ayres Rock sunset across the high fells, good enough to drag the camera out once more. - - - o o o - - - Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Panasonic Lumix TZ60, or my Panasonic Lumix Gx8 Camera. Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder. This site best viewed with . . . new insights into local walks and lunch in the 'big city'. Go to Top . . . © RmH . . . Email me here Previous walk - 2nd/6th June - Garden, Howarths and Ling Fell A previous time up here - 19th June 2014 - Fellbarrow & Low Fell with Joan Next walk - 14th June - The Railway Children Event 2019
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