Lake District, October/November. Day 1, A Brief Encounter.

The drumming on the caravan roof began at 3.00 in the morning.  This was not a demented bird dancing on the roof but the forecast rain that came complete with a weather warning for the next three days.  The morning brought no relief.  At 6.30, still pitch dark, it was time for my first visit to the facilities.  Not only was it still monsoon style rain but the route to the toilet block was flooded as I discovered when I found myself ankle deep.  We sit, now, enjoying breakfast, and looking out at the rain.  Plans are to meet Thomas at Carnforth Station for a train ride to Ulverston over two viaducts over the Kent and Leven estuaries. 

Our journey here yesterday went well.  Arriving at 4.30, we were soon set up and enjoying a cup of tea shortly followed by pizza and an early night.

When we pulled Into Carnforth Station car park Thomas was already there.  We made our way I to the station where we enjoyed tea and stickies in the Brief Encounter tea room, looking just like station tea rooms from my childhood.  Mind you couldn't get flat white in those days.  Heather was disappointed that they didn't sell the old British Rail bread pudding.  We looked around the Brief Encounter museum while we waited for our train to Ulverston.  It was fascinating to sit in an old style cinema mock up watching clips from the film which was filmed here. 

Despite the foul weather we enjoyed our train journey; it was interesting to see Leighton Moss and Arnside from a different perspective.  We thought that Ulverston town centre was lovely and we had an excellent lunch at the fine Cobbles Tearoom.

Back at Carnforth we said our farewells to Thomas and then did our usual trick of getting lost in the lanes to Arnside.  Stopping only briefly at Booths in Milnthorpe, we were soon back at the site and battening down the hatches.

Despite the weather an excellent day.