The Lake District Day 3

We woke this morning to another day of sun and we were to enjoy beautiful weather all day.  We had arranged to meet our friends from Blackpool, Linda and Steve so we breakfasted early and were soon driving alongside the beautiful estuary of the River Kent.  We were just parking up on the prom at Arnside when Linda and Steve arrived and the decision was quickly made to head for a local cafe and coffee and crepes.  I was fascinated by the number of local trains crossing back and forth over the railway viaduct so set out to photograph it while the ladies 'did' the shop.  We bought pasties for lunch from the tempting local bakery, stashed them in our rucksacks and struck off along the estuary shore to walk round to Silverdale.  I was intrigued to discover that it is from here that the foot crossings are made across Morecambe Bay.  In fact we sat and enjoyed our pasties at the point where the guide picks up the parties right on the point.  There were views here across to Lancaster, Blackpool and, looming on the horizon Heysham nuclear power station.

It wasn't long before we left the beach at Silverdale and climbed up through attractive woodland to the summit of Arnside Knott.  From here there were expansive views over the estuary of the Kent and Grange-Over-Sands to the Lakeland Fells.  We descended steeply back to the village when it was declared beer o'clock, actually shandy o'clock, and then we discovered the excellent Arnside Fish and Chip Shop for tea.  Wonderful.

On the way home we had a slight diversion to check out Leighton Moss RSPB reserve for another visit and called in for a drink at The Strickland Arms to book a table for Friday for a meal with Thomas.

Once again the day finished with a walk across the fields to 'that tree' for the sunset.  Memo to oneself: make sure that the camera battery is charged!!

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The Lake District, Day 2

This morning saw us driving up the old A6 past woods filled with bluebells to meet up with my brother and his wife at Larch Cottage Gardens and nursery in the Eden Valley just outside Penrith.  On the way we drove past the end of Longsleddale which looked delectable and was going to repay a visit.  We also drove through Shap and we were able to look down on the beautiful valleys of Swindale Beck and Haweswater Beck which join to become the River Lowther.  I was reminded of the offroad coast to coast ride that Thomas and I had done nine years ago when he had been 21, following Wainwright's famous walk.

It was good to meet up with Peter and Linda and the nurseries were wonderful, as was the excellent tea shop which we frequented three times during the day: morning coffee, luch and afternoon tea.  We why not!!

The weather had improved and we enjoyed a super day finishing with a walk out over the local fields to my favourite oak tree for the sunset.

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The Lake District Day 1

Yesterday saw us once more heading up the A1 and over the A66 to the Lake District and our caravan which we keep at the Windermere Camping and Caravan Site at Ashes Lane near Stavely.  We stopped at Ferrybridge to buy an M&S sandwich to eat quickly in the car and then later at the Morrit Arms Hotel just off the A66 at Greta Bridge for a very pleasant cup of tea.  Greta Bridge is the fictional location for Dotheboys Hall in Charles Dicken's Nicholas Nickleby.  Once back on the A66 the weather began to deteriorate and the promised rain began in earnest at Tebay where we crossed the M6 before heading down into Kendal.  Annoyingly the heavens opened as we were setting up the caravan and I was soon soaked through -  a good excuse to invest in a new super-waterproof courtesy of Mountain Equipment later in the week.  Still we were soon settled in and enjoying a meal with Thomas who had driven out from Ambleside to join us.

As promised on the forecast the rain continued the following morning, but it was pleasant to have a morning in the van and catch up with our chilling out.  Later on the rain eased and, although dull we were able to get out.  We had been looking forward to seeing the bluebells that had been so good in the nearby Rather Heath woods last year, but as we had been seeing them well in flower since Easter we wondered if we might be too late.  We had just caught them in time, however, but I felt that they are not as good as last year.  Still wonderful to see.  We decided to drive into the Lakes for a walk around White Moss Woods between Rydal Water and Grasmere.  This is a walk that I had long promised myself and had been saving for a day of inclement weather.  I love woods in the rain.

We timed our walk for when Thomas finished work and met him for a pre-prandial in that fine hostelry 'The Golden Rule', a wonderful, homely pub that has not changed since I first went in as a student just a few years ago.  It is just a pub that sells wonderful beer; no music, no TV and no food.  Just what a pub should be and always very popular with locals and visitors alike.  After some refreshment we headed to one of our favourite restaurants in Ambleside, Dodds.

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More Wide Aperture Work.

Continuing to practice with wide aperture photography for flowers I homed in on the superb aquilegias in our garden.

Orchids and Bluebells in Bradley Woods

As Jet needed walking on Friday we took him to Bradley Woods.  I used the opportunity to try some flower photography using a wide aperture to ensure a narrow depth of field.

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