Lake District, August 2019. Day 6

A much cooler and fresher morning today.  We planned a short walk from Stickle Barn in Langdale for some photography and drawing.  Part of me is frustrated about not being able to walk on the tops but this short walk made me realise that I am not as well and fit as I tend to think I am.  I found it really hard walk.  As my aortic valve has been replace and the AF sorted it must be a combination of the ventricular dysfunction, the medication I am on and plain lack of fitness.  Nonetheless it has been a good day with mixed sun and cloud and great views.  We set out from the National Trust car park at Stickle Barn.  The footpath led us across the fields and through a farmyard where the ho house is now a holiday let.  Next came a short section of well-maintained uphill after which we negotiated a wall gate and chose a pleasant spot by a clapper bridge for lunch.  The hill path followed the undulations of the Cumbria Way gradually returning to the valley bottom at Oak Howe.  Crossing Great Langdale Beck we returned to Stickle Barn along the old valley road.  This gives excellent views of the Langdale Pikes although the lane has been surface so no longer any reflections in puddles.  After a welcome restorative in Stickle Barn it was time to return to the site to prepare for the evening bbq and Thomas's arrival.

Lake District, August 2019. Day 4 and 5

We enjoyed a lazy start both days as the plan was to bask in the atmosphere of Stavely Folk Festival.  It was warm and sunny all Saturday.  Although it continued warm  Sunday was cloudy.  We walked over to Stavely on both days and enjoyed great bands and beer, particularly enjoying the  Mather Robinson Band and Accoustic blues at Elec.

Lake District, August 2019. Day 3

A good forecast again today so, after our usual lazy start, we set off for Arnside.  The plan was for Heather to wander down the estuary and draw I while went up the Knott looking for butterflies.  The sun came out and there were hundreds of butterflies on the wing:
Speckled wood
Grayling
Gatekeeper
Meadow brown
Scotch Argus
Ringlet
Painted Lady
Mother Shipton's moth.
Gatekeepers were the most numerous with numbers in three figures.  It was good to finally capture images of grayling I am pleased with.  Usually they settle on the limestone gravel and immediately drop their fore wings behind the back ones and totally fold up.  Today they were nectaring on Heather and allowed good opportunities.  The influx of painted ladies has arrived and there were good numbers, particularly on knapweed.  I was delighted, too, to see and make images of Scotch argus for the first time.
In the evening we walked across to Stavely for the folk festival to go to an excellent concert.

Lake District, August 2019. Day 1 and 2

After the recent horrendous weather and flooding in Swaledale we were somewhat anxious about the journey today as we were travelling up the A1 and A66 close to Leyburn and Grinton.  Our trepidation wasn't helped by the heavy rain as we were packing.  Our climate now is one of extremes brought about by climate change.  As it happened to travelling went well and the weather improved as we went.  The only hiccup was traffic chaos in Kendal, Victoria Bridge being closed.  It had been damaged in Storm Desmond and weakened further during yesterday's deluge.  A month's rain had fallen in four hours.
Once at the site we were soon set up and enjoying a cup of tea.  A walk out to The Tree was obligatory.
On our second day we pottered around the site in the sun and busied ourselves washing the caravan.  In the evening we met friends Anna and Gordon for a lovely meal and catchup.