Lake District, October/November. Day 4

I planted my tripod legs firmly in the soft floor of the wood and the only decision I had to make was how to make the  best composition from the glorious array of colours in Ratherheath Woods. 

We had woken up to heavy rain yet again but by lunchtime the sky had cleared and the sun had come out to produce some wonderful light.  We had walked out from the caravan to our local woods to revel in the rich saturated golds and bronzes of Autumn.  Following our very slow progress around the wood we hurried up to 'The Tree' on the fell above the caravan.  We  make a pilgrimage up here everything we come.  A naturally bonzaied oak growing out of a small limestone cliff, it looks out over Staveley and the Kent Valley and up to the river's source high in the Kentmere fells.  The leaves of the tiny oak glowed in the late afternoon sun which isolated it from the dark Dorothy Farrer's Wood on the far side of the valley.

We wandered back to the caravan well-satisfied with our afternoon. It was, of course, beer o'clock. 

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Lake District, October/November. Day 3

Having negotiated the awkwardly placed pillars, tight corners and narrow parking spaces in the Kendal multistory we found the farmer's market just in time for the monsoon to begin again.  We were tempted, though,  despite the rain, and a few Christmas presents secured and a small fortune in cheese later we sought shelter in Farrer's tea and coffee shop of lunch.  It eventually cleared and in a brief spell of excellent light we wandered down to investigate the state of the river.  I was surprised to see that  although full  it was far from overflowing.  Next on the agenda was a visit to all the favourite shops of the leader of the opposition, with me being, as usual, patience personified!  Time then for a return to the site for a cup of tea.  Amazingly the sky had cleared and there was some fantastic light.  Fingers crossed for tomorrow. 

Lake District, October/November. Day 2, Floods and lunch in Wilf's

The water was fountaining out of the manhole cover on the road into Stavely when we arrived after walking  across the fields from the caravan.  The River Kent had overflowed its banks and flooded the fields, but fortunately not yet the village, although the water is up to the bridge on the main street and this has only just been rebuilt following Storm Desmond.  The walk over the fields had been somewhat of a wet plodge, although the rain had eased and didn't resume until the walk back.  Luckily Wilf's was up and running and we enjoyed our lunch.  Back, hunkered down in the van, we are enjoying a cup of tea and I shall shortly launch into cooking Normandy pork with cider and cream for when friends Nigel and Jackie come round later.

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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.