Lake District, September, Day 6

Having finally woken to a perfect morning and enjoyed sitting outside the van in the sun for a while, we pulled up in the layby on the outskirts of Stavely and set off down the River Kent, one of our favourite walks. Once by the riverside, Heather sat down to draw and paint while I pottered along enjoying taking some long exposure images of some of the small sections of white water and birdwatching at the same time.  As soon as we reached the river we saw grey wagtails, possibly a family group as there were quite a few.  I also found others further down the river.  Herons were standing, statue-like in one or two spots, one being particularly confiding.  I found dipper on the stretch where they held territory both this spring and last year.  Perhaps I will make a more determined effort to photograph them next year.  Near my turn round point I came across a female goosander, unaware she was being observed, fishing; diving and also chasing fish at great speed across the suface.  She seemed almost too large for the river at this point.  Returning to Heather I sat watching a grey wagtail through the binoculars when not one, but two, kinfishers sped through the field of view.  Excellent.  The river at this point looks idyllic for swimming and paddling at this point were it not for the discharge from the local sewage plant just upstream.  It is to be hoped that the sewage is full treated!!

Having enjoyed our walk we retreated to Wilf's in Stavely for lunch and then returned to the caravan to relax for the remainder of the afternoon.  During the evening the sky became more and more clear and at 8.45 we set out to walk up onto the fellside to wait for moon rise.  It was full moon, the Harvest Moon.  We had to wait a short while for it to clear the bank of cloud on the horizon and as it came up it tinted the sky orange like a second sunset.  Finally slipping clear of the cloud, it rose into the sky a huge orange orb.  There was a little cloud around and this was also lit orange by the moonlight.  While the planet is suffering from the ravages of climate change, the universe continues, indifferent to the depredations of our species.  A magical moment.

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Lake District, Sepember, Day 5

Just another reminder to be careful what we wish for: another wet morning.  Sticking to the plan, though, we headed off to Ambleside for 'A Tea Shop Walk' based on the magnificent 'Apple Pie cafe where we indulged ourselves with cornish pastie and one of their wonderful bath buns.  To be fair to us, though, shared between us, and that was more than enough.  Several years ago I was silly enough to have that for myself and could barely move for a week.  The walk recommended by the book is one we have done before: along Scandale to High Sweden Bridge and return along the other side of Scandale Beck via Low Sweden Bridge.  The route follows first quiet, but steep, lanes out of Ambleside and then an equally steep rough track up into Scandale Wood. The wood was a delightful place to be in, even in the rain.  Woods are a wonderful place in the wet: colour saturation enhanced, the beauty of water drops trickling from leaves and, in this case, the babble of the beck below us in the valley bottom.  We passed an ages old slate quarry, evidence of an industrial past, as, perhaps, as is the old hazel coppicing.

Leaving the wood brought us out onto wild fell side with Scandale Head above us hidden in the lowering hill fog.  We quickly reached High Sweden Bridge, an old pack horse bridge used by generations of famers, traders and hill ponies.  The ponies were often heavily laden, significantly extending their girth so such bridges as this have no parapet which would impede the ponies' progress.  Afer the bridge the path climbed high up the far side of the dale before wending its way down to Low Sweden Bridge, a more modern affair and still in use by today's farmers.  Views down to Ambleside and Windermere were spectacular with even some clearing skies on the horizon.  Even more dramatic, though, was the view over Rydal Water and Loughrigg to The Langdale Pikes with their heads clear of the murk.

From Low Sweden Bridge we made our way back down into Ambleside where I had a quick scout around for some new boots, my current ones having worn through into the midsole.  I have loved these boots which Scarpa still make but their replacement in the flesh pots of Ambleside was going to set me back £220!!  I shall be looking elsewhere!! ;-(

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Lake District, September, Day 4

Another wet day today so we spent the morning chilling before launching out for a very soggy local walk.  What an excellent decision to put the porch awning up this time as we had somewhere dry to take boots and waterproffs off and leave them to dry.  It was cup of tea time but it wasn't long before heard the announcement that Queen Elizabeth II had died and Prince Charles was now King Charles III.  What a momentous and very sad day.  She has been a constant presence during the whole of our lives and seemed immortal.

Lake District, September, Day 3.

Up early this morning as Thomas had to be at work.  It started fairly dry but soon turned to rain again.  However, it soon cleared up to give a superb September afternoon, perfect for bird watching at Leighton Moss.  Most of the best birds seemed to be along the Causeway and and at the Lower hide which is where we headed.  We had been told that hobbies had been present, hunting dragonflies and could most often be seen from Causeway and Lower hides.  As soon as we entered the Causeway Hide we could sense the excitement.  Hobbies were hunting over the mere and perched in a dead tree on the far side, giving great views through the 'scope.  There were three birds all told: at least one male and one female.  Watching their aerobatic performance as they hunted the plentiful supply of dragonflies was a delight.  We walked round to Lower Hide which was closer to their perching tree and then returned to the centre for a welcome cup of tea.

We arrived back at Ashes Lane just in time to unload and get inside before the approaching storm.  Dramatic lightning and sonorous, rolling thunder became the order of the next hour or so.

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Heron

Roosting Redshank

Black-Tailed Godwit

Little Egret

Redshank

Lake District, September, Day 2.

First thing this morning we were pleased we had put the awning up; it was a pleasure to step out into the dry while rain was still falling.  Nice, too, to have all the shoes outside instead of cluttering up the doorway.  The light was beautiful this morning: heavy dark skies all around but in the east the sun was rising and painting an ethereal, misty glow across the site.  Wonderful.  However, we should be careful what we wish for.  As much as we need rain, especially in Grimsby, we didn't need it in the Lakes this week.  Unfortunately it dribbled most of the day, although it didn't especially matter as we were planning a lazy day with some food shopping and cooking for Thomas later, which is just what we did.  Thomas arrived at 6.00 and we had leg of lamb prepared and enjoyed a very pleasant evening.

Lake District, September, Day 1

As usual, a relaxed start to the packing and loading this morning, but nonetheless we were away at 11.30.  The journey went quickly and well and we pulled up outside the site reception at 3.30.  After a false start on a grass pitch we were soon on a hard standing and setting up.  We put the porch awning up for the first time with this caravan, but even so we were sitting outside in the sun with a cup of tea before 5.00.  It is really good to be back at the van and feels like coming home.  Things seem greener here than at home and as we were sitting with a beer and wine later there were plenty of small birds active in the trees - something that doesn't seem to be happening at home.  After our meal we decided to walk up to 'The Tree', a gnarled old oak growning out of a limestone outcrop; a natural bonsai.  The sky was spectacular and as the sun sank in the west, the waxing gibbous moon rose majestically in the east.  Full moon on the 10th is the Harvest Moon so we hope for clear skies. An excellent day concluded with hot chocolate and mumba and then bed.  As we were drifting off to sleep the rain started and seem to last all night.  Very pleased we opted to put the awning up.

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An Excellent Raptor Walk

 We decided to take Jet for a walk out in the Wolds today to Rothwell for one of our favourite walks.  Although a non birding walk with no binoculars or big lens we saw 4 raptors so I was well pleased: Buzzard, Red Kite, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.  The ground and vegetation are tinder dry, although the hedgerows were laden with haws, crab apples and elderberries.  We collecte 4lbs of elderberries in a very short space of time, ready for making hedgerow jam with blackberries and windfall apples.

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