As usual, we had an excellent day at Leighton Moss and the birding was good with 39 species including greenshank, marsh tit and great white egret. An added bonus was buying some new binoculars for my Christmas present.
What a fantastic day. We woke to a beautiful autumn morning and were quickly packed and away up Ashes Lane, The plan was to join the Dales Way as it leaves Stavely and continue to Bowness. After climbing for a mile or so we were able to look back at the Kent Valley. We could pick out the location of our site and, later, both the Whinfell Ridge and The Howgills as well as Cunswick and Scout Scar. We were both surprised at the toughness of the walk; there was a lot of climbing, but, as we continued, views of the Lakes opened up: Coniston Old Man, Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and The Langdales with Scafell and Great Gable peeping through. To the east were Fairfield, High Street and the Kentmere fells. As we sat high up enjoying our Christmas cake and cheese, there was absolute silence; civilization seemed a million miles away.
We were both well ready to descend into Bowness and delighted to find that the Dales Way ended at a fine hostelry: 'a cosy inn of our sort'. It would have been rude not to call in. After some food and rehydration we wandered down to the pier to catch the bus up to Windermere where we shopped briefly (and expensively at Booths) before continuing by bus to the site. The bus experiment and our new bus passes worked a dream.
A dry day today with plenty of sun and fabulous autumn light. A busy but satisfying morning washing the caravan and putting up the awning. We enjoyed our lunch of tomato salad with one of our own beefsteak tomatoes.
In the afternoon it was off to the woods for a fungus foray. We say very few fungi but we did notice a lot of trees down. Although, as yet the trees were not showing many signs of autumn colour, the bracken was looking spectacular with bronze, gold and greens all intermingled. Walking down the lane at the end of the walk we noticed what I first took to be a stoat running along the top of the wall followed by a second. The first one turned round and a tremendously noisy fight ensued. Suddenly they fell off the wall into a bush and one fell out at our feet. It was jet black; a mink. It hasitly retreated along the opposite wall. A dramatic encounter.
The beginning of a fortnight at the caravan. Mia delivery and packing went well. The weather became increasingly worse as the day went on and the journey to Beth's was horrendous: heavy rain and spray made driving conditions difficult.
We had a lovely evening with Beth and Ale but Tuesday dawned wet yet again. However, as we crossed the Pennines the rain eased and then stopped. By the time we arrived at Ashes lane the sun came out. We called in at the fine farm shop and cafe at Plumgarths and visited Lovingly Artisan for some bread. Their sourdough starter is 40 years old and, as they give it away, we planned to call in on the way home and collect some. Once set up and established we went for a preprandial amble - mgreen woodpecker, long tailed tit and robins. Robins have started their winter song.
