On yer Bike !

This weekends adventure took us out on our bikes.  The weather was so so and we hoped for a dry afternoon for a long cycle along the canal.  My bike, being fairly new, was still new to me and it would be good practice to get a hang of the gears etc.

A short ride through town then the countryside with a few pedally up inclines to get the heart racing and we were at the canal side.  The going was good and there was only a spit in the air suggesting that rain may be on the way but thankfully that wee black cloud shifted fairly rapidly.

There were a few people walking, biking and running along the canal and pleasantries were exchanged with most apart from the odd woman who just wouldnt get out of the way as we passed.  She was pruning her flowers in her garden which happened to back onto the canal tow path and seemed annoyed that anyone would dare to cross in front of her garden.  Going past she was so inistant on not moving I accidentally wobbled a bit and knocked her (albeit gently) with my handlebar.  Grrrrrrr.

The rest of the journey along the path was lovely and reminded me of just what a beautiful area we live in.  There were wild flowers, beautiful canal boats and birds and butterflies.

 After 11 miles or so we stopped for a refreshment and I really felt then that padded cycling shorts really need to be bought as I was beginning to feel the effect of my very new saddle.  The Cross Keys Inn at East Marton was a good stop and after a refreshing drink and some peanuts we were on our way back again.

The soda water and lime that I had seemed to give me an oomph as I found the going much easier going back and before long we were at the end of the canal and making our way through town again towards home.

Great bike ride 22 miles in total with a wee stop for a drink and a lovely afternoon out x

99 Hewits & Pavey Ark aint one!

A quick impromptu camping trip to Langdale with the main purpose of airing the big tent before heading to Silverstone in a week or so.  We arrived on site mid morning Saturday and after pitching, chilling, popping to the pub and generally having a lovely relaxing day we ventured out on our evening walk to take in a few of the Langdale Pikes.

I, however, wasn't feeling too well and on the latter end of a course of Anti Biotics and wasn't by any means on top form but we set of anyways in the hope that energy and fitness would appear as if by magic from somewhere.

Camera around my neck, rucksack on my back we headed off in the direction of Dungeon Ghyll to find the path up the side that would take us to the top tarn and the first leg of our journey. It seemed an age but it was lovely walking in the sunshine but the higher we got the cloud seemed to thicken and there was a nippy breeze.  I even felt a spot of rain or perhaps it was just a swirly bit of mist.  Looking back down was pleasant though.

Up to the tarn and I realised I'd lost my walking pole.  I had just slipped it in my rucksack without fully securing it and it must have fallen out.  Whilst stopping by the tarn for a quick snack of fruit pastilles and peanuts a man approached carrying my pole which he'd found on the path.  Thank you's all round and we were back on our path.  Pavey Ark was the target and it now stood proud in front of us.  Cloud covered the sky now and the breeze was fierce but it was still quite nice conditions, rubbish for photographs though.

The next section was quite steep and shaley which is the worst underfoot and with feeling rubbish it was, for me, like wading through treacle.  I just couldnt muster up a second gear and every inch was hard work.  Chris who seemed to skip up it was miles ahead but the lovely man that he is didnt utter a word and waited for me at every level bit, he's a star x

Pavey Ark was a nice rocky summit and we could see for miles.  The cloud had miraculously lifted and there was more and more blue sky being exposed, it was lovely.  Still had the cool breeze but it was brightening up.
Off Pavey Ark and we followed the path over to Harrison Stickle.  It was really starting to brighten up now and we were wondering if we'd get any sort of sunset, we'd planned 5 peaks for our evening walk but I wasnt sure I could do all 5.  We'd see how I felt after Harrison Stickle.

 Everywhere was bathed in evening sunlight now however after Harrison Stickle I was exhausted.  There was nothing left in the tank for any more peaks and to make matters worse my camera finally gave up the ghost and packed in.  Gutted!!!!!

So it was onwards and downwards and luckily the path downwards was clear and mainly stepped which made the going much easier.

There was a beautiful waterfall on the way down and Chris only had to cajole me along a few times reminding me that the pub probably stopped serving food at 9pm and we'd miss it if we didnt hurry.

After what felt like a quick descent we arrived at the pub at 9.15 only to find out that they did in fact stop serviing food at 9pm.  Too bad, a packet of crisps would have to do with crackers when we got back to the tent.

Lovely evening walk, will definitely be up on those peaks again as there's still so much to do.......

Yewbarrow - scrambly goodness!

Yewbarrow was a peak we'd missed on a previous walk which encompassed Pillar, RedPike & Steeple.  There just wasnt time in the day to tag on Yewbarrow so it was always one we had to go back to.

It was billed as a toughie and with lots of scrambling opportunities both up and down and it didnt dissapoint.

Parked at the small carpark at the base we made our way up the somewhat steep path that would take us up the valley to the plateau area between Red Pike and Yewbarrow.  The path we'd previously come down on.  Last time we were on this path we saw a buzzard flying high and today I caught a brief glimpse of it as we neared the plateau.

 We met a man and his wife and tip the dog who'd just come down the back face of Yewbarrow and well done to the dog as some of the step downs were quite steep and he did well to manage it.

After a quick grape and nut stop we were up and onto the rock.  A bit shaley in places but once past that it was lovely climbing and scrambling up the face of the hill.  Before long we were on the top at the first summit and the cloud was starting to swirl in.  Over to Lingmell we could hardly see the summit from the cloud and it seemed to be laying quite thing on most of the surrounding peaks.

A nice, if not a little boring walk, along the plateau of Yewbarrow and up a short path to the second summit where we met a young and boundy labrador (5 months) who seemed to be in his element being out in the hills.

Time for the descent and it was a lovely one.  A scramble down here and then a walk along to the next bit.  Tiered like big massive giant steps and a delight to make our way down.  Soon enough we veered right on to the last bit of scramble down and the light got very dark and the rain started.  It had been dry all day, no sun, cloudy but dry and now the heavens opened.  Luckly we were well equipped and raincoats were soon on.

Back on the path down we could see back up to the lovely point mountain and after skipping down the path we were back in the shelter of the trees of the car park.

A short walk but 2 Hewitts and 1 Wainwright gained and a good day out.  I'm sure our legs and arms will feel it tomorrow..........