After yesterday's euphoria, today has been more settled and, with another camp site teed up for tonight, there is a frisson of anticipation amongst my intrepid parents.
After a hearty breakfast, and collecting mum' precious clean washing we set out refreshed and revived to walk to Orton. First of all to Shap with Ziggy ( thanks mum) the Labrador and his mum and dad. Through Shap and the quarry, lunch on the limestone pavement up on the moor and down into Orton where we booked in to camp in the pub's beer garden.
Sadly, the landlady did not like dogs in her bar, and bizarrely she asked them not to pitch the tent until dusk as she didn't want people putting off. (Not sure what she meant by that!).
Apart from that she was most amenable and let them use a bathroom in the pub. Mum-was-in-seventh-heaven. A bath. First one since home. When she eventually returned to our table, dad had been to get her the Saturday Telegraph - a crossword, oh yes. Could it get any better? Well, actually, yes. He had bought her a bottle of wine, and it was such a shame because he didn't like it so mum just had to do her best. So that was her sorted whist dad went to have his bath.
When he came back, he kept looking at us, I can only say, oddly. After about half an hour of this, he said "have you noticed anything". Mum looked long and hard and shook her head.
Apparently, he had been shaving when somebody tried the door handle of the bathroom. Dad jumped so much that he took off half his moustache, and then had to remove the rest.
A fine meal was had by all, tent pitched and we settled down for the night which was fortunately bright and dry, so that the leaking tent was not a problem.
Mum's midge count is now 54, dad and I, 0!
Keep spreading the word.
M
xx
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Friday, 21 February 2014
The packing station
In the meantime, it was dad 's birthday yesterday. Mum bought him one of those industrial pencil sharpeners that you clamp to the desk. He's sharpened so many pencils so many times that there are sufficient shavings to cover a new flower bed in the garden! And Viking are delivering a new box full of pencils tomorrow.
Today, I've been to the vets for a check up and been given a clean bill of health for the walk. Mum went last week, and dad's still getting the sand out of his ears!
Keep spreading the word.
M
xx
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
CtoC - what a difference a day makes
Our spirits were lifted by the advent of brilliant sunshine and the warmth it brought.
We walked with renewed vigour up to the top of the moors. We stopped at lunch time and whilst I nibbled on my Burns, they got all the wet gear out and dried it in the sunshine and mild breeze.
Onward to Bampton and even when we met up with fresh Tarmac and dad had to carry me on his shoulder for half a mile, so that my paws didn't burn - we still smiled.
When we got to the pub where we were B&Bing, we met 2 ladies who had stopped to enquire about our activities on the moor earlier in the day and had a couple of drinks before checking in.
On enquiry we found that the pub would put all our washing through their washer and dryer and even the tag of £10 failed to dent mum's euphoria.
A good dinner, an early night, all clothes washed and cleaned, gear all dry and stowed for tomorrow, an early night, and all was well with the world.
Keep spreading the word
M
xx
PS A really nice piece on the Helens Trust facebook page all about me!
We walked with renewed vigour up to the top of the moors. We stopped at lunch time and whilst I nibbled on my Burns, they got all the wet gear out and dried it in the sunshine and mild breeze.
Onward to Bampton and even when we met up with fresh Tarmac and dad had to carry me on his shoulder for half a mile, so that my paws didn't burn - we still smiled.
When we got to the pub where we were B&Bing, we met 2 ladies who had stopped to enquire about our activities on the moor earlier in the day and had a couple of drinks before checking in.
On enquiry we found that the pub would put all our washing through their washer and dryer and even the tag of £10 failed to dent mum's euphoria.
A good dinner, an early night, all clothes washed and cleaned, gear all dry and stowed for tomorrow, an early night, and all was well with the world.
Keep spreading the word
M
xx
PS A really nice piece on the Helens Trust facebook page all about me!
Monday, 17 February 2014
Sunday, 16 February 2014
It can only get better
Right - we're warm, dry, fed, watered and de-watered, and we've done everything we can to protect our belongings, and to dry bits and pieces over the line which runs down the inside of the ridge of the inner tent. It's 7.00pm and we're done for, so we snuggle up in our sleeping bags. Or at least they do, and I share. And despite the noise and movement created by the wind, rain and flowing water we go to sleep straight away.
At 10 minutes past, a cacophony of sound woke us all up as a group of staff and kids arrived to take up occupancy of the Outward Bound hut. After about half an hour of noise and mayhem, we settled down again to be woken on the hour every hour by the staff coming out for a 'fag' break. At least we think it was the staff. An offer of a cup of tea and a warm in the hut would have been gratefully received but was not forthcoming.
The rain kept coming down and at some point in the proceedings they realised that; the very expensive, very technical, and very new tent.....was leaking!!!
The hours dripped by and we all lay there pretending to be asleep, until at 4.30, he could stand it no longer, and dad said "come on, let's pack up and get down to Glenridding".
It was still coming down in stair rods, so we packed everything in the rucksacks, which mum stacked in a leeward doorway of the hut, attached to me, whilst dad dismantled the outer tent, and mum went in search of my coat which they had hung on the doorknob in the hope that it would drip dry. Of course they hadn't reckoned with our friendly OB inhabitants who had very kindly cast it aside in a puddle. Nice to see such organisations leading by example!
Despite severe provocation, I want you to know that we made no noise whatsoever.
We paddled through sheet water all the way down the hill until we reached the village where they took it in turns to use the public facilities to have a wash and brush up prior to going in search of some breakfast. It was now 9.30am.
Not one catering establishment opened before 11.00am. They found a newsagent which did machine coffee (at least that's what they said it was) and close-to-sell-by-date pork pies, and sat on a wall to eat a very make-do breakfast. I had my favourite - Burns and Gravy Bones.
And then almost instantaneously, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and so did my mum's smile
Keep spreading he word.
M
xx
At 10 minutes past, a cacophony of sound woke us all up as a group of staff and kids arrived to take up occupancy of the Outward Bound hut. After about half an hour of noise and mayhem, we settled down again to be woken on the hour every hour by the staff coming out for a 'fag' break. At least we think it was the staff. An offer of a cup of tea and a warm in the hut would have been gratefully received but was not forthcoming.
The rain kept coming down and at some point in the proceedings they realised that; the very expensive, very technical, and very new tent.....was leaking!!!
The hours dripped by and we all lay there pretending to be asleep, until at 4.30, he could stand it no longer, and dad said "come on, let's pack up and get down to Glenridding".
It was still coming down in stair rods, so we packed everything in the rucksacks, which mum stacked in a leeward doorway of the hut, attached to me, whilst dad dismantled the outer tent, and mum went in search of my coat which they had hung on the doorknob in the hope that it would drip dry. Of course they hadn't reckoned with our friendly OB inhabitants who had very kindly cast it aside in a puddle. Nice to see such organisations leading by example!
Despite severe provocation, I want you to know that we made no noise whatsoever.
We paddled through sheet water all the way down the hill until we reached the village where they took it in turns to use the public facilities to have a wash and brush up prior to going in search of some breakfast. It was now 9.30am.
Not one catering establishment opened before 11.00am. They found a newsagent which did machine coffee (at least that's what they said it was) and close-to-sell-by-date pork pies, and sat on a wall to eat a very make-do breakfast. I had my favourite - Burns and Gravy Bones.
And then almost instantaneously, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and so did my mum's smile
Keep spreading he word.
M
xx
Saturday, 15 February 2014
Valentines - not
Oh dear
Now he's done it!
We went to Bodmin today to have a look at the moor - it was wet.
On the way back we called at a petrol station to fill up, and dad came back with a beam from ear to ear, carrying a large bunch of red roses.
Maybe he should have removed the 50% off tag!
Keep spreading the word.
M
xx
Now he's done it!
We went to Bodmin today to have a look at the moor - it was wet.
On the way back we called at a petrol station to fill up, and dad came back with a beam from ear to ear, carrying a large bunch of red roses.
Maybe he should have removed the 50% off tag!
Keep spreading the word.
M
xx
Friday, 14 February 2014
Rain, rain go away.......
Quick recap - washed clothes wet through, spare clothes slightly damp, big day ahead. Good news- my coat's dry - haven't worn it yet!
Up at 6.30, quick breakfast, break camp, pack up - wet camping gear as well - heavy packs, but a nice sunny morning.
We trotted up the hill ( well I trotted, they staggered) for a few miles and then slid down the other side into Grasmere where we had an early lunch prior to starting our second major hill of the day.
Just as we set off it started to rain again. As we got higher the rain got heavier, the wind blew harder, and visibility deteriorated. As we walked past Grisedale Tarn, we could see a number of walkers taking cover in their tents, but we kept going over the top and part way down the other side. Eventually, after 18 miles, we pulled up at an Outward Bound hut, where dad got the tent up in about 10 seconds and we all piled in.
So we are now in a tent, approx. 8' long at it's longest, 4' wide at it's widest point, and 4' high at it's highest - with 2 large people, a dog who is desperate to help, and 2 large and cumbersome rucksacks.
Now we are going to put the groundsheet down. Everybody (and the rucksacks) squeeze into one end (important to realise that both ends end in a point at ground zero!). Right, now we're going to put the ground sheet down where we are not, and don't drip on it! Mission accomplished. Tempers frayed.
Now we're going to erect the inner tent up. Stack the rucksacks at the end and put all the waterproofs on top. Why is the groundsheet moving up and down? Because the water is coming down the mountain so fast it's finding it's way underneath the groundsheet and coming out at the other side!
Mission accomplished. We're in the inner tent. We're reasonably dry. We have food and a hot drink. And although the wind and the rain is loud, and moving us around a lot, we are so tired that we will probably sleep well.
At which point do I tell them that I daeperately need to go outside?
Up at 6.30, quick breakfast, break camp, pack up - wet camping gear as well - heavy packs, but a nice sunny morning.
We trotted up the hill ( well I trotted, they staggered) for a few miles and then slid down the other side into Grasmere where we had an early lunch prior to starting our second major hill of the day.
Just as we set off it started to rain again. As we got higher the rain got heavier, the wind blew harder, and visibility deteriorated. As we walked past Grisedale Tarn, we could see a number of walkers taking cover in their tents, but we kept going over the top and part way down the other side. Eventually, after 18 miles, we pulled up at an Outward Bound hut, where dad got the tent up in about 10 seconds and we all piled in.
So we are now in a tent, approx. 8' long at it's longest, 4' wide at it's widest point, and 4' high at it's highest - with 2 large people, a dog who is desperate to help, and 2 large and cumbersome rucksacks.
Now we are going to put the groundsheet down. Everybody (and the rucksacks) squeeze into one end (important to realise that both ends end in a point at ground zero!). Right, now we're going to put the ground sheet down where we are not, and don't drip on it! Mission accomplished. Tempers frayed.
Now we're going to erect the inner tent up. Stack the rucksacks at the end and put all the waterproofs on top. Why is the groundsheet moving up and down? Because the water is coming down the mountain so fast it's finding it's way underneath the groundsheet and coming out at the other side!
Mission accomplished. We're in the inner tent. We're reasonably dry. We have food and a hot drink. And although the wind and the rain is loud, and moving us around a lot, we are so tired that we will probably sleep well.
At which point do I tell them that I daeperately need to go outside?
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