Back to coasting

Now where were we? Ah yes, we'd just got to Ennerdale Bridge for our first night.

We had arranged to stay at the village pub, or rather, in a field behind it, utilising the pub facilities. Sounded great.

When we got there the pub wasn't open. The campsite wasn't obvious so we sat around for a while to wait for the staff to come on duty. When the first one arrived she didn't know there was a campsite let alone where it was.

The next one to come on duty, gave us directions - down the road, through the lych gate, across the field and turn right to cross the bridge over the stream -nice and close for the facilities then. Oh yes, they're only open when the pub's open!

Off we trot until we get to the stream - no bridge! Never mind we'll pick our way across - never mind - my paws, and their socks will soon dry! Good job.

The campsite turns out to be a small field which has not been cut this year (it's now August) and the vegetation is 4' high. When we eventually got the tent pitched, it was actually quite comfortable, as in, well cushioned!

We went to the pub, had a meal and came 'home' (wet feet on each journey and running out of socks) by which time 4 other tents had been erected. Originally the intention had been for me to sleep in the small vestibule - but another of those unspoken discussions took place resulting in me sleeping in between them. Very comfortable. Just don't understand why they were halfway up the tent wall on either side of me in the morning.

Mum was a proper nuisance. Just because she was bitten a few times (23 actually) by all the mosquitos and midges occupying the stream and the bog at the other end of the field. And then they both became very agitated when our fellow campers returned at closing time, not too quietly. In fact there were some very strange sounds going off all night.

A new day dawned, back to the pub (in damp, and then wet, socks) to ablute (at last!!) and a first rate breakfast before setting off to walk to Stonethwaite for a second nights camping - Oh goody!!

Watch this space.

Spread the word

M
xx