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?