Left Gretna 1000hrs, bound for Keswick. It would only be an hours drive so we took a little tour. Needn't have bothered, weather was horrible, as was the traffic on poor roads. Arrived at Castlerigg Hall campsite 1230hrs. Got a superb pitch, right next to the shop, cafe and facilities block. At the top of the site so excellent view.
Absolutely stunning. We took a walk into town, about 1/2 an hour, all downhill. Strolled around, did the charity shops. Had a couple of beers, then to Booths, the towns supermarket. Certainly different to the usual Tesco, Sainsbury etc. Bought some supplies. Right outside is the bus station so we caught the bus back. £2.20 for Hazel, free for me, love my bus pass. Back to Eevie about 1730hrs, had our showers and settled in for the evening.
April 30th.
Awoke to a better day, sunshine and very little wind. After breakfast walked into town again. When we got there we found it was market day. So more people about.
Hazel got some Lavender Honey for her mum. We walked to the Pencil Museum, only to find it hadn't reopened since the floods caused by storm "Desmond". It will reopen once repairs are complete. We then visited the "Puzzling Place".
It's full of optical illusions. Many are interactive. Spent a fascinating hour there. We then walked to the waterfront on Derwentwater.
Very pretty, there are numerous boat trips, or hire boats to do your own thing. Had coffee and delicious coffee and walnut cake at the Theatre by the Lake cafe. It had been a very pleasant day. We got the bus back again. When we got back we discovered a couple of Hazels favourite animals.
May 1st.
Left site at 0940hrs, destination Coniston, but with a visit to Bowness on Windermere en route. The main road had been destroyed, storm "Desmond" again, so we had to do the 40 mile diversion over Kirkstone Pass. The foul weather had returned, constant rain and brisk wind. As we climbed into the pass visibility became negligible. The road was narrow and lined with dry stone walls, with continuous bends. It was becoming a nightmare, then we caught up with a stagecoach bus. Salvation, I tucked behind it, even waiting at bus stops til it moved off. It worked a treat, the bus driver did all the work, I just had to follow. Thanks that man. Arrived at Bowness 1100hrs. Found a parking space near the lake.
Just visible beyond the tennis courts. We took a walk, but crowds and rain made it very unpleasant. After half an hour we had coffee for a warm up.
Then back to Eevie, and on to Coniston. Arrived Park Coppice CC site 1230hrs. Found a pitch near the lake, and set up in the rain.
You can see how wet it was in the photo. Stayed in Eevie for the remainder of the day, hoping for better weather tomorrow.
May 2nd.
A better day, dry and sunny. Walked via the footpath,
to the village. Very pleasant, Hazel collected clumps of wool the sheep had shed, to use in her crafting. Very small village but pretty.
I went in a hardware shop, it was like a time warp back to the fifties. The little old lady shopkeeper probably been there all her life, still I got the funnel I was looking for. We then walked down to he lakeside.
This is where the various boat trips depart from. Bit to blustery for a boat trip, we made do with a coffee in the "Bluebird Cafe".
Didn't want food, but it did look nice and was popular. Had a look round the craft shops, Hazel bought some fudge, the back along the path to Eevie.
Quiet evening, leaving for Chester tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment