A Bag For Life

Cycling to work today wasn’t particularly cold but it was windy. Hopefully it will blow me home but it never seems to work out that way.

Whilst I dog train, L is pumping iron before rushing off for a secret dog-free rendezvous with Mr Meile. She does get up to bad girl things when our backs are turned. Mr Meile will soon be required again if we bring much grit back with us.

L is contemplating ordering a couple of doggy bags but hopefully not at the prices we saw at Grasmere last week end. A supermarket bag for life would probably do the trick.

(Wednesday 7^th January)

All Is Quiet On New Year's Day

After a very windy and wet night. I have to stand and applaud a very impressive performance from our tent, which barely batted an eyelid in the conditions.

Talk of flooding that was abound in the pub last night seem unfounded, although lots of tents do depart today. Whether this is because they just came for New Year’s Eve or whether the weather saw them off I’m not sure.

We have a relaxing day and take the car to Grasmere. Which is a bit of a cardinal sin in such a walking area. Taking the car that is, not the going to Grasmere.

In the evening, L is eminently sensible, AF and clearly taking tomorrow’s race seriously. Even I’m restrained, well I keep off the strong dark stuff and only have a couple.

(Sunday 1st January)

Tarn To Tarn

It’s a bit misty on them there hills this morning but it's not too bad up by the Stickle Tarn where we head first.

However, it's still misty enough for us to miss the path to Easedale Tarn, which is our second target. So after having a ‘lost’ moment, we backtrack before finding the correct route and getting it right second time. It's such a large tarn it’s difficult to miss really or it should have been. Ah, there it is.

Then it’s the little matter of a fairly tricky descent down to it. Made more difficult for L by Doggo, whom she repeatedly falls out with over his pace setting. MD though, seems quite chilled beside me.

We reach Easedale just as it starts to rain, so just in time really. Then it’s the fairly easy, although quite long, walk down into Grasmere.

All of this for a bit of shopping. In Grasmere L buys a waterproof for the race tomorrow. Bright yellow, she’s being very safety conscious ahead of the weekend fell races. Then after a quick cafe break and with darkness falling, we get out the torches and switch on the dogs flashing red lights. Told you we’re safety conscious.

We head back over by road, over Red Bank, to reach Chapel Stile and the Wainwrights Inn for evening refreshments (e.g. copious amounts of Snecklifter) just before 6pm. It’s ‘only’ a 3 miles stagger to camp from here. The route was around nine miles on the map with a total ascent (and descent) of around 700m but we added a mile or so to that by getting a bit directionally challenged in the fog.

Not one but three dark ales on the bar tonight. The nearby Watermill Inn at Ings supplies Dogth Vader, a strong stout, that appeals to L but quickly runs out. It’s usually me that happens to. Also dark is Ulverston Brewery’s Fra Diavolo (The Devil’s Brother).

Ulverston was the birth place of Stan Laurel and all their beers celebrate the great comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. Fra Diavolo was one of their films.

The food is good. I have chilli just to try the tear and share garlic bread which I don't share obviously. They’ve also added a cheeseboard to the menu which has to be tried and is impressive.

(Thursday 3rd November)