We left the pearl of the valleys mid-afternoon in glorious sunshine on route for our digs at Windermere - had the weather peaked too early? I had my doubts that it would last until dusk!
The journey along the A465, M50, M5 was relatively uneventful until we arrived at the services after 2 hours when my mobile rang. Greg's wife was almost hysterical (his phone had been left in the car!) relaying the fact that Matthew had suffered a knee injury playing cricket and they were on the way to Prince Charles Hospital. It could only happen to us!
After some discussion and tricky negotiation we countinued our journey to the M6. Half a dozen phone calls later and Matthew was back from the hospital but in serious discomfort and basically unable to put any weight on his leg......Greg decided that his loyalties were divided but he urged us to press on and if necessary he would get the train back to South Wales the next day (wishful thinking?).
The approach to the edge of the lake district left us in awe as the scenery was spectacular. We found our hotel (thanks to the satnav and some basic manual directions), were allocated our rooms and hit the night life. Only problem there wasn't any - at least not in Windermere itself on a Sunday evening. The lively part of the town is in Bowness, about 2 miles away on the lakeside.
Food was the main priority (for Greg anyway) and we found the only resturant open, an Italian (that's debateable when you saw the staff!)- Greg raved over the food but I refused to return for a further visit the following night!
We were served at breakfast the following morning by the same member of staff who greeted us at reception the night before! Greg asked for toast; fruit juice; porridge; cornflakes; grapefruit; boiled egg; a full english breakfast including black pudding, fried bread and hash browns plus the usual bacon, eggs, tomatoes and baked beans; a pot of tea and yogurt (oh yes!!) - in fact he went through the menu to the amusement of the waitress who we later discovered was the daughter of the owners and was also serving behind the bar when we returned from the mountains later that evening - talk about multi-tasking!
Incredibly the weather conditions on day two were absolutely fantastic, a clear blue sky and not a breath of wind. The walk started in Langdale, before we passed through the middle of Stool End Farm yard and crossed the Oxendale Beck to begin the strenuous almost vertical climb to Brown Howe. A brief stop at the waterfalls before following the path upward to Red Tarn and finally rounding Great Knott. Reaching the approach to the first of the Crinkle's we were able to see Scafell and Scafell Pike (photograph below) across the valley, Morecombe Bay far in the distance, the coast of Scotland and the Isle of Man.
Steve came a slight cropper on the descent of the last Crinkle and he suffered a nasty glancing blow on the chin for his efforts. A brief walk to the foot of Bowfell provided us with an opportunity for a rest and afternoon cup of tea (using milk and sugar obtained from the services the previous day!), before we scrambled up the almost vertical scree slope on the approach to the mighty Bowfell, passing the Great Slab on the way to the summit.Leaving Bowfell we turned south at Ore Gap to descend down towards Angle Tarn before climbing Rossett Pike to eventually leave the mountain by Rossett Gill and join a flat stretch of Cumbria Way running alongside the glimmering waters of Mickleden Beck. We arrived back at Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in the early evening after a full days trek when we climbed 1,086 metres.
A cool refreshing pint before we left Langdale was the order of the day and another swift one by the side of Lake Windermere in Ambleside on our way back to base camp at the Applgarth Hotel. A quick shower, change of clothes and then a taxi to Bowness for a proper Italian meal at Villa Positano. A nightcap in a pub accross the road from the hotel with a cross-section of the 'locals'(!) ended a splendid day on the hills.
The following morning it was the youngsters Selly and Stevo who were struggling to get in and out of the car because of their aching limbs, not the old un's who were ready for the visit to Bowness before travelling home!!
Can't wait for next year's visit to Cumbria.