Reasons for Reasons
I was ‘raised’ – to use a phrase from our American friends – in south Lakeland and it has always remained home. Even though I left to study when I was 18 and didn’t return untill September 2010. A lot of years.
During those interim years I have had a great life, travelled and met some wonderful people and also have a managed to bring up my son fairly successfully. So, it although it was sort of ‘on the plan’, my move back North was not without trepidation.
As part of my ‘self affirmation’ that I had made the right decision I started a Facebook album ‘Reasons To Move North’. This has had wonderful comments from my friends but I never had the courage to make it public. Then recently I went on a Travel Writing Course with Zoe ,and much to my delight and surprise received more affirmation from positive comments on my travel writing. Something else which has always remained strictly within closed leaves.
A mindful review of my first year here followed and I realised that I had had an amazing twelve months. Yes, I have travelled away, but I have also done more here in the North West than I would have previously thought possible. And I have had so many visitors! People like it here! I have become a guide for friends and acquaintances who then spread the word about how wonderful the Lake District is. This led to my providing itineraries for weekends or longer visits. Some I accompanied, others I simply provided a ‘bespoke’ itinerary, with or with accommodation booked.
So, now it’s time to go Global!
And now I have built my own blog I have used my technical, from a previous life in IT, to build one for the Howgill Harriers. If you would like one put together then please contact me for a quote.
A Tree
Even on the worst of days, with staccato hale and wild westerly winds there is generally something worth setting foot on the fells for. Heavy clouds squeeze deep colour from hills topped by a leaden sky. Remnants of previous wealth litter the hillside. Iron fences with detail more at home in rural Surrey? A trig made by squidging stones into plasticine. Plants feast on rotting posts Water reveals its strength gouging gullies through the landscape which defeated mechanisation. Then there was the tree. Totally swathed in...
read moreLow Level Weekend
Sometimes the storms, wind, rain, the thought of being battered sideways in nil visibility make clinging to the southern fringes of Cumbria an all too better prospect. Restricted to Saturday for walking meant I would be high up in the hills around mid day , had I ventured that far. By then bushes in the garden were preying their roots will hold and wheely bins were chasing each other down the street with the velocity of a free style snowboarder. Just for something different I followed a route from the Nuttalls’ Tarns of Lakeland. Their...
read moreOne Bright Day
With only the odd calm day sandwiched between storms I was amazed when one actually coincided with a day I was free to ‘head for the hills’. So with even the promise of even a glimmer of sunshine, Bow Fell, Esk and Rossett would complete my Langdale valley Wainwrights. Typically Lakeland and far from sunshine, the grey missle was sinking low from the hills when we parked at the old Dungeon Ghyll. Ever hopeful we set off up towards the Bund, our faith rewarded as the clouds began to clear and the soft glow of winter sunshine washed...
read moreInclement Weather
Eventually I have become fed up of the rain! Finally the wind and wet made me abandon that Wainwright list! But I still couldn’t abandon the hills totally and dragged poor* (see comment) Jeanette up Loughrigg on Saturday. The day had begun rather bright blue and breezy but it didn’t last. Half way up Loughrigg the wind blasted in from the sea. Snow swirling in grey air, pebble dashing our faces and causing characteristic leaking of facial orifices. Only an impromptu embrace of the trig prevented the loss of my weekend...
read moreReturning and Reminiscing
For around 20 years the flat land of Warwickshire was my home. At various times the Malverns or Cotswolds the nearest thing I got to a hill. But all the times the bard’s birthplace was where I shopped, worked and latterly, lived. Stratford is a small town with a huge ego. At least that’s how it felt when I lived there. Tourists were a major irritation. They stood in front of my bike when I cycled round town. Asked for the most ridiculous directions – where’s the river? The Church, the School…. I just wanted to do my weekly shopping. ...
read moreWhy Walk Wainwrights?
When I first returned to Cumbria I just walked. Anywhere. I had a dog, Rosie, and she needed to go out anyway. After living in Warwickshire for quite a while it didn’t matter which hill it was. Then I was introduced to the concept of ‘bagging’. Wainwrights, Birketts, Nuttalls and when they are finished you do the tarns or head off to Scotland for the Munros. All a bit crazy I quietly thought. But I did realise I was heading up hills I would not have, had they not been on a list. Then tragically for me, Rosie died last June. I...
read moreWalking the Wainwright List
Sometimes I think that I would be better off joining a gym. It would be warm. It would be dry. There would be wonderful aromas. It would be sociable. Running in a line, never going anywhere. Talking to fellow human beings. Through an iPod. Plenty to occupy the mind then. MTV. Lunch with a franchised cappuccino What could contest with this dry, ‘sanitise’ cocoon? Heading up a hill, towards an indistinct sky because a man called Alfred put it in a book. To see nothing but grass, and rocks. Such a sociable occupation. Another few metres...
read moreMost Northerly Wainwright
Early morning activity on ‘social media’ this morning was confirmation that people had seen the same weather forecast as myself. An early frost followed by a wonderful sunny day. Everyone was packing their packs, heading for the hills and hoping for a much needed taste of vitamin D. Not to be. I stepped out of back door into a downpour! Who knows what happened. Mountains have their own weather system but not usually low lying South Lakes. Travelling over Shap the rain turned to snow. That maybe would not be too bad, and I had put...
read moreWatery Winter Walking
Wipers fought hard to clear the screen as I drove over Shap. On the quieter A591 water dripped from drooping branches, seeped across the road from Scafell. Unable to flow further, it congregated between Derwent and Basenthwaite. The ‘Lakes’ unable to take any more, pushed their excess into ditches and fields. Was this really a good day for a walk? The valleys were sodden. The tops of the hills were hidden from view. But having arrived, well it was pointless sitting in cars and there is always the hope that things will clear. So, huddled...
read moreMilan Gallery
Duomo Castle garden Metro station Duomo Duomo Pavement parking prevention looking down from the Duomo Duomo New Year left overs Duomo Bere Follower of fasion Duomo Duomo Duomo designer dogs...
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