Ambleside Backpackers

... What, in essence, this coin represents is the continuation of the journey; a reminder that there are still many more miles to cover.

The last night in Appleby was a quiet family affair, Food, Wine and a movie from my childhood ('The Last Starfighter' - good choice Joanna!) and we are now just killing time until 2pm when it will be time to set off for Geordieland and my date with density ... er, I mean destiny ... ... I think!

Well after a good nights sleep, well I did but Martyn woke up complaining bitterly that he was kept awake by another form of wind from Leigh? we woke up to.. yes you guessed it, RAIN! but with the added benefit of of strong winds with gusts up to gale force strength..nice!

Once everyone had checked out of the Motel we set off for Glasgow on the scenic route via Otterburn & Haywick, stopping for breakfast at the very friendly Percy Arms in Otterburn ...

... the night. Morag and Ruby who live next door came round to say safe flight and have a good time and they'd got me 3 stones that have different meanings. One to keep me safe, one to bring me luck and one for love, so pls keep your fingers and toes crossed I find it lol!!! 3 girl friends popped round with bubbly and mags which always come in handy and then my cuz Becca popped round for a last good luck hug.
Not ...

Ingnoring most advice we did head off for our anniversary weekend to the Lake District. Cumbria had just experience record rainfall of 400+ mm of rain in 24 hours and amny parts of the area were severly flooded. We had a great run up on the M6 on Friday afternoon and settled into Elim House. In the moring we went down to see the lake which was now creeping ...

... back to Hawkshead.

We had planned to stop in Ambleside on the way home to see the Roman ruin "Galava", which unfortunately turned out to be a muddy field with some ridges in. Most disappointing, and it started to rain again as we walked back to the car, leading to a damp drive home. On a positive note, we did get home in a record four hours, just in time for Eartha to watch Dr Who.

... than I already was.

Eventually, the two bedraggled travellers arrived in the pub cum hotel that nestles in the centre of Little Langdale. We ordered hot chocolate and literally wrang out our socks and trousers in the sink in the Ladies. Eartha called it wrinkling out, which was kind of how I felt - wet and wrinkly.

The last leg of the trek was back across fields and the charming Slater's bridge. This twisty, characterful bridge is made of ...

... albeit a spouse) and very happily printed out FOC (free of charge) tickets for us, on seeing our BR passes.

We boarded a small ferry called Tern and sat downstairs. It was just too chilly on deck. My car thermometer had been reading 6C on the way over. The ferry happily chugged its way across the lake, taking half an hour to get to Bowness-on-Windermere. We peered at the passing banks through ...

Tow truck 2, turns up at 15:29 and we are off again for the next leg of the journey, Stirling Services to Lancaster Services. This journey takes around 4 hours and I have a nice chat with the driver, Jim all the way. We phone ahead and arrange the next tow truck to meet us at Lancaster at 19:15, guess what? Yes, it wasn't there and I am told it won't be there until 20:15 and it finally arrives at 20:30

Lake District was the northernmost area we visited. That's probably why the Lake District is one of the best attractions of U.K. John told me the story of Beatrix Potter, the author of Peter Rabbit.
Actually, I don't remember which lake I visited, because John took me there. I still remember I took a boat to the opposite ...