Newby Bridge Hotel

... mode, and it is a good opportunity to mention my 'Travel Tokens'. These items have some kind of significance beyond simple functionality.

1. Belt - This leather belt will be used for holding my trousers (or anything else) in place. I probably could have found lighter weight belts to take but this particular one belonged to my Dad. Since his death in 1993 it has been mine and it just seemed appropriate to keep it close by ...

... Riding down through Cumbria the amount of rivers that had burst their bank & surface water on the roads was staggering and really confirmed that we had made a good decision.

Currently, we are all sitting in the kitchen with Anne, Phillip and their two children Ieuan & Elise having stuffed our faces with home made lasagne & apple crumble claimed to be all of work of Phil our host!.. the look on Anne's face might mean he was exagerating some what!

... 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 ...

... affair. This is good though, as the next time I am here will be on the day of my last injections - which is also day before I depart - so there will be precious little time for social arrangements.

This evening marked precisely 2 weeks to departure - awesome! XD

... together now ready for when I pack later on this week. It's a bit strange as I don't feel like I'm going anywhere yet but I'm sure come this time next week I'll be thinking different! I've now got everything set out on our spare bed ready to pack in my bag, my last "to do "list is writen, I did a few bits of washing of things I want to take and I've still ...

... plans were made, and the slightly lighter weather made a short comfortable walk possible. We met up with half a dozen of the others at the car park in Hawkshead. Following yesterday's soaking, I made a strategic purchase of a clear, dry bag for the map. I am now moving towards 'kitted out hiker', thus making me the Fonz of the rambling world. I am just sooo cool.

Anyway, we followed a ...

... no plastic trousers, so heading up high where there was stiff wind was a non-starter. We planned a walk around Lingmoor Fell, pausing at Elterwater for a break about half way. This, on a good day, would take around four or five hours.

I put the key in an obvious place, where the first people back could find it, and we set off up the track. It was gravel and rock underfoot, and should have been nice walking. The layer of water over the top, however ...

... away. Would my windscreen be measurably thinner by the time I got to Langdale? How much water could the engine take? There must have been buckets of water running down through it from the bonnet above and dirty spray water drenching it from the road below too. I was amazed my little car kept going.

Through this howling gale, Eartha (my six year old) and I were on our way to the Lake ...

... of the lake and I strolled around for 10 minutes or so. I assume that was Windermere, but I am not sure. I upload a few picture from there and if you know where it is, please tell me. Anyway, on our way back, we dropped by Lakeside Motor Museum. I was not interested antique cars exhibited in the museum, but John really was.