The Harbour Hotel Barrow-in-Furness

... town centre a couple of times before finding the way out down the A6. We regained the motorway briefly, then left it again at Keele and came back cross country via Telford and Bridgnorth.

Just like on the way up, it took six hours, but despite this, the weekend was worth the struggle. The scenery in the fells has been fantastic and the walking marvellous. Lake Windermere is beautiful, even in the mist.

... running around in circles). At least they didn't tell me I couldn’t come back! We will see how a feel next week as to if I decide to join them again. I do however know I will be more cautious when they invite me to play a friendly match of any sport. To end this I will tell you I bought a pair of Ugg boots today… I feel a little ashamed. They maybe quite ugly, but it is cold here (not in respect to MI ...

... a scramble than a walk, but we made it, puffing and panting to the top. The view is just as impressive, with the bones of the land laid out before us. Down in the valley, several hundred feet below us, we could see the remains of a WW2 aeroplane that had just clipped the ridge.

Two peaks done, it was time for the third and highest of the day. Thankfully, we retained much of the high ground in getting there. The ridge meandered up ...

The Michelin Route Finder suggested the journey to the Lake District would be 3 hours and 40 minutes. I know from experience that they are generally underestimating the real time, so I banked on about four and a half to five hours of driving. I collected Donny from school and we set off straight away.

The M6 was dreadful. It was handbrake driving - on, off, on, off, on, off - we managed less than 90 ...

... penny in America and is a 1p coin in Britain) I let it go seeing as he was clearly more desperate then I was for 4p. It is the 1 pound and 2 pound coins that get me, and that night the girl at the bar sorted me 3 pound in change. This continued to Thursday night where the bartender said that a double rum and coke was 2. 85 even though the sign behind him said 2.60, I let it go again, He sorted me 10p change. This night I retaliated by stealing a pint glass ...

... the places nearby including:
- Bowness - mum and I visited the Beatrix Potter attraction here
- Grasmere - a peaceful spot amongst meadows where poet William Wordsworth lived
- Ambleside - beautiful little village where we spent the bulk of our visit inside a shoe store
- Kendal - home of the famous Kendal mint cake

We spent the evenings at the backpackers ...

... rides, all kind of fairground style.

Meanwhile, Mark took a visit to the casino. He is not a fan at all of Blackpool! Apparently too many "lower socio-economic" people around. Admittedly, there were a few skanks, but hey, if we were all the same then life would be very boring, right!? Anyway, he managed to win back the money we lost over the wrong accommodation booking (Marky factor).

Of course we had to have fish and chips with mushy ...

... s at times like this that you know you're alive.

We went down the main way, and both of us reckoned it was probably harder than the back way. And very, very busy. Compared to some people we met on the way down, we were practically Mountain Rescue types. Saw all sorts - very young, very old, very fat, very underdressed. Not sure if they will have made it, seeing the state they were in a mile in to the walk. We took various breaks on the way ...

... for hours. Amazing how little things can really please you. We spent a few hours with our feet in the stream at High Force, bathing in the rare UK summer sunshine, before getting back in the car and going to Thirlmere water. It was here that we went for a couple of short walks, all in aid of finding a small plastic box. Yes, we went geocaching for the rest of the afternoon, before hitting the campsite again.

... in the Lake District, so was basically comprised of hiking stores, pubs and take aways. Not quite the quaint scene I had pictured in my mind, but saying that it was a very scenic place, full of stone buildings and gentle streams. The kind of place I'd like to live but never admit it.

And so, that was day 1. A 500 mile drive, dodgy food and a beautiful campsite on the banks of a stunning lake. Pretty ideal really.