Tetley came in saying, "Allen, Southey your Lake District magazines have arrived."
"Thanks pal, I am looking forward to seeing what interesting articles there are this month", replied Southey.
"So am I", added Allen. "Did your Dalesman come too?"
"Yes pal", replied Tetley.
Shaun then arrived with Little Eric riding on his back carrying the flasks, and beside them Grizzly with the cakes.
"Ooh, just what I need", called out Allen. "I'm...
...gasping for a cuppa", finished Tetley, letting out a bellow of laughter, and knowing what an absolute tea belly and cake stuffer his pal is.
Quickly the mugs were filled and passed round, Shaun stating, "it's Ramblears tea of course."
Little Eric said, "Grizzly has made mincemeat slice, while there is blueberry slice from me."
"Wonderful", cheered Southey, who like Allen is every much a cake stuffer.
There were murmurs of contentment, Tetley saying, "the mincemeat slice is delicious. We have not had that for a while. Thank you Grizzly.
"Love the blueberry slice too", went on Allen. "Quite delicious."
"So I see", laughed Little Eric. "That must be your third piece and you have had two of the other."
"Got to live up to my reputation, after all."
Then our thoughts turned to walking. Grizzly had the iPad in paw and looking up said, "there is a day down for a walk with Uncle Eric. The weather forecast is good too."
"Do we need to come up with a suggestion?", asked Little Eric.
"We already have one from near Killington to suggest", replied Shaun.
As it turned out instead we went with a suggestion from Uncle Eric starting from Helsington Church.
The drive to the start involved negotiating the narrow roads from Levens to Brigsteer above the Lyth Valley and then climbing towards Scout Scar taking the narrow road right to the parking in front of Helsington Church.
Uncle Eric was already there and we called out. "good morning Uncle Eric."
"Nice to see you lads", he replied, as our pals Barnaby and Lee, who had come along usual, went to say hello.
The church commands a fantastic viewpoint south towards Morecambe Bay and across the Lyth Valley and distant Lakeland Fells with in the picture below Dow Crag and Coniston Old Man being the most prominent.
"It is truly amazing the view from here", cried Southey, pointing to the sweep of the Lakeland Fells.
"From the left, Walna Scar, Dow Crag, the full length of the Coniston Fells from the Old Man to Wetherlam. Then Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and Esk Pike and Allen Crags. And on the far right the Langdale Pikes", reeled off Allen.
"Breathtaking", agreed Shaun. Then adding, "you are named after Allen Crags pal."
"That's right. It is alphabetically the first of the Wainwright Fells."
Dad meanwhile got ready, then calling out, "come on lads get settled in the rucksack."
Uncle Eric said, "we should walk back to Brigsteer Road."
At the road, Uncle Eric then said, "turn right. We are looking for a track left signed to Scout Scar."
"Here it is", called out Shaun.
Through the gate the clear track stretched out before us.
On and on we walked the track eventually passing through a gate and swinging right.
"Ahh", pointed Tetley. "Meadowsweet. We have some in our garden."
Shortly we descended into a small valley. Uncle Eric said, "the path now continues uphill onto Scout Scar. However we take this narrow unsigned path to the left."
Southey said, "as we have said before, with all the rain this year, the vegetation has really flourished, making the path pretty overgrown"
Dad commented, "not sure that it is walked that often and I am needing to take care to negotiate the hidden stones and tree roots."
At one point the view opened out ahead and left. "That is Barrowfield Farm", pointed Shaun. "The route takes us there."
The steep and at times scree slopes of Scout Scar rose to our right.
Fallen trees were another obstacle this being one of a number Dad and Uncle Eric had to negotiate.
"Bin day", called out Tetley.
"As he walked past, Uncle Eric said laughing, "not likely to get the refuse lorry along here."
We did look inside, noting sacks of something. "I wonder what is inside the sacks?", mused Allen.
Fairly soon we reached a gate on left and crossing the field, this lovely pastoral scene stretched away to our left.
This brought is to Barrowfield Farm, the path having being diverted round to the left of the buildings.
Looking back Shaun pointed, "there's Scout Scar that we walked below."
At this point there are two routes. A shortcut or the full walk. The fact that the path had been diverted caused some confusion, as we ended up further left. Before the diversion the route would have been clearly ahead, but now we were further to the left. This, coupled with the fact that we read the paragraph relating to the shortcut, this is the route we took.
Going left and crossing the cattle grid, the sign pointed us right.
The path was through the delightful Honeybee Wood.
"What a lovely name", cried Southey.
"We need lots of bees for our honey supplies", said Allen.
The path exited onto a wide track. "Must be right", stated Shaun, pointing to the sign indicating there was no right of way left.
This took us to Brigsteer Road. "Right a little way then go left", said Uncle Eric.
This signed track led through more delightful woodland.
Half way a path came in from the right, Tetley saying, "that is the route of the full walk."
Soon our route was a rising path left.
This led to a gate, where we climbed the open grassy slope to the start.
Pointing south, Allen said, "that might make a nice shot towards the Kent estuary and Arnside Knott."
"We need to have our picture taken to include in the story", stated Southey. "There's a seat over there."
Allen said, "as we are at the car, we should get Barnaby and Lee to join us."
Barnaby with the green bow was adopted by Dad on 10th July 1992 from the Ironbridge Toy Museum. He went with Dad to work for many years. Lee was adopted on 13th October 1994 from the British Heart Foundation shop in Kendal. His jumper came from the shop at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. He also has name badge from there.
Grizzly asked, "can we go and look round the church."
Grizzly told us, "this is the Church of St John. It was built as a chapel in 1726 on the initiative of John Jackson of nearby Holeslack Farm. It is now the parish church of Helsington. It underwent restoration in 1898."
Going inside Dad took this along the nave.
"Further restoration towards the end of the first decade of the 20th century, included the panelling of the chancel walls and fitting a pulpit, reading desk and communion rail and altar. On 31st August 1919 a memorial was dedicated to the nine men of the parish who fell in World War 1. The mural we see attached to the east wall was produced by artist Marion de Sumarez (1885-1978)."
"Note too the east window. This was given during the 1898 restoration by William Stavert, High Sheriff, in memory of his sister, Elizabeth Vose of Liverpool."
"The organ was purchased in 1902 by subscription from local gentry. It was made by Samuel Penn of Manchester c.1845."
Before leaving Dad took this of the font.
"Thank you so much Grizzly, for the most interesting tour", said Allen.
So our goodbyes were said, Tetley saying, "thank you for your company Uncle Eric. "Let's hope the weather will be favourable for the date we have fixed in July."
"Yes, let's hope so."
There was now time for Dad to have lunch at the River Bela Cafe, and as usual we got to go in as well. Martyn and Sarah were surprised to see Dad, and also commented on him wearing long trousers for once.
Dad explained, "It is to avoid getting stung by the nettles that seem to be very prolific and tall this year."
He had Cumberland sausage with chips egg and beans. Tea, and then scrumptious apple and sultana crumble.
