Allen Tetley and Southey were quietly reading their magazines, when Shaun Eric and Grizzly arrived with the flasks and cake tins.
"Ooh great", cheered Allen. "I'm gasping for a cuppa."
"Huh, no surprise there, tea belly", laughed Tetley.
Southey had meanwhile been getting the mugs ready and helped Shaun fill them.
"Thanks pal. It is Ramblears tea of course."
"Mmm, delicious", replied Allen, having already drunk half his mug.
Little Eric opened the tins saying, "Chorley cakes from Grizzly, while my contribution is peach and apricot slice."
We all dug in Shaun saying, "the peach slice is quite scrumptious."
"As are the Chorley cakes", added Southey.
"So I see", laughed Grizzly. "That's your third."
"I'm only keeping up with Allen!"
Shaun remarked, "we aught to ask Dad to get more Ramblears tea when he is at Armathwaite Hall, next week. I was wondering too, if we will be going to do a walk during the holiday?"
Tetley picked up the iPad. A few taps and he had the forecast for Keswick on the screen. "Hmm, looks a bit mixed to start, but improving as the week goes on."
"I'll be happy to see if Dad will take us", said Allen. "But we should come up with a suggestion."
"Ahh", said Grizzly. "Actually I have an idea. I looked down the index of walks and found this one, number 140, which we have never done. It starts from the Lake car park in Keswick. Takes the shore path along Derwent Water, then through Great Wood. The return is over Castlehead with its superb views and Cockshot Wood. In all 5 miles."
"Super suggestion", cheered Little Eric. "Up to you now Allen."
"Ok", he replied draining his mug, and picking up the instructions. Then as he went out of the room he called, "please fill my mug again. Hope there is a Chorley cake left too."
"What is he like", laughed Tetley. "Must be his 4th mug at least. I swear he has hollow legs. Still he is such a lovable pal."
"Quite" agreed Southey. "We do not want him to change."
It was a few minutes before Allen returned. There was a smile on his face. "We are going to Armathwaite and the walk is definitely on. Dad said will be go on the day that is best for the weather."
"Yippee", cheered Shaun, as he passed the refilled mug to Allen.
"Thanks pal."
The weather as Tetley had indicated was rather mixed, but did steadily improve, so that by our last day, Thursday, there were blue skies, and clear views of the fells and mountains, and was the day of our adventure. However there were other events during the holiday one particularly poignant, which are related below.
We arrived after a nice journey Sunday afternoon and once in the room our other Hug pals who Fletcher and Polly had invited, got settled on the chairs. Here they are -
l-r Melanie, Haystacks, Barnaby & Lee
l-r Polly, Gladly, Fred & Fletcher, with Monika and Donald sitting at front
Tuesday, Dad announced, "I'm going to Cockermouth to get the tea and have a look in the bookshop."
"Not going to Fagans then?", asked Barnaby with surprise in his voice.
"Well... I have to walk past, but that does not mean I will get another member for the Hug."
"Ha", said Fred. "I'm not taking any bet that you do not buy one."
"Nor me either", went on his brother Gladly, laughing loudly.
So off Dad went, and we had a quiet time in the room.
Later we heard the door unlock, Grizzly saying, "he's back."
"Did you have a nice time?", asked Lee.
"Yes lad, and as you can see, I could not resist bringing a new member of the Hug with me. The assistant at Fagans recognised me and was not in the least surprised that they got a sale."
"Aww", said Polly, "you're beautiful pal. What a lovely colour your fur is. Welcome to the Hug."
"It's lovely to join you all and not be stuck on the shelf in the shop."
"What's his name?", asked Fletcher.
"Midday", replied Dad. "But I do not like that. We must come up with a better one for him."
"Oh yes please."
There was some debate amongst us all. Then Polly suggested on behalf of us all, "because he is green, we like Lincoln, after the colour Robin Hood and his Merry Men wore."
"I love that", replied Lincoln,
"Me too", said Dad. "A perfect suggestion."
We all miss our dear Uncle Brian, every day, and we know how hard it has been for Dad at times dealing with the grief. It had taken Dad some considerable time to decide where to scatter his ashes. However he told us, "I have come to a decision they are going to be scattered by Loweswater. Unlike me Uncle Brian was not a walker, but we did walk round Loweswater together, so it is an appropriate place."
And so it was that on the Wednesday morning, with our pals Fred whose dad was Uncle Brian, and his brother Gladly, that he drove to Loweswater.
Fred takes up the story. "Approaching the village Uncle Gerry took the narrow lane signed to Maggie's Bridge and the small parking area. There we set off for the shore of the lake."
"Ooh" said Gladly, "there are fells all around. What a lovely place. Can you tell us what some are called, please Dad."
"Sure. Behind us is Mellbreak. It may not look like it, but there is a path that descends on the left side. I have come down that way."
"Goodness that looks so steep and dangerous. You and STAG are truly intrepid", said Fred.
"To the right is Carling Knott."
"And then over to the right is Darling Fell and Low Fell part of the Fellbarrow group. That was where I first met Uncle Bob."
"It certainly is a beautiful place to lay my Dad to rest", replied Fred.
It was a bit windy but we got sat down looking at the lake.
Dad threw the curtains back, and Tetley exclaimed, "blue skies and the views are clear. A great day for our walk."
"Ooh yes", cheered Little Eric, "I can't wait."
We parked in the Lake car park by the Theatre by the Lake. Quickly getting settled in the rucksack and this shouldered Dad strode out past the theatre to pass the landing stages were the launches that serve Derwent Water depart.
"Behind is Skelgill Bank rising to Catbells with Maiden Moor further left", said Grizzly. "And behind is Robinson."
"That's Rowling End and Causey Pike", pointed Tetley. "Crag Hill is behind and Barrow to the right."
Allen was looking to the right, calling out, "there's Grizedale Pike with small prominence of Hobcarton Head beyond. It was a wonderful day when I summited Grizedale Pike, as it marked my completion of the 214 Wainwrights. That was in 2010. It does not seem to be so long ago."
"We were very proud of you", replied Grizzly, giving Allen a pat on the shoulder.
Striding on Little Eric said, "that will make a nice picture of those two launches moored to the piers."
Following the good path we now continued to the promontory of Friars Crag from where we had this superb, if rather hazy, view along Derwent Water to Borrowdale.
Shaun said, "that's King's How to the left with Castle Crag sitting in the jaws of Borrowdale and rising to the right is High Spy.
"What's behind?", asked Southey.
"Glaramara and Seathwaite Fell", replied Tetley.
Friars Crag is a very popular place being just a short walk from Keswick. So we were not surprised how busy it was, including a group on a guided walk.
Just behind the point stands this memorial to John Ruskin.
"I have notes", said Grizzly. "This memorial to John Ruskin was erected on 6th October 1900, shortly after his death, largely through the efforts of Hardwick Rawnsley. It consists of a monolithic block of Borrowdale stone. It is of the type of the standing stones of Galloway the earliest Christian monuments of the Celtic people, and was chosen as a link with Scotland, the land of Ruskin's fore-elders. Upon one side is incised a Chi-Rho enclosed in a circle after the fashion of the earliest crosses, with the following inscription beneath from Deucalion, Lecture xii., par. 40
The Spirit of God is around
you in the air that you breathe,
-His glory in the light that
you see; and in the fruitfulness
of the earth, and in the joy of its
creatures, He has written for
you, day by day, His
revelation, as he has granted
you, day by day, your daily
bread
On the side we see, facing the lake which Ruskin once described 'as one of the three most beautiful scenes in Europe', there is a medallion in bronze, the work of Signor Lucchesi, representing Ruskin in profile as he was in the early 1870s, when he composed Fors Clavigera and was Slade Professor of Fine Art at Oxford University. A crown of wild olive is seen in the background of the panel, which is hollowed to give the profile high relief, and Ruskin's motto, "To-day," is among the olive leaves in the background over the head. Above the portrait is the name "John Ruskin," beneath are his dates 1819 to 1900. Beneath these again is incised an inscription taken from Modern Painters, vol. iii, ch. vxii:
The first thing which I remember, as an event in life, was being taken by my nurse to the brow of Friar's Crag on Derwent Water.
The lettering was designed and drawn by Ruskin's biographer, W G Collingwood, and was so designed to indicate Ruskin's dot and dash style of drawing. Ruskin wrote that "all monuments to individuals are, to a certain extent, triumphant; therefore, they must not be placed where nature has no elevation of character." The scene was chosen thus, like the stone, which exists quite naturally amidst its surroundings." (Source Wikipedia)
"Thank you pal for the lecture. You a have certainly educated us all about the monolith", said Allen gratefully."
"So where now", asked Little Eric.
Shaun pointed, "take the path round Strandshag Bay."
Striding off the path along the shore took us to a position where the view to the right was directly across Derwent Water. "Oh wow", shouted Southey. "What a fantastic view. Please tell me what I can see?"
Tetley obliged. "From the left is Rowling End rising to Causey Pike with Crag Hill behind, In the middle is Barrow and to the right Grisedale Pike."
"Breathtaking", sighed Little Eric.
Our eyes then travelled further right to see this.
Allen called out, "another superb view. In the centre is Skiddaw with to the right Skiddaw Lower Man and Skiddaw Lesser Man. To the left is Longside and Carl Side."
Strolling on Grizzly stopped our progress by commenting, "that fallen tree will be a nice picture Dad."
"Behind is Castle Head. We will climb that on the return leg", pointed Shaun.
Soon we entered woodland called The Ings, where this duck boarding allows safe passage over the otherwise boggy ground.
Out of the wood the path passed the buildings of Stable Hills. "From the size of the trunk that tree looks to be very old", commented Tetley.
The path then led round Carclose Bay. "There's a seat", pointed Grizzly. "Good place for our picture."
There were lots of people out walking and a few commented on us. A couple passing while Dad was taking our picture, liked us, Dad explaining about our adventures. The lady took our picture. We are never camera shy!
We sat a little while admiring that incredible view down the lake.
Onwards Shaun said, "we exit onto the Borrowdale Road via a gap stile. There should then be a stile opposite."
"No stile on the far side", pointed Allen.
"Hmm", mused Shaun. "Maybe we have gone a little further along the than we should have. But no problem. If we go right a little way we will come to the exit road from Great Wood car park, which we should follow the parking area."
"OK now we want the rough track right signed Ashness Bridge", called out Shaun.
This brought us this signed junction.
"Take the rising path left signed to Walla Crag", instructed Tetley, looking up from the map.
The path climbed steeply for a while then on and on. Out of the trees, Southey stopped us by exclaiming, "look at the fantastic view."
"Ahh yes", sighed Tetley. "I recall the days we climbed them all. So to the far left at the back is Ard Crags with Knott Rigg behind. In front is again Rowling End rising to Causey Pike over topped behind by Crag Hill. In the gap left is Wandope with Whiteless Pike behind. Finally on the right the pointed summit is Outerside."
Swinging our eyes right we looked down over Keswick.
"That is Bassenthwaite Lake to the right, at the top of which is Armathwaite Hall", pointed Allen. The fell to the left is Barf. If you look carefully the white painted Bishop Rock can be seen on the lower slopes."
Reaching a Y-junction, Shaun instructed, "take that narrow path", he pointed.
This climbed and then fenced to the left led to a t-junction. "Go left", called out Shaun. "We are on the descent now through Springs Wood."
This was to bring us to Spring Farm, but just before, Little Eric pointed, "Annie's Pantry, a cafe."
."You deserve a break Dad, why not have lunch here."
"That's a great idea lad."
It is a lovely place and excellent food. Dad had mug of tea. Tuna savory sandwich on brown with salad. Then chocolate brownie.
"Don't you just love the little cow milk jug", enthused Allen.
Dad refreshed we walked on past the farm to the road past houses, on the outskirts of Keswick the view to the town being much closer.
"Across the field is Castlehead Wood, our next objective", pointed Grizzly
This was reached by taking the narrow path left. We then climbed to the viewpoint. "Another summit", cheered Allen. "Take our picture Dad, please."
Terrific views of the fells across the lake and down to Borrowdale. It was rather hazy now so Dad decided not to take any pictures. Well we have illustrated these views earlier in the story.
Descending by the same path, Shaun then said, "go left and follow the path to Borrowdale Road."
Here we went left a little way to spur off right along the path to to Cockshot Wood.
At the far side, Shaun instructed, "go right long this edge. The path will bring us directly into the car park.
"Look", called out Allen. "Primroses. Makes us always think of our dear Uncle Brian, who we miss every single day.
"What a super super walk", cheered Southey.
"Indeed" agreed Tetley. "Another grand day out."
"Thank you Dad, as always. We love you", added Grizzly.
So returned to the hotel, where we rested and told our other pals all about our adventure.
Dad showered, then settled in the hall to write up the walk, and have tea and shortbreads.
"He deserved it."
