The Lake District

This year we have decided to keep the mileage down (Kilometreage just does not work) and not venture too far. We started with a week in the Lake District. Spectacular especially when the weather is good. Our site was in a converted quarry with great views.

The day after our arrival we headed off to nearby Ullswater. Picture perfect weather and country.

With many of the Lakes the key attraction is a boat trip. Once the tickets were bought we had some time to go into the village of Glenridding for a coffee. Almost as picturesque as the countryside. 

 
 
 

The boat (launch) was built in 1960 albeit to an earlier design. 

The surrounds were peaceful with the puttering of the launch and the general chit chat hum of the patrons. However, it all changed in a heart beat when the RAF decided to do one of its training runs.

 

Fortunately it was over almost before it had started and when we disembarked at Pooley Bridge. Tranquility was reinstated as we crossed into the river Eamont into the town.

The following day we opted for another trip with a bit of history. (OK there was also a discount for linking the boat and rail journeys that Aldi shopper Jo had found.) The narrow guage train left from Ravenglass on a half hour trip up the valley to Dalgarth. It is a narrow guage railway that was originally built for mining pink granite.

Ravenglass is the confluence of a few rivers and some of the locos are named after the rivers. Ours was the River Irt built in 1927 but the plate actually had 1894 as some of the orginal parts were from an earlier loco.

At Dalegrath there was a turntable. Not too much pushing involved. 

We set off for a nearby pub lunch which was opposite an old granery operated by a water wheel. There was a water fall alongside which would have been the reason for the granery’s remote location.

On the way back we had to wait while our return engine was turned around. This was named Hercules and was sleeker than its namesake Poirot.

This was a two part operation due to the size of the coal tender.

 She got up quite a head of steam racing down the valley.

For our third day we opted for some ambling at Ambleside on Lake Windermere. Along with more wonderful countryside. 

There were some quite quirky buildings. This is now a shop but presumably was originally built as some sort of river toll gate.

 

Better documented were the remains of a Roman river fort on the banks of the lake which was built in the 2^nd century AD.

It is amazing how from a few relic foundations they can conclude the fort looked like this. 

Sue and Martin had been in contact and were keen for us to spend a day with them on Braggabout. We have no problem with undertaking such a duty! We set off for Liverpool where we met them at the top locks near the middle of the Liverpool Link. After 4 locks (with BW operators so easy going!) we entered the start of the Liverpool docks.

 

There are times when even old heavy engineering works are beautiful (I know you are thinking typical civil engineer so let’s say picturesque).  

Through the bridge is the old Clocktower. These are 19^thC structures – solid but with a hint of elegance with the frivolous decoration on top. 

Notwithstanding all the engineering there was still plenty of wildlife. A heron took off from the bank (not unusual) but what was a surprise was the immediate attack by a seagull. It went on for quite a while until the heron managed to land in long grass. Below was something none of us expected. The clearest canal water we have ever seen. We could see eels wiggling away from the boat. They were a good foot long so with some jelly …..

 

No points for guessing the next view. The Liver building with its two birds on top was the first skyscraper in Europe built using reinforced concrete and clad in stone. Pretty awesome and must have been quite a sight for mariners returning home. The contrasting recently constructed pedestrian bridge works well.

After the last lock we entered the warehouse area which has  been refurbished. The easily imagined  chaotic nature of numerous boats and stevedores loading and unloading boats contrasts with todays peaceful scene. 

 

It also contrasts with some of the adjoining modern museum and office structures.

 

Through the basin (under the bridge) was a basin used for visiting narrowboats. A great central location for exploring Liverpool which Sue and Martin planned to do over the forthcoming week.

What the calmness belied was the impending change in weather that was to hit in the afternoon. The remnants of Hurricane Bertha arrived in the afternoon and these calm reflective waters were replaced by white caps topped with horizontal rain.

After some great cooking by Sue we set off back to the ‘van. The two hours travelling through storms meant we fell asleep at midnight quite easily. However, our slumbers were shortly awoken with a loud crack and on looking outside found that the awning was now on the roof of the van!

A wet hour followed with the help of a neighbour (I suspect with insomnia) while we slowly unpicked the equipment piece by piece from the top of the ‘van and got it back down to terra firma. Quite a start to our 41^st anniversary! The following day was spent drying out the equipment and assessing the damage, which fortunately was not too great. We certainly deserved the wonderful celebration dinner that night at the Troutbeck Inn.

Our plan this trip was to intersperse exploration days with lay days. Having had 4 busy days on the trot and given the inclement weather we headed South a day early and overnighted in Solihull enroute South.