High above Keswick on a Beautiful day
"Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today, because if you enjoyed it today, you can do it again tomorrow." Oscar Wilde
Received directions at breakfast from my hostess who had trouble with giving directions, she kept confusing left and right. Great way to start a Walk, with wrong information.
Finally the day got underway with the backpack only holding waterproofs, and shorts and a banana.
About two blocks along towards the main road through Portinscale saw a line of about 6 walkers crossing in front of me wearing green shirts. Then there was a steady cluster of about 30. Oh my, were all these people planning on climbing up to Catbells? Then more and more green shirted walkers kept appearing. Joined their ranks. Finally asked someone what they were doing. It was a Walking Marathon from Keswick to Ambleside for Cancer. They were all fresh and excited. But as the lady said, they had only compiled the first mile. There were exactly 1,000 participants. I was very pleased to break away from the throngs and go down to the 2 marina I came to and get on the official foot path for the morning hike - up to Catbells.
The gentle path (at this point) wound through the private estate, possibly Lingholn?, where there were grazing, just inside the fence from me, about a dozen llamas, or were they alpacas?
This path eventually left the shade of the woods and the Up hill trek began. As it was a sunny, and Hot day, people were out and about. Not only was there a Lake Triathlon taking place in Keswick, there was another road biking event, the green shirted marathon walkers, and people just generally taking advantage of a beautiful June day in the Lakes, which typically would be a rainy area.
Hundreds were on the climb up to Catbells! Couples. Families with small kids riding on backs of parents. Kids climbing on their own who looked barely able to walk. Dogs! My goodness almost every 3rd set of people had a dog happily climbing.
Talked with a couple who had a tiny spitfire of a Jack Russel. The dog who in the last three days had climbed Snowden, Helvellyn, Scafell Pike, and today was enthusiastically doing Catbells with its human parents.
Have some great photos of a Border Collie stopping and holding a pose before his attack on a stick, while his humans, with red faces, worked their way up to him. A real "working" dog.
Breathe deeply taking in views from the top of Catbells. Well worth the stiff climb. The entire Derwentwater was laid out below. Rising fells surrounded the entire ridge. On each of the neighboring fells could clearly been seen foot Paths ascending to the tops. People have been all over these mountains.
Tried to get the brain to figure out exactly where I currently was standing, and which distant peaks and ridge lines had been crossed by these feet on the C2C. That route would have been to the north of here, but there were so many lumpy rises it was hard to tell.
Today felt exactly like that day above Black Sail Youth Hostel on Gray Knotts in that this landscape was exactly what I love and what I came here to absorb.
Worked my way down the mountain on the path, against the tide of traffic. Found the wooded route out to the edge of Derwentwater to the Hawes End pier. Just as I arrived a steamer was pulling in. Got on board for the easy/lazy way over to Keswick. Steamer made two stops before the launch site.
On arrival in Tourist Land (Banff, Canada only multiply the Visitors) became one of thousands of tourists, and it was Market day. The entire central area was covered with a double row of tents with vendors selling not only fruit and veg (small area), but every other sort of item. Books, toys, used clothing, dog leashes, candles, cheeses, spices, sheep rugs, wool sweaters. It was crazy. It was fun.
My first, and only stop, was at a Gelato shop. Felt I deserved a treat after the mornings climb sf descent, and I don't necessarily have a taste for ice cream, but gelato!!! Had a double scoop in a tub (dish).
Wandered down the pedestrian walkway eating gelato. Had my trekking poles clutched together under left arm, left hand holding tub of gelato, right hand trying to use camera as a captive owl was being presented to have its photo taken on a human's arm, for a fee. Distracted Lois. Took a few photos and moved down the street. Stopped to take a bite of gelato and realized there was only ONE trekking pole under left arm. Quickly returned Up street where an elderly lady was holding MY stick. Worked my way into the crowd and showed her my matching purple Black Diamond pole. Apparently while intent on the owl, one pole slipped away, fell into a storm drain and managed to get caught a couple feet down on the side. Had it gone straight down, purple pole would have been lost forever. Thanked lady profusely.
Once gelato was consumed the days goals were continued. Had a map off the internet that wasn't very detailed, but set off to find Castlerigg Stone Circle. It was one of the places I really wanted to visit. Long 2 mile climb up hill, but on roadways.
Castlerigg is the earliest British stone circle dating from 4,500 years ago. Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age. "Some stones in the circle have been aligned with midwinter sunrise and various lunar positions". It was built in the Megalithic tradition.
The stones are "set in a flat circle measuring 107 feet at its widest and 97 feet at the narrowest".
The stone circle is arranged on a wide open ridge within a bowl of majestic peaks rising above.
A sign of my interest in the circle is that I took over 20 photos working my way around the location. At one point had to go up to a family of 6 who seemed to have taken up residence leaning on one of the Main stones to chat with each other, and ask if they could move aside as I wanted to photograph the circle, and not Them.
Easily walked the 2 miles downhill back to Keswick. Still crowded with the crowds.
Talked with a lady down from Glasgow who had 7 - SEVEN dogs with her. They were all rescue dogs and she loved each of them.
Can not get over the beautiful dogs here, and how well behaved they all are. Far better than many humans at home when out in public.
I think my iPhone screen has some issues. Even with the Serious lifetime waterproof cover, the cover seems to have issues because of a banana it encountered this morning in my froggie.
Items lost! AWOL! Just plain Gone: comb left in Rosthwaite in my hurry to catch a bus (had an extra with - no problem), gold hoop earring with dolphin lost going up Kidsty Pike when headed east in blowing rain and cold - while trying to keep Martin and his dog Sullivan within distant eye range so I wouldn't get lost (kept shifting Buff around over head and ears - dolphin flew off someplace), today: the quart bag with bandaids/antibiotic/blister plasters (Compeed), seems to have vanished. 😾. Bought new Compeed at the Boots pharmacy, but regret loosing the other supplies.
FOUND the bag with the bandaids!!! So happy. Never know when they might be needed!
Chinese Takeaway veggies, extra spicy, no rice or noodles, eaten at a picnic table outside the Booths grocery store. Didn't feel bad as I have purchased items a few times over the past two days.
"If you want to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousy, unforgiveness and fears." Cesare Pavese
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