Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Blog

  • Keswick – Pack Horse

    Keswick – Pack Horse

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

    20180910_220228

    The Pack Horse in Keswick, where we decided to celebrate our brave day of walking to the top of Scafell Pike.

    20180910_200158

    Despite this pledge the welcome offered was perhaps just a little unfriendly, but the server who served us for the evening rescued the situation.

    20180910_193728

    The pub was bigger internally than we had expected when we entered, and the cheerful server found us a table on the top floor.

    20180910_193203

    20180910_193155

    The pub is a Robinsons pub and it was serving their Wizard real ale. It was well kept and at the appropriate temperature, although the beer itself was a little lacking in depth of flavour.

    20180910_200915

    The decorative glass roof in the pub.

    20180910_202214

    Dave and Steve with their meals.

    20180910_212745

    This bottled beer was a little expensive, but it had a subtle taste of ginger which wasn’t too overpowering. It’s strong at 6%, but it had a refreshing taste.

    20180910_202208

    The chicken and ham hock pie in a light pastry, and which was in a red wine gravy. I couldn’t actually taste the flavours of the red wine, but the gravy was still rich and added positively to the pie experience. The chips were fluffy inside and the vegetables retained some bite, but the star of the show was the pie. Filling, tasty and rather lovely   🙂

    20180910_200424

    Steve went off to have a private conversation with what he said was the love of his life. I assume he meant the Greggs in Keswick.

    This was an enjoyable experience, with friendly service from the server and food which was reasonably priced and which had a depth of taste to it. The server was engaging and we didn’t experience any delays with food or drink service. And that pie filled me up nicely.

    Incidentally, the conversation ended up talking about Gordon and Maggie’s shoes. It’s not repeatable.

  • Lake District Week – Quiz Competition!

    Lake District Week – Quiz Competition!

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

    I don’t really run quiz questions on this ‘fascinating’ blog. But today there’s a first. It’s a guess what Gordon is doing quiz, so pick from the three options!

    20180910_113027

    20180910_113018

    Is Gordon hiding:

    (i) Because he’s spilt something in Steve’s shoes?

    (ii) Because he’s hiding from Maggie after forcing her to make sandwiches and then buying numerous sandwich based items from the shop anyway.

    (iii) Because he was scared of doing the big Scafell Pike walk.

    Answers on a postcard….

  • Lake District Week – Ennerdale Lake

    Lake District Week – Ennerdale Lake

    [I originally posted this in September 2018 but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

    20180909_101025

    I remember walking Ennerdale when I was younger, and it has ever since been my favourite lake in the Lake District. I’ve walked it a few times, and it’s a peaceful and scenic location and the walking is relatively easy.

    We started the walk from Bleach Green car park, with the sign noting that “it takes its name from a former flax bleaching works which was located at this site. The Mill was built in 1866 on the banks of the River Ehen using water power supplied by the lake, The bleach works had closed down by 1923”.

    20180909_101125

    At the start of the walk Gordon couldn’t work out why his bag didn’t fit as he expected. He had been trying to put Steve’s bag on…. It was clear that Gordon hadn’t made up the story that he’d had no sleep.

    20180909_101801

    Here’s everyone at the start of the walk, ready and eager to get going.

    20180909_103853

    20180909_104314

    There were a few slightly tricky sections, with Dave being careful not to get another paper cut, as he’s had his arm in a sling for months after the last one.

    20180909_110753

    20180909_110842

    20180909_113608

    20180909_111059

    Around thirty minutes into the walk it started to rain, which turned the paths into streams. I thought that this really added excitement to proceedings, definitely adding another dimension to the walk. Steve M really excelled himself, he talks his walking ability down, but I saw him leaping over streams like a mountain gazelle.

    20180909_113746

    Here Gordon comes, the brave soldier, plodding on without complaint. He didn’t fall though, indeed nobody did. Well, Sarah did, but we won’t mention that.

    20180909_111059 (1)

    What balance!

    20180909_122958

    The waterfalls started to flow down the hills with some force.

    20180909_143446

    Gordon, who acquired the same protective bag cover as Maggie so they looked similar from behind, walking along with Dave.

    20180909_144524

    I was delighted that the Hike Norfolk first aid kit was finally put to use, as I’m tired of carrying it about with no-one getting injured. Gordon’s little toe was a bit hurty, so we put a plaster on it.

    20180909_152213

    I have no comment.

    20180909_123856

    The stream which flows into Ennerdale Lake from the bridge crossing.

    20180909_141021

    20180909_143434

    20180909_143054

    20180909_145727

    20180909_152158

    20180909_151359

    20180909_150924

    20180909_145507

    Above are photos I took in the afternoon, when the sun started to show itself a bit more. We did have a lunch stop at Ennerdale YHA, but I’ll post separately about that.

    20180909_143850

    The delightful Sarah, Steve, Gordon and Dave – what a wonderful little group!

    It was a really lovely day today, getting us ready for the vigours of tomorrow. The rain really added to the experience in the morning, making it more exciting trying to cross streams which were getting ever wider. It wasn’t a long walk, around 11 miles in total, and it might be one of our most leisurely of the week….

  • Keswick – George Hotel

    Keswick – George Hotel

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix some broken image links. I can’t remember why I didn’t take a photo of the food….]

    20180909_180737

    The location for this evening’s meal was the George Hotel in Keswick.

    20180909_181952

    The pub’s menu was quite large, indeed probably too large for them to cope with, but the idea of the George Gigantic Pies was a rather good one. Unfortunately none of our group went for this option to take a photo of it, but looking at pictures on-line, it looks pretty impressive.

    20180909_181402

    Getting ready for the meal. One of the highlights of the evening, other than the rather unusually intellectual chat, was how Dave managed to introduce himself to nearly everyone in the pub. All that sociability would give me a headache, but Dave absolutely loves it.

    20180909_180753

    The pub is one of the most historic in the town.

    20180909_181344

    The inside of the pub was atmospheric and just a little dark, which suited the building’s historic nature.

    20180909_181241

    The Sneck Lifter, from the local Jenning’s Brewery (who also operate the pub) tasted well-kept and was of a good quality. It has a slight chocolately taste and it’s got a strong taste, although it does have an ABV of just over 5%.

    I had the fish and chips, which was reasonably priced given the location and the popularity of the pub. It was well presented, but the batter lacked any depth of taste, the mushy peas were generic and the chips were average. And there was no tartare sauce, or indeed black pepper, to try and add some flavour to the meal. But, I spend enough time writing about food, so I won’t drone on further. And I sound like Bev if I keep on with this criticising 🙂

    The pub environment was though really pleasant and the 1665 building has numerous little interesting areas. There was rooms to let, although I wonder if they’re haunted…

  • Lake District Week – Keswick Greggs

    Lake District Week – Keswick Greggs

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but I’ve reposted it to fix some broken image links]

    We’re climbing (well, walking up) Scafell Pike today, so I had a long think about where I could get the healthy and nutritious food I’d need to support such a walk. And then I thought of the place.

    20180910_075532

    Greggs. I haven’t been for ages (since Saturday) so this will be a little treat.

    20180910_075235

    They have a limited selection of baked goods in the morning, but they had a chicken bake, so all is well with the world (unfortunately that isn’t really true, but all is well with the geo-political situation in Keswick today).

    20180910_075238

    Cakes galore. The service was friendly, as I’d expect from Greggs, and it was surprisingly busy at before 08:00 in the morning (they’d opened at 06:30).

    20180910_080221

    A chicken pasta salad and a chicken bake for later, I’m now looking forwards to walking up this big hill.

  • Lake District Week – Ennerdale YHA

    Lake District Week – Ennerdale YHA

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix some broken image links]

    20180909_130905

    We weren’t staying at Ennerdale YHA, but there was some tempting signage which meant that we did have a little afternoon stop there. And it reminded me of the plan I’ve had for some time of hiring an entire youth hostel for a weekend on behalf of the Ramblers, especially since I’m a life member of the YHA.

    20180909_131343

    There were rather pleasant views of the river valley from the youth hostel’s main lounge area, with Steve taking the best seat. But, this was more than allowable as he shared his Haribo with us. And very lovely Haribo it was too.

    20180909_131037

    Dave taking charge with the menu options, and he then prepared us the hot drinks himself. He’s very domesticated. We stayed in the youth hostel for around 40 minutes, and it did mean we were able to pretty much dry off after the morning’s rain.

    Gordon also regaled the group with humorous tales from his life, with our favourites being about his hotel room and his steak in Budapest. He’s a born raconteur.

    20180909_130952

    Outside the youth hostel was this vicious bull. However, I was very quiet and sneaked by it, so all was well.

    20180909_131503

    Someone came into the youth hostel with a lovely border collie type dog, but unfortunately it kept moving too fast to take a photo of it which wasn’t blurred.

  • Lake District Week – Bulls in Field

    Lake District Week – Bulls in Field

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links]

    20180909_115521

    So there we were earlier, happily walking around a lake and then we find this. A rampaging bull charging towards us, risking our lives. I admit, it wasn’t actually a bull, but it was the same sort of size. And it wasn’t rampaging, although it could have done. And it wasn’t charging, but, it looked angry.

    20180909_115705

    I rushed off and just left people behind. I’m brave, but not stupid… I’m not letting these huge wild animals threaten me if I can avoid it…

  • Wrocław – National Museum in Wrocław (Locksmiths’ Guild Sign from 1750)

    Wrocław – National Museum in Wrocław (Locksmiths’ Guild Sign from 1750)

    20250318_131959

    This rather ornate shield is the sign of the locksmiths’ guild in Wrocław, dating back to something around 1750. It’s a hefty wooden piece which is divided neatly into compartments, each one proudly displaying the tools of the trade, namely keys, locks, hinges and other hardware that you’d hope a locksmith of the eighteenth century would know what to do with.

    Guilds were serious business in Wrocław (or Breslau as it was then) and they weren’t just trade associations, but social and political powerhouses. Signs like this were part branding, part authority, telling the world that this was a guild with standards and that they weren’t going to tolerate any sub-optimal locksmithing in their city. It’s functional and decorative, a former marker of belonging,

  • Lake District Week – How the Other Half Live

    Lake District Week – How the Other Half Live

    [I posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image link]

    I’m just waiting for the photos from today’s walk to upload, so in the mean-time I just wanted to note Gordon’s accommodation. He’s paying the most out of any of us, but as he noted this evening, “I’ve been diddled”.

    For some reason he has some protective covering on his single bed (the fact that it is a single bed has not pleased him) which meant that he didn’t get much sleep last night because of the heat. Or, to be precise, absolutely no sleep at all. He did though snatch a few minutes sleep in the car on the way to the walk, so he did get some rest for today’s walk.

    Gordon also planned ahead and acquired a sandwich container to put his sandwiches in. Just a slight problem that his hotel has refused to make him any.

    But, he has been very brave about the whole day. Despite his lack of sleep, he powered on like a trojan, letting nothing get him down. Other than the rain and the walk itself. And he now has earplugs, so I’m confident that he’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight.

    I’m writing this from my room with a lovely double bed, quiet environment and temperature control. But, as people who know me will admit, I’m the last person to comment on such things. But I’m eagerly awaiting news tomorrow morning of how he gets on tonight…..

  • Lake District Week – Keswick Market Square

    Lake District Week – Keswick Market Square

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image link]

    20180908_174825

    This is at the entrance to Keswick Market Square, how lovely.