HOME | LAST 100 POSTS | CONTACT ME

Blog

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!

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….

September 17, 2025
Lake District Week – Ennerdale Lake

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

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”.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

What balance!

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

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

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.

I have no comment.

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

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.

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….

September 17, 2025
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….]

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

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.

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.

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

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

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…

September 16, 2025
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.

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

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).

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).

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

September 16, 2025
Lake District Week – Ennerdale YHA

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

September 16, 2025
Lake District Week – Bulls in Field

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

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.

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…

September 16, 2025
Wrocław – National Museum in Wrocław (Locksmiths’ Guild Sign from 1750)

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,

September 15, 2025
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…..

September 15, 2025
Lake District Week – Keswick Market Square

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

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

September 15, 2025
Lake District Week – The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas (Keswick Wetherspoons)

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

Last time I was in Keswick, this Wetherspoons was just about to open. Indeed it opened the day after we left, which wasn’t the greatest timing…. But the building is of historic interest itself, a primarily Victorian court-room (well, 1901, but near enough) and police station, with attached cells. The judicial complex of buildings was built on the site of the town’s former workhouse, so it’s had a rather miserable existence in many ways. It’s now a substantial pub and it presented an ideal place for us to visit on our first night in Keswick.

Initially it was just Steve and I at the pub. There’s a back story to that, but it involves Gordon and Maggie saying they were in Wetherspoons and then not actually being in Wetherspoons, they were standing outside Steve’s accommodation. So, since it was just Steve and I, I thought I’d buy a round. But just in time, and much to my irritation, Gordon and Maggie turn up at the bar, hence making my round more expensive. But I didn’t complain. Well, not audibly. Anyway, I digress….

Steve and Gordon doing some head shots in one of the former cells.

The former cell, and we had someone turn up later on who said that he spent a night in the cell in the early 1980s. I’m not sure that he was joking….

This reminded us of someone….

Now, this was good, a nice rich flavour.

Sarah, Steve M and Dave were arriving a bit later on, and I absolutely insisted that we wait until they got there until we ordered food. But Dave said we should order. So I did. But I only had a little starter, as I’m not greedy.

The former court room.

How lovely.

Gordon ordered the most expensive thing on the menu….

The door to our little cell….

The group altogether! And there was a wave of gossip when Steve M, Dave and Sarah arrived. I must admit, their car journey sounds extreme, they were talking about all manner of subjects that I can’t possibly repeat on this blog…..

I was keen to visit this pub given the building’s history, and the potential to take photos of the cell, but I think we’ll try the other local pubs and restaurants for the rest of the week.

September 15, 2025