Long Needed Lake District Outing - semblance of normal life returns....

We seem to be experiencing a life as we knew it again.... A walk on the beach with a good friend from Northumberland - a long overdue get together and in spite of lock down limitations we still seem to have plenty to chat on about... then visitors (in the garden) at the weekend and then a day out in the van.. 

It was very glorious to get up silly early (for us) with the sunrise - have our marmite toast and then head across country and be parked up in a little layby by 9.00 to have a rambling wander along the valley near Ullswater.  The weather was completely amazing - you just don't get many days like this in the Lake district and we were glad we had made the effort to make the most of it.  There were few people about - to be honest we didn't expect to see any one but we did come across a couple of other walkers. The fields were full of lambs pronking and the grass was full of wildflowers.  We meandered along the valley path for about an hour and then made camp and ate our picnic - it was only about 10.30 but we really aren't used to early mornings so it seemed a good ideas at the time.   Then Dr Fred took off up the hillside to play on esoteric crags and I sprawled out by the stream and started painting.  I'm not a landscape painter but can never resist trying to capture where we are - they never work so well.. I'm fine with this I know my limitations and I don't really mind - I enjoy the process and its good practice for drawing what I see and getting some perspective into my art work.  but as always I resort to my continuous line studies of close up rocks and stones and what ever is lying about - I have so many drawings of my shoes its beginning to be a collection!!!  I also like stone bridges and there was one a little way back so I toyed with the idea of going back and finding it to sketch but to be honest it was so nice to be lying in the sun by a babbling stream with only birdsong and a few sheep for company I just basked in the sun doodling and reading my kindle.  

There was a slight breeze but nothing uncomfortable and it was really refreshing to sit there under the big sky surrounded by amazing hills and a completely blue sky!!   Its amazing what a day out away from home can do - I love the beach walks and catching up with friends but there was something very pleasant about the solitude and isolation that was very uplifting.  

I had arranged to meet Dr Fred at the other end of the ridge after a couple of hours and suddenly the time had gone - no time to go and sketch the bridge and I had to scurry about to gather up my belongings -  I cant believe how much a rucksack - now empty of picnic and few drawing supplies and a kindle can spread out - I gathered it up and set off down the valley.  I couldn't help but notice just how absolutely quiet it was - I stood there and the silence was only broken be an odd bit of bird song - there were three buzzards surfing the thermals or what ever buzzards do really high up and it was a passing satisfying moment of peace.... now, lets not pretend I like peace and quiet my nature is for company and goodness knows we have been lacking that over the last months but being on a hillside at one with nature was a nice feeling - knowing we had already eaten out lunch didn't sit so nicely so as I wandered lonely as a cloud back to civilisation I was making a plan for a pub lunch outside somewhere.... 

I met Dr Fred as planned and we headed back the the van.  The layby was on a fairly busy road so we turned around and went to look for a quieter spot on the lake for a cuppa and to plan the rest of the day.  as we drove back toward the body of the lake we realised other people were taking advantage of the latest lockdown release and the sunshine - it was beginning to look busy!! We found space in a parking spot and made a drink and took it down to sit by the lake.  There were loads of people about - I have to say Dr Fred is very good at getting us off the beaten track but not this time -  the lake was busy with steamers and kayakers and even a dog taking its owner out on paddle board. But it was pleasant enough and we did the obligatory skimming and throwing stones in the lake - its amazing the lake doesn't fill up... and then we thought Pooley Bridge for lunch - got to Pooley Bridge and it looked like a midsummer take over - full of people - nowhere to park so we carried on and ended up having a very nice pub lunch outside some where in Shap -  it was a large beer garden so we were able to distance ourselves from the funeral party (the only reason they were serving food that day) - All good and all very enjoyable, - next time we will stay out overnight in the van - camping allowed - and subject to availability of sites - not easy at the moment but will improve as everyone gets used to freedom and restrictions lessen.  These few days have just illustrated the lessons of what we take for granted - meeting friends, day trips, the different spaces we are lucky enough to visit, pub lunches and beautiful scenery - Today I 'm continuing this 'living a life' experience by hitting the charity shops for reading material - I'm in desperate need and have really missed this element of shopping over the last months - I'm hoping for treasures.