Survival bag sledging during a quiet weekend.

Friday 21^st February.

Dog walk. Early morning swim. Shower.

Work.

Drove to Dad’s after work.

Tried to remember why we were going to Dad’s at all. Couldn’t.

Drove past mountain summits covered with snow realised those are the reason.

Got there at about 4pm. Still light.

Went to Crummock with Dad’s dogs and Callie. Ended up at The Kirkstile.

Had to walk back to the car in the deepening gloom. Dad phoned to ask where we were. He sounded panicked. Ha ha ha. Asked us to bring in Fish Supper for tea. Cheeky bugger.

Planned Saturday excursion if weather good. Sledging. Somewhere over Ennerdale way.

Hit charp at about 11pm completely whacked.

Saturday 22^nd February.

Louisa woke us all with the smell of frying bacon. Mmmmm….. We had obviously been pretty tired as it was coming up to 8am when I stirred from the pit. The usually sound sleeper Laura was already up and in the shower! That is a first really. I am normally the one leaving her asleep in bed.

The bacon devoured, the fell forecast wasn’t promising for snow. With most levels under 600 metres probably being clear. We knew that north facing slopes tend to keep more of their white stuff and in the places where there are gullies the snow lingers longest.

The drive to Ennerdale was not promising, cloudy on the tops and very little snow left too. Still the plan was to clamber up Herdus and see what was available near Floutern tarn and that area. This proved to be a winner. There was a good amount in the northern slope gullies making brilliant survival bag sledging runs. The downside is Dad’s daft dog who tries to get on the survival bag with you. You set of at a run, throw yourself down on the flimsy orange plastic and instead of whooshing at breakneck speed down the gully a bloody chocolate labrador lands on your back and tries to steal your hat!

What was funny at first proved to be tedious in the extreme after a while and we had to take it in turns to be the dog warden but only for the silliest of Dad’s dogs. Mine was fine and the other two of his were very well behaved, too. It was just Moss who decided that joining you on the bag looked like great fun. Where the hell she picked up the idea of snatching your hat from head I’ve no idea.

In the end we attracted a crowd, which for the top of Mosedale is saying something. A couple of younger types (OK they were about my age) decided they would give it a go too.

Feeling suitably sledged out we trooped back down to the Ennerdale Wood car park and scooted to the Shepherd’s Arms Inn at Ennerdale Bridge for lunch. Dad’s treat! We only just made it in time, last food orders were at 2pm and we strolled in at 1.50! Phew.

After lunch we hit Cockermouth and had a stroll round the town, giving the dogs a good wash in the River Cocker at Harris Park. I spend an age in the Linden Tree and was almost forcibly dragged out by an impatient parent! There is always a really nice feel about Cockermouth; it is a civilised place. You get the opposite feel from places like Workington for example. I guess it is the lack of large chain type shops and the plethora of artisan food places and eateries. If I ever relocated, here would be really nice, but so too would Arran, and Lindisfarne, and Barnstaple and…. My list gets bigger and bigger.

The pups dried and snoring in front of Dad’s log burner we had a long sit and proper chat about the caravan on Arran. I am so looking forward to going to stay but that looks like it won’t be until the end of our current semester. Dad is planning a couple of weekend sorties, but leaving his car at Ardrossan and using the bus service on the island. The saving in Ferry costs is huge. We even discussed whether buying a cheap 2^nd hand car to leave permanently at the site would be a feasible idea. It was hit on the head by some serious mathematical input from a slender blonde mathematician who was snuggled up next to me.

The difference in savings on the ferry crossing, according to her, was only going to make a difference if we got the car for free or stole it! Even buying a cheap one, it would still take us years and years to recoup the cost of the car from the ferry savings. I am always stunned when she sits there and recounts a hugely complicated set of figures, which she has calculated in her head, to prove an argument.

We searched the net for a suitable table and chair set for the deck and came up with a round table and matching chairs by Guardman. It is a bit more expensive than the usual but it has a long warranty and looks comfy. Plus, the reviews on the website were universally good or excellent! It was wonderful to think that we’ll be away in our own place on the island in a few weeks’ time. I just can’t wait.

Another relatively early night tonight. It is obviously all the fresh air and exercise doing us in.

Sunday 23^rd February.

Up at the normal time today. (That means very early.) I had walked the dogs up Tallentire Hill and back before 8am. As we were setting off for home after lunch I decided get up and get on with the meal prep. Everything was set to go by 9am apart from the meat (leg of lamb, which didn’t need putting out until about 10am).

I refrained from cooking up a fried breakfast for the simple reason there was no bacon left. We must have wolfed the lot yesterday! I did a series of eggy baps smothered in Tomato sauce and Mayo for me and Loll then Louisa wandered in and she had two, finally the Aged Parent strolled down so I did two more.

We went up to Silloth to walk the dogs along the prom and then across the green. We bought some tea / coffee to go from the local shop and took it up to the pagoda, where Laura and I had chips last month. It was surprisingly fine and clear and we were able to point out all the Scottish points of interest to Louisa. She has never been round that side of the Solway [neither has Laura] so we planned a trip around to Rockcliffe when we are next up at Dad’s

We had put the lamb into the oven before we zoomed off so we made steady progress back along the B5300 looking for signs of storm damage. There was much less than we had expected; it was mainly sand all over the place really.

After lunch Laura and I cried off any further activity and after our meal had settled,  I drove us both back to Sunny Sheff. It was sunny too.  

It was only as we were nearing home I realised Dad still hadn’t given me the surprise from Australia! I am going as doolali as him. Obviously it is nothing perishable or he’d have given it to me already [like he did with the four multi-pack bags of Cherry Ripe – I do love him really].

I wonder how long it will be before we go survival bag sledging again?