Fond Farewells

Our arrival in Carlisle might have signified the end of our walk but it wasn't quite the end of our holiday.

We all piled into a taxi and returned to our favourite B & B in Keswick where we had left our cars and already spent 2 nights. This was Seven Oaks B & B which we would happily recommend to anyone.

We had a great night out on the town celebrating the completion of the Cumbria Way and the fact that we were all glowing with good health having spent so long walking in the fresh air.


The next morning there was time to linger over our last cooked breakfast, and Linda at Seven Oaks does cook a particularly fine one. Then it was time to perform an important and enjoyable mission. This was a shopping trip. We all love outdoor shops and think Keswick has the finest selection of outdoor shops anywhere in the U.K.

After replenishing our supplies, it was time for me (George), Yorkie & Wooly to say goodbye to Isaiah and Dale, as they were staying on in Keswick until the next day, but we had to return back to Norfolk that afternoon.

Not only did we have to say fond farewells to our Suffolk branch brothers, we also had to say goodbye to a new friend.


This was Bruno, the Derwent Bay Bear who lives outside Seven Oaks. He has become such a good friend that we will be keeping in touch, and we definitely hope to stay at Seven Oaks again and spend more time with him.

Then it was into the bear mobile for the long drive home. We hope you've enjoyed reading about our Cumbria Way walk. Sadly there aren't any more holidays in the pipeline but there will lots of home news to share with you, so keep reading.

Lots of love George, Yorkie, Wooly, Isaiah & Dale xxx

Suffering from an Attack of Wind!

It's amazing what a Chinese meal, some fine ale in the Keswick Dog & Gun and a good night's sleep can do. We set out the next day, not quite with a spring in our step, but with renewed enthusiasm for stage 4 of our walk which was to take us from Keswick over to Caldbeck.

The first few miles were pleasant walking on a gently undulating path above the Glenderaterra Beck with craggy fells rising above us. Wooly told us this was excellent sheep grazing territory and proved that sheep had been in these parts for more years than anyone could possibly remember by pointing out to us some old stone sheepfolds.


The one on which he was standing was very large. We all admired the craftsmanship of the construction and the perfect round shape. As the wind was beginning to get up we could also appreciate the shelter that such sheepfolds could provide.

After lunch the good path disappeared as we climbed up to an old shooting hut, Lingy hut, which we could see on the skyline as we set off, but disappeared out of sight just when we needed it for navigation. Our guide book said the climb up Gainsgill beck is a lovely climb even though the path is indistinct and boggy in places. We have to disagree, it was boggy and indistinct all the way and it certainly wasn't lovely!

After Lingy hut we climbed to the top of High Pike. By now the wind had got so strong we couldn't stay upright and had to rope and carabiner ourselves to our minders who had a bit more bulk to keep them on the ground.

Unfortunately our picture of us at the top of high Pike is a little bear (sorry bare) as we couldn't stay on top of the trig point long enough for a picture to be taken.


Unfortunately the buffeting winds meant we couldn't get a good look at the map and we went a bit astray on the descent. Fortunately our GPS's put us right but we had to walk an extra mile or so to get back on course for Caldbeck which we weren't too chuffed about. We must find out who is responsible for waymarking the Cumbria Way, and write to them, as there was a distinct lack of waymarks when they were desperately needed. When the path was obvious there were plenty about. It definitely seemed that they only appeared in places easily accessible by car!

Anyway, rant of the day now over, we reached Caldbeck without any further problems and enjoyed a very pleasant evening in the Oddfellows Arms. We thoroughly recommed its food and excellent Jennings beer.

Lots of love Wooly, Yorkie, Dale, George & Isaiah xxx

The Fittest Survive (that's all of us!)

As we told you yesterday, we were able to bound down the descent into the Langstrath Valley a lot faster than our minders. We therefore had plenty of time to stand beside some of those rain swollen becks, becoming mesmerised by the power of all that water. This was nature at its most awesome and some of these spontaneous waterfalls seemed a lot more impressive than some of the waterfalls that have become tourist sites e.g. Colwith force that we'd seen on the previous day.


The downside of the rain swollen streams and all that white water, was that on the occasions when we needed to cross them, what might normally be a simple crossing, became very tricky and several times we had to spend several minutes looking for a safe place to cross.

At the bottom of the descent, we were pleased to find that there was a substantial bridge across a real torrent of foaming water. While we waited for our minders to join us, we took advantage of the bridge to enjoy the world's fastest game of pooh sticks.


Wooly was acting as our line judge, but even with his sharp eyes, that water was moving just too fast for him to be able to tell whose pooh stick was through first.

It was a beautiful walk out to the head of Borrowdale, and when we reached Rosthwaite, a mile further on, shortly before 4.00 p.m. we thought we must be close to journey's end (for that day). We gave a collective gulp when the holder of the map and guide told us we had only covered half that day's distance and we still had 8 miles to go! We therefore took on energy boosting refreshment of sugary drinks and chocolate bars.

Fortunately the remaining miles were rather easier walking, much of it being along the shore of Derwentwater. The miles seemed long, but the going was faster. In the Manesty woods we found a lovely sculpture of a pair of hands.


It provided a very comfortable place for a few minutes rest before the final push into Keswick. We all had very sore paws/hooves as we hobbled into Keswick after a very long day. But what a walk we'd had: there's a lot of truth in that saying 'no pain. no gain' and when you've got a very comfortable B & B awaiting you, and a comfortable pair of Crocs to slip in to, the pain is soon forgotten.

Lots of love George, Yorkie, Isaiah, Dale & Wooly xxx