A stroll from Skelwith Bridge

Fresh snow on Langdale Pikes, but the valley paths were a quagmire.
At least there was a bit of shelter from the gales

Loughrigg Tarn its surface showing the effect of the wind

And so my outdoor year ends much as it began, a wild overcast day. Much of the year has been like that here in the Lakes, lets hope for rather better conditions in 2013.

RSF Boxing Day Walk

The old chimney on the foreshore at
Jenny Browns Point

As has become tradition the RSF (Offroad Cycling Touring Club) forsake their bikes on Boxing Day and go for a walk (without bikes!) We met at Eaves Wood in Silverdale and made a circuit of Haweswater calling at Leighton Moss for coffee and cake. We are cyclists after all. Refreshed, we made our way down to the shore towards Jenny Browns Point where we had lunch in a rather breezy spot near the old smelt chimney. The weather looked like it was turning as we made our way back to the cars via Woodwell and field paths to The Row and hence Eaves Wood. Arriving back just as the rain really got started. Nine of us had turned out, and walked a bit of turkey off in very pleasent company.

Merry Christmas

Sadly this was taken a couple of years ago. At least it'll remind us
that Winter can be crisp and cold rather than endless rain!
Merry Christmas to all who pass by!

Farleton Knott

An all to rare patch of blue sky

After a morning on the bike round Arnside and Silverdale I had an afternoon stroll from home on Farleton Knott. No matter how often I walk on the Knott I never tire of the expansive views, todays dominated by the mosses resembling a lake. There's always a new track to follow and nooks to explore.

South from the true summit

RSF ride to Dandra Garth

The Three Amigo's! 

Todays ride started at the Duo Cafe in Sedbergh, five of us set off with our new leader for the day Ian. We rode a short way along the Garsdale road before turning left to cross the Clough river near Farfield Mill, minor lanes led us, (after a bit of indecision!) onto the first bit of "roughstuff" at Dovecote Gill. The ground was very wet leading to a lot of pushing.

Pushing up from Dovecote Gill

As the track levelled out we were able to ride a bit more, before descending to the main road in the valley bottom. Rapid progress was made eastwards up Garsdale to the start of the track at Dandra Garth.

Pushing up Dandra Garth

This track is very steep, and wet, and overgrown! Basically a push!! The top always arrives eventually, and Dandra Garth was no exception, and its marshy, very marshy! Fortunately for us some of the worst bits have been bridged.

Even the top was a push!

The walled track down to Cowgill in Dentdale was a push to start but soon became ridable, however pride becomes before a fall, and it wasn't long before an over-the-handlebar moment occcured. With my catlike reactions I was back on my feet instantly, mainly because I was getting bloody wet! A quick lunch stop before we completed the descent, the minor road on the south side of Dentdale brought us into dent village and our afternoon cake stop. Cake and coffee/tea consumed we rode back to Sedbergh on the road the short daylight hours curtailing our activities. So the verdict on our leader for the day......Well, Ian did a good job I knew from previous experience that Dandra Garth would be a tough track especially for those like myself on road tyres.

Sandside

Another all to short Winters day

After an early finish from the stroll over Hampsfell earlier in the day, I made the detour on the way home to catch the sunset over the Kent estuary. There had been a very high tide earlier in the day, but now the mudflats were glistening as the sun went down. The waders were taking advantage of the soft mud, all the farmland has been frozen this week.

Hampsfell

Limestone pavement on Hampsfell

What should have been a short stroll along Hampsfell above Grange-over-Sands, turned into us versus the bitter East wind. The lack of altitude didn't make any difference, it was all I could do to use the camera before my hands chilled. I must be getting soft! Sadly the haze meant the Lakes hills weren't seen at their best.

A few berries still left for the birds.