Wakeford’s Walks

You’ve heard of Wainwright’s Walks? Well, this week I did Wakeford’s Walks – somewhat similar, but in excellent company! Yep, a trip up to the Lakes to see my dear, long-standing friends, Sue and Rod – and what a wonderful, happy week it was!

The journey didn’t start well, though. I had booked a train trip, thinking I’d have a good relaxing time, reading my book for a few hours. Ha! Ha! Best laid plans and all that….. I trundled my heavy suitcase down the hill to Berkswell station; then trundled it back up again. Why? Because all trains for the rest of the day were either: cancelled/sold out/first class only @ £158.46/cancelled/sold out. So I hopped in the car instead.

We were lucky with the weather – very little rain, a few clouds and a little bit of sunshine saw us on all our wonderful walks. After I’d finally arrived on Monday and had a cuppa, we did a little tour of Selside. Across the fields and up to the church, where we had a natter with the neighbour, and then home again, at a run, as we dodged the shower plopping on our heads.

We went to Tarn Hows the next day, where I glorified in the views and Sue’s company. No rain, but a bit of a threat of it! Look at those clouds!

Near Skelwith Bridge, we enjoyed a lovely lunch at Chester’s Tea Shop (where I eyed up some mouth-watering jam doughnuts) and enjoyed a little walk to the bridge itself. On our way back, the siren call of the doughnuts was too much, so I persuaded Sue that she really did want one, and we tucked in wholeheartedly – not jam doughnuts, but lemon curd doughnuts. Delicious.

On Wednesday, we did the circuit of Rydal Water – up to an amazing cave, originally created from where they’d quarried slate, before stopping at a lovely café for lunch, then up over the top on the hill, and finally back to the car.

We had done over 13k steps and probably about 5 miles, but we didn’t stop there!!! We grabbed our swimming kit and walked the mile to Grasmere, where we dipped……. and, ooh, it was lovely.

I had been anxious about having a swim because it is over 18 months since I last did open water swimming. But honestly, Sue was marvellous. So patient and kind as I wittered on about how I didn’t know whether I’d manage it. However, we walked into the water slowly, and finally, I was up to my neck. Yay! I was off! We had a lovely gentle swim in very balmy water; and there was no shivering on the side, as we dried ourselves in the sun that was warming the rocks where we sat. Bliss.

Oh, my goodness, what a good time I had. Sue and Rod were the perfect hosts – great food, really good company and offering a very comfy bed. We chatted as if we’d never been apart; we puzzled over crosswords and sudokus; enjoyed TV programmes together, as well as the lovely walks. I can highly recommend a stay in the Lakes with the Wakefords!!

Once home, I put my feet up for an hour or two before I cracked on, once again, with family. This time, it was Thomas’s ‘Graduation Ceremony’ on Friday afternoon, as he left pre-school. So cute – so much so, that this photo won a prize! Cool, no?

Naturally, as it was the end of the school year, it was pastries all round for the Kenilworth Newbie boys on the way home from school. Yay! School’s out!

We were keen to all get together as best we could this weekend as well. Paul and Harriet are off to OZ to see Graham and Gail on Monday for a few weeks, so we thought maybe a barbecue? Saturday was agreed upon, despite the threat of rain and the fact that Andrew was still in Wales.

Spurred on by the swim on Wednesday, I toddled up to Warwick Uni for an early morning swim to set me up for the day, then grabbed all barbecue stuff ready for the hoards to descend. Oh, another bliss. How I love it when we’re together. The weather held and we all had fun. Can’t be bad, eh?