And, we’re back! We had a splendid four days in the Lake District where the weather was excellent, the scenery was spectacular and the company was passable.
After we waved good-bye to our visitors last weekend, Ms Penelope and I scampered around the house trying to locate all our camping gear – we were due to set off on Monday morning and there was much to find. Fortunately, we found most things – the only thing we “forgot” I think was the ground sheet for the new drive-away awning which we had located in the cellar but then I left it on the garden bench instead of taking it with us. Oh well, if that’s the worst mistake we made . . .
After a long drive (five hours with which Daisy was not overly impressed), we pitched up at the Coniston Park Coppice campsite on the edge of Coniston Water. Of possible interest to my immediate family and others, perhaps – the lakes in the Lake District were formed during the ice age when glaciers gouged their way across the landscape. It’s remarkable how similar in appearance Coniston Water (and many of the other lakes) are to Lake George, that touch of paradise in upstate New York.
The campsite was fine and the facilities were very good – splendidly hot and forceful showers. It’s set amongst trees and although it’s a very large campsite, it was probably only about a third to a half full and you certainly didn’t feel over-looked or crowded. My only criticism, it’s a Caravan & Motorhome campsite and so the pitches were all hard-standing. Fine for parking the campervan, less perfect for pitching the awning but it all worked out. As we get more practiced, I reckon we can reduce the time taken to erect the awning to less than four hours.
As it happened, one of our lovely set of neighbours were also in the Lake District with their son and daughter and we were able to meet up with them and to tap into their expertise – Lesley grew up in the area and they spend a lot of time here. Great to have a local’s advice on places to go, things to see and, most importantly, places to eat.
Some of the least bad photos (not all of which are mine):
A couple of really quick YCNMIU moments this week. Firstly, we were “devastated” to witness the resignation of Dominic Rabb, the former Foreign Secretary, Justice Minister & Deputy Prime Minister who was forced to resign after being found guilty of bullying civil service staff in each of the various departments he has headed up. Charmless to the end he blamed the “activist” civil service who conspired to bring him down. So, that’s why you are a bully whose behaviour is inappropriate in just about any walk of life? Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Secondly, we had to laugh at the description used to describe the explosion of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket the other day.
A Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly. In other words, it exploded.
Meanwhile, keep happy, keep smiling, be careful, wear a f**king facemask in crowded places and keep your distance. And keep safe. And be gentle to wasps and bees.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg