Roughton Gill

Off for our 'Weekly' (well that's the vague plan anyway) walk, and with wind gusts of 40 odd mph, we decided to leave the fell tops to the idiots and head for one of our favourite local spots, where in just under 6 miles you can wander up the valley

 to the mine workings at the head of the valley known as Roughton Gill.

 Where, after a brief stop for a spot of sustenance and to admire the route we have just taken, we head back down, albeit on a slightly higher path.

Not a soul in sight. Just how we like it.

Achieving The Impossible?

At the tender age of 45, I still haven't quite mastered the art of biting my tongue. Looks like Breeze is a quicker learner than me!

The Hot Tub Arrives

I know I've always said that we want our garden to blend into the local environment, so we don't want man made structures an unnatural additions, but sometimes a little bit of luxury makes even the most determined minds sway. So after a bit of a wait, our new 'hot tub' has arrived. This is a real Cumbrian hot tub.

(picture taken yesterday during a hail storm!)

Someone didn't take much persuading to give it a try...................

                                      and had a great time, jumping in and out all afternoon, splashing about, generally having fun

 So now after the daily walk when this is a dry day............

 we can end up with a nice clean spaniel. She's so pleased with her new bath, she's brought us some treasure in to say thank you (that's leaves to you and me but she thinks they are treasure).

Hot tub kindly donated by J&G - it had been in one of their fields since the previous owner used it as a water trough (allegedly). Delivery courtesy of Andrew, once his loader tractor was repaired, hence the delay!

Souther Fell

In an effort to keep up the momentum of doing a bit more 'proper' walking, we had decided to head up Souther (pronounced Sooter) Fell today. Another which is very close to home and always nearly deserted. It's also always wet underfoot, and today turned out to be pretty Breezey on top too. Breezey enough to knock us nearly off our feet.

 I have neither the patience nor the gear to be a good photographer, but faced with 100mph Breeze - both dog and wind - all I ever seem to manage these days are a white dot on the landscape.

 It wasn't really photo weather anyhow, fairly damp in low cloud and drizzle, but wonderful to be out all the same.

 Breeze is certainly getting the hang of Fell Walking, although she's more of a Fell Runner than Walker. Perhaps I should enter her for a few of the fell races this summer?

 Did I mention it was Breezey today?

Oooops!

The forecast was for strong winds. They were right, gusts of over 40mph overnight, power cables down causing a power cut through the night (not unusual here mind!). Waking up to find this was the only damage was a pleasant suprise. This is one heavy bird table and it has never moved before.I bet that gave the frogs a fright.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Happy Birthday Breeze. 1 year old today.

 By way of celebration we thought we'd give her the chance to get very wet for a change. After a month of dry weather, she was ready for a good soaking, and true to form, she was wet through within minutes. A quick pose on the way up to Bowscale Tarn - just to prove that when asked to, she does sit still.

 And again - posing for the camera and sitting still. She's learnt a lot in her first year!

 Mostly though it's full speed ahead, well all the time unless told otherwise.

 All this space to charge around in, and snow to play in as well. What more could a pup ask for on her birthday?

 How about a tarn to paddle in, Bowscale Tarn in fact.

 A quick dip

 And off she goes again, down the other side of the fell, and if you look closely at the slopes of Carrock Fell opposite, you will see a change in colour - that's a rainbow in the valley below us.

The First of Many?

Working on the 5 minutes per month rule, we have been careful with how much exercise Breeze is given. As everything she does is at 100 mph, it would be very easy to just keep going and pay for it in years to come. Consequently all of her 'fell' walks to date have been on the slopes only.

That was the intention today, but as she is nearly 12 months, we decided part way up High Pike, that the summit seemed like a good idea.

So, her she is celebrating her first summit with her Dad. It was bitterly cold, but who cares? It's no good living in Cumbria if you don't like weather, and you can put money on it, if the sun had been on the top, so would a few more people.