It's Ed and Gerda's final week of their holiday and the weather is still fabulous. Having conquered their first mountain last time we walked together, they are keen to do another. One of the best local walks to take visitors has to be this one.
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| As usual we parked at Parkgate, crossed Aira beck and headed for the hills. As usual Breeze and Donna Summer were out in front! |
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| Breeze has been giving her feet a fair hammering just lately and although they are well healed, they are unlikely to have hardened off sufficiently to stand a walk such as this, It's fairly hard going most of the way, so she's got two boots on today. |
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| It's hot work this morning. Abbygail keeps close to the humans while the other two entertain themselves |
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| Such an amazing day. It's been fab all week but this is 1st October for godness sake |
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| Ed and Gerda with Donna (left) and Abbygail on the summit of Gowbarrow! That's Little Mell Fel behind them where Breeze and I were yesterday. |
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| Family portrait |
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| From the summit we dropped down to the shooting lodge and then made our way round the terraced path. Breeze waits (for a change) for the others who are just appearing round the corner (middle of picture) |
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| Lunch with a view |
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| Donna finds a heather pillow for a lunchtime power nap |
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| We had heard the Ullswater hunt and spotted them in the distance while we were having lunch, suddenly we were joined by a stray hound! She quickly heard the horn blow and made her way down to the rest of them over in Swinburn's Park |
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| Then we walked on to the Memorial seat. Breeze never misses a photo opportunity! |
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| Breeze and Abby sharing a tender moment on the bench! |
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| Abbygail |
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| This had to be one of my favourite views |
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| The dogs cool down at the bottom of Aira Force before we make our way up past the falls |
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| Before the short walk back across the field to the cars |
What an amazing day. 5.4 miles and it was hot, hot, hot! Hard work for people who spend 49 weeks of the year in Holland on the level!
Once home we had some really sad news. One of our friends tragically passed away in the early hours of the morning. She was my age, fit and health and lived locally in the most beautiful place on earth. One of our regular Wednesday Night crowd, Anne appeared on this Blog a couple of years ago when we did a short walk together with her and her beloved dog Splodge. That walk is
here if you care to look. A tragic waste of life.
