Wildlife in July (and a few other pictures)

For quite some time we have had 3 adult Hedgehog's visiting the garden regularly. More recently we have also had one bringing her Hoglet with her. Meet Mrs Piggywinkle and Junior. They come every night at the moment, before dusk.

I hate domestic cats. We have quite a few who visit our garden and this is one of them. This picture is not taken in our garden, but it is just up the road and we know we have weasels at home. Or at least we did have.

July is a busy month for us with Skelton show taking up a lot of time in the first week. Breeze enjoys the days spent setting it up

Bertie and Dougal were both quite smitten

One morning I was on yard Duties - Pod seemed to think I was a bit early

But so did Socks!

Lazy pair

And one more of Breeze and her admirers at the show field

High Pike After A Haircut

We've been to Caldbeck for a haircut and we are heading onto the hills but our initial plan changes due to a road closure! So for a change we head off from Nether Row

The drought is playing havoc with Breeze's paws. All dry underfoot = too much friction. Her paw is OK but it is just showing signs of wear so the boot is preventative.

Pausing for breath. It's a warm day

and we're carrying enough water for all of us.

Reaching the top of High Pike. Breeze recognises the restaurant; that's where we like to go for our Christmas lunch.

High Pike Summit

Leaving the summit off path we are aiming to pick up Clints Gill

The Heather is just starting to bloom. It smells lovely

Just in front of me at this point is a sheepfold. As it came into view it reminded me of our friend David, who has a bit of a thing for sheepfolds. David used to run a website which was an amazing resource for information on walks in the Lakes. I was quietly thinking to myself "I wonder how David and Jennifer are? I really miss his website" when Jeff piped up with "Has David ever got his website going again?". Great minds think alike!

Posing Wheatear

Posing Family

Dale Beck and a spaniel (who has just spotted a dipper but I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of it)

Two boots by now - again precautionary

Heading back to Nether Row

So not entirely the walk we had planned, but such familiar territory it is so lovely to be able to just make it up as you go along. 7 miles all told.

High Rigg after a change of plan

So the idea today was to walk on The Dodds. They are always wet through, but after 3 months of drought (hosepipe ban has been announced in the last few days) it's a perfect time to go up there. An appointment in Caldbeck first thing led to an unscheduled one in Keswick immediately after

So while Jeff is at his appontment in Keswick, Breeze and I wander around Fitz Park.

 We were all ready for a walk. Pasties packed, drink, boots, camera and all the other gear, but now we had lost the first couple of hours and the day was getting warmer. Not the time to be starting out onto a fairly big range of fells. Particularly not with a dog. A last minute change of route took us to St John in the Vale to walk up and over High Rigg instead. It is a walk that Jay and I did not very long ago, but Jeff wasn't with us then and it is such a lovely walk it wouldn't matter if we did it every week.

Fitz park is lovely, but this is much more Breeze's terrain

Away we go

Pretty much on top of High Rigg, though not the summit

Its a lumpy bumpy fell that stretches quite a way ahead. That's Thirlmere at the far end

One of the reasons we ended up doing this walk is the accessibility of water

Bog Bean Tarn with Blencathra in the far background

Resting at lunchtime

Our lunchtime view

Mummy's Little Princess

Looking back at High Rigg

Cooling down in St John's Beck

Following the bridleway through the valley

Clough Head

Nearly back at the car

About 5 miles, very hot at times but a lovely breeze on the top (two lovely Breezes!). Not what we had expected to do today, but in hindsight, a much more interesting walk and it ended up being hotter than forecast, so we were glad to have done a smaller walk.

Silloth in the Sunshine

Too hot for the fells and there is Blue Green Algae around, so it's a seaside day. Usual place, usual photo's except this time I went in the water too..... up to my knees!