We have seen beautiful places so far, and wonderful gardens with combinations of spring and summer blooms. The wind and rain hadn't removed all the blossom. Today promises to be warmer than anything so far and our route notes encourage us to enjoy the scenery. Most of today's climbing will be at the end of the day after we have done 50 miles. Time to get the cameras clicking, while we go slower.
The Mill at Condor Green is a place to consider for a midweek stay. I think they spoil us at the mid-point of the tour. I don't know what it would cost. We pay Peak Tours Ltd up front, three months ahead, and then everything except our lunchtime drinks, and eveningmeals is paid for. Why not a weekend at the Mill? Well there was a wedding party! So noise down below woke me at 2330. And I can turn my good ear to the pillow and hear nothing. My fellow travellers if light sleepers can struggle. Then at 0300 hrs, a knock on the door! Did the tour need a doctor? No: an older lady in her pyjamas, looked at me, and said "sorry, wrong door!", and wandered down the corridor to speak loudly to A N Other male in the next doorway.
So my sister and I enjoyed a superb dinner at a reasonable price in a lovely atmosphere overlooking a canal lock.
The conversation at breakfast was about the nocturnal lady visitor "in her cups" looking for her husband locked in one of the rooms in a worse state than her. On descending to our breakfast, it was our turn to disturb her as she was curled up on a sofa. She remained looking disoriented when we passed by to pack our bags.
Our journey took us out on a pleasant track beside the estuary. Today was a reminder of my wife, Sue's history in her teens. First we climbed through Carnforth where the Mother House of the Benedictine Nuns who ran the Convent School in Westcliffe on Sea. She had a good education, with long-lasting contacts maintained with some of the nuns. As we approached Keswick, we shared the narrow roads in Windermere with a marathon. Not a great combination. The next reminder of Sue's special events was Castlerigg, where she had special Christian Camps run by leaders back in Southend. As I got to know Sue back in 1975, i met several of these leaders and special friends from the Castlerigg camps. Today would have been a goog day for Sue to be in Carnforth on a retreat.
Meanwhile we continue going forward. We will cross the border at Gretna, and then expect the road surfaces to wreak havoc with our tyres. That's some reputation for the Scots to remedy. We have become connoiseurs of road surfaces on this holiday. Holiday? Yes, and it's good to be travelling with this group of 20 Peak Tour clients and the three leaders.
No comments:
Post a Comment