Keswick
March 9th to 12th
Keswick
Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club Site
Crow Park Road, Keswick CA12 5EP
9th March
The drive over the Pennines on the
A66 was not a windy as we had feared (I had thought the road could be closed to high
sided vehicles at one time) and it was quite bright when we arrived.
Booked in, got my club card stamped
to prove I am over 55, only been 55 for four days though (I had forgot my new
card so will have to do it all over again next site) for discount of site fees
(don't know how much off though). Was offered a pitch in the back field
for more protection from the weather but we wanted a lake view, so opted for the
view instead. As I said earlier the site was fully booked, so why by late
afternoon were there at least seven hardstanding pitches within sight of our van?
Got set up (sat and stuff), had our
prepared Sunday dinner and watched Boro in the FA Cup, what a waste of an
afternoon, we got beat by Cardiff 0 - 2 no Wembley for us again this year.
Totally dejected, we set off for a walk into town, it had been an early game and
we reckoned that some of the shops would still be open. We had half an
hour shopping and an hour in the Oddfellows Arms on the high street with some
Jennings bitter, Dot had a glass of wine. Then it was back to the van
before the forecasted storm, the sat dish had blown over (I had took the pegs
out of the van for some reason so it was not pegged down) so I but some large
stones on the legs to hold it down.
10th March
The wind during the night was quite
bad but we didn't blow over, nor did anyone else and there were tents on site, the heavy rain had made it sound a
worse than I think it actually was. There was snow on the hills that
wasn't there when we went to bed, the lake was very high and the ground was very
waterlogged, I think it was too wet for the ducks. The sat didn't work but
it hadn't blown over it just needed a slight tweak to get it back on, they were
big stones I held it down with.
We were due to meet up with friends
Trev and Pat but that all depended on the weather, we all have mobiles (cell
phones) to keep in touch, so me and Dot set off for a walk to the lake and we would get together
in town if and when they arrived.
We walked along the lake past the theatre to Friars Crag, for a look at the view, then headed back into town for something to eat and have a look round the shops, for Dot to spend her birthday money (did I mention it was Dot's birthday).
We walked along the lake past the theatre to Friars Crag, for a look at the view, then headed back into town for something to eat and have a look round the shops, for Dot to spend her birthday money (did I mention it was Dot's birthday).
Back in town just as we started looking in the shops, Trev
phoned to say they were here and that would meet us by the Moot Hall in five
mins. We met up and decided we all needed something to eat, so set off to
look for a cafe or tearoom for a snack (we would not chance going in a pub, it
was too early). To cut a long story short we ended up in a Thai restaurant
and all had BLTs. Afterwards we all had a stroll back down to the lake fed
the ducks and spent the rest of the afternoon there before having tea and
coffees in the theatre cafe.
it was back to the shops to see if Dot could spend her birthday money, she had spotted a jacket the day before and luckily there was one in her size. Also the day before Dot had picked out some green amber earrings but the shop had been closed, today was no different it still wasn't open. Then we headed back to the van to get ready for a night out.
We met back up Trev and Pat in the bar of their hotel, as they
hadn't had to walk far to get ready they were already one drink ahead of us.
We had a couple of beers there (Thwaites,
Lancaster Bomber and a
Hartleys, Cumbria Way), before moving on to another couple of pubs
just off the high street, Trev and me had a
Robinsons, Double Hop in one and a Theakstons XB in the other.
By now
we were very hungry and as it was Dot's birthday we let her choose what we were
going to do. We had discussed whether we should have, Indian, Chinese,
Italian, Thai but in the end, Dot had seen leg of lamb with all the trimmings on
the specials board in the hotel, so English it was.
The food was excellent Dot and Trev had the lamb (it was
massive) Pat and me had pie (I think), we washed it all down with a
couple more pints this time
Thwaites, Original, all very nice, good choice Dot.
The walk back to the van was very cold and windy.
11th March
As the weather was poor (cold and damp), Trev offered to take us
all out for a run in his car, he suggested we head over Honister Pass, passed
Buttermere and Crummock Water, then back to Keswick via Whinlatter Pass.
It sounded good, so that's what we did, I asked if we could stop if we passed
any interesting bridges, so as I could get some photos, everyone agreed, as long
as it was only me that had to get out of the car, it was cold.
At the bottom end of Derwent water, Trev remembered an old
packhorse bridge up in the hills, Ashness Bridge, and set off up the tiniest road to find it.
When we got there it was only just wide enough for the car to get over, while
Trev turned the car I jumped out for some photos. The view back over
Derwent Water is magnificent from the area of the bridge but I would recommend
you do a walk that includes the bridge, rather than driving up.
The next stop on our trip was for the twin bridges over the river Derwent at Grange, again I was allowed to hop out on my own, then on to the pass itself.
The next stop on our trip was for the twin bridges over the river Derwent at Grange, again I was allowed to hop out on my own, then on to the pass itself.
On the other side of the pass we drove along the side of lake
Buttermere, through Buttermere and on passed Crummock Water. As we set of
through Whinlatter Pass I spotted another old bridge (Scawgill Bridge over Spout
Force) and Trev stopped to let me out in the rain (the others think that I am
mad). By this time we needed sustenance and luckily we were very near the
visitor centre at Whinlatter Forest Park, so we stopped there.
We had something to eat and drink then watched and the bird
feeding outside the cafe. In the centre there is a closed circuit TV hook up
with an ospreys nest (I think it is on Bassenthwaite Lake) but they are not due
back until April.
From there it way only a short drive back to Keswick it was
still very early so Trev decided to do a lap of Bassenthwaite Lake and I got
some more bridge photos at the top end. Soon we were back a Keswick again
so Trev asked if we wanted to stop or have another drive passed lake Thirlmere
to Grasmere, and as there was nothing else to do in this weather, we all agreed.
Grasmere, was wet and very crowded, William Wordsworth is buried in St. Oswald's Churchyard here, I hadn't realised, no wonder it was busy. By accident we stumbled upon the grave during our wanderings, there was a very loud person spouting his opinions on modern burial techniques, so we didn't get very near and made a swift exit. I went down by the river below the graveyard to get a photo of a bridge and found I was in the William Wordsworth memorial daffodil garden, it was a poor display of daffodils indeed, not much of a memorial. On the way back to meet the others, I noticed that the pathway was made of engraved stones, these had been sponsored for £175 each, I think these people were ripped off.
We looked in the souvenir and outdoor clothing shops (the lake district is not short of these) we even got some long oblong serving plates (useful for garlic bread), at a bargain price and outside it was still raining.
Grasmere, was wet and very crowded, William Wordsworth is buried in St. Oswald's Churchyard here, I hadn't realised, no wonder it was busy. By accident we stumbled upon the grave during our wanderings, there was a very loud person spouting his opinions on modern burial techniques, so we didn't get very near and made a swift exit. I went down by the river below the graveyard to get a photo of a bridge and found I was in the William Wordsworth memorial daffodil garden, it was a poor display of daffodils indeed, not much of a memorial. On the way back to meet the others, I noticed that the pathway was made of engraved stones, these had been sponsored for £175 each, I think these people were ripped off.
We looked in the souvenir and outdoor clothing shops (the lake district is not short of these) we even got some long oblong serving plates (useful for garlic bread), at a bargain price and outside it was still raining.
Trev dropped us back at the van for us to get ready for another
night out, that didn't take long and we set off early back into town, so Dot
could have another look in the shops. I sneaked away and got the beers in
just in time before Trev and Pat to appear from there room and Dot from the
shops. We had a bit of a pub crawl but went to different pubs from the
night before, I remember being in the
Oddfellows
Arms and having a
Jennings Sneck Lifter
in there.
For food, we had seen Aberdeen angus beef burgers on the
specials menu back in Trev and Pat's hotel. so it was back over there again for
super, and again, it was very good, one of the best bits about being away, is
eating food you would not normally have at home. Yet another good night in
Keswick.
The walk back to the van was as the previous night, very cold.
12th March
After a discussion with the warden we decided to head back over
the Pennines on the A66 as soon as we were ready, as the forecast was for more
strong winds. Rang Trev to say we wouldn't be meeting them for lunch and
set of home, on the trip back we had the wind behind us, so we didn't get blown
about too much and I'd swear we only use half the fuel we did going the other
way.
As we approached the A1 we though, as we were close, it would be
a good idea, epically as the wind wasn't that bad, to pop into the caravan shop
in Catterick for a ACSI camping card and book. Although picking up the
ACSI book was a good idea, heading north to south was a lot different from going
west to east. The wind was now blowing on the side of the van and it was
getting difficult to control, I was glad when we got to the shop, got the book
and started heading east again. I was glad to get home and out of the van,
I do not like driving in strong wind, then again, I do not like driving in fog or
on ice either.
Keswick Two
May 25th to 28th
May 25th
We booked this trip on the 21/01/2008 and there where only a standard grass pitch with awning still available, it was the end of a bank holiday weekend and also school half term. We would be meeting up with our friends Jonathan and Lorain, who would be there for the full week with their children Tom and Will.
We picked up the twins at lunch time on the Sunday, straight from a birthday party and they had their faces painted as butterflies. The drive over the A66 was nice and easy not like last time and we arrived before two. We have been several times before, even during school holidays but have never seen the site so full (Jonathan was told by one of the site wardens that the site was meant for 250 outfits but they already had 280 on). We got a pitch about 50 yards from Jonathan and Lorain but I then realised there was no electricity in this field, and explained to the warden that this was no good for me and I needed to be elsewhere. The warden said there was nowhere else and I had not booked electric hook-up anyway, apparently a standard pitch is just a patch of grass in a field about a third of a mile from the toilets and this cost me £17.50/night robbery.
I was annoyed that I had a new induction hotplate that I now couldn't use and I taken the hob kettle out years ago, when we needed to reduce weight for the scooter, we were lucky we even had gas on board. Anyway none of the kids were bothered and had a great time playing in the sun by the lake, and like them we just had to make the best of it.
We were only about 50 yards from Jonathan and Lorain's tent but by the end of the day I must have walked miles between the two pitches. We had a nice BBQ on the night and a few beers by their tent.
May 26th
First thing on the morning we moved the van closer to Jonathan and Lorain's tent, this save my legs and also stopped the wardens cramming more tents or caravans in next to them.
Keswick Two
May 25th to 28th
May 25th
We booked this trip on the 21/01/2008 and there where only a standard grass pitch with awning still available, it was the end of a bank holiday weekend and also school half term. We would be meeting up with our friends Jonathan and Lorain, who would be there for the full week with their children Tom and Will.
We picked up the twins at lunch time on the Sunday, straight from a birthday party and they had their faces painted as butterflies. The drive over the A66 was nice and easy not like last time and we arrived before two. We have been several times before, even during school holidays but have never seen the site so full (Jonathan was told by one of the site wardens that the site was meant for 250 outfits but they already had 280 on). We got a pitch about 50 yards from Jonathan and Lorain but I then realised there was no electricity in this field, and explained to the warden that this was no good for me and I needed to be elsewhere. The warden said there was nowhere else and I had not booked electric hook-up anyway, apparently a standard pitch is just a patch of grass in a field about a third of a mile from the toilets and this cost me £17.50/night robbery.
I was annoyed that I had a new induction hotplate that I now couldn't use and I taken the hob kettle out years ago, when we needed to reduce weight for the scooter, we were lucky we even had gas on board. Anyway none of the kids were bothered and had a great time playing in the sun by the lake, and like them we just had to make the best of it.
We were only about 50 yards from Jonathan and Lorain's tent but by the end of the day I must have walked miles between the two pitches. We had a nice BBQ on the night and a few beers by their tent.
May 26th
First thing on the morning we moved the van closer to Jonathan and Lorain's tent, this save my legs and also stopped the wardens cramming more tents or caravans in next to them.
The kids played down by the lake again before lunch but this time girls got themselves covered in mud.
On the afternoon we all walked into town and picked out somewhere to get a takeaway for super on the night. I forgot my camera hence the lack of photos.
Getting the young ones ready on an evening was no easy task, for a start it was so far to the shower block that it was unreasonable and only added to my dissatisfaction with the way the site was very overcrowded. After many visits we have not been back since and are no longer members of the Camping and Caravan Club.
Getting the young ones ready on an evening was no easy task, for a start it was so far to the shower block that it was unreasonable and only added to my dissatisfaction with the way the site was very overcrowded. After many visits we have not been back since and are no longer members of the Camping and Caravan Club.
May 27th
Jon, Lorain and the boys were off on a walk up one of the mountains today, so we went to the park in town with a picnic for lunch. Actually we we got savoury pasties, sausage rolls, sandwiches and cakes from Greggs the bakers but that counts as a picnic, doesn't it?
It was a lot different from last time we were here, the girls have grown up so much and played with some of the other children there, we just had to sit and watch, much easier. I even left them for a while and wandered off to take some Bridge photos.
Later we had ice-creams and played by the river but the weather was changing, it was getting cold so we headed back to the campsite.
That evening we had another BBQ but it was a much colder than previous days.
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