Coniston
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By Robyn Claire-Louise Anderson in General Published: Sunday, 01 July 07 - 09:22 PM (GMT) Last Updated: Tuesday, 03 July 07 - 05:57 PM (GMT) |
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Roger's work colleagues couldn't make it to Ambleside last weekend, so arranged instead to go camping in Coniston.
Dave managed to find a magnificent site at Coniston Hall that had a 'Private Group area', which meant that we could be out of sight and earshot of the very full (despite the dismal forecast) main campsite.
Paul W, Mark, Mike L, Jill, Carolyn, Dave along with Roger and I, met up for supper at The Sun Inn in Coniston. Everyone was pleased with what they had ordered and the bitter flowed easily. When poor Mark had to leave in order to be at Warton for a flight briefing the following morning, we decided to head back to the campsite, and set off for The Ship enroute and closer to our tents, where more beer was had before retiring for the night.
True to the weather report, the next morning never really dawned, but progressed from one grey state to another. Undaunted, we set off for the classic route up Wetherlam, across to Swirl How and summiting The Old Man before descending. This was never to be...
Soon after setting off, we met up with Paul T and Carol who joined our group. Soon we were all pretty wet, but not yet soaked through. Along the way, we met with a number of walkers who seemed to be heading in the opposite direction to us. The dismal weather inspired a jolly comaraderie between strangers and we cheerfully greeted fellow walkers with the sense of shared pain.
This shared pain never relly eased off and in fact grew more painful as we got wetter and colder the higher we walked. By the time we summitted Wetherlam, it had been decided to return to Coniston by descending Swirl How instead of summitting Old Man.
Soon we were all in The Black Bull sipping bitter (except for me trying to warm up, and gulping down rum and hot chocolate by the mugful). Mike B had joined us by this time - a noble effort coming all the way from Chorley on a miserable day. Mark too had made it back from work in Warton.
Mile L did a magnificent job shopping and catering for the braai (BBQ) later on Saturday night and had the foresight to bring along his garden gazebo, which saved us from getting very wet and miserable. While the weather continued to try and dampen our spirits, if not clothes and everything else we wore, we had a great time. The food was second to none, gourmet braaing at its finest accompanied by entertaining company and conversation.
Once all tucked away for the night, dreams were steered towards weddings, saving wildlife from domestic felines and flooding tents - inspired by the din of a torrential downfall.
On waking the next morning, we discovered from campers on the main site, that no one there had had a proper night's sleep, with children wailing that they were wet and car doors slamming in indignation at the poor show of summer. Where we were had been perfectly quiet (except for the rain of course).
After a strong cup of coffee, we all set off of for the lake so that Rog, Mike L and I could swim across its width and back, guided and guarded by Carolyn and Dave on their paddleski ( a good move that saved us from being run down by a motorboat and gondola).
On returning from the swim, we set about making a hearty brunch and decamping. We enjoyed a spell of actual sunshine for about 15 minutes, before we were again huddled under the gazebo shielding ourselves from the rain.
Whilst Rog and I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend (planning on making another visit and challenging everyone with a bi or triathlon consisting of a swim in Coniston, a run up Old Man and a cycle somewhere), I am sure that the lake was fuller when we left!
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