Post by keltiejack on Apr 15, 2012 21:31:11 GMT
TOPSIE’S TRAVELS
14th April
Timetable
8.56 Ings,555 to Booth’s
10.12 Keswick,transported to
10.45 Buttermere, fun begins
1.10 Red Pike
1.40 High Stile
2.40 High Crag
5.0 Buttermere
5.29 Keswick, 5.30(!) 555 to
6.50 Ings
7.20 Dinner
Few snaps on
picasaweb.google.com/112371915950638220162/ChapelCrags
I should never have accepted Lord Lindsay’s invitation to visit Chapel Crags, but a chance to sup with the greats (Frank-Ribble Valley Runner, Lindsay-Henley Harrier,
Ray-Sunderland Sprinter, & Rob-Limestone Licker) was too good to miss. Also the potential three new tops for Topsie had been snapped up by John years ago, so I would not be cheating on him. The top boys were all meeting at Rheged in their posh autos but Ray had graciously agreed to meet my humble bus at Keswick. There was even 10cc for my backside to sit in—with T on my crushed lap.
It started off well near the foot of Newlands Hause at Buttermere. We banterered our way around the lake merrily to the foot of Sourmilk Gill (see Red Pike (B) 5) until the near vertical ascent began. After it seemed like ‘devil take the hindmost’ with every man looking after himself. I started well enough slipping effortlessly into the jet stream of the Ribble Valley Runner. Then suddenly I hit a brick wall. I suddenly felt like a 6 year old trying to keep up with Josh Naylor on top form; my upper thighs felt as though they were trying to ascend in thick treacle. That is the reason I mentioned at the start that I should never have started. Two possible reasons, a] I have just started a mild beta-blocker for blood pressure and I am told they can make you feel tired, and b] I am in the middle of one of my worst cough and cold that I can recall. Should I’m just lie down and die? No, there was Topsie to consider, she would have been so upset if after this trek to get here we did not go home with trophies. So I went into ‘plod mode’ and cheered myself up with my nice lunch in the rucksack-actually outside the rucksack inside some plastic netting. I tried to appear nonchalant as I crawled up to our first stop at Bleaberry Tarn. Conditions were reasonable and visibility mostly good. You have probably cottoned on to what happened next. No, I did NOT drop my sandwiches but after putting the sack on the floor those two rascal dogs Lizzie and Bros took it in turns to attack both the netting and my victuals whilst I was admiring the views; Topsie is much too polite to consider such a dastardly act. For some reason Lindsay saw some of it happening and got great mirth from the incident. He eventually, after hours of deep thought, tried to assuage my anger by offering me 50p. Ten bob, I ask you! When we finally ascended to the peak there was lying snow and a considerable wind chill factor but conditions were more benign off the ridge towards the Ennerdale valley. Good place for lunch? No such luck and so onwards and upwards we moved on the superb ridge. On arrival and after 10 min deliberations with their GPS toys Frank and Lindsay announced we were on High Stile. At last at the late afternoon time of 1.40 I was allowed to try and retrieve what bit of my sandwich remained. No more than that though, I was forced to wait AFTER High Crag before I could enjoy my second course.
A load of youngsters were climbing from the Haystacks direction up to High Crag and I was suddenly made to feel quite old. High Crag was impressive as were the views and it was about this time that lots of blue sky appeared. It was at the Gamlin End/Seat saddle where I was allowed to enjoy my Muller before cutting off a corner to the Haystacks path. It was straight forward now just following the lovely lake path back to base. Or it should have been. About two thirds along the shore path Topsie decides to go so lame on the front right leg she refuses to move. Just what the other punters thought when they saw Lindsay (thanks) or I carrying a dog I shudder to think Now Topsie must have more brains than I realised. She seems fine today. She had got her three tops and must have thought ’what’s the point of walking further?).
No time for a cup of tea afterwards. Ray was good enough to return me to Keswick bus station at 5.29 leaving one minute to catch the bus. Thanks Ray. Mind you I just wonder if those four giants of the fells called in somewhere before Rheged.
Don
14th April
Timetable
8.56 Ings,555 to Booth’s
10.12 Keswick,transported to
10.45 Buttermere, fun begins
1.10 Red Pike
1.40 High Stile
2.40 High Crag
5.0 Buttermere
5.29 Keswick, 5.30(!) 555 to
6.50 Ings
7.20 Dinner
Few snaps on
picasaweb.google.com/112371915950638220162/ChapelCrags
I should never have accepted Lord Lindsay’s invitation to visit Chapel Crags, but a chance to sup with the greats (Frank-Ribble Valley Runner, Lindsay-Henley Harrier,
Ray-Sunderland Sprinter, & Rob-Limestone Licker) was too good to miss. Also the potential three new tops for Topsie had been snapped up by John years ago, so I would not be cheating on him. The top boys were all meeting at Rheged in their posh autos but Ray had graciously agreed to meet my humble bus at Keswick. There was even 10cc for my backside to sit in—with T on my crushed lap.
It started off well near the foot of Newlands Hause at Buttermere. We banterered our way around the lake merrily to the foot of Sourmilk Gill (see Red Pike (B) 5) until the near vertical ascent began. After it seemed like ‘devil take the hindmost’ with every man looking after himself. I started well enough slipping effortlessly into the jet stream of the Ribble Valley Runner. Then suddenly I hit a brick wall. I suddenly felt like a 6 year old trying to keep up with Josh Naylor on top form; my upper thighs felt as though they were trying to ascend in thick treacle. That is the reason I mentioned at the start that I should never have started. Two possible reasons, a] I have just started a mild beta-blocker for blood pressure and I am told they can make you feel tired, and b] I am in the middle of one of my worst cough and cold that I can recall. Should I’m just lie down and die? No, there was Topsie to consider, she would have been so upset if after this trek to get here we did not go home with trophies. So I went into ‘plod mode’ and cheered myself up with my nice lunch in the rucksack-actually outside the rucksack inside some plastic netting. I tried to appear nonchalant as I crawled up to our first stop at Bleaberry Tarn. Conditions were reasonable and visibility mostly good. You have probably cottoned on to what happened next. No, I did NOT drop my sandwiches but after putting the sack on the floor those two rascal dogs Lizzie and Bros took it in turns to attack both the netting and my victuals whilst I was admiring the views; Topsie is much too polite to consider such a dastardly act. For some reason Lindsay saw some of it happening and got great mirth from the incident. He eventually, after hours of deep thought, tried to assuage my anger by offering me 50p. Ten bob, I ask you! When we finally ascended to the peak there was lying snow and a considerable wind chill factor but conditions were more benign off the ridge towards the Ennerdale valley. Good place for lunch? No such luck and so onwards and upwards we moved on the superb ridge. On arrival and after 10 min deliberations with their GPS toys Frank and Lindsay announced we were on High Stile. At last at the late afternoon time of 1.40 I was allowed to try and retrieve what bit of my sandwich remained. No more than that though, I was forced to wait AFTER High Crag before I could enjoy my second course.
A load of youngsters were climbing from the Haystacks direction up to High Crag and I was suddenly made to feel quite old. High Crag was impressive as were the views and it was about this time that lots of blue sky appeared. It was at the Gamlin End/Seat saddle where I was allowed to enjoy my Muller before cutting off a corner to the Haystacks path. It was straight forward now just following the lovely lake path back to base. Or it should have been. About two thirds along the shore path Topsie decides to go so lame on the front right leg she refuses to move. Just what the other punters thought when they saw Lindsay (thanks) or I carrying a dog I shudder to think Now Topsie must have more brains than I realised. She seems fine today. She had got her three tops and must have thought ’what’s the point of walking further?).
No time for a cup of tea afterwards. Ray was good enough to return me to Keswick bus station at 5.29 leaving one minute to catch the bus. Thanks Ray. Mind you I just wonder if those four giants of the fells called in somewhere before Rheged.
Don
)
That's a tough walk at the best of times, even more so if you're not well. I do hope Topsy appreciates you carrying on so she could tick off those three fells 
