BB1731 : Opa Calling Luca; Over

Wednesday 30th August 2017

“We’re going up Helvellyn, today” said daughter Emma.

“We’re going up White Side [the next hill to the north]” said Don.

“Why don’t we both take the walkie-talkies so that you can chat with Luca [grandson, age 7]?”

“Good idea.”

So I took my walkie-talkie, my nice pink one.  There’s a very good reason why it’s pink.  Buy me a pint and I will tell you!  Don’t worry, it isn’t rude or politically incorrect.

Our objective was Wainwright ticks for John, Terry and me.  I thought Stan needed them also but he was claiming them from non BOOTboys expeditions.

After obtaining permission, we parked at the King’s Head at Threlkeld and headed more or less straight up the hill, just angling to the right below Brown Crag.  It was quite a steep climb but all made it without difficulty.

 Helvellyn came into view so I switched on the WT.

<<Opa calling Luca; Opa calling Luca.  Over>>

Opa is what Luca calls me.  It’s German for grandad- he was born in Munich.

No reply.

I kept trying and suddenly the W-T bell trilled and I heard a young lad talking with his father who had a southern accent.  It must be Luca, I thought.  However, if it were Luca, he couldn’t hear me.

We could see folk on the summit and also on the two edges- Striding and Swirral but no Luca.

I kept trying as we climbed to the White Side summit and also as we continued on to Raise.  There were voices.  I heard snatches of conversations.  But nothing from Luca.  Sadly we were now out of range of Helvellyn.

The views, around from the Conistons, Bassenthwaite and also across to Ullswater were spectacular

We thought the voices might have been talking about the ski tow.  At the top of Sticks Pass we dropped down a bit towards Ullswater, partly to find somewhere out of the cold wind to have lunch and partly to see if there was anyone at the ski tow.  There wasn’t.

No-one seemed keen to continue north.  The two Wainwrights had been achieved and we could descend to the valley.  It was by now a sunny day, the two or three drops of rain that had mysteriously appeared shortly before, had vanished.  It was a pleasant descent with spectacular views, particularly of Skiddaw.

On reaching the valley we debated whether to slog along the road back to the pub or detour via the other side at the base of Great How, above Thirlmere.  Naturally we chose the latter which had the added benefit of passing, correction, entering, the Lodge in the Vale for Walls’ Magnum choc ices.  A triumph.

The return was along a forest trail with views of our descent and of Thirlmere.  It brought us to  Dalehead Hall which I have never previously seen.  From there it was a short stroll back to the garden of the King’s Head.

<<Opa calling Luca; Opa calling Luca. Over>>

<<I hear you, Opa.  How can I help?  Over>>

<< Four pints of bitter please, Luca.  Over>>

<<Message received and understood, Opa.  Delivery in four minutes.  Over>>

<<Thanks, Luca.  See you soon.>>

Aaahh.  I can dream.  One day, I hope!

Don, Wednesday 30th August 2017

Comitibus : John, Don, Stan, Terry

Blencathra as the Victorians might have illustrated it!

Map shown: Ordnance Survey 1:50k

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading bb1731 .

To discover which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing - although it may not be that up to date - or for the totals of the mileages and heightages (ditto) see the Excel file: BB Log.

You can navigate to the required report via the Home Page

Photos have been gleaned from many sources
although mostly from me and other BOOTboys. Likewise written comment.

I apologise if I have failed to acknowledge properly the source or infringed
copyright.  Please let me know and I will do my best to put things right.

Unless stated otherwise, please feel free to download the material if you wish.
A reference back to this website would be appreciated.

   E-mail addresses on this web site are protected by

 Spam Trawlers will be further frustrated by
 Spam Blocker: help fight spam e-mail!

BOOTboys 2017

BOOTboys
If you want to join
The BOOTboys
Inter-Galactic
Fan Club
let us know and
you will receive
automatic notification
of new BOOTboys reports

Click on
to contact us.

For the Index pages
of our various outings
click on the relevant
link below:

The photos & maps
on these pages
will normally retain
reasonable quality
if you expand
your screen
to view them.

BOOTboys^© is a Lakeland Enterprise production brought to you by

Comitibus Communications^©