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BB2511 : What is Real and What
is Not?
Wednesday
19th March 2025
In these days of Truths, False
Truths and False False Truths, otherwise known as Artificial Intelligence, it
has become increasingly difficult to know what is real and what is not. Perhaps
you feel the same about these
reports? Is
it possible that certain aspects might, at
times, seem to be unlikely?
Surely not.
It is over ten years since we
last visited the Land of Abandoned Dwellings (BB1440). My main recollection of the
Roundthwaite Round, apart from the disappearance of St George (as seen on
BB1223)
was how tedious the walk back from Greenholme to Roundthwaite was for tired
legs. It was, therefore, something of a
relief; nay, it was a thing of great relief that, today, we had sufficient cars to be able to eliminate that road slog.
Accordingly we, i.e. Ian,
Martin-Sam and Ian met a Holly-less Robin at Greenholme, alongside the beck,
then left two cars there and drove the third to the viewpoint, just beyond Roundthwaite,
that looks across the Lune valley to the Howgills.
Target number 1 was Jeffrey’s
Mount. This time I was keen to avoid the
actual summit for two reasons. Firstly
it was occupied by a band of fell ponies that looked as if they would prefer
not to be disturbed.
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Secondly, I was
keen to show the boys the viewpoint that sees the three arterial highways of
river, train and car heading south (or north) down (or up) the Lune Valley.
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After a cold start, it was now a
glorious day and we enjoyed the stroll along the range, taking in Casterfell
Hill, Belt Howe, Roundthwaite Common, Winterscleugh and finally the highest
point, Whinash. The views down into the
Borrowdale Valley and to the distant hills were enticing.
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One distant,
pointed peak intrigued us. We really needed Tony with us as we weren’t
sure if it might be Kidsty Pike, the only one that he recognises. In the end we decided it was Ill Bell, the
confusion being caused by Froswick being tucked away out of site from this
angle.
We dropped down to the
Breasthigh Road, which we were somewhat surprised to discover was actually
classified as a road, albeit that its surface was rocks of various sizes. A little
further down we sheltered out of the cold wind to enjoy a leisurely lunch,
basking in the sun, debating what is real and what is not. In the somewhat hazy distance, across the
Vale of Eden, we could see what we thought was High Cup Nick so swapped storied
about adventures up and down the Nick and of its strangely located winery.
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The descent to Bretherdale Head
is attractive. We were keen to see what
had happened to its abandoned dwellings.
The largest is now enclosed within a farm yard so we didn’t explore.
However it was obvious that it nothing has been done to it so it is in slow
decline. A little further on is an even
more dilapidated dwelling that we were able to explore its roofless rooms.
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It was then that we started
wondering about the source of the phrase “what is real and what is not”.
I was sure there was a song about it.
Ian consulted Uncle Google who
confirmed that it is the title
of a song. It is a 1983 recording by the American “punk parody”
band called The Urinals. Quite. Not exactly what I had in mind.
Click
on the album cover to check
it out for yourself.
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Our route back to the car was
on the other side of Bretherdale Beck, climbing the bridle path that leads to
High Whinhowe, another dwelling that is too far gone to be of any use, then down
to Low Whinhowe. I had heard some time
ago that there was a plan to restore this building but there was no evidence of
any serious attempt to make it habitable.
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In the distance we could still see the Eden Valley. It finally dawned on me. That was it.
Gates of Eden, Bob Dylan.
At Greenholme, the mighty fine
dragon was still in the garden but St George had not made a reappearance. It
had a new pal, however. A metal dog!
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Having left cars
here,
we were able to drive to our start point to pick up the other. This was a much better experience than the
road slog we had endured years ago and it left us with enough energy to
lift a pint of Black Sheep whilst singing our tribute:
And the Princess and the Prince
discuss
What's real and what is not
It doesn't matter inside Cross Keys of Tebay
Don, Wednesday
19th March 2025
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