BB0916 : The Comeback Continues

Thursday 21st May 2009

We were uncertain as to how much progress John would have made since BB0912 (his most recent comeback walk since his second knee operation) other than knowing that, like a lot of rugby players these days, he had been to France on a special visit.  Was this secret training?

In order not to be taken by surprise and put to shame, a spot of intensive exercise was undertaken last week by Philip and me. In company with Ann and Margaret plus our skiing pals Dave and Pam, we went to Majorca to become "Los chicos y las chicas de la bota”.

Soller

We based ourselves in the lovely old town of Soller, little realising it was to become a war zone.  Even as we unpacked, strangely dressed people with blacked up faces started wandering into the town, making a great deal of noise, carrying Turkish flags and brandishing an array of weapons.  

The hotel staff warned us that the town was being over-run by Muslims and it would be some hours before the Christian reinforcements would arrive to rescue us.  Meanwhile they warned of extreme danger of leaving the grounds and best to eat at the hotel restaurant.  Holed up like war correspondents, with the hotel gate firmly closed against marauders, we watched the Muslim commander climb the tower of the citadel and capture the Christian flag (it looked just like St George’s to me).  The square was full of thousands of brigands.  Bombs were going off all around.

Confident that our troops were on their way, we dined in relaxed style like First World War generals whilst the heat of the battle erupted all around us.  After an excellent meal, we emerged onto the battleground to find that, as planned, the Christians had indeed recaptured the town and peace had been restored.  The strange thing was that there were hardly any Christians to be seen.  The square was still full of hundreds of Turkish flag waving mercenaries celebrating their defeat.  Bizarre but then the Lord of Hosts moves in very mysterious ways.

You can learn more about the Battle for Soller at Contemporary Balears or Sant Ponç 1561.

After such a politically incorrect fiesta, three days walking could have been almost an anti-climax. However, it is beautiful countryside and excellent walking territory even in the rain that we experienced - much softer and warmer than ours.  And we saw a Hoopoe!

The view from the Port de Soller Watchtower

We need not have worried about John; his trip to France turned out to have been rather more relaxed, not exactly special training.  His target for today was Loughrigg.   Pete had again driven up from Cheshire, although he was rather tired, having had a bit of a cock-up in the alarm department- he set it for 6:30 a.m., responded to its call, got up, made breakfast, then heard on the news that it was almost 4:30 a.m.!  Two hours of sleep forfeited!

Mike joined us for his first BOOTboy outing; Philip and I making up the team of five.

There was some debate as to whether to go the steep way up or to save the steps for the descent.  John favoured the latter so we parked above Pelter Bridge, near Rydal Water.  

A very still Rydal Water

As we climbed up by the side of Lanty Scar, listening to the first cuckoo of spring, we were expecting a thorough drenching sooner or later.  The forecast was for heavy showers. Fortunately, other than a minor sprinkling, nothing of the sort materialised. It was breezy and some heavy clouds flouted by but the day progressively improved.

We joined the motorway that comes up from south and stopped for a coffee break.  A linger was being enjoyed by most of us but John seemed anxious to press on. Shortly after, the view started to open out with a spectacular panorama.

Loughrigg Tarn, Coniston Fells, Langdale Fells and Loughrigg ahead

Loughrigg Fell soon surrendered.  At the top were two men with a large antenna pointing down the valley.  What they were listening to, we could not ascertain.  Perhaps we should have asked them.

Dropping down a little from the summit, we found a sheltered position to enjoy the view and a midday lunch.  Somehow it seems easier to eat early if there is no Tony with us to annoy!  A very friendly Jackdaw was anxious to share any offerings.

Now for the steep descent, part of which is paved with semi-ambulant steps, part is unpaved and part is paved with very unambulant steps- rather tricky for dodgy knees.  If it had not been for the view, John might have regretted the decision to go this way round.

Once down at Loughrigg Terrace, where the bluebells were out in full force, John was game for a short extension through the woods in the Grasmere direction before turning back to the lake shore and then back along the Terrace, past Rydal Water, to the cave. The pond was teeming with fish.  How do they get there and where do they go when they grow up?

Returning to civilisation, the first garden we passed was full of azaleas.  It reminded me of my early days in Kendal, when Margaret was teaching in Cleator Moor and we used to meet up at Keswick, to which I would travel by bus.  The 555 route is attractive in (nearly) all weathers but arguably at its best in May when the Rhododendrons are in full bloom, a spectacular sight from the top deck.

John was a little stiff on reaching the car but is making good progress.  We look forward to his next comeback target.

 Don 21st May 2009

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STATISTCS

If you have Memory Map on your computer, you can follow our route in detail by downloading BB0916.

For the latest totals of the mileages, heights and Lakeland Fells Books Wainwrights see: Wainwrights.

If anyone wants to claim other peaks, please let me know and I will submit them to the adjudication committee!

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BOOT boys

This page describes an adventure of BOOTboys, a loose group of friends of mature years who enjoy defying the aging process by getting out into the hills as often as possible!

As most live in South Lakeland, it is no surprise that our focus is on the Lakeland fells and the Yorkshire Dales.

As for the name, BOOTboys, it does not primarily derive from an item of footwear, and certainly not from any skin head associations or other
type of social group,
but is in memory of
Big Josie,
the erstwhile landlady
of the erstwhile Burnmoor Inn at Boot in Eskdale,
who enlivened Saint Patrick's Day 1973
and other odd evenings many years ago!

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Archive

2009 Outings

• BB0901 : A Gordon Day Out
  Thursday 8th January
• BB0902 : Thank You,
  Aunty Ethel!
  Wednesday 14th January 
• BB0903 : A Wicked Hike???
  Wednesday 21st January
• BB0904 : Take a Mug With You
  Sunday 25th January
• BB0905 : Down in the Forest
  Thursday 29th January
• BB0906 : Not How But Where?
  Thursday 5th February
• BB0907 : Binsey Can Wait
  (but Uncle Monty Can Not)
  Thursday 12th February
• BB0908 : Badgers on the Line
  Thursday 5th March
• BB0909 : It's not a W!
  Thursday 12th March
• BB0910 : Up on the Roof
  Thursday 26th March
• BB0911 : Not the Blisco Dashers
  Thursday 2nd April
• BB0912 : John's Comeback
  Monday 6th April
• BB0913 : Two Churches, a Pulpit and a Cherry Picker
  Thursday, 23rd April
• BB0914 : Companions of the BOOT
  Thursday 30th April
• BB0915 : The Gale Force Choice
  Thursday 7th May
• BB0916 : The Comeback Continues
  Thursday 21st May
• BB0917 : BOOTboys Encore !
  28th May - 2nd June
• BB0918 : Hello Dollywagon
  Thursday 11th June
• BB0919 : Has Anyone Seen Lily?
  Thursday 18th June
• BB0920 : Ancient Feet on the Greenburn Horseshoe
  Thursday 25th June
• BB0921 : The Tebay Fell Race Walk
  Thursday 2nd July
• BB0922 : For England and St George 
  Thursday 9th July
• BB0923 : The Coniston Outliers
  Friday 31st July
• BB0924 : Little To Be Said In Favour?
  Thursday 6th August
• BB0925 : The Third Night of the Rescue 
  Thursday 13th August
• BB0926 : Long Wet Windy Monty Bothy Fun?
  Thursday 20th August
• BB0927 : Dear Mrs Scroggins
  Friday 11th September
• BB0928 : An Ard Day's Hike
  Thursday 17th September
• BB0929 : A Canter of Convalescents?
  Thursday 24th September
• BB0930 : BOOTboys International Autumnal Expedition
  Wednesday 23rd to
  Sunday 27th September
• BB0931 : A Bit of an Adventure
  Thursday 1st October 
• BB0932 : Paths of Glory?
  Thursday 8th October
• BB0933 : When Yorkshire Was Welsh
  Wednesday 14th October
• BB0934 : Unlocking the Whinlatters
  Thursday 22nd October
• BB0935 : A Tale of Crinkley Bottoms
  Thursday 5th November
• BB0936 : Aye Up What?
  Thursday 12th November
• BB0937 : Where Eagles Wade
  Tuesday 17th November
• BB0938 : After the Floods
  Thursday 26th November
• BB0939 : The Mystery of the Missing Glove
  Thursday 10th December
• BB0940 : A Too Short Walk
  Thursday 17th December
• BB0941 : One Hundred and Onesfell
  Tuesday 29th December

• BH0901 : Back to the Beginning 
  Thursday 13th August
• BSKIB09 : BOOTskiboys in Saalbach
  14th - 21st March
• BB09XX : Los Chicos y las Chicas de la Bota
  11th - 14th May
• BB09Bav01 : Peaked Too Soon
  1st September

Click on the photos for an enlargement or related large picture.

Wainwrights

To download a log of which Wainwrights have been done by which BOOTboy in the "modern" era, i.e. since the advent of BOOTboys click on Wainwrights. 

If anyone wants to claim other peaks, please let me know and I will submit them to the adjudication committee!

 BOOT boys