BB1605 : His Last Day As A Sexagenarian

5th February 1946.  A new baby enters the world.  What fate would befall him? Might he, just might he, one day, grow up to become a BOOTboy?

5th February 2006.  That child had indeed grown up to become a BOOTboy. What is more, he was now a Sexagenarian BOOTboy.

Mind you, had the weather been otherwise, we might have contemplated dragging him high.  However, with earlier forecasts of 70 mph winds and lashings of rain, even pleasant short strolls might have had to be abandoned.

As it happened, it was a birthday surprise for all of us that it didn’t actually rain and any wind was quite modest.

There was some complicated car shuffling at the start which I avoided by catching the bus.  Tony, with his chauffeur and support crew (minders?), climbed aboard at Staveley and waiting for us at the Windermere bus stop were the rest of the team.

The initial phase was a reverse of part of BB1601, crossing the railway to climb School Knott.  

Panorama from School Knott

Thereafter we followed the Dales Way for a while before branching off south to the Wild Boar at Crook.

Those who had lunched here previously had recommended the Steak Bun and Chips and what a good suggestion that was.  Excellent, as indeed was the home brewed ale.

It’s always difficult to tear yourself away from a nice warm pub with a roaring winter's fire but somehow we managed it.  Whom should we see in the yard but Bryan.  He had managed to escape from child-minding duties to help navigate Tony back to the Brewery at Staveley.

This he successfully achieved, using paths that were familiar to none of us but are worth revisiting on a pleasant summer’s evening.  

View to the Howgills

The last section had us rejoining the Dales Way and dropping down into Staveley, noting the damage caused by the floods.

Dylan Detected

The full list is:

• I thought it would rain but the clouds passed by
  Till I fell in love with you
• Take heed, take heed of the western wind,
  take heed of the stormy weather
  Boots of Spanish Leather
• Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
  Girl from the North Country
• The wind howls like a hammer
  Love minus zero
• Shelter from the storm
  Shelter from the Storm
• Where have you been, my darling young one(s)?
  A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall
• Far before* sundown’s finish (*deliberate misquote of "before")
  Chimes of Freedom
• The answer ...... is blowin' in the wind
  Blowin’ in the wind
• A hard rain .... going to fall
  A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall
• You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows Subterranean Homesick Blues

He added that he simply couldn’t resist the challenge then complained:

You just kinda wasted my precious time
But don’t think twice, it’s all right

Finally a word of comfort for those who didn't do too well.  Remember:

The loser now will be later to win

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading bb1605 .

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 heights (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.

Wainwrights

To see which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing see Which Wainwright When? This may or may not be up to date!

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

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