BB2016 : Not So Close Encounters

Wednesday 20th May 2020

I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised but I was.  After all, we had talked about where each might want to wander this week, in splendid isolation.  There had been mention of Gurnal Dubbs.  It was a nice day so I thought I’d give it a go.  Rather than a direct route, I felt it was time to do a bit of proper fell walking (in miniature) so I decided to travel via what is unromantically referred to in some quarters as Summit 1.  That is Potter Fell’s higher top, although AW thought otherwise.

I parked near the weir at Staveley.  There was little more than a trickle flowing.

Bryan had given me a tip about how to open gates without needing to put on anti-C19 gloves.  Pick up some sticks as you walk along and use them to work the latch on the gate then throw them away.  At the first gate I saw two sticks on the ground.  Someone had clearly tried that device.  Unfortunately I hadn't remembered to collect any sticks but fortunately I had a good supply of B&Q's finest decorators' disposable gloves so that I could put new ones on for every gate (some of which would have defeated a stick).

I made my way up to the unremarkable (apart from the views) summit and down to the waterfall which I had never previously seen, not that there was much water in it.  Potter Tarn could be viewed, way below.  That did still have water.

My plan was to enter the Gurnal Dubbs area and have a break somewhere above the boathouse. 

As I headed to my chosen point, whom should I see but Stephen on the other side of the tarn.  He had had a similar thought but had come up from the Potter Fell Road shooter's track. 

We drew a little closer to each other, still well beyond the social distancing minimum, so we could exchange long distance greetings.  Very shortly afterwards, Mike T appeared on the scene.  He had come up from Longsleddale and over Summit 2.  What a nice surprise. 

It was actually quite busy at the tarn, lots of families playing by the lake and courting couples enjoying their lockdown relaxation, looking for a bit of peace and quiet and failing.  However, we were well out of their (and each other’s) way.

What happened next?  What a shock!  In the distance, coming from the northerly direction, we saw a very tall man with a rather shorter companion.  It was Mike B and Tony.  How’s that for a coincidence?  They had come from Staveley Park and Spring Hag respectively.

The much greater than social distancing circle grew even larger.  Just as we were about to disperse, from yet a different direction (Mirefoot) appeared a rather hot Stan.  He too had decided to make this his target.  He had run all the way from Kendal, or so he would have us believe, but it was further than he thought.

The circle now was so big that we were in danger of getting hoarse from greetings being shouted over such long distances.  It was time to depart.

We retreated by various routes. I decided to circle Gurnal Dubbs.....

.....then drop down to Potter Tarn.

Lower down, I took a path I had never travelled before.  I was tempted to say it went by a witch's house but that would be unfair.  It was a small, isolated, old cottage with a very pretty garden outside which was an old woman with a lurcher. I complimented her on her flowers, declined her offer of gingerbread (joking) and she pointed me in the right direction home, which was very useful as the map app on my phone had packed up.

The track led to a long and ancient walled lane.  Eventually a gate invited me into a wooded area.  This offered a very pretty, dappled walk full of bluebells.  A week or so earlier it would have been a delight.  It was still very nice.

The path emerged onto the back road to Staveley; I strode through the village and back to the car.

Later that night we were able to see each other again, this time to talk in a normal voice, and reflect on the day.  What would we do without the ZOOMbar?

Don, Wednesday 20th May 2020

 

Comitibus


Don


Mike B


Mike T


Stan


Stephen


Tony

Bonus Pictures

The Pub With No Beer Update

You may recall BB2015's item about Slim Dusty and The Pubs With No Beer and that James later offered, from his Australian heritage, this link to a live outdoor duet between Slim and Gordon Parsons.

James adds:

Slim lived at Metung  about 30 miles from Lindenow where we lived. He had a passion fruit grove/farm. I never met or saw him but was certainly part of the country music scene in the 50/60s. 

I am remember listening to the local station 3TR from Sale weekdays 6.30 - 7.30 on my crystal set radio before up and milking the ‘house cow’, catching my pony, breakie and riding the 3½ miles to school.

James, 11,
on Flash

James just before leaving for the UK
on Etherial with Lorry

3TR
poster

Linden Vale, the family home at Coongulmerang

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Down in the ZOOMbar:

Martin

Don

Terry

Mike T

Bryan

Tony

Stan

Stephen

Mike B

 

Map:  O.S. 1:25k

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

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