|
BB2023
: The Three Meanings of Chai
Wednesday
8th July 2020
|
“Chai”
is the Hebrew word for “Life”.
In
Judaism the word “chai” is numerically
significant and is synonymous
with the number 18. Don’t
ask me why, ask Uncle Google.
All
you need know is that there
is a deep connection between
the Word, the Number and Life.
|
|
How,
I hear you ask, is that relevant? Simply
because this would be our 18th visit to
Wansfell which, as a result, goes back into
the clear lead as our most visited top.
Remarkably, each occasion has involved
a different route.
Today
I had a cunning plan. I was going
to change the name of Wansfell to Twicefell
as I had discovered a hitherto untraveled
route off the fell which would enable us
to climb it first from Troutbeck and then
dropping down to the north, almost to the
Kirkstone Inn, before descending to and
making a second ascent from Ambleside. I
suppose I could have called it Chaifell
but that didn’t occur to me at the time.
It
was a confusing start to the day. Thanks
to lockdown we still needed a car each so,
as per BB2020,
I suggested that we meet by the river bridge
at Troutbeck at 9:15. Fortunately
we all arrived early, at around 9 a.m..
Unfortunately another group had beaten
us to it and there was not a space left.
Rumour had it that the Town End National
Trust car park would be open so we shot
up there only to find that not to be the
case. Consequently, to the annoyance
of at least one resident, we had cars scattered
around the village. Eventually we
were able to meet up and start walking.
At
this time it was sunny a sunny morning.
That was not expected to last. It
didn’t but at least there was no rain.
The
chosen route was Robin Lane followed by
the Hundreds Road track which leads straight
on to the fell.
.jpg)
Rather
than try and find a path to follow, we climbed
more or less direttisimo to Wansfell Pike.
It was quite busy.
.jpg)
People
often think that Wansfell Pike is the Wansfell
summit. It is certainly the most worth
visiting part of the ridge but actually
the other end, called Baystones, is 5 metres
higher. These things matter for anyone
bagging Wainwrights but there isn’t a lot
to attract the casual walker. Even
finding the highest point is a bit of a
challenge. Wainwright and the map
disagree. There again, my gps didn’t
agree with the map either; the Garmin was
siding with AW. The tart. Last
time it was siding with the OS. That
is the problem of judging height by air
pressure rather than contours.
Anyway,
this was the key decision point. Should
we continue north, almost as far as the
Kirkstone Inn (which might well now be open,
given the relaxation of the Corvid-19 rules)
then back down the valley for a second attack,
this time from the Ambleside side? Or
should we cut and run (or at least walk),
dropping down to Nanny Lane then back
to the cars? Stuart, Mike and Terry
chose the latter. Stan and I opted
for a third strategy, not previously discussed.
We would return to Wansdale Pike and
see if we could descend to the west, the
Windermere side.
.jpg)
There
was no path marked on the map but Stan was
confident and I had seen folk arrive that
way previously.
Once
back at the Pike we could see a faint trail
heading in the desired direction. We
followed it down, firstly on open fell and
then into the woods, passing a rather unusual
Thirlmere Pipeline survey station on the
way.
.jpg)
Eventually
we emerged onto Robin Lane and a bench wide
enough for us to be socially distanced.
.jpg)
We
had a fine view over the lake and of a friendly
robin on the fence post.
.jpg)
The
second meaning of the word “chai” is to
be found in India. It is a blend of
herbs and spices. Or in English- char.
So sat on our bench we opened our
flasks and had a drink of.…. No, not char,
it was coffee.
From
there it was a straightforward and very
familiar stroll back to Troutbeck, enjoying
the distant Lakeland views along the way.
There
is yet a third meaning of the word “Chai”.
It is a shed for storing casks of
wine. A man-cave perhaps?
So
there you have it. BOOTboys
and the three Meanings of Chai. The
eighteenth visit to Wansfell, a drink of
tea and, of course, the ZOOMbar.
Don,
Wednesday 8th July 2020
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
