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BB2139
: Thanksgiving Day
Thursday
26th November 2021
I
didn’t know it was Thanksgiving Day. Nor,
I suspect, did Lord Lowther or whoever is
responsible for Lowther Estates. We
only parked at White Moss as it meant that
we could avoid a long walk back above Rydal
Water after the sun had dipped below Loughrigg.
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There
was nobody else parked there
which is not a surprise when
there is the usurious fee of
£2 per HOUR! And
TV cameras to make sure you
don’t cheat.
No
doubt, at the height of summer
it is packed with tourists frustrated
by the shortage of other opportunities.
But in late November,
I ask you!
Maybe
he did know what day it was
but we got no thanks for our
giving.
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It’s
a steep but fortunately relatively short
climb up to the Coffin Route, along which
pleasant path we walked towards Rydal Hall,
enjoying the distant views as they slowly
emerged into sunlight.
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At
the Hall we dropped down to St Mary’s Church
and had a look inside. It is a simple
one with nice stained glass windows. What
puzzled me was a sign outside pointing upwards
to "Le Fleming Gallery". The
door was locked. What was up there?
I later discovered that Lady le Fleming
of Rydal Hall had had the church built in
1824 and the gallery was for the family’s
private use.
After
crossing the road and then the River Rothay
we climbed up to Loughrigg Terrace.
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We
needn’t have visited Rydal Caves but it
would have been a travesty not to. A
little boy, Charley, and I enjoyed our juvenile
selves by making loud noises to test the
echoes.
We
thought about taking the path up and over
to Lily Tarn, which would have brought us
out into the sunshine rather earlier. Instead
we decided to take the shorter and more
direct route to the Loughrigg Summit along
with my new best friend, Charley, and his
parents (at least we think they were his
parents). The little lad, only two
years old and walking in wellies, was doing
a great job climbing without protest. Of
course what happened at noon? They
continued onwards whilst we found somewhere,
now in the sun but out of the bitter wind,
so that Tony could refuel. Meanwhile
Swiss Army jets whizzed by.
On
the final climb we met a young woman who
seemed to be making heavy weather of the
hill. During the conversation she
informed us that she was a world champion
power-lifter. Our request that she
carry our rucksacks fell on deaf ears.
The
summit was heaving with people and dogs.
The sky was clear and the views good
but it was too cold to linger.
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The
path down is steep. It was one of
the earliest to have been paved. Somewhere,
dating from several years ago, there are
one or more BOOTboys
reports complaining about such paths and
how badly constructed they were.
Clearly
lessons have been learned. The old
stones are being removed and a much better
method of laying new ones is being adopted,
the result of which makes them far easier
to negotiate.
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Once
down on the Loughrigg Terrace we decided
to zig through the woods and zag to the
Grasmere shore. There was clear evidence
of how high the lake had risen.
We
followed the Rothay downstream to the Minnellium
Bridge then returned to the car park. Wow!
Two others had parked there! What
a coup for the Lowther Estates! Lower
your winter charges, mateys.
The
Hare & Hounds at Bowland Bridge is under
new management. We received a very
friendly welcome. Tasteful redecoration
has been undertaken and a very welcoming
stove was blazing away.
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It
looks an inviting venue at which to eat.
Mine Host pressed menus into our hands.
What was today’s special? Toasted
Tony?
Thanksgiving
Day Turkey of course.
Don,
Thursday 25th November 2021
Comitibus:
Martin, Tony, Don
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