Wet 'n' wild

Wall to wall sunshine would have been nice. The forecast at the beginning of the week was looking promising. Just a bit blowy. 

With both of us, dare we say it, pretty much on form, there was going to be little to stop us this time. So off we set in the dry, awaiting the arrival of the sunshine. As forecast. I'd even commented on how remarkably good the Lakes weatherline forecast was. How did they manage it?

We'd changed our plan with a change of wind direction and, instead of heading up Riggindale, took the beck up to Nan Bield Pass on a path I don't think I've stepped on before. It was a lovely way up despite the diminishing views and it stayed sheltered (if not dry) right up until the shelter at the col. 
 
With a bit of a view down to the Kentmere reservoir, we quickly headed into the mist and into a strong but thankfully not gale force, nor particularly gusty, wind. Quite a few people emerged from the murk towards us including a man with his bike on his shoulders who was pleased he'd hit the right track for the Kentmere Horseshoe. Everyone was focused today.

Over Mardale Ill Bell with an eye on the compass, we surprisingly quickly found ourselves on the last stretch to High Street. As we dropped down the other side, small breaks in the cloud revealed narrow apertures of the mighty Lake District landscapes. Not the full-on vista that we'd hoped for but giving us both a smile and a feeling of awe nonetheless. Sometimes the feelings are more intense when the weather's not entirely on your side.

We met a group of four people as we took the turn for Kidsty Pike. The first two proudly stated they had no idea where they'd started from, pointing, "But they do!" As 'they' came by, they said they'd come from Hartsop on the other side. As they walked away, one of them asked the other what the body of water was at the bottom. "Oh, that's Angle Tarn." We both did a puzzled double-take at each other as the low banks of Haweswater glared back up at us. Hopefully, 'they' not only knew where they'd come from but also where they were going!

The last time I'd descended Kidsty was my magical moment with the golden eagle that is no longer. It was very different weather to that but the dark gloom of high mountains has a majestic beauty of it's own. The cloud had lifted a touch more and we began descending, soaking the final side of our bodies in the still passing shower which seems it will take until tomorrow to clear through!

A couple of pairs of grungy knees descended the final slopes before the last flat kilometre around to the car.

A very belated Happy Father's Day/Birthday, Dad! Just think, if you'd never taken us out as kids into the hills, you'd never have sodden presents like these to contend with :D How lucky you are! :D

...Seriously? How lucky I am! Xxx