kiwibird: Lake District, Cumbria

Last Saturday we travelled up to the Lake District for a lovely week in the wilderness of low mountains and lakes. I say low mountains, because the peaks are not that high, not compared to the mountains in NZ. The area looks very similar to the Lindis Pass in Central Otago, but with stone walls and very old buildings, plus a few lakes. However, we are to find out that the peaks of the Lake District are not benign, even though the highest peak is only 977m above sea level.

I know, one might say, the dust had not yet settled since the last trip. And I must say I did not even bother to unpack the suitcase this time. But we love travelling and seeing new places, and this is the first visit to the Lake District, or Lakeland (not the shop by the way, although a large Lakeland shop is in Windermere), in the twenty years we have lived in the UK.

Isabel told everyone, we were off to Lakeside. For those people who are not from this part of the world, Lakeside is a large shopping complex on the other side of the water. In fact, the amount of people and cars up in the Lake District during the Easter break, combined with the large number of shops, certainly made one think of Lakeside Shopping Centre. There is no escaping civilisation, traffic and shops. Not in this country anyway.

We left at 6 a.m. in order to avoid the heavy Easter traffic. And it was not too bad, considering, until we hit the turn off to Windermere. Bumper to bumper traffic on a narrow country road. Which was better than bumper to bumper traffic on the motorway.

Our first view of Lake Windermere. Daffodils out in bloom. Beautiful. No rain either.

Dry stone walls. A distinct craft. And we are to see lots of these walls, right up to the mountain peaks. Built in the days before machines. Hard work. Sore backs, callused hands.

Our house, built of local materials, i.e. rock, and it looks as if the dry stone wall method was followed when the house was built. Very solid. A large house by English standards. A large loft, which can sleep many people, four bedrooms and two bathrooms on the next level, two lounge rooms, a dining room, kitchen, utility room and bathroom on the ground level and a very large basement with table tennis table at the bottom. Our 13 members of the family were quickly dispersed throughout the house. So much room. And all centrally heated. Perfect.

Then it was off for the first walk, down to Lake Windermere.

Scott decided that he did not need an extra pair of socks.

A long lane, and no traffic.

I feel at home. A piece of old rusty farm machinery.

And the moles are here too. An extra large mole hill. There is plenty of room for moles and people here.

And the lovely sheep with the black faces. I feel a little guilty about the NZ lamb that we are to eat the next day for dinner.

We are all in a 'get the best shot' mood. Cameras out. Action shots. Not yet. We will reserve those for when we climb up the peaks.

The view across Lake Windermere.

Not really dressed for outdoor activities. Except for the jacket, which does not match the dress and leggings. I need to get into the outdoor mood. None of this city living stuff here.