What a lovely day for a walk in the lakes.. Jean wanted to do one of my favourite walks before it got too busy with holiday makers. It was a perfect day to choose; not too hot, but bright, dry and sunny. We even managed to park in the short space of
road left now for parking. The river near the slate works was low, but it was delightful to walk along it towards the wonderful View of the Langdales, and the village of Elterwater. It's always a long slog up a deformed road, rocky and quite steep. But once
up there and surrounded by mountains and trees, it was lovely. Jean has taught me an addition to my usual walk, which includes a further tarn, and it was with that view that we stopped for our picnic, sitting amongst the yellow coltsfoot and delicate blue
harebells. The sun played tantalisingly on the distant hills. It was then down and over Slater's Bridge, and a diversion to walk into Cathedral Cave, one of the Lake District Quarries. I have never been in, and it is a most incredible sight. What a job it
must have been to work away in these quarries and then transport the slate to Barrow and beyond.
The track goes through woodland, and once again we were confronted by the damage caused by Storm Arwen. We made several diversions around trees with
huge root structures, lying on the ground.
We finished up with tea at Chester's. We were sad to see the take away closed, and the café become more of a take out, with no waitress service and only paper cups and cakes and salads served in
bags and pots. Yet another casualty of staff shortages, caused in part by the lack of affordable local housing. But we sat by the river and the tea was good and the bake well slice we shared, dry delicious. The shop is as good as ever.
So a lovely day. And I got home to a really positive report on my service on Sunday, which was very encouraging. Caroline next door has cleared out the well near my front door, and I am dipping my watering can in there to water the garden. My roses
are wonderful atm!