The Lake District - Waterfalls

 We awoke at Thornbrook Barn to a bright, if not sunny, morning. I fed misty and took her to her own personal field to do her ablutions. It was boiled eggs for breakfast with toasted soldiers, then we lazed about not doing much of anything until around noon, when we decided to set off for the waterfalls Walk. As we headed down the road towards Ingleton a slight drizzle began, and by the time we arrived at the waterfalls it was that fine rain that wets you through. It is now £10 each to walk around the trail! With no concessions for old people!! Still, we were there and I wanted to do it. In the car park we started chatting (were accosted by!) a young man in shorts who had already been swimming in some river and taken a photo with the light just right at Bolton Abbey. He too was horrified by the price, had been with school as a child and swum in the pool under the waterfall. He wanted to know if we felt it was ok to leave his dog in the car. He was going to run around anyway. We hung back till he got going.

We had a lovely walk even thought the rain was teeming by the end. The falls were spectacular due to the heavy rains, and Misty was like a young pup, leaping up and down steps with abandon. We passed/were passed by a huge number of Asian walkers who congregated at the end for prayers, in the rain. They didn’t seem to mind at all. Ian had fished out the selfie stick for the occasion and also taken his camera and we both got some good photos. 

Note the people behind

Selfie

Me and Misty

Nice waterfall

Attempted selfie

An ice cream to cool Ian down

Back in Ingleton, soaked and bedraggled, we looked for somewhere to eat. The first pub was bright and welcoming, with live music playing in front of a roaring fire. It was also jam packed to the rafters. The second pub was the very definition of The Slaughtered Lamb. Hardly anyone in, and those that were turned to look at us accusingly. They were serving food however. And when Ian removed his coat to show his RUFC top the conversation turned to football and all was well. The food wasn’t great but it filled a hole, and we even found room for jam roly poly. The coffee was really nice. 

It was still belting down as we walked back to Dame Shirley. We dried Misty and ourselves off then battened down the hatches for the night. We watched the very controversial Spurs v Liverpool match on sky, did the pub quiz, then I turned in for the night. I fell asleep with the sound of rain pounding on Dame Shirley’s roof.

OS Watch

I forgot to restart after The Slaughtered Lamb

Neighbour Watch

Not much activity in the rain except for when two people, without any dogs, walked along the road near Dame Shirley when Misty was out. She took an instant dislike to them and went into full guard dog mode. She almost got through the hedge to them before Ian dragged her back. 

Dinner watch

Not the best but the pub was dry at least. I had fish and chips, 5/10, Ian had Cumbrian beef, 6/10. Nice beef but let down by average accompaniments. Coffee 9/10

The final morning we awoke to a fresh and bright day. We decided that if the world was our lobster we would say ‘let’s stay a few more days’. But alas our real life beckoned. Tomorrow Ian would be slapping a huge tax bill on some poor plumber, and I would be giving a pensioner in Staveley a flu jab. We breakfasted on porridge before showering (push button, nowhere to put toiletries, but hey, there’s toilet art!) and packing up. On our way home a campervan person had the temerity to wave at us, Motorhome people. Know your station campervanners! Sir Georgie took us home through Bradford, causing me to scramble to check if we are Bradford Ulez exempt. (We are). About 2pm Dame Shirley was pulling into our drive. We didn’t get the holiday we were expecting, but we got a darn good one anyway.

Toilet Art!