February and into March 2021

 February and March provided a real contrast of weather but we were still able to get out and about.

A bit a rain doesn't stop Carole

It started off wet but not too cold

Then turned bright, cold and very still.

Beautiful paddle boarding day on Winderemere

A favourite swimming spot at High Dam

Not a bad day for swim at High Dam, stunning reflections.

Finally a decent day for a sail.

Partial lockdown meant the barbers were still closed - I'm very afraid!!!

A cold walk up above Torver to the tarn and a very quick picnic!

More fine weather let us play on Windermere again

Can't complain - sailing in mid March.

January 2021 and a cold snap

The cold weather did little to stop Carole swimming, clearly in need of professional help but it does provide good photo opportunities!

She just couldn't wait!

The new hat improved things enormously!

Too cold even for Carole to swim, this is High Dam, 8 inches thick ice in the middle!

Who can resist a snow angel

On the way up Gummers How

Gummers How cairn

Windermere valley completely filled in by the low cloud.

Getting ready!

Only Carole, Amanda and Stacey out on the Lake

I kept my dinghy well wrapped up!

High Dam still had ice despite the snow melting.

A very wintry and deserted Fell Foot.

Christmas 2020

 With all the chaos of Covid we were very lucky that Jen and Kyri were able to come up for a short stay.  It was great to see them again after the restrictions of the year.  A tradition in the Hayes household is for Jen to eventually get up and unwrap her stocking presents sat on the end of our bed; we unanimously agreed that with Kyri here we'd start a new tradition!  And got dressed and went downstairs to open presents by the tree - dignity maintained! Still managed for Carole to have her traditional Bailey's Irish Cream as the first drink of the day in bed though.

Fire pit on the patio, toasting marshmallows.

Christmas Day Walk

Prosecco at Simon's Seat on the Noddle

Curious Sheep

After far too much turkey we attempted to play a tune on the whistles found in the crackers - Intense concentration didn't improve the audio quality.

Even Jen's guinea pigs got treated 

We also played Lakes Monopoly, Kyri wiped the floor with all of us, obviously got his Dad’s financial skills!

Covid secure visit to Grandma.

Autumn stuff

 Covid restrictions lifted in time for a great September with great weather.  Whilst our travel options were limited as we were trying to sell Carole's Mum's old bungalow.  Typically the sale fell through.  We still managed camper van trips, a birthday weekend, lots of cycling and some dinghy sailing and wild swimming. All in all not a bad September! We are so lucky and never forget it.

Camper van trips to Scotland and the Lakes

I was talking to a friend at Arnside Sailing Club and he told me about a small camp site at Sorbie near Garlieston, Dumfries and Galloway, out of curiosity I looked up the site and rang them, expecting them to be full but they'd just had a cancellation so we grabbed the chance for a few days away.  Great little site with a restaurant next-door.  Not so good for walking but Carole swam nearby at the Isle of Whithorn and in Garlieston harbour. 

Sorbie campsite

Garlieston Harbour swim

Isle of Whithorn harbour, the location of the first Christian chapel in Britain, St Ninian's, in AD390

We also snuck off to Park Coppice, Coniston. The weather was wet to say the least but we managed some walking (wading) around the lake and thoroughly enjoyed it.  And of course Carole swam in Coniston, despite the weather.

The Ship Inn, Bowmanstead, Coniston, a shortish and very dark walk from the campsite.

Boy did it rain

But we found a warm spot, with its own brewery - The Black Bull, Coniston

It actually stopped raining when Carole went for a swim...

Birthday Bash

Carole, Jen, Kyri and I went up to the Low Wood Hotel for my birthday weekend treat, 5 star, spa and a top restaurant.  My kind of swimming in a heated outdoor pool, my favourite walk up Dow Crag and onto the back of Coniston Old Man, fabulous food and to cap it all, the sunset of the year! Loved it.

Not a bad spot

A room with a view

My sort of swimming - warm!

On our way up Dow Crag, Becca came too, there was a LOT of stopping for photos

Scaring the sheep

We took the tricky route

And the weather turned Lakeland just before the top of the Old Man

Kyri and Jen on the peak cairn, a PB for Kyri at 2632.6 feet!

Simply stunning

Swimming

Jen got Carole a book on secret(?) wild places in the Lakes which covers a lot of amazing swimming spots so we managed to tick off a few including Banishead Quarry on the way down from Coniston Old Man on my birthday bash.  Jen's mate Becca went in too, Jen, Kyri and I admired their fortitude from a suitably dry spot.

Banishead Quarry, above Torver, Coniston

Carole and Becca braved the deep and very cold water.

Cycling

After much research and soul searching I bought myself a new bike to "complement" my much loved and very well travelled Galaxy touring bike.  I got a Giant Revolt gravel bike, or GRAVEL CRUSHER as the advert says, much to Carole's amusement!

A carbon framed beauty

It was a tough ride!