Monday 20 December 2021

A Big Rock!

When i woke early this morning, the field behind the house was frosted and white, yet in the short time it took for me to drink my coffee, the temperature had risen quite dramatically and it had all but thawed. Quite a contrast from the previous day's bitter chill.
Breakfast eaten and with a light lunch packed, we were soon on our way towards Rosthwaite, a small village in the Borrowdale valley, and the start of our walk today.


The path led us away from the River Derwent and rose steeply through the trees, before opening up on the fellside with views of the village below. Light wisps of cloud hung low in the valley and the air was perfectly still. It was so very quiet there, the only sound we could hear was the barking of farm dogs far below us.



It didn't take long before we reached the summit,  and it was there that  we sat and enjoyed our lunch. I could see Keswick in the distance, although the view was missing several of it's distinguishing fells, all hidden beneath a bank of cloud.



After retracing our steps back to the car  we drove a little further along the road to somewhere Lily had been most excited to visit. I mean, who needs the fun of an Edinburgh Christmas Market when you can have the sheer joy of a huge rock! The Bowder Stone. It is not known if this is an erratic or if it has broken off from the Crag above. What is known,  however,  is the awe in which it is viewed by a certain eight year old - we had to climb up those steps at least three times, and it's a lot higher than it looks! 


After a little rest, and a delicious slice of the mincemeat shortbread, we walked down to the lake shore, where Lily spent some more time practising her stone skimming skills. 

This evening I've enjoyed a glass of Baileys, some Quality Street and a well earned rest. And I still haven't wrapped any of my presents!

J. X




46 comments:

  1. What a fabulous day you had.
    Stone skimming can be such fun ...

    An evening with a glass of Baileys, some Quality Street and a well earned rest sounds good.

    Enjoy the rest of your week.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. I had a really lovely day. X

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  2. I love the sound of your walk and glad you both enjoyed it.

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    1. Thank you, Pat. I was pleasantly surprised at just how quiet it was there. X

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  3. That is a very impressive rock! :D Beautiful scenery as always, although, as I've mentioned before, I don't know how you go walking when it is so cold!

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    1. It wasn't actually all that cold yesterday but I wore plenty of layers, just in case. X

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  4. the temperature inversion photographs are beautiful! But Lily practising her skimming is my favourite - I have some of my boys at her age doing the same xx Wrapping pressies can happen another day!

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    1. That is what I keep telling myself, but Christmas Day will be here before I know it. X

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  5. Looks like a great walk and time to chill,there's always tomorrow to wrap presents. I did make a start on mine this afternoon but I find it such a chore, it'll get done in time I'm sure.

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    1. Knowing me, I will end up wrapping them on Christmas Eve! So much for my 'wrapping as I go along' intentions :)

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  6. What a great day.Treasured moments.Enjoy them and have a great Christmas.
    Barbaraxx

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  7. It looks and sounds like you both had a good day. I had the Bowder Stone on my list of things to see when I was up there during the summer but for some reason completely forgot about it. I love the first and third photos, they are beautiful - imagining that the low cloud in the third one is sea, the view reminds me very much of a place I visited in South Africa several years ago, although it was much warmer there than it currently is here! :)

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    1. It was sometimes hard to differentiate between the cloud and the lake. I was initially a little confused with my bearings, with the peaks of the Skiddaw range being hidden from view. X

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  8. The photos are wonderful, I love the wisps of mist and Lily having the time of her life skimming stones.
    I do love a weird rock. We visited Krishna's Butterball in Tamil Nadu a few years ago, the freakiest thing ever! xxx

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    1. Thank you, Vix. It had been many years since I last visited the Bowder S
      tone, so I was relieved to see the old wooden steps had been replaced with something much more sturdy. X

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  9. A lovely walk and nice to see Lily enjoying her stone skimming. I've done the opposite and wrapped my presents but saved the Baileys and Quality Street for Christmas Day, I bet they were thoroughly enjoyed by you after your day out :)

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    1. My excuse (and I'm sticking to it) is that the Baileys and Quality Street I have already opened were given to me, and not my 'official' Christmas ones :) :) :)

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  10. Wonderful photos of a wonderful walk. I took a photo from the exact same place as the last one, on Saturday, except mine does not have a child skimming stones in it!

    I have wrapped a few presents but have had to stop as I have run out of paper - ooops!

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    1. It is lovely down by the lake there. And so very quiet at this time of year, which made it all the more special. X

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  11. A lovely post and it makes me want to run out of the door, Bilbo Baggins like, and head back to the Lakes for an adventure.
    John

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    1. You should definitely get something planned. X

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  12. I love how you get out there whatever the weather. I admit I'm a bit of a fair weather walker, though I always feel better when I've made an effort, and the beautiful views you have and the scenery would probably have me reaching for my walking boots more often too.

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    1. The conditions were actually great for walking, I'm happy to get out as long as I can keep warm and the weather is fine. It's the wet and windy stuff I don't entertain. X

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  13. Bailey's, Quality Street and a good rest sound just the ticket after a busy day. As always, those photos are amazing!
    xx

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    1. Thank you, Joy. I couldn't imagine enjoying Baileys at any other time of year. X

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  14. Beautiful pictures of stunning lanscapes and craggy rocks. Nature is amazing. Glad you had a good day.
    Wrapping presents was on my list of 'to do' today, still not happened yet. Chocolate and a good drink to wind down the day sounds fantastic :)

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    1. Thank you, Beverley. It was a really lovely day out. I keep telling myself, one day I will get my wrapping done in plenty of time :) X

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  15. looks like a great walk. thanks for sharing.

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  16. An adventure involving rock is so much better than the Edinburgh Christmas market, I totally agree. Last time I went to this market, it was a bit disappointing, more tat than lovely craftsmanship. The German sausages were delightful though, I'd have a serving any day. I am glad it was warmer for you today x

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    1. I was sad to have missed the markets. I love being able to soak up the festive atmosphere, and perhaps a little of the mulled wine ;) But there'll be other times. X

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  17. Wow, those first few photos are absolutely magical - so, so beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

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  18. It sounds lovely I can almost imagine myself being there as well the views are amazing. I haven't started wrapping mine either, maybe this evening. Xx

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    1. I keep telling myself that, perhaps tonight :)

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  19. Lily looks so cute. I love her outfit, and her long blonde braid down her back. What a gorgeous setting!

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    1. Thank you, Stephenie. If the weather had been warmer she would have been in the lake! X

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  20. Oh that's brought back memories Jules. Myself and Mark went to the Bowder Stone back in our courting days. No steps then though or if there were I don't recall climbing up them. I'm also enjoying a Baileys and Quality Street - great minds and all that :) xx

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    1. Oh, that's so lovely. There used to be some old wooden steps there, but they have since been replaced with some much sturdier metal ones.
      Baileys and Quality Street are a Christmas tradition here :)

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  21. Still lots to do here including present wrapping. Beautiful photos of a beautiful place. Thank you. B x

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    1. It sometimes feels as if I won't get everything done in time, but I always do in the end. X

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  22. What an absolutely splendid outing, absolutely ages since I have been to the Bowder Stone. You definitely deserved your feet up evening :-) xx

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    1. I'd never taken Lily there before. Now she can't wait to go back. X

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