Swallows and Amazons

With only a scattering of farms, chapels, and a pub, the Duddon Valley has to be one of the best places in the UK to go star gazing. After dinner last night, we looked outside and clearly saw the milky way overhead. There was talk of going for a night climb on the nearby crag, but instead, we opted for a hike up onto the top of Wallabarrow Crag, to find a geocache and do some star gazing. It was a great place for both.

By morning, a thick, wet mist had descended across what seemed to be the entire Lake District. But despite the rain, luck seemed to be on our side, as there was barely a breath of wind. Just right for our planned activity of canoeing. Over at Coniston Hall, we picked up our boats, having left them at the campsite on our way in on Thursday. 

I've actually put in quite a lot of hours on Coniston in a boat in my lifetime, but this was the first in an actual canoe, rather than a rubber dinghy tied to a tree on the shore! Dressed in multiple layers, wetsuit mitts, and full waterproofs, we set off in search of 'Wildcat Island' (as called in the famous book 'Swallows and Amazons). I wasn't sure if we'd make it, but just over 5km later, we pulled into the hidden natural harbor.

Having tied up the boats, we set about the island to stake our claim! Prepared with a tarp to keep the rain off, we set about making a lunchtime camp, brewing up on the kelly kettle and tucking into some sarnies. Typically, the wind picked up while we were on the island and not in our favor. There were some concerned looks briefly between Aled and I, but luckily it died off again just as quickly and we were able to make the journey back ok. In fact, at times, the water was flat calm and still, giving some great reflections and ripples.

To celebrate the last night of the expedition, the lads had to navigate us to the pub in Seathwaite. The Newfield Inn holds particularly good memories for me as being one of my first 'pub' experiences with Paulo on our 'mini-expedition' years ago. As I recall, having arrived with barely enough cash to purchase half a shandy, we ended up enjoying a night of high jinx on the house, after a chancing our last 20 pence piece in a fruit machine, which unexpectedly delivered a rather handsome windfall. But that's another story entirely...