The places the boat takes us...

This weekend we were out on the Thames, a quick call on Ch 14 and the Port of London Authority switches on the lights to show us which gate to use outbound.

On the way back to Putney, the volume of river water,  following the recent heavy rain, was holding back the flood tide making it a slow 15nm, luckily we had our lights with us.

Only a week or so before, how different the view over the foredeck as we were paddling around Mull.

London to Mull, all paddling, all great in different ways.

Return to the Lakes

A trip up to see my parents gave us a chance for a walk.

Visitors have become more concentrated in both location and time over the 40 years I have known the Lakes. Leave the car before 07.30 and you are on the tops before 09.00, the first person you see will be as you are coming off your 3rd or 4th peak around 11.30. In the old days there was always some other early birds who had maybe bivouaced nearby. Many areas slightly distant from a car park are quieter than in the 1970s, with what were well worn paths barely visible in the bracken. However, Helvellyn is always busy in the afternoon, just as well we had an early start.