beentouring's Guestbook

I like this blog. you described everything well.

Great walking country
Yes, I can see why someone would like this country for walking. Quite different from navigating slippery slopes with sliding rocks underfoot. Checking out the map, I was surprised to see it in so close to London and Oxford and so on - somehow, I'd had the impression it was one of those remote islands. Not! Your water/beach level shot of the needles nicely shows how they got their name. The view from the cliff isn't quite so imposing/jagged.

<> An excellent way of putting it. More and more I feel the benefits of a walking stick when making my way downhill, but it's hard to manage one and a camera. The Crinkle Crags look (to my untutored eye) like the result of glacial action. Your description of the hike is a reminder that the landscape can present serious walking challenges even if it doesn't look like the Rockies.

Indefatigable
We've run into some of the "More hikes please, sir" crowd. I respect their stamina but can't match it. And a figurative change of pace isn't a bad thing, either. I followed the Keswick link and it looks stunning, especially photographed at a distance with the mountains as backdrop. I, too, wondered what the "rain-proof" measure could mean, but Google rushed to the rescue with a page titled: "How Waterproof is my Coat: What Does 5000mm Mean?" What a strange but wonderful world, eh?

Gibson's Knot!
Always fun to find eponymous features, even vicariously. Loved the sphagnum moss video - what a great way to make the point. Even without sun the vistas (and your photos) are striking.

Striking countryside
I'd miss our "real" (extreme?) mountains - not that I see them much these days - but these hills and rocky/rolling landscape are a pretty good substitute. Satisfyingly wild, maybe. FWIW, I like your photo of Patterdale better than Ruskin's choice. Maybe he got tired of walking? Your hike sounds demanding, but makes a great accomplishment.

I shared the family-&-other-student bathrooms in Guatemala but was in school with folks just a bit senior to what I was then who had arranged accommodation with private bathrooms as the start point for their search. I am now likely the age they were then and understand entirely. So glad it worked out and hope the heat also came on. As for the rain, one of the hardest things I find about travelling to a place where you can actually expect rain is that I don't have the right gear. Not the right footwear; not the right waterproof, hooded jacket; and so on. Rain is like our cold, I figure - tolerable if you're dressed for it, miserable otherwise. So funny to see Bowness and Windermere in what might be original usages. And amazing ivy.

Going out with a sprain?
Goodness - I hope you didn't do worse damage to your wrist than you seem to indicate. Offended tendons can take a while to recover, but that reflex of throwing our hand out is impossible to overcome without special training in how to fall, I fear. Is that why you're hanging up your walking pole for the season? This hike seemed to be more than you had bargained for, in a few ways. Your shot of the loon and chick is excellent and of course the dragonfly is a favourite subject of mine. I'd like them even if they didn't eat mosquitoes.

How PT Barnum came to save Shakespeare's birthplace
In the 1840-ies Shakespeare's birthplace was for sale. It was then a bit rundown and from what I heard the local authorieties were even thinking about pulling it down. The circus owner PT Barnum then tried to buy it. He was planning to pull it down and reerect it in the US. The authorities then realised that the builings' historical value, they stopped the sale and made sure to restore and preserve it. So, it's possible that it is thanks to PT Barnum that Shakespeare's birthplace was saved. /Ake

Floor heating
Interesting that the Romans installed floor heating in the houses. I can't remember that I've ever seen that before. But then I've never seen any Roman houses in Britain, only in countries much further south. /Ake

Urban wildlife
I guess not everyone is happy to see a coyote in town, but in theory it's great to see wildlife within the City boundaries. And I'm glad someone enjoys mud grubs. The ducks can have them.