In Keswick: Skirting Skiddaw

July 26, 2022

So there’s been some progress over the last 24 hours. We’ve moved on from speculating about whether we’ll come back to Keswick someday and are now discussing when. Over dinner tonight while Rachael is sitting around waiting for me to polish off my lamb tikka (and asking how, after biking past these endearing sheep all day long I can order lamb for dinner) she pulls out her phone and starts browsing AirBnB offerings. Look at this great one, she says as she hands me the phone. It’s only about 200 feet from here, and look at that view! I point out that it doesn’t appear to have a kitchen when I hand the phone back, so she keeps looking. Oh, look at this one!

Does today’s out and back skirting majestic and awesomely beautiful Skiddaw to its west and north need anything other than just the photos? I don’t think so.

It’s hard to believe we’re scarcely a half mile out of town at this point.

The range of colors continually amazes us. I think the darkish, bruised color must be heather.

I’ve apparently got a thing for white horses. How many white horse photos do I have now?

In Underskiddaw: Millbeck Towers, originally an 18th century carding mill, “now a large six-bedroom escape perfect for family get-togethers”. First available bookings are about 15 months out. 1529£/night, three night minimum. Possible CycleBlaze retreat if we plan far ahead?

One of the outbuildings at Millbeck Towers.

I don’t remember ever seeing a succulent quite like this one.

Its nearby cousin. Must come in multiple flavors.

Amazing. Maybe it’s all bracken up there but it looks like a mountain of malachite.

We’ve got enough perspective here that I think I can orient us. I think the near ridge peaks at Dodd, and the one behind it runs from Ullock Pike to Carl Shield. The gap between is the start of one of the walking routes to Skiddaw, which we’re not far enough back to see from here.

Makes you want to grab a pair of hiking poles and start walking.

Now there’s Skiddaw, I think. At 931 meters it’s the sixth highest peak in England and the third highest in the Lake District (after Scafell Pike and Helvellyn).

At a crossroads. We’re on NCN 10 for awhile, a cross-country route running from Cockermouth to North Shields.

An interesting tree. From a distance the sheep lying at the base of it looked like part of the trunk.

The curiosity is irresistable. It’s off route but of course we need to drop down there and take a look.

The bridge over the River Caldew (here just a rocky trickle), at Hesket Newmarket. Nice enough. Obviously worth freewheeling down here.

The BF’s are on strike, balking at the idea of climbing back up that 16% slope. If we wanted to be up there, why didn’t we just stay there in the first place?

He prefers not to be converted to chops, the man explains.

We’re on the way back now, so Rocky’s back in the picture again.

We share the road with sheep, but not much else today.

This one’s a keeper. We’ll have to return.

Skiddaw is a strenuous climb, but technically straightforward. Perhaps someday.

The colors are all different by midafternoon.

Video sound track: All of My Life, by Classic Dream Orchestra

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Ride stats today: 42 miles, 3,800’; for the tour: 1,349 miles, 66,500’

Today's ride: 42 miles (68 km)
Total: 1,349 miles (2,171 km)

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Jacquie GaudetNow I desperately want to tour in the UK, a place I've never been (if we discount the 6 hour stop at Heathrow on the way back from somewhere).
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1 year ago

Scott AndersonTo Jacquie GaudetIt’s been a real eye opener for us. I’m not sure if we’d have come here if we weren’t looking for a way to work around the Schengen constraint, but better late than never.
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1 year ago

Jacquie GaudetTo Scott AndersonI guess it's growing up in Canada with all the ties to the UK (even though none of my ancestors is from there as far as I know). I've read so many books set there, my preference over those set in the USA (as there aren't nearly so many Canadian options).
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1 year ago

Scott AndersonTo Jacquie GaudetIt’s a plus that you’re less likely to get shot here too. I’m not sure I’d recommend riding in our country so much any more.
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1 year ago