I've lived on the North west coast for nearly 12 years, and have grossly underestimated the therapeutic quality of the Lake District. When I'm in The Lakes, the beauty permeates my mood. The stress I may have been feeling only an hour previously, seeps away and I feel so much more at ease about life. It really is a magical/spiritual/*insert word of suitable awe-inspiring nature here place.I am fortunate enough to have in-laws living in Ambleside, and every time we visit them, I turn to John (my husband) and we say to each other "We really should come here more often". I include some pictorial evidence as to why:
And so it was, that at the start of the year, in order to celebrate my 40th birthday, I decided I would walk around, (or as close to 'around' as is legally possible,) as many lakes in the Lake District as I can.
So how does this fit in with a guest spot here? Well, the inimitable TabanyaRuu Kantri Usko came into my life just over 2 years ago. He is a bit, erm, 'special'. When we picked him up, at 8 weeks old , Liz told us he'd been nick-named 'Tigger' on account of his bouncy back legs. He has not out-grown the name, and has ably demonstrated this skill with fences and walls boinged over. He has *lots* of energy. So it seems fitting that he accompany me on my quest.
As you can see, Usko is gorgeous anyhow, but he looks even more fabulous in a natural setting.
What could be more beautiful than a handsome husband, a stunning Finnish Lapphund, and the backdrop of serenity? (I'll admit I am biased on the first count, but anyone who argues with me on the latter two is obviously in need of an optician's visit.)
To date I have managed 3 walks, which are detailed on my blog: amandasambling.blogspot.co.uk
And you are more than welcome to peruse the many photos taken by popping over there. However, exclusively for TabanyaRuu readers(!!) I am condensing some of my words and pictures from those walks here on the guest blog spot. This means that you will see photos involving Usko in the stunning scenery, but don't have to endure too many photos of my human offspring: win-win ;-)
Our first walk was around Derwent Water on Sunday 8th February.
What could be more beautiful than a handsome husband, a stunning Finnish Lapphund, and the backdrop of serenity? (I'll admit I am biased on the first count, but anyone who argues with me on the latter two is obviously in need of an optician's visit.)
To date I have managed 3 walks, which are detailed on my blog: amandasambling.blogspot.co.uk
And you are more than welcome to peruse the many photos taken by popping over there. However, exclusively for TabanyaRuu readers(!!) I am condensing some of my words and pictures from those walks here on the guest blog spot. This means that you will see photos involving Usko in the stunning scenery, but don't have to endure too many photos of my human offspring: win-win ;-)
Our first walk was around Derwent Water on Sunday 8th February.
We parked midway between Portinscale and Keswick, and walked clockwise around the lake. The weather promised to contain sunny spells in the morning, and then would cloud over in the afternoon. But fortunately for us, we were only chased by a cloud for half an hour before it went away, and we finished the walk in gorgeous sunshine, the same as we had started.
Then, on Saturday 21st February, the boys accompanied* John, Usko and I on a walk. (* for accompanied read *wailed/complained about pains/hiccups/hunger/needed the toilet/asked the time literally every five minutes - and when I say literally, that's the proper meaning, not the wrong one bandied all over the media and in teenage speak these days). You get the picture. I think in future children will be limited to one at a time on such walks, and then they are less likely to be throttled, and my pulse rate will stay at the serene level it should be in the Lake District.
On this walk we saw four lakes, three of which we walked alongside, at varying heights. I had planned to go all the way around Loughrigg Tarn, but with the youngest boy only just recovered from a wailfest entitled "I want my Saaaanndddwwiiiiiiiccchh" I decided we had perhaps best just walk along one side instead.
The walk was about 7 miles (11km) in its entirety, and started and finished in Ambleside, which is where we were staying (with my wonderfully kind and slightly bonkers in-laws). We had lovely crisp sunshine, and only a few tiny drops of sleet when we arrived at Costa for our drinks and cake (which, yes, had been used as a bribe most of the way around Loughrigg).
On this walk we saw four lakes, three of which we walked alongside, at varying heights. I had planned to go all the way around Loughrigg Tarn, but with the youngest boy only just recovered from a wailfest entitled "I want my Saaaanndddwwiiiiiiiccchh" I decided we had perhaps best just walk along one side instead.
The walk was about 7 miles (11km) in its entirety, and started and finished in Ambleside, which is where we were staying (with my wonderfully kind and slightly bonkers in-laws). We had lovely crisp sunshine, and only a few tiny drops of sleet when we arrived at Costa for our drinks and cake (which, yes, had been used as a bribe most of the way around Loughrigg).
The third walk we have managed was John, Usko and I walking around Crummock Water on Saturday 14th March. The weather was cloudy, with a bit of wind occasionally, but no rain, and *sometimes* a bit of blue sky could be glimpsed.
Usko (AKA 'Flop-Ear') surveying his kingdom. Looking for sheep, most likely
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