We spent Good Friday getting ready, packing up and worrying about the gale force winds and snow which were forecast.
On Saturday we awoke to snow on the ground with more forecast and the wind which had howled all day on Friday hadn't gone away, so we were a bit worried about driving up to the Lakes with our caravan. To add insult to injury the AA reported that the A66 across from North Yorkshire to Cumbria was closed due to snow. Anyway, after deliberation and some lunch we set off and actually the journey was not too bad. We arrived safely at a lovely little site in a place called Grey Southen on the western edge of the Lake District.
We spent Sunday just having a potter around Keswick, shopping and eating fabulous cornish pasties!
On Sunday evening we were joined by Sam and Penny who were going to brave the elements under canvas. We made them hot water bottles and fed them pasta and booze.
So, Monday 24th March - Isabelle was officially OLD and after opening cards and pressies and eating breakfast we decided that today we would walk up Skiddaw. There was lots of snow on the tops of the high hills and mountains and it was going to be such fun!!
We got 'togged up' and set off. The walk up Skiddaw had been aborted by Andrew with his friend Ian back in November when they were caught in a blizzard, so there was a certain amount of determination that today would be 'it'.
Skiddaw is most commonly climbed from a car park at Latrigg which means that you are not starting from the valley floor, but it also means that you are pretty much straight off up steepish paths.
Mo was loving the snow immediately and was rolling around and leaping about like a nutter.
We had a few 'moments' as Penny was struggling - initially we all thought that she was just unfit or something, so we were feeding her energy drinks etc. However, after we carried on walking and lost sight of Penny and Sam for a while we got a bit worried and decided to turn back for them. Eventually they came over the crest of the hill, Penny fairly striding out. "What happened Penny, are you OK?" "Yes, I'm fine now Sam's taken my trousers off!" Turned out that she had got her self too 'togged up' and had about 20 pairs of pants on and couldn't bend her legs!!! We did laugh!
We weren't laughing for long..... as we climbed even higher, the snow started and quickly turned into a blizzard.
Poor Mo's ears kept blowing inside out so Isabelle and Sam turned a spare hat into a snood for him which helped a bit. Didn't stop his beard from gathering snow though - bless him!We eventually got to the summit to quickly turn around and dash back to a flatter area where we cracked open the Champers! Perfectly chilled!
Quite an experience and not just for the views. We were all wishing we had crampons at one point, only to be overtaken by a chap with white trainers and ankle socks!!
Anyway, we completed the adventure with Fish and Chips in Cockermouth and then back to the caravan for birthday buns, more champagne (thanks Sam n Penny) and indoor sparklers. A fantastic birthday.
More photos from this adventure can be found on Sam's facebook site by clicking this link http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21432&l=59759&id=755947538
