Adventure

The motor home remained safe overnight, and I get going early in order to return it at the 8am opening time. Driving across London isn’t that fun in a large vehicle, but I make it to the rental shop without issue. I’d emailed ahead, so the rental company is expecting the damaged motor home. They seem relaxed about it, so it’s probably a common occurrence! After the inspection and some research I leave £762 lighter and thankful I bought the extra insurance! ...

Last night was much better, without the storm we all slept a little easier. Our usual early start and baconators whilst we checked the weather and discussed the plan. With the weather being calmer today, I’m keen to finish the job and climb, but that would mean driving back to London after a day in the mountains. We eventually decide that climbing Snowdon would be a mistake and decide to drive home, resolving to come back another weekend to finish the job. ...

It’s been a rough night, gale force winds have been battering the motor home, and it was boiling hot due to the closed windows. I’m awake at 6 and the camp site has taken some pummeling. I check the mountain forecast, and it’s not looking good. Storm Betty passed through last night, which explains the wind overnight. However the forecast on Snowdon today expects 70 mile an hour gale force winds with no visibility! ...

We wake at the usual time, breakfast and pack up. While we wait for the rubbish lorry to empty the 20 or so wheelie bins the kids nip off to reception to buy patches for their Backpacks. Setting off following the satnav takes us over a pass past Hesk Fell. It was hairy driving with one set of really tight switchbacks at the end which was crazy in a motor home. We finally get back to a main road after about an hour, and I resolve to do a better job of checking the route before setting off! ...

The usual 8am start with Baconators for breakfast. The weather’s looking great, so it’s promising to be a good day. We have a long way to go today and get moving by 9:30. 5 minutes along the road from the camp site we realise we’d forgotten Einy’s harness, which would make the climb down a nightmare, so I ran back to get it. We pass the park and ride for the shuttle to Wastdale Head, hoping there might be some activity, but unfortunately not! ...

Our usual 8am start. We packed and serviced the camper, much quicker now we know how to do everything! Whilst I’m servicing the camper, the kids nip to the shop and buy 3 peaks patches for their backpacks. On wards to England! We had a few unscheduled stops along the way, first because toilet door catch has stuck, and the door keeps flapping about when we go around corners, very distracting. Next I hit and smashed the case for the wing mirror along the tight stretch of road next to Loch Lomond - rather unfortunate. Glad I bought the extra insurance! ...

8am start again with fried egg and bacon rolls with the last of the homemade sourdough. Alex has coined them Baconaters. We made sandwiches and the customary soup and tea to take with us. It was raining first thing, but the forecast is good, so we carried on. The route started at the footbridge over the river progressing to the stone path upwards. There are quite a few others on the path, and it’s slippy due to the drizzle. ...

8am wake up and a simple breakfast of cereals. Einy has not been well waking me up in the middle of the night with a present on the floor. Probably eating the dead sheep yesterday! We packed and serviced the van for the first time, taking a while to figure out where the key for the grey water tap was. Turns out, the glove box. We set off for Scotland, a pretty long but uneventful drive. We had tried to find a flogas refill but to no avail. Arriving at the campsite just before 5pm we parked up, went to explore, and a drink in the campsite bar. ...

Since it’s our rest day we have a lie in before setting out on a warm up hike. We walked the 5 minutes into Pooley Bridge and took a short steamer ride to Howtown. It’s a nice day, but it’s quite breezy on the lake, and we have to wrap Einstein in a spare waterproof because he’s shivering! We walk back to Pooley Bridge reminiscing over the last time we were here when Bella was a baby, and we hiked with her in a backpack. ...

We have an early breakfast with Grandma Anne and leave for the Lake District around 9am. An uneventful drive to the Lakes, and we arrive at Waterfoot Park for 2 nights and our rest day! We set camp, figuring out how to deploy the awning and how the various hook ups work and then take a walk into Pooley Bridge for a drink before dinner, followed by dinner at a pub in the village. ...