A fairwell to Farmers

We said goodbye to the Lake District tonight. After our hike up Jack's Rake, we went down to the Farmer's Arms to say goodbye to Malcolm, Jane, Becky and Chris and Toby. It was emotional.

Wendy shows Jack's Rake who is boss

Today we took a great final hike up the Langdale Pikes (familiar territory), but added an extra leg up Jack's Rake. Rob has been eyeing this particular climb for quite awhile, but Wendy was a tad bit nervous that she wouldn't be able to step up to the task. It is a rather steep ascent up the side of a rocky crag, and you are pretty exposed to a drop most of the way. Although it looked rather intimidating, it proved to be easier than expected, and SO much fun!!! This was just the perfect final day of hiking in the Lake District. These past two months have been just magical, and we can't wait to come back and visit our mountains and lakes in the very near future.

THe red line up the side of the crag is the path of the actual climb.

Kirby Moor in a storm

I (Rob) recently bought a mountain bike. I go cycling up on Kirby Moor where the local wind farm is located. Last weekend I was up there when a storm hit, which made things quite exciting. Simply getting onto the moor was difficult as I had to push a gate open into the wind, which was pretty much impossible. I went up there to shoot some film of the wind turbines in strong wind but unfortunately almost all of them were shut off as the wind was just too strong. Eventually I got too cold and had to head home.

Scafell round to Crinkle Crags with Whitbread

We got up super early for an all day epic starting in Wasdale. We scrambled up Scafell, back down and over to Scafell Pike and then knocked off all the surrounding peaks including Great End, Ill Crag, Esk Pike, Bowfell and the Crinkle Crags. It was a long day and we were happy to all into the bar at the Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel at the end.

A trip down south

We visited the Kew Gardens in London to check out a Henry Moore outdoor sculpture exhibit. It was such a beautiful clear day, and the juxtaposition of the enormous bronzes against the delicate gardens was really incredible. The greenhouses that were dotted around the garden housed some of the most spectacular plants, water lilies, and even chilies!

Earlier that day we stopped in Stonhenge. This was Wendy's first time there so it was pretty cool. You can't really appreciate the size of those freaking stones until you are next to them.

Helm Crag with Joji and Tomome, and a sheep's bum

Rob's friend Joji and his wife Tomome came to stay with us for the weekend. We took them up Helm Crag, where Joji posed in his Matrix gear. It was pretty windy, and Tomome was a bit worried that a quick gust would claim Joji as he stood on the summit. Luckily we all got done in good shape, then off to the pub for a little lunch and drinks.

A quick hike up Coniston and an extended dinner fit for a king

Our friends Joji, Tomome, Gerald and Rebecca stayed with us for a few nights. Joji and Tomome cooked their magic one night and served up quite a spread! Starting with wild mushroom pasta, and then an amazing rib steak and a beetroot salad. Lots of wine and laughs and even some dancing at our local pub afterwards. The girls ripped it up! The sleepy pub never knew what hit it when we took over the jukebox and performed our own choreographed version of "Fame"... Definitely a night to remember.

A hike up Bowfell