DALES to LAKES, Day 6: windermere

So I did it! I managed to actually go a day without doing any walking! After chilling, writing, reflecting at Adam Sedgewick and the Dent fault viewpoint at the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, I did a supply run in Kendal and came straight to my digs for the next few days and got settled in. My day consisted of gazing + gawping at a magnificent view over the northern tip of Lake Windermere and the peaks beyond, just relaxing and taking it all in. I did this whilst preparing food for the next few days and just trying to chill + recharge. I will know if it’s truly worked over the next few days!

reflecting at *Adam Sedgewick and the Dent fault viewpoint* at the edge of the *Yorkshire Dales*

No Hike Day!

So yes, no hike today, which still gave me a chance, a different opportunity, to do some reflecting on where I’m at right now. I have to admit that I felt quite nervous + excited, in the same breath, when I rolled into Cumbria this morning. I’ve had great times + strong learning curves in the past in these parts, although I’m much wiser + experienced to mitigate such curves. I think so anyway!

I’m past the halfway point of this adventure and although I’ve convalesced today, over the next few days I will hit the trails with zest and transgress any limits + rules I’ve unsuccessfully implemented throughout this trip so far. My plan is to go to different areas of the lakes, so northern, central, + eastern, over the next few days to get back into the flavour of the region + prep me for my next big adventure here in the not-so-far future!

Camping + Hostelling

I’ve met a lot of people camping, including Ed in Wensleydale, and a few here in Windermere, and I feel bad about camping instead of hostelling. In some foolish way I feel like I’m not doing it properly if I’m not camping but I’ve not always had a great experience of doing so, and the convenience of being indoors with full facilities enables you to do other activities to the full, much more safely + comfortably I’ve found. Plus camping can trigger bad life experiences with me, although that trigger may have dwindled. I’ll put it to the test to see some point soon I’m sure. They will come a point where I can only access places by camping so I would like to be prepared.

the convenience of being indoors with full facilities enables you to do other activities to the full, much more safely + comfortably I’ve found

Food

I think I’ve cooked up with a plan for food for future trips! It’s more or less doing what I do when I’m home, which is looking after myself, albeit out here I’ll be doing it using shared kitchen facilities – it’s not like I’ve not been here plenty times before! When I stocked up on fresh supplies and was about the only guest present in my digs, I thought why go outside when I have all the tools + the treats to feed myself well. I leisurely prepared my meals for the rest of the trip, and if anything, I’ve probably got too much. Rather that than too little. I’ve been there before, and it’s not pretty, particularly with what’s coming my way.

i have all the tools + the treats to feed myself well

Life events + stories

Speaking of being there before + my life experiences, so far, all my articles throughout this trip have been focused on reflections + lessons specific to the trip and it’s activities. But let’s see. I’m going to try and mix it up, push the boat out, and see if anything in my life comes to reflection and thought whilst I’m hiking. I feel I can relate strongly to Forrest Gump, sometimes I call myself the name for a joke but with the eclectic madness I’ve engaged with it rings true like church bells at a wedding of love.

Then again, come to think of it, because I’m so absorbed in my surroundings, I ironically don’t have the time + energy to do so since I’m devoted to + doting upon everything in my immediate environ whilst hiking, which is usually enormous! If it happens it shall be. I’ll embrace, then see how I feel about sharing.