Day 2

Day 2:  Ennerdale Bridge to Roswaithe.  About 27 km and untold thousands of metres up and down (oops; pressed the wrong buttons on the altimeter).

Well, this day was worthy of inclusion in a suicide weekend (those who participated know what I mean!)  We were heading into the wettest region in England and we had a glorious day (aka "a cracking day" in the native tongue).  So - of course we had to do the "high route".  Just imagine the views!  And they didn't disappoint.  

First things first, though.  A nice flat walk out of Ennerdale Bridge to Ennerdale Water/Lake.  This is the "lake district" afterall, and what a lovely large lake it was.  Calm waters, reflections of the few clouds in the sky, pastoral green, green rolling hills across the lake and a view of the hills to come.  Just beautiful!  

Then a short stroll down a country lane followed by a quick snack and a final confirmation that the high route is the way to go on such a glorious day. 600+m straight uphill to Red Pike. Our subsequent ridge walk was not quite the carefree stroll I had envisioned - up, down, up, down, repeat over and over again. A few straight-down descents and some scrambles up completed the multi-hour adventure.  Some of the downs were so steep you looked back and wondered who ever thought of putting a trail there!  Actually, the really steep stuff had stone stairs built into the hillside.  I guess when past generations finished building all the marvelous stone fences they headed to the hills to place the stairs.

Shockingly, it seemed everyone was still talking to me at this point. The description in the book talked about boggy, indistinct paths and the fact that very few people actually find their way to the target exit point. Given how late we were running I decided to find the most direct route cross-country. Everything worked out swimmingly and we arrived at the Honister Slate Mine Visitor Centre about 5 minutes before we were expected at dinner, still a 45 minute walk away.  A quick phone call and Neil arrived by car to whisk us away the Royal Oak Hotel in Roswaithe - another lovely B&B in a very picturesque little village.  The slate quarry and visitor centre would have been an interesting side trip if we'd had more time.  All in all, a spectacular day!