Interesting weekend
I mentioned to someone a bit ago that I had visitors due. I was intending to meet elsewhere but mum, being mum, said they could stay over the weekend[1]. Ewa and Zena - they had a weekend free at the same time and wanted to go over the plans for their ELD trip in September that I was roped in kicking and screaming asked to plan for them after their Snowdonia escapade and the GGW.
As it happened they arrived late Friday and stayed here Friday and Saturday night and we pored over maps on Sat plus did some shopping for mum. We set off very early Sunday morning for a quick trek round bits of the Lake District - well, bits being the alternatives from Buttermere (those who've seen the request in urw for input when I'd done the initial planning and the replies, or just know the ELD, will understand that there's a lot of options).
Sunday we went straight up the M6/A6 to Penrith then across to Keswick and down Borrowdale and over Honister to Buttermere. Pottered up the first bit of some alternatives then took their car round to Spout Force car park and camped near to the waterfall. My tents are in storage still so we had to share - no problem, we've had to do it before and managed as well as the GGW but witho.
This morning we started early (6am breakfast) for a ponder over routes over Kirkstone which included driving a very low slung car[2] over cart tracks and we were back here lunchtime as they had to be back in London early evening for a 2am start Tuesday.
Finalised the route from Buttermere now with good weather and foul weather alternatives - which has the knock on effect as to whether they get to Kirkstone or not. Likely not as two out the three alternatives miss it but as least they've now driven over it.
[1] I didn't ask, mum offered when I said we were meeting somewhere so didn't say no. Can't really ask mum if I can have visitors but I couldn't say no when she offered to let them stay overnight or two.
[2] Zena has a company Merc these days. Posh one at that. That's the vehicle they arrived in. Not exactly the ideal vehicle for more than 2 unless the bod(s) in the back have very short legs[3] or for going off any road that is cambered and has grass in the middle.
[3] I think Ewa watches too many thrillers / action movies as she suggested that me lying horizontal on the back seat looked like they were transporting a corpse!