I was woken up this morning by Lil Cumbrian #1, and by half eight hed been fed and watered and I had the chance to get packed up. At nine oclock I went out for some bread, but it took ten minutes to defrost the car, and by the time I set off, the thermometer on the car said that it was -8° C. Although I live in a dip which is a bit of a frost hollow, I was surprised at this. Even so, when I got to the top of the hill about 100m from my house, it was still only -6° C. I took these pics looking east, towards the Lake District.
Skiddaw:
Grassmoor:
When I got home, the planned walk through the village with Nathan ( two weeks old today ) was postponed slightly due to the temperature, so I didnt get away for my paddle as early as Id hoped. However, we had a nice walk once the temperature had risen slightly ( but still below freezing ), feeding the hungry looking ducks at the ford and giving Evan the opportunity to run his hands through the frosty grass, break icicles and have several outdoor wees.
By the time that we got back from our stroll and sorted the kids out it was getting quite late, so I grabbed my paddling gear and set off for Derwentwater. My canoe was frosted to the racks, and the frost inside didn't melt at all through the afternoon. The usual place that I launch from was frozen:
but I found some open water at the end of the marina and set off from there. Because of my late start, I didn't get on the water till 2:15. A few years ago, I went for a paddle after several days of hard frost and found the lake frozen to 50m offshore, so I turned around, went home for my ice climbing gear and climbed the waterfall at the top of Newlands Pass instead. It's rare that this happens though, but I often think of the Canadian paddlers who can't get out in their canoes till break up.
Conditions were perfect, hardly a breath of wind:
and due to my late start, I decided not to do a full circuit of the lake, but just paddle around the northern islands. I found some more ice near the creepy old boathouse:
and then went St Herbert's for a late lunch and a brew. I tried out my new Swanndri shirt here, and in the windless conditions it worked a treat.
Having eaten and drank my fill, I doused my fire, packed up and set off around Rampsholme Island.
Rounding Rampsholme and looking to Blencathra:
Gratuitous fat bloke shot:
Skiddaw:
When I reached Lord's Island, it was iced up between it and the shore. However, there was a refrozen lead where someone had been through previously, so I decided to give it a go.
Looking back:
Nearing the end:
I continued north past Derwent Island, Friar's Crag and Isthmus Bay, taking these on the way:
When I got back to my car and switched the engine on, it showed -2° C, and I don't think that it got above freezing all day. Even though I'd had a great afternoon and would have loved to have stayed out overnight, it did feel good to get home in front of the woodburner.
Hope you enjoy, Michael.
Skiddaw:
Grassmoor:
When I got home, the planned walk through the village with Nathan ( two weeks old today ) was postponed slightly due to the temperature, so I didnt get away for my paddle as early as Id hoped. However, we had a nice walk once the temperature had risen slightly ( but still below freezing ), feeding the hungry looking ducks at the ford and giving Evan the opportunity to run his hands through the frosty grass, break icicles and have several outdoor wees.
By the time that we got back from our stroll and sorted the kids out it was getting quite late, so I grabbed my paddling gear and set off for Derwentwater. My canoe was frosted to the racks, and the frost inside didn't melt at all through the afternoon. The usual place that I launch from was frozen:
but I found some open water at the end of the marina and set off from there. Because of my late start, I didn't get on the water till 2:15. A few years ago, I went for a paddle after several days of hard frost and found the lake frozen to 50m offshore, so I turned around, went home for my ice climbing gear and climbed the waterfall at the top of Newlands Pass instead. It's rare that this happens though, but I often think of the Canadian paddlers who can't get out in their canoes till break up.
Conditions were perfect, hardly a breath of wind:
and due to my late start, I decided not to do a full circuit of the lake, but just paddle around the northern islands. I found some more ice near the creepy old boathouse:
and then went St Herbert's for a late lunch and a brew. I tried out my new Swanndri shirt here, and in the windless conditions it worked a treat.
Having eaten and drank my fill, I doused my fire, packed up and set off around Rampsholme Island.
Rounding Rampsholme and looking to Blencathra:
Gratuitous fat bloke shot:
Skiddaw:
When I reached Lord's Island, it was iced up between it and the shore. However, there was a refrozen lead where someone had been through previously, so I decided to give it a go.
Looking back:
Nearing the end:
I continued north past Derwent Island, Friar's Crag and Isthmus Bay, taking these on the way:
When I got back to my car and switched the engine on, it showed -2° C, and I don't think that it got above freezing all day. Even though I'd had a great afternoon and would have loved to have stayed out overnight, it did feel good to get home in front of the woodburner.
Hope you enjoy, Michael.
