I had planned this weeks ago to coincide with my birthday. Helvellyn the 'Wythburn' route, found a map off the 'Walking Englishman site. The easy route direct to Helvellyn, short but steep. We would do the walk early a spot of lunch at a pub and then some shopping in Ambleside with hopefully sum spendees...
So....... had the map all sussed, pack ready, check list done.. hats, gloves,waterproofs,camera etc..
Checked the weather off the Met office site 'sunny with showers freezing on the summits' not so bad, get away with that. Being the optimist that I am.. the weather will hold out until then, it can rain all it likes on Sunday. And as I'm told ever year by my Nana (bless her) 'it was scorching the day you were born' so what could go wrong.
Well Friday, rain and more rain but still being optimistic gear ready and waiting for the big birthday walk (looking forward to this loads)... best just check MET site. Now... 'heavy rain, could be light snow on summits, gales, fog at 500m should I go on. (sad so so sad).
We decided to still go to Ambleside do the shopping thing (not my favourite activity) but I did have in mind what I wanted, which does help. New trail shoe's and new pack, what could be hard about that?, with all them outdoor shops. Well it was, trying to find the right trail shoes and a pack which fits. Got the shoes but not the pack, tried loads 'OSPREY,LOWE ALPINE,NORTH FACE,GREGORY JUST COULDN'T GET THE RIGHT FIT WELL DISAPPOINTED.
WE decided on the way back to call off at Keswick, more shopping. They might have a pack.NO.
But they do have a great Pet shop http://www.podgypaws.co.uk/. With all that rain, I thought Niamh could do with a good dog coat. Found a site www.hurttacollection.com/home just the thing, but expensive. But she's worth it! Well didn't this pet shop have these coats, I was so excited, you would have thought it was for me. So we had to try it on , well Niamh had other ideas, lets just say the coat stayed on for the rest of the day, as it did rain off and on. She looked well smart!
My birthday wasn't the day I had planned but plans can always be broken, its better to be safe than sorry. Helvellyn will just have to wait until another day, its not like its going anywhere is it?.
I got some nice prezzies 'subscription to Trail mag, Bear Grylls book, trail shoes, Rab pull-on, a very nice bottle of white wine and polo shirt off big bro. So all in all I had a good birthday after all. And best of all I got Niamh her dream coat to keep her warm and dry out on the hills.
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